5 Key Differences between an INTP vs INFP

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- [Narrator] Hey there, Psych2Goers.

Welcome back to another video.

Thank you so much

for all the love and support
that you've given us.

Our mission is

to make psychology more
accessible to everyone.

We'd also like to inform you

that the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

is not a strict set of rules,

but rather a general framework
that can help guide you

to understanding your personality better.

If you would like a
proper MBTI evaluation,

visit a licensed professional

to help you understand yourself better.

With that said, let's begin.

Have you ever stumbled across

the acronyms INTP on the internet?

How about INFP?

For those unfamiliar,

these acronyms are two
of the 16 MBTI types,

also known as the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicators.

Catherine Briggs and her
daughter Isabel Briggs-Myers

built this on the psychiatrist Carl Jung's

Cognitive Process Theory,

where he states that all
people have dominant functions

that are based on four categories,

and there, the MBTI
personality types came to life.

These categories are
introversion/extroversion,

sensing/intuition,

thinking/feeling,

and judging/ perceiving.

The combinations INTP and INFP

are among the rarest out there,

making up roughly around three and 5%

of the population respectively.

They are idealistic,
creative, and curious people

with a knack for using their intelligence

for things that interest them.

They may also be private, rebellious,

and can come across as distant.

Does this sound like you?

If you ever wondered whether
you are an INFP or INTP,

we will share with you
five key differences

to help you tell these two types apart.

One, inquisitive versus artistic.

One of the differences
between these two types

is how they spend their time.

INTPs are analytic people

that often find themselves involved

in activities that are
mentally stimulating.

Books, strategic board games, and puzzles

are some of the activities
that excite an INTP,

since it provides them with a challenge

that is both safe and gratifying.

They enjoy learning new and quirky things

and can spend hours
absorbed in random topics,

think philosophy or astronomy.

INFPs, on the other
hand, are creative souls

that love adding their personalized flare

to the things they do.

They crave authenticity and sincerity,

and working a desk job that
they don't find value in

is bound to burn out an INFP fast.

Instead, INFPs tend to be drawn towards

the arts, poetry, and music,

as these are avenues for them to express

their unparalleled and
abundant creativity.

Many gifted musicians
and authors are INFPs.

For instance, these include people

like William Shakespeare and Thom Yorke.

Number two, contemplative
versus value-driven.

Another difference between the two

lies in how they make decisions.

INTPs make decisions by
looking at all angles,

figuring out recurring
patterns, or making predictions,

and then choosing a final decision.

It's not that cut and dry, however.

Sometimes INTPs has become too indecisive

and fall into analysis paralysis,

causing them to withdraw
from the real world

to ponder things over.

But for the most part,

INTPs enjoy serious back
and forth discussions

with people who are as open
and sharp-witted as they are.

Sometimes, INTPs even do this alone,

taking the role of both perspectives

and pitting different ideas
against each other for fun.

Being the gentle and
soft-hearted souls that they are,

INFPs make decisions that run

on their own deeply personal values.

This set of values are uncompromising

and act as the steering wheel
on how the INFP mind operates.

INFPs are more likely to ask the question,

what is the right thing to do,

as opposed to how to
do this the right way?

The consider the humanity of
the experience as a whole,

rather than the
objectively ideal decision,

making for a very inviting
and pleasant company.

Three, argumentative versus unity.

Do you stay calm and collected
in the face of a debate?

Or can you not help but
feel emotionally perturbed

with just the slightest disagreement?

INTPs may not be the most
tactful people around,

and for many of them,

tact is secondary to
getting their point across

during back and forth conversations.

They are blunt with their words

and also adept at separating
the thought and the person

when in discourse.

Despite their cold demeanor,

INTPs rarely ever mean to
hurt the emotions of others.

However, their bluntness can
oftentimes be poorly perceived

by feeling types as rudeness,

leaving the two sides
feeling misunderstood.

INFPs tend to be conflict-adverse,

and find more enjoyment

in sharing fun and lighthearted
stories with friends,

rather than debating with them.

If an INFP's core value is questioned

and criticized by someone,

they tend to clam up or become
upset by the altercation.

However, if someone goes a bit too far,

an INFP is more than capable

of lashing out towards the aggressor,

which could surprise even
an INFP's closest friends.

Four, internal versus
external control of emotions.

Do you ponder over your own emotions,

or are you more like a sponge,

taking in the emotions
of the people around you?

Or neither?

For some INTPs,

they may approach the
emotions as a problem to fix,

rather than emotional support.

Having a low emotional
threshold is different

from avoiding and rationalizing
with emotions altogether,

which, according to research
at Boston University,

can cause many psychological problems.

Healthy INTPs, on the other hand,

are very much aware of
the emotions of others.

They are like sponges.

Although they may not be

the most charismatic types
out there, like ESFJ or ENFJ,

their caring and sweet side does come out

when someone close to them feels down.

The harmony of everyone else

is what brings the INTP inner harmony.

For INFPs, rather than
being a sponge for emotions,

they're more like a running sink.

They're highly reflective
people with a sense of value

that is directed from within,

rather than shaped by their
immediate environment.

They always reevaluate
their thoughts and feelings,

thinking in terms of good and bad.

Oftentimes, INFPs need
to spend some time alone

after social occasions

to recharge and get touch
with their inner self again.

Since they are incredibly independent

when it comes to judging
what's right from wrong,

this makes them ideal partners for empaths

like the ENFJ or INFJ personality types.

Five, internal versus external
control over their thoughts.

The last thing that separates these two

is how they organize their thoughts.

An INTP prefers independent
and intuitive contemplation,

rather than relying on
instruction manuals or charts.

This makes them highly intuitive
and independent thinkers

that can recognize inconsistencies
from a different angle.

Inventors like Albert
Einstein and Charles Darwin

are popular INTPs that did exactly that,

bringing forth new inventions

drawn from their own conclusions.

And INTP is a natural

when it comes to coming up with
new and creative solutions,

making them great people

that can help brainstorm
fresh perspectives.

When an INFP is in full focus mode

or find personal value in their task,

they can be very organized and structured.

Journaling, for example,

is one way for INFPs to express themselves

while maintaining a sense of order.

A healthy INFP is more than capable

of using a structured and
predictable set of rules

to get the job done.

But, as it is not usually
their strongest suit,

they can tire out easily afterward.

An INFP is a feeler first and foremost,

so they would usually evaluate
their values and principles

in connection with the tables and charts,

making sure that there's
an underlying meaning

in the things that they do.

So which one of these two types

do you think most resonates with you?

Do you have traits from both sides?

Let us know in the comments below.

Also remember to like and share this video

with those who might benefit from it,

and as always, thanks for watching.

See you next time.