For INFPs the dominant quality in their lives is a deep-felt caring and idealism about people. They experience this intense caring most often in their relationships with others, but they may also experience it around ideas, projects, or any involvement they see as important. INFPs are often skilled communicators, and they are naturally drawn to ideas that embody a concern for human potential. INFPs live in the inner world of values and ideals, but what people often first encounter with the INFP in the outer world is their adaptability and concern for possibilities.
 

About the INFP

Expert Quotes & Links

“To understand Healers, we must understand their idealism as almost boundless and selfless, inspiring them to make extraordinary sacrifices for someone or something they believe in. The Healer is the Prince or Princess of fairytale, the King’s Champion or Defender of the Faith…”
- The Portrait of a Healer Idealist (Keirsey)

“INFPs are highly intuitive about people. They rely heavily on their intuitions to guide them, and use their discoveries to constantly search for value in life. They are on a continuous mission to find the truth and meaning underlying things. Every encounter and every piece of knowledge gained gets sifted through the INFP’s value system, and is evaluated to see if it has any potential to help the INFP define or refine their own path in life.”
- Portrait of an INFP (The Personality Page)

“creative, smart, idealist, loner, attracted to sad things, disorganized, avoidant, can be overwhelmed by unpleasant feelings…”
- INFP Jung Type Descriptions (similarminds.com)

“An INFP’s feelings form the foundations of the individual. They are sacred and binding, in the sense that their emergence requires no further justification. An INFP’s feelings are often guarded, kept safe from attack and ridicule. Only a few, close confidants are permitted entrance into this domain.”
- INFP Profile (INFP Mailing List)

“Highly creative, artistic and spiritual, they can produce wonderful works of art, music and literature. INFPs are natural artists. They will find great satisfaction if they encourage and develop their artistic abilities. That doesn’t mean that an INFP has to be a famous writer or painter in order to be content. Simply the act of “creating” will be a fulfilling source of renewal and refreshment to the INFP. An INFP should allow himself or herself some artistic outlet, because it will add enrichment and positive energy to their life.”
- INFP Personal Growth (The Personality Page)

“INFPs never seem to lose their sense of wonder. One might say they see life through rose-colored glasses. It’s as though they live at the edge of a looking-glassworld where mundane objects come to life, where flora and fauna take on near-human qualities.”
- INFP Profile (TypeLogic)

“Their job must be fun, although not racous, and it must be meaningful to them. They need a strong purpose in their work. They want to be recognized and valued, without undue attention given to them. They may become embarrassed when make the center of attention. As a result, they may undersell their strengths in order to avoid being singled out and made to feel conspicuous. They would rather have their worth be noticed gradually over time.”
- INFP – The Dreamer (Lifexplore).

Famous INFPs

Real INFP People

• A. A. Milne – author (Winnie the Pooh)
• Albert Schweitzer – theologian, musician, physician
• Aldous Huxley – English author
• Amy Tan – author (The Joy-Luck Club)
• Annie Dillard – author (Pilgrim at Tinker Creek)
• Audrey Hepburn – actress (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
• Dick Clark – television personality
• Donna Reed – acress
• Fred Rogers – Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
• Fred Savage – actor (The Wonder Years)
• George Orwell – author, journalist
• Helen Keller – deaf/blind author, activist, lecturer
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – American poet
• Isabel Briggs Myers – psychological theorist
• J. R. R. Tolkien – writer (Lord of the Rings)
• James Herriot – veterinary surgeon, writer
• James Taylor – singer-songwriter, guitarist
• John – Disciple of Jesus
• John F. Kennedy, Jr. – lawyer, journalist, publisher
• Laura Ingalls Wilder – author (Little House on the Prairie)
• Lisa Kudrow – actress (“Phoebe” on Friends)
• Luke – physician, author
• Mary – Mother of Jesus
• Mia Farrow – actress
• Neil Diamond – musician
• Peter Jackson – filmmaker (Lord of the Rings
• Princess Diana – Princess of Wales
• Scott Bakula – actor (Start Trek Enterprise)
• Tom Brokaw – television journalist
• Virgil – ancient Roman poet
• William Shakespeare – English poet and playwright

Fictional INFPs (Characters)

• Anne – Anne of Green Gables
• Bastian Balthazar Bux – The Neverending Story
• Calvin – Calvin and Hobbes
• Deanna Troi – Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Doctor Julian Bashir – Star Trek: Deep Space 9
• Doug Funnie – Doug cartoon
• E.T. – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
• Fox Mulder – X-Files
• Rocko – Rocko’s Modern Life
• Tommy Pickles – Rugrats
• Wesley Crusher – Star Trek: The Next Generation

INFP Career Matches

INFPs are often happy with the following jobs which tend to match well with the Dreamer/Visionary personality.

• Activist
• Actor
• Architect
• Artist
• Church Worker
• Counselor
• Editor
• Educational Consultant
• Employee Development Specialist
• Fashion Designer
• Filmmaker
• Graphic/Web Designer
• Holistic Health Practitioner
• Human Resources
• Journalist
• Legal Mediator
• Librarian
• Massage Therapist
• Minister
• Missionary
• Musician
• Photographer
• Physical Therapist
• Psychologist/Counselor
• Researcher
• Social Scientist
• Social Worker
• Speech Pathologist
• Teacher/Professor
• Translator/Interpreter
• Video Editor
• Writer

INFP