Jungian basics

Depression in ENFPs – Fi vs Fe

Arvid Walton 11 Comments

Depression in ENFPs - Fi vs Fe

Question: “I suffer from depression (ENFP) and was wondering about how that translates to functions. I understand if you don’t know much about depression and can’t answer the question, but I just wondered.”

Answer: No matter your MBTI type, depression is always a highly emotional experience, so that ought to clear up the myth that T-types can’t be depressed.

Function-wise, depression tends to lock people into their introverted functions (this applies more to clinical depression than acute depression). As an ENFP, you’re likely going to lock yourself into your Fi and Si functions. Depending on the intensity of your depression, as well a your ability to control it (here, the word control is subjective), you may also end up suppressing your extroverted functions entirely. Continue reading →

Introverts Need People Too

Arvid Walton 1 Comment

Introverts need people too

Contrary to popular belief, introverts need people just as much as extraverts do –just in different ways. Introverts don’t necessarily get their energy from being around people the way that extraverts do, but we still need people for emotional/psychological reasons.

Why Everyone needs people:

#1 We need to know we’re not alone

At some point in life, everyone wants to know they’re not alone –even if they don’t want to admit it. When you’re isolated for too long, you can’t help feeling that isolation –either that or you just start to feel empty inside. Continue reading →

INTJ Humor vs xNTP Humor

Arvid Walton 32 Comments

*I spelled Humour the American way in the title because the majority of my readers are American.*

INTJ Humor vs ENTP Humor

Have you ever noticed how people who like Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy are more likely to enjoy Doctor Who, Sherlock, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett? This is intuitive humour at its finest.

(Psst! If you liked any of the former fandoms, you should read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell!)

Intuitive MBTI types tend to enjoy wordplay related sarcasm, deadpan and hyperbole, especially NT types. The differences between Extraverted Intuitive (Ne) and Introverted Intuitive (Ni) humour are subtle, but I’m going to attempt to dispel those differences. Continue reading →

Which is more Selfish: Extroverted or Introverted Feeling?

Arvid Walton 7 Comments

Which is more Selfish: Extroverted or Introverted Feeling?

It’s not uncommon that people of different MBTI types consider the others selfish. Extraverted Feelers (Fe-users) often see Introverted Feelers (Fi-users) as selfish, and vice versa.

Fe-users look at Fi-users and seeing them more in tune with themselves than others, perceive this as selfishness. Fi-users look at the Fe tendency to go with the crowd and perceive them as fakes. Continue reading →

Anxiety Cycles by Type

Arvid Walton 4 Comments

“How does Anxiety manifest differently in each type?” 

ISxJ

Trigger: uncertainty, issues of reality, overdoing things etc.

Once the trigger is pulled, the ISxJ will become obsessive about details, lose their task orientated center and grow impulsive. They will fall into the grip of their inferior Ne function and rather than thinking about possibilities, they will catastrophize.

To re-balance him/herself, the ISxJ needs to let go of the details that they’ve been obsessively swallowing up. They need someone to take them seriously and often need the help of close friends to work through their issue. If they come out on top, they will have a broader perspective, clearer values and stronger flexibility than before. Continue reading →

Understanding Sympathetic INTJs – Fi vs Fe

Arvid Walton 40 Comments

Understanding Sympathetic INTJs - Fi vs Fe |The Book Addict's Guide to MBTI

Foreword: this post applies equally to ISTJs, in regards to the Fi function)

All the INTJ stereotypes say that we’re cold and don’t care about other people. Yet, many of us defy this stereotype.

When I care about someone, I filter my words to avoid offense and understand people on a deeper level than they often understand themselves (which is another reason to filter my thoughts, because otherwise people freak out at how much I know about them).

Naturally, I started to wonder if my ability to understand people so well stemmed from an Fe function, but eventually I determined that I’m an INTJ with an extremely well developed Fi, and here’s why.

While I understand people on an extreme level, I don’t feel their emotions the way an Fe user would. My Ni lets me know intuitively what’s going on behind the lines and then I’m able to logically put together what someone is feeling by using Te. I can understand, but I cannot empathize unless Continue reading →