Each person has a different way of behaving, thinking, and reacting to situations. These characteristics of a person form his or her personality. Scientists have, therefore, formed different types of personalities to group people who behave and think the same way together and differentiate people from one other.
The two personalities that we will be discussing in this article are INSP and INFP. These two personalities are very similar to each other as they share 3 of the 4 cognitive functions that form our personality. That’s why people tend to get confused between the two and think of them as the same.
In this article, we aim to clear all such confusion and help you to be able to tell ISFP and INFP apart. We will discuss what these two personality types are, the 4 cognitive functions that form personalities, and the differences between ISFP and INFP.
ISFP and Their Personality Traits
The word ISFP stands for introvert sensing, feeling, and, perceiving. It is one of the 16 personality types founded by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers.
ISFP personality types are introverts they tend to keep to themselves and are reluctant to talk to others and express their emotions in front of other people. Another notable trait of IFSP is that they are optimistic people who live every day of their lives very cheerfully with enthusiasm. Living in the present and enjoying every day to the fullest is a trademark of their personality.
They’re pragmatic and do not limit their options while making a decision instead they look at and consider a wide range of options to make the best decision. The fact that they live in the moment allows them to be well aware of their surroundings. At first, they might seem hard to talk to and be friends with but once you get to know them they are very friendly and loyal. ISFPs are loyal to friends and family, accepting of others, and are not judgemental at all. They like to live with other people in a loving and peaceful way.
Lastly, they’re creative. They have a very strong aesthetic sense and wide imagination. ISFPs are most talented in arts as they are always looking for beauty in their surroundings and love to explore new ideas. They view life as a place to explore and express their ideas creativity emotions passions and feelings.
What Is an INFP?
The words INFP stand for introversion, intuition, feeling, and perception. It’s also one of the 16 personality types founded by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers.
And just like ISFP, INFP personality types are also introverts and they tend to keep to themselves and are reluctant to talk to others and express their emotions in front of other people.
What are the Personality Traits of an INFP?
They are called mediators or idealists because they think of ways they can benefit other people and change the world. They have strong ideals and spend their lives in pursuit of those ideals and in following them to bring about a more significant change. They also focus on how they can use their skills to be useful to others.
They try to find their purpose in life by thinking about the future rather than focusing on the present as they believe a better future is always possible. They strongly believe in individualism and uniqueness and that each person must find their own path and follow it.
They make decisions based on their values and emotions instead of facts and information. They tend to ignore small details when working on something and focus more on the bigger picture. This is also the reason that they tend to delay the decision-making process just in case something about the current situation changes and the possibility for a better outcome may emerge.
The 4 Cognitive Functions of Each Personality
Cognitive functions are the psychological ability of a person to think learn and remember and they form the basis of our personalities. These abilities are an important part of our lives and are necessary for human behavior.
Cognitive functions are used to do several tasks like learning a new language, learning to code, or even everyday tasks like cooking and driving
Four Main Types of Cognitive Functions:
Intuition
Intuition is like an instinct that we as humans have developed. It is our likeness to think a particular way or react and behave in a particular way towards a situation without thinking. It’s also like a gut feeling which comes to our mind and is visible enough to us that we can act on it.
However, we do not know the root of this feeling or hunch. Intuition basically helps us to judge a situation without analytical reading or logical reasoning by linking our unconscious mind to the situation at hand. Although many people fear using intuition, it can greatly help us in decision-making and thinking.
Thinking
Thinking is a complex activity that involves many parts of the brain. There are two types of thinking: explicit and implicit. Explicit thinking is conscious and deliberate, while implicit thinking is unconscious and automatic.
We often think without being aware of what we are doing, but we can consciously control our actions.
Sensing
Sensing is the ability to recognize patterns and trends in data. Sensing allows us to predict future events based on past experiences. This is done through the use of algorithms and machine learning.
Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence where computers learn without being explicitly programmed. When we sense something, our brain makes predictions based on what we’ve experienced before. We then compare those predictions against reality to determine whether they were correct.
Feeling
Feelings are emotions that we experience. They are what makes us human. We feel happy, sad, angry, excited, etc. When we feel something, our body reacts to this feeling.
Our heart beats faster, our breathing gets heavier, our muscles tense up, and our face may flush red. This is called a physiological reaction. Physiological reactions are automatic responses to feelings.
Differences Between ISFP and INFP
ISFP and INFP personality types have a lot of similarities between them but this doesn’t mean they don’t have differences. ISFPs act spontaneously and carefreely they tend to live in the moment and enjoy every day to its fullest and are genuinely happy people. INFPs on the other hand is more focused on the future and do not indulge themselves in their surroundings or what is happening around them.
They don’t focus on tiny details and look at the bigger picture. ISFPs focus on tiny details and use them for problem-solving and making decisions. This is also the reason they are so connected with their surroundings.
ISFPS desire to live in peace and harmony with everyone and are not judgemental. INFPS however do judge the actions being taken by others because their actions may affect the world in the future. Since they’re idealists INFPS are harsh with themselves if they ever do not follow their ideals strictly. ISFPS aren’t harsh with themselves they are cheerful and optimistic.
Lastly, there’s also a big difference in how they view the world. ISFPs view the world as a canvas a place to express their creative imagination and inner self. Whereas INFPs views the world as a testing ground and a place where each person has to find his or her unique path and follow it to accomplish a better world. This is also the reason that instead of socializing with people they try to use their skills to help others.
| INFP | ISFP |
| Think about the future | Live in the present |
| Creative with ideas | Creative with physical stuff |
| Have a complex personality | Are easy to understand |
| They can stay alone and keep themselves entertained | They need company |
Examples of famous people who are INFP
- Princess Diana
- Audrey Hepburn
- Fred Rogers
- John Lennon
- Kurt Cobain
- Tori Amos
- Morrissey
- Chloe Sevigny
- William Shakespeare
- Bill Watterson
- A.A. Milne
- Helen Keller
- Carl Rogers
Examples of famous people who are ISFP
- Lady Gaga
- Michael Jackson
- Britney Spears
- Marilyn Monroe
- Rihanna
- Jimi Hendrix
- Frank Ocean
- Justin Timberlake
Conclusion
- Personalities are a huge part of ourselves and our existence. They’re what make us humans human
- INFP and INSP are two very common personality types and although they have many common characteristics they are largely different from each other.
- INFP and INSP are two introverted personality types yet they are still a lot different from each other.
- In order to know yourself better, you should try to discover your personality type.
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What Is the Difference Between INFJ and ISFJ? (Comparison)
INTJs VS ISTJs: What’s The Most Common Difference?
What is the Difference Between ESFP and ESFJ? (Facts Explained)