The INFJ Myth

The first thing that strikes me about this portrait is that it is quite presumptuous. Among most of these sorts of descriptions of the INFJ we see at least some, if not many, elements that assume the INFJ has access to some special knowledge -- void of reason or justification. They just "know" and think very deeply, and the alleged profundity with which they treat topics, and it's comparable distance from normal thinking, is responsible for the chasm felt between the INFJ and others. In other words "2 deep 4 u"

Which, rationally, is quite a fallacious position to land on. To say someone just "knows" is unfalsifiable and confuses the sensation of knowing, with actual knowledge. But the MBTI architecture is very interesting because the INFJ portait escapes full scrutiny from the rational dimension by virtue of being an ethical/feeler type to boot, directing the narrative in the direction of the unquantifiable and unknown. This is quite an interesting development because what it does, archetypally speaking (to use Jungian terminology) is it affiliates the INFJ to the absolute feminine principle. The feminine principle is that which is eternally mysterious, eternally wise but also dangerous, from which life arises and from which death emerges. It's "unknowable by definition" which is exactly right of the INFJ as well. Because to be Ni is to have access to a type of psychic sense that one is not even aware of themselves.

I've seen them called "The Seer of Souls" as well as the "Psychics" and "Empaths". This video below truly captures this mythos the best:



Now, for those here who have knowledge of Jungian theory, you know this is essentially archetypal projection. Some references/examples here and here for those interested. The feminine, which can be the Anima or the Wise Woman/Crone, is the entity that carries the attributes above. Often times prophetic or heroic figures (i.e. Christ) are given this title. This is not a personality type, this is an archetype.

Now most people with even some knowledge of function dynamics know that this an an exaggeration. So I'm not really trying to strawman the INFJ portrait into its most iconic iteration. I'm instead aiming to note what this most iconic iteration says about the whole of the MBTI motivator and trend.

More generally, the same INFJ principle is reflected in the INFP sister type. And often times people who enter MBTI as an avid undertaking to discover their core elemental nature, struggle most with the question: Am I INFJ or INFP?




And so, even in the more toned-down and grounded profiles, this mystical undertone nonetheless emanates across the INFx types. And the attraction to the MBTI, especially in relation to the INxx types, has crossovers with archetypal themes. Anything that *captures* the human imagination, soul/identity in a powerful way like this has its roots in the primordial imagery.

We are innately drawn to symbolic narratives, and the MBTI phrases things by placing the type as the prodigal 'hero' at the center. It blurs over into that domain and I think this is what's responsible for much of its reception among laypeople.

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But, by an equal measure, it's also why so many people mistype as INFJ, INFP, INTP, INTJ. Their symbolic attraction and conflation of identity/ego with myth, which can seem like a very powerful and magical sudden feeling of "being understood", is hard to let go of.

Part of the reason it's hard to let go of is because this magnetic attraction to the original symbol is also defined by an antagonistic relationship to the polar: the EST (or ES) temperament. And so any suggestion of actually being within that category is an assault on both identity/ego and personal myth.

But what they might need to realize is that the symbol they resonate with is still a valid thing they resonate with. It's just not the functions. And what it means to be a "type" by CT's definition, is at its strictest level little more than an information metabolism methodology.

Sorry to ramble. This has pissed me off for a very long time and it just, burst out.