I really enjoyed your article! I’m not an INTJ(I’m an INFP actually) but I completely agree with you. I’ve also noticed that people have been mistyping themselves as INFP as well.
I think it’s very easy to mistype especially when you’re new to MBTI and don’t understand how the different functions work. Especially if you’re lacking self awareness. The way the online tests are worded don’t really help this either(what young person doesn’t have a strong intellectual curiosity for new ideas?).
I have somebody close to me who has taken the test several different times(kept getting different results each time) but is convinced that they are an INFP. I’d type this person as your stereotypical ESTP/ESFP, someone who loves partying, doesn’t get tired from being around people, strong sense of justice, has many friends, lives in the moment, cannot do an activity by themselves, has very realistic goals(wants to be rich, have a large amount of followers on social media, basically goals that are very much attaniable), kind-hearted and generous, constantly talking selfies, obsessed with social media(status and the number of followers, gets upset when people have more than them, constantly on other people’s social medias), fun-loving, only likes party games(like Mario Party, they’ve never actually finished any other game), assertive, holds grudges, short tempered, wants to be the centre of attention(most likely due to a lack of self esteem), self confident, blunt, thinks that people who’d rather stay home have “no life” and “no friends”, cares a lot about physical appearance(not understanding how an acquaintance would want to marry somebody who they deem physically unattractive), inconsiderate, etc.
我总是测试INFP (INFJ版本y close) and after doing research on MBTI, agree that I’m an INFP(originally before doing my research I wanted to be an ISFP). I’ve always been artistic (been entered in contests by my teachers since I was a child and now I’m a freelance illustrator), I’ve always been described by others as whimsical, idealistic(to the point where my father(ESTJ) has accused me of living in a fantasy world(he’s not wrong, but I see reality, don’t like what I see, and prefer to escape to a world of romanticism and ideals)) , enjoy video games and books with a good story/world building/lore, a loner/hermit(always had a small group of friends, few have sticked through the years, though, I do have more art friends now thanks to Twitter(I only use it for art though)), have always felt like and been a black sheep, easily forgive others but not myself, can be social but I will be physically and emotionally drained afterwards, empathetic, enjoys the idea of social events but will never actually go to one(they’re draining), suffers from depression and anxiety but somehow remains optimistic, observant of others, avoids conflict like crazy, I realise that my ideals are unrealistic and therefore unlikely to ever come true but I will die trying and refuse to let go of them, etc.
在听到他们说,他们是一个INFP, politely tried to suggest that maybe they were mistyped because I saw them as more of an ESTP/ESFP and that maybe they should learn more about MBTI before making a final decision. They said that I was wrong(even after admitting they didn’t actually know what being an INFP meant) and so I ended the conversation because I didn’t want them to get upset. After reflecting on it, I realised that this person had a couple of artists(including myself) in their lives and that they admire them to a certain extent. Because they deemed these people as “special” and they too wanted to be “special” they had convinced themselves that they were something that they weren’t. I also think that this particular mistyping might be due to an unfortunate case of low self esteem(due to their parents comparing them to an older sibling who happened to be both artistically talented and academically gifted. They’re also an INFP). I’ve read that it’s common for extroverts to mistype themselves as introverts if they have low self esteem or if they had something happen in the past that made them be a little more quiet as a child. To be fair, I think that once they become adults it becomes clear that they’re not introverts.
Society has also been giving more attention to the former outcasts(your INTJs, INFPs, INFJs, INTPs, etc.) of the past. People(especially younger folks on social media) see this and I think that they want to identify as one because of the validation and attention that they see other people getting. I’ve also noticed many extroverts identifying themselves as introverts. There’s more to being an introvert than just being shy and quiet, and vice versa. After all, there are plenty of shy extroverts. Like you said, it’s because a lot of people want to feel special, gifted, or unique and mistyping as a type that is described as such is validating to them. A shame, since all types are completely valid and one isn’t better than the other.
To be fair, I think it’s fine that people are mistyping as long as they find something that they resonate within that type that can help them grow. I believe that after they grow in character they’ll realise who they really are and I think them gaining self awareness and growing is much more important. Hopefully that growth doesn’t happen too late.
Elphis (not verified)says...
I really enjoyed your article! I’m not an INTJ(I’m an INFP actually) but I completely agree with you. I’ve also noticed that people have been mistyping themselves as INFP as well.
I think it’s very easy to mistype especially when you’re new to MBTI and don’t understand how the different functions work. Especially if you’re lacking self awareness. The way the online tests are worded don’t really help this either(what young person doesn’t have a strong intellectual curiosity for new ideas?).
I have somebody close to me who has taken the test several different times(kept getting different results each time) but is convinced that they are an INFP. I’d type this person as your stereotypical ESTP/ESFP, someone who loves partying, doesn’t get tired from being around people, strong sense of justice, has many friends, lives in the moment, cannot do an activity by themselves, has very realistic goals(wants to be rich, have a large amount of followers on social media, basically goals that are very much attaniable), kind-hearted and generous, constantly talking selfies, obsessed with social media(status and the number of followers, gets upset when people have more than them, constantly on other people’s social medias), fun-loving, only likes party games(like Mario Party, they’ve never actually finished any other game), assertive, holds grudges, short tempered, wants to be the centre of attention(most likely due to a lack of self esteem), self confident, blunt, thinks that people who’d rather stay home have “no life” and “no friends”, cares a lot about physical appearance(not understanding how an acquaintance would want to marry somebody who they deem physically unattractive), inconsiderate, etc.
我总是测试INFP (INFJ版本y close) and after doing research on MBTI, agree that I’m an INFP(originally before doing my research I wanted to be an ISFP). I’ve always been artistic (been entered in contests by my teachers since I was a child and now I’m a freelance illustrator), I’ve always been described by others as whimsical, idealistic(to the point where my father(ESTJ) has accused me of living in a fantasy world(he’s not wrong, but I see reality, don’t like what I see, and prefer to escape to a world of romanticism and ideals)) , enjoy video games and books with a good story/world building/lore, a loner/hermit(always had a small group of friends, few have sticked through the years, though, I do have more art friends now thanks to Twitter(I only use it for art though)), have always felt like and been a black sheep, easily forgive others but not myself, can be social but I will be physically and emotionally drained afterwards, empathetic, enjoys the idea of social events but will never actually go to one(they’re draining), suffers from depression and anxiety but somehow remains optimistic, observant of others, avoids conflict like crazy, I realise that my ideals are unrealistic and therefore unlikely to ever come true but I will die trying and refuse to let go of them, etc.
在听到他们说,他们是一个INFP, politely tried to suggest that maybe they were mistyped because I saw them as more of an ESTP/ESFP and that maybe they should learn more about MBTI before making a final decision. They said that I was wrong(even after admitting they didn’t actually know what being an INFP meant) and so I ended the conversation because I didn’t want them to get upset. After reflecting on it, I realised that this person had a couple of artists(including myself) in their lives and that they admire them to a certain extent. Because they deemed these people as “special” and they too wanted to be “special” they had convinced themselves that they were something that they weren’t. I also think that this particular mistyping might be due to an unfortunate case of low self esteem(due to their parents comparing them to an older sibling who happened to be both artistically talented and academically gifted. They’re also an INFP). I’ve read that it’s common for extroverts to mistype themselves as introverts if they have low self esteem or if they had something happen in the past that made them be a little more quiet as a child. To be fair, I think that once they become adults it becomes clear that they’re not introverts.
Society has also been giving more attention to the former outcasts(your INTJs, INFPs, INFJs, INTPs, etc.) of the past. People(especially younger folks on social media) see this and I think that they want to identify as one because of the validation and attention that they see other people getting. I’ve also noticed many extroverts identifying themselves as introverts. There’s more to being an introvert than just being shy and quiet, and vice versa. After all, there are plenty of shy extroverts. Like you said, it’s because a lot of people want to feel special, gifted, or unique and mistyping as a type that is described as such is validating to them. A shame, since all types are completely valid and one isn’t better than the other.
To be fair, I think it’s fine that people are mistyping as long as they find something that they resonate within that type that can help them grow. I believe that after they grow in character they’ll realise who they really are and I think them gaining self awareness and growing is much more important. Hopefully that growth doesn’t happen too late.