On this page, you will discover the INFP MBTI profile:
- What its preferences mean;
- Its main characteristics, strengths and potential challenges.
- You will also gain insight into:
The type of environment that suits it best;
- Its communication and leadership style;
- How it responds to change and stress;
- As well as guidance on how to better understand and coach this type.
This page outlines the key aspects of the INFP profile. For a more nuanced and personalised understanding, MBTI® training can help clarify your type and identify practical ways to develop further.
What does INFP mean?
INFP is the code created by Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs to represent the MBTI® personality type that shows a preference for:
- Introversion (I)
- Intuition (N)
- Feeling (F)
- Perceiving (P)
The INFP is often perceived as a caring, idealistic and creative individual.
What are the characteristics of an INFP? | How can you recognise whether you are an INFP?
How does the INFP analyse information?
Early in life, the INFP develops their Dominant function, Introverted Feeling (Fi).
The INFP makes decisions on a subjective basis, according to their personal value system - what they consider to be right, good, or fair.
They analyse everything that happens around them in order to check whether it is consistent with their values. They enjoy in-depth discussions, philosophical and ethical reflections, and appreciate the company of people with whom they can share these thoughts and explorations.
Fiona (Fi) *
Introverted Feeling
How does the INFP perceive information?
During adolescence, the INFP develops their Auxiliary function, Extraverted Intuition (Ne).
They perceive information in a global and associative way. When an INFP receives a piece of information, their mind unconsciously and instantly connects it to another one. Show them an apple, and they might think of New York, Newton, Adam and Eve…
For the INFP, any new information triggers new associations of ideas and further reflection - links with past experiences, projections into the future, and returns to the present moment. This relationship with information gives the INFP a strong ability to generate new ideas continuously and to show a high level of creativity.
Nelly (Ne) *
Extraverted Intuition
* The drawings and characters representing Extraverted Intuition (Ne), Nelly, and Introverted Feeling (Fi), Fiona, come from our MBTI book “Vous êtes unique, vos interlocuteurs aussi!” and are protected by copyright.
How does an INFP function?
INFPs often recognise themselves when they are described as idealistic individuals, deeply attached to their values and seeking harmony at work and in life. They need a living environment - both personal and professional - that is aligned with their value system.
INFPs are generally quite creative and show a strong ability to deal with unexpected situations.
Naturally more reserved, they often demonstrate a high level of empathy and sensitivity, but they can become outspoken or forceful when their values are challenged.
INFP profiles are frequently identified as people who need to live in alignment with their own value system, with all the positive aspects this brings, as well as the excesses it may sometimes lead to.
What are the strengths and potential challenges of the INFP?
What are the strengths of the INFP?
The INFP generally shows a high level of sensitivity and deep empathy, even though expressing personal feelings is not always easy.
INFPs are highly attentive to values, ethics, and sense of purpose. They are often the people others turn to when there is a need to realign with a company’s core values and restore coherence.
This personality profile is also often drawn to personal development, support roles, and coaching. However, the INFP is one of the MBTI® profiles most disadvantaged by traditional coaching methodologies, particularly those relying on the GROW model. As a result, it is also one of the profiles that benefits most from a differentiated coaching approach.
INFPs often demonstrate strong creativity, along with an excellent ability to adapt to unexpected situations and to “land on their feet.”
They also tend to have a natural ease in holding a global perspective, approaching a problem from multiple angles, and considering both present and future implications.
What are the potential challenges of the INFP?
INFPs generally experience significant difficulty expressing their feelings, needs, and frustrations. Over time, this can lead to intense emotional outbursts that may be striking but are usually short-lived, and often followed by heavy feelings of remorse.
Sticking to decisions once they are made, maintaining continuity, and seeing a project through to its final details without launching new ideas requires considerable effort.
INFPs may also tend towards idealism and can commit to too many projects at the same time.
An INFP often recognises themselves as someone who struggles to express their feelings, even though those feelings are deeply important to them.
What is the INFP’s preferred work environment?
The MBTI helps to understand the type of work environment in which an INFP can thrive, as well as those that may prevent them from expressing themselves effectively.
What does an INFP look for in their work?
An INFP needs work that aligns with their values, allows them to give meaning to their life, and supports personal growth.
They are drawn to roles that enable them to help others develop.
They value autonomy, variety, and harmony in their work.
During leadership training, an INFP will learn to take into account that this need is not shared by most other MBTI® profiles.
What an INFP does not want in their work
An INFP does not appreciate authoritarian work environments.
Working in a setting that does not offer sufficient flexibility to explore new ideas, that lacks harmony, or that conflicts with their values can be particularly challenging for an INFP.
An INFP can become very firm when situations arise in the workplace that go against their ethical principles.
What leadership style does an INFP prefer?
The INFP belongs to the Idealist temperament identified by David Keirsey.
They need work that gives meaning to their life.
They seek a work environment that is aligned with their value system. They aim to feel in harmony and to grow both professionally and as an individual.
They appreciate a manager who supports their personal growth. As a leader, they feel particularly comfortable in a coaching relationship, enjoy bringing meaning to work, and aim to help their colleagues progress by acting as a coach-manager.
In their management style, they tend to take on a support or mentor role and allow a certain degree of freedom to their team members. Managers training should help them develop the ability to focus on short-term tangible results, improve their capacity to give direct feedback, and cultivate greater stability.
An INFP personality greatly appreciates having a boss who coaches them and supports their personal development.
What is the INFP’s communication style?
INFPs use an abstract language, rich in imagery and metaphors of all kinds. They often handle, with notable skill, a form of humour based on wordplay and imaginative associations.
They frequently jump from one topic to another, sometimes in a surprising way, occasionally even in the middle of a sentence.
They tend to communicate in a global manner, starting with conclusions, and may sometimes struggle to clearly present the facts on which those conclusions are based.
They mainly communicate to exchange ideas and often forget to communicate their decisions once they have reached a conclusion.
Their reasoning is subjective, grounded in their personal value system, and aimed at achieving what feels right, good, and just to them.
The main areas for development for an INFP are:
- Taking distance from their judgements;
- Communicating in a more factual and concrete way;
- Expressing their feelings and needs more proactively.
An INFP readily engages in topics they consider meaningful and enjoys “rethinking the world.”
What is the INFP’s change management style?
The INFP is often a strong contributor in brainstorming sessions - sessions in which they generally enjoy taking part.
Their ideas are numerous and original, even though not all of them are realistic. Their capacity to generate new ideas is so abundant that they will never have the time to implement even a small portion of them, which can be a recurring source of frustration.
They are particularly effective when it comes to generating creative ideas and thinking outside the box. The human dimension is naturally integrated into their search for new ways of doing things.
The areas for improvement that they typically seek in change management training relate to their ability to see ideas through to completion; to sort and prioritise their many ideas; to maintain a clear thread throughout a project; and to anchor change initiatives more firmly in what is already working well within their organisation.
INFP types are often the source of unexpected ideas and may easily lose sight of what was initially agreed upon.
What is the INFP’s conflict management style?
For an INFP, conflict does not naturally arise from a difference of opinion, but rather from difficulties in mutual understanding and respect. The relational dimension of conflict is paramount.
When faced with conflict, the INFP’s first instinct is to try to understand the other person - their feelings, needs, and frustrations - and they hope to receive the same in return. As a result, the INFP tends to ask many questions in an attempt to foster mutual understanding, sometimes at the expense of focusing on objective solutions.
In conflict situations, they may be perceived as overly sensitive, seen as playing the role of a psychologist or social worker, or viewed as insufficiently focused on objectives, solutions, and concrete action. This tendency can be balanced by using the four-question model to support a more effective approach to conflict management.
An INFP manages conflict by seeking to understand the other person’s feelings and by striving to obtain understanding, empathy, and respect in return.
What are the stress mechanisms of an INFP?
What causes stress for an INFP? How do they react under stress? What strategies do they use to manage it?
The MBTI helps to understand what causes stress for an INFP and to anticipate their behaviours under both mild and severe stress. In this sense, the MBTI is a valuable tool for stress management.
What causes stress for an INFP?
The main stressors for an INFP include:
- Being confronted with a lack of respect for their values or opinions.
- Having to follow rules for the sake of rules, at the expense of human considerations.
- Facing too many deadlines or a lack of flexibility, whether in personal life or at work.
- INFPs generally do not appreciate critical, negative people who are closed to change.
How does an INFP react under stress?
Under mild stress, an INFP may become defensive and misinterpret the words, attitudes, or behaviours of others. They may become intolerant and show rigidity towards people whose behaviour or ideas conflict with their value system.
Under severe stress, they may become critical and dogmatic, and adopt an attacking stance towards those who do not respect their values. They can then become direct and harsh, and in extreme cases may display sudden and intense outbursts of anger.
How can an INFP recover from stress?
Spending time with people who listen and respect their values, engaging in deep conversations, and having the freedom to let their mind explore ideas without constraint are all effective ways for an INFP to reduce stress.
Under intense stress, an INFP may be surprising, shifting from a usually sensitive and gentle person to a much tougher attitude, sometimes even showing anger.
What is the type dynamics of an INFP?
- The Dominant function of the INFP is Introverted Feeling (Fi)
- The Auxiliary function is Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
- The Tertiary function is Introverted Sensing (Si)
- The Inferior function is Extraverted Thinking (Te)
- The Opposing function is Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
- The Critical Parent is Introverted Intuition (Ni)
- The Trickster is Extraverted Sensing (Se)
- The Demonic function is Introverted Thinking (Ti)
The Dominant, Auxiliary, Tertiary and Inferior functions were described by C. Jung in Psychological Types. The Opposing, Critical Parent, Trickster and Demonic functions were later described by J. Beebe (J. Beebe’s archetypes).
Understanding type dynamics creates opportunities for more tailored coaching, allowing the needs of an INFP coachee to be addressed more quickly and more sustainably.
How can an INFP develop over the course of life?
What kind of child is the INFP?
During childhood, INFPs tend to be compliant, caring, and sensitive.
How does the INFP develop during adolescence?
During adolescence, the INFP develops creativity and imagination.
They may also regularly adopt more extraverted behaviours.
How can the INFP develop in adulthood (possible development in their thirties)?
In their thirties, the INFP may become more practical and less focused on the future.
At this stage, they may find it easier to meet deadlines, bring more structure into their life, and be less distracted by the many new ideas that regularly arise.
How can the INFP develop in midlife (possible development around 40–50 years old)?
In midlife, the INFP may become more logical and more naturally assertive.
They may then find it easier to express a personal point of view without fearing that they might hurt others. They may also manage anger more effectively when faced with behaviours that violate their value system.
An INFP who has successfully completed the process of individuation is able to express needs and feelings proactively, thereby preventing the outbursts of anger that may have occurred earlier in life.
What are the links between the INFP profile and Process Communication® profiles?
MBTI® and Process Communication® are based on different underlying models:
- MBTI® is an innate model: we are born with natural preferences that influence how we perceive the world and make decisions.
- Process Communication® is an acquired model. The profile develops through education and life experiences, particularly early in childhood.
There are links between the two models. Certain Process Communication Model® profiles are more likely to develop in some MBTI® types, even though there is no automatic correspondence.
Our experience in Process Communication Model training shows that INFPs frequently have a Perseverer base. This can be explained logically by the INFP’s introverted Feeling, which provides a favourable foundation for the development of a need for recognition of opinions and usefulness (of work).
We also regularly encounter Dreamer profiles in Process Communication® among INFPs.
How to coach an INFP?
Among the 16 MBTI® personality types, the INFP is one of those most likely to feel uncomfortable with methodologies such as GROW and with “linear” coaching approaches.
In differentiated coaching, the coach unlocks the INFP’s development potential by moving away from a linear approach. This is an even more important skill for a coach, as the INFP is one of the profiles most drawn to personal development processes.
Find out more in the article on coaching an INFP.
A structured, linear coaching approach does not help an INFP to progress.
