Introverted Feeling (Fi) vs. Ti, Ni, & Fe

by Dr. A.J. Drenth

Introverted Feeling (Fi) stands as one of the least understood personality functions. Moreover, its introverted direction produces no shortage of biases and misunderstandings between IFPs and other types. The purpose of this post is to enumerate the nature of Introverted Feeling and to compare and contrast it with related functions, including Ti, Ni, and Fe.

What is Introverted Feeling?

Since Fi is an introverted functions, FPs are slow to express their emotions and judgments outwardly. If they opt to express themselves at all, they often do so indirectly, by way of action, rather than verbally.

Introverted Feeling is quite similar to Ti in that it involves an ongoing process of building or modifying an inner structure/worldview, independent of societal conventions, which can serve as a platform for self-understanding and decision-making. This was nicely illustrated by one of my INFP blog contributors:

“My inner values and feelings (Fi) are like a building, a structure of affections that inform my worldview. This involves an inner love for certain things, and an inner repulsion for other things. My values and feelings form “blocks” of varying hardness, depending on how strongly I feel about them; the stronger ones are more resilient…I constantly discover more about the structure as I go, and what I should change to make it better. For example, I didn’t have to factually discern a respect for human dignity; I simply found myself in situations where people did not respect human dignity, and it made me angry — I found out that I hate bullying.”

While the core elements of IFPs’ worldview are firm and resilient, there are other features that are more flexible and open to modification. Consider the words of another INFP blog contributor:

“As for core truths in general, I’ve found that I, too, come to a decision about a particular thing through my Fi (I love it, I hate it, I value it, etc.) fairly quickly, but I work to keep it in soft, gray place for a while (not my method in my younger years). I throw some Ne darts at it to see if it’ll fade to gray or if it’ll firm up to a deep black. ONLY through this testing can I find that I trust and accept that inner Fi decision as a core truth. Very rarely has a core truth changed; I also have very few core truths and they are very broad! All the gray blobs circle the inner black ones.”

This idea of an inner structuring, involving affective blocks of varying degrees of hardness or blackness, seems to me a perfect illustration of the nature of Introverted Feeling. As is the case with TPs, this inner structuring grants FPs a strong sense of inner control. While FPs (especially IFPs) may feel they have little control over other people, they feel the one thing they can control and regulate is their own inner world—their feelings, values, and worldview.

Introverted Feeling (Fi) vs. Introverted Thinking (Ti): Moral Truth vs. Logical Truth

Since Fi and Ti  are both introverted judging functions that confer structure to the inner world, they share a great deal in common.

One might even make the case that Thinking, or what we call “logic,” evolved from and is rooted in a more primitive form of Feeling. Thinking may merely be a part of the Feeling function that, because of our highly specialized and scientific culture, has taken on a life of its own.

While many attempts have been made to differentiate between Fi and Ti, the difference seems mostly a matter of emphasis. Fi dominant types take up moral truths first (Fi) and logical truths last (Te). Notice the language used by the INFP contributors I quoted above. They talk about “loving” or “hating” things. These are moral judgments about what is good and what is not. Ti dominant types (particularly INTPs) start with a search for logical truth (Ti) and are typically not highly interested in moral issues (Fe) until later in their development. Ti types don’t speak in terms of love and hate, but true and false.

For example, in considering the merits of a given faith tradition or community, IFPs would likely consider whether its foundational values squarely align with their own. While they may have some interest in developing a deeper understanding of certain doctrines, including their factual or theoretical merits (Te), this would be of secondary importance to the community’s values and moral objectives.

INTPs, in contrast, may be relatively unconcerned with the moral objectives of the community. Rather, they would tend to be more interested its theology, as well as the intelligence and intellectual depth of its leadership.

While INFPs and INTPs start out their lives with different points of emphasis, those who continue to develop and differentiate their functional stack will often develop similar moral and philosophical perspectives. INTPs become more interested in the collective good (Fe) and INFPs develop the capacity to better navigate facts and logic (Te).

IFPs may also use their Fi to build an inner structure of artistic or musical taste and sensibility. As they grow and develop in their chosen art form, they feel they move closer and closer to some sort of objective (Te) level of quality or excellence (e.g., “My work speaks for itself.”). ISTPs may do something similar as artisans or craftsmen, producing work of ever-greater quality that others will love (Fe). Likewise, INTPs strive to use their intellect to discover truths that will someday contribute to the collective betterment (Fe).

Introverted Feeling (Fi) vs. Introverted Intution (Ni)

It can be somewhat difficult, especially from without, to distinguish the decision-making processes of an INFP from that of an INFJ. However, we can use our knowledge of the functions to better understand the differences.

As N dominants, INFJs do not generally rely on a predefined inner structure in the same way that INFPs do. Instead, they tend to approach each situation with fresh eyes, using their Se to subconsciously gather the situational puzzle pieces and their Introverted Intuition (Ni) to assemble them. Ni is primarily a synthesizing function. It’s purpose is gather and synthesize as much immediate information (Se) as possible and then produce an overall impression of a given person or situation.

Fi is similar to Ni in that it is not necessarily as conscious or “cognitive” as Ti. Unlike Ni, Fi is not a synthesizing function. It makes decisions according to a preexisting structure of inner values (see above). Hence, INFPs make judgments before collecting all the information about a situation. Because of the ordering of their functional stack, they are prone not to reflect on the big picture (Ne) until after their Fi has made its first judgment. But as INFPs grow and develop, they get better at opening up their Fi judgments with their Ne to ensure they haven’t prematurely jumped to an erroneous conclusion.

Another difference is that Fi does not inwardly feel like Ni. Ni entails a sort of vague (or at times strong) gut feeling, like having hunch about something. Fi is less vague and less connected with the gut. Fi judgments are not felt in any one bodily region. If they involve anger they may be felt in a different area than those that involve love. Or, IFPs may simply know their judgment without noticing much as far as bodily involvement.

Introverted Feeling (Fi) vs. Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

Introverted Feeling is more individualized than is Extraverted Feeling. EFJs, whose dominant function is Fe, are attuned to what is culturally endorsed and acceptable, making them less apt to deviate from conventions in their own Feeling judgments and preferences. This Fi-Fe difference becomes somewhat blurrier when Intuition is involved (e.g., INFJs), since Intuitives are often countercultural in their ideation.

Because Fi judgments are formed independent of cultural convention, IFPs tend to be skeptical of Fe. Since Fe is in many ways more generic and predictable, IFPs can see it as inauthentic and contrived. They fail to recognize that Fe types are not intentionally being fake or insincere, but are being authentic to themselves; not in an Fi sense, but an Fe sense. Nonetheless, IFP children can find it extremely difficult, confusing, and damaging if raised by an FJ parent who insists they put on a “happy face.”

Their bias against Fe may lead some IFPs to withhold expressing positive sentiments. They may even unwittingly repress positive emotions to bolster their idea of real and authentic Feeling. Such types may assume the role of the victim or martyr, often expressing their melancholy and grievances through art, poetry, or music.

Since their Feeling is introverted in direction, IFPs may not even look like Feeling types when viewed from without. They express their judgments through their Thinking function (Te) and can often seem cold and aloof. Despite the introversion of their Feeling, they cannot help but display some emotions through their body language. It is generally no secret to others when IFPs are feeling moody or touchy. They may sulk without ever giving reasons why.

Since IFPs feel that Fe tact is not helpful if it skirts or obscures the truth, they are disposed to “stating it like it is” (Te), expressing themselves through action (sometimes passive-aggressive action; see this post), or not saying anything at all. This may be why creative endeavors are important to so many IFPs, allowing them to sublimate their emotions and avoid the harmful side effects of bottling them.

Because both the content and mode of communicating their Feeling judgments is not conventional, IFPs are often misunderstood, especially by Fe types (or those with Fe in their top four functions). Fe types may struggle with IFPs’ lack of warmth and might see them as overly negative or moody. Fe types are looking for physical signs of emotional expressiveness, which are largely absent when IFPs are expressing themselves through their Te. This can make Fe-Fi communication uncomfortable, with the IFP questioning the Fe type’s sincerity and the Fe type questioning if the IFP is feeling anything at all.

Notes:

1. Because INTPs tend to push theology to its logical limits, many end up as atheists, agnostics, or non-theists. This is far less common among IFPs. Unless they were raised in a non-believing family or had very negative experiences with religion or “religious people,” IFPs are more likely to continue affirming the existence of a higher power. They may not take a firm stance on more peripheral doctrines of a faith tradition, but they will typically not feel compelled or capable of logically wrestling with questions of God’s existence. Doing so would require differentiation and development of their inferior Te which is relatively uncommon, especially among younger IFPs. If IFPs were to deny God’s existence, it would typically be for affective rather than logical reasons.

Related Posts:

Overview of the Eight Functions

Ti-Fe vs. Fi-Te Function Pairs

INFP Profile

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