The INFP Personality Type: Key Traits, Strengths, Weaknesses & More

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has a long-standing rep for being the most popular personality assessment out there. There are 16 different personality combinations a person can be, and here, we're diving into the INFP type. Here's everything to know about this rare personality type, from strengths and weaknesses to compatibility and more.

And according to John Hackston, head of thought leadership at the Myers-Briggs Company, INFPs are loyal, creative, and thoughtful, "but at a first glance, people with this personality preference can be seen by others as cool and distant."

Given their introverted nature, Hackston says an INFP type's quietness can come off as cold to others. "Their quietness, however, doesn't mean that they don't care about what happens around them. They often have a lot going on internally and don't typically share it," he explains. They may also have some difficulty with communicating their views, feelings, and ideas, he adds.

While they may be quiet, INFPs are incredibly loyal once a relationship is formed. Hackston tells mbg they're the kind of people that you want to have in your support system, "as they are very perceptive about others and tend to be great at encouraging and helping people achieve their goals."

For INFPs, their personal moral code is very important to them, and they do their best to stick to those values, Hackston says. And as Nardi adds, those values are lived, not just discussed. They're often moved to get involved upon witnessing or hearing about injustice, he says, and in the case of arguments, they'll typically lean on their core beliefs rather than logic.

According to Nardi, this type enjoys abstract ideas, especially as they relate to their own values and beliefs. "Clarifying their beliefs, the issues people face, and the infinite meanings of life's choices are what's most important to them," he says. With that said, again, they don't always rely on logic or facts in their thought process and can usually benefit from learning how to incorporate them, Nardi adds.

And lastly, Nardi tells mbg that INFPs find joy in the search to discover and figure out life's patterns and mysteries. "This often finds expression in a rich fantasy life," he explains, adding they particularly value reading or writing. Art or music may come into play, too.

As far as MBTI compatibility goes, Hackston says INFPs have a lot in common with ENFPs, "sharing both the same deep values and focus on the future and the big picture." They'll also likely have good luck with INTPs, "so long as the INTP takes the INFP's values seriously and uncynically," he adds. ISFPs and INFPs can also form deep connections, should they share values, "though they may occasionally find themselves talking at cross purposes," Hackston notes.

In short, Nardi says, these folks like jobs where they can be creative and live in line with their beliefs, preferably avoiding jobs that require repetition or a lot of logical thinking.

On a day-to-day basis, Nardi tells mbg that INFPs benefit from daily stability, self-care, and privacy. "They also benefit by learning time management and ways to assert themselves," he says, adding, "A sense of inadequacy may plague them. They find long-term relief by attending to the quality of their work."

INFPs are rare and reserved, and they're also loyal, imaginative, and wonderfully abstract thinkers. While it may take some time to figure out the INFPs in your life, once you do, you'll be blessed with a steadfast friend who's always happy to lend a hand.