A Study of Gifted INFPs

IINFP Personality Type in Gifted People




On the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, INFP is rare personality type, found in only about
4 % of the general population. Yet, of the possible 16 types, it is the one most frequently found for gifted people. This scarcity, coupled with their extreme intelligence, renders them seldom understood, and thus, rarely validated in relationships.

The following material is based on qualitative research involving in-depth interviews with eight highly gifted INFP adults and my clinical experience consulting with families of gifted people for 25 years including administering and interpreting personality type indicators with families of approximately 400 gifted children.
Representative abbreviated responses to their preferences and life experiences show:

This personality type affects their learning styles by: liking to concentrate on projects, and learn with a long range vision in mind; and disliking details. They are especially interested in possibilities for people. They need teachers to be flexible and love to explore ideas, things or places. They also need to have the personal feeling of being appreciated understand concepts or situations before experiencing them. They tend not to like competition and are bored with routine. They may be slow in answering because they need to consider the many possibilities.


School experiences were greatly about their relationship with their teachers, respect and encouragement. In school, lack of confidence and social isolation was evidenced in several recollections: °I felt like an outsider. I was respected, but I wasn't popular. °I was really fearful; terrified of school. I cried most days up through third grade. Nothing could have externally been scaring me. It was more internal disposition that I was bringing. ...I was really self conscious. °I had a lot of difficult experiences. (Difficulty) forming a sense of identity for myself. °I didn't feel there were enough people like me. °I didn't feel popular."


These INFPs are striving for self identity. Inquiry showed that they are high in feeling like they are impostors. Taking the MBTI gave them relief and legitimacy. Interpretation validated their right to be who they are and soothed their self concept. Subjects also had great enthusiasm for the interview process.


These INFPs described themselves as: a survivor, I believe in beauty; thoughtful, creative, SENSITIVE, loving, helpful, reflective, warm hearted, smart, a perfectionist, good friend, generous, caring, compassionate, reflective, warm hearted, loyal, kind, responsible, nice.


In response to: What are some of your personal qualities that you would like to be different? : ° I wish I were more confident; weren't so sensitive; not be as hard on myself; not so insecure; not take things personally all the time; less sensitive; a little more organized; being a procrastinator.





In interpersonal relationships, INFPs tend to make deep commitments and are concerned about relationships and harmony. The people they prize most are those who take the time to understand their values and the goals they are working toward. They had the least confidence that they are actually being helpful to other people. Males can be seen by others as too gentle, passive and may lack the qualities associated with traditional maleness.

For ways you sometimes feel misunderstood by other people, responses included: °I feel misunderstood a lot! °I could do a dissertation on that! In one way, it's when people don't know who I am. I guess they take me for something I'm not. °When I say what I want and people don't hear it. °People think I'm more confident than I am. °I'm more sensitive than other people think I am. °I'm more hurt. °Why do I Always Need to Explain?' is my theme song. °A lot of people are driven by things. I'm coming from a different perspective. It's like the whole base there is not understood.

What are some of your recurrent difficulties in your interpersonal relationships?: Several said that they tend to be more unmerciful and severe on themselves than they are on others. °Too busy, Can't give enough time to others. °I get really hurt; I'm sensitive. °People think I can handle it. °I don't have as much confidence as people think I have. °I'm impatient when working with other people because I work by myself a lot. °Going off on tangents; being different; non specific; I change my mind. °I like working by myself.

In response to, "What would you secretly like to tell people about how to relate well to you," qualities of self concepts and interpersonal relationships were illustrated: °Be patient, allow craziness; I'll come around. I'm processing inward. °Be honest. Do not make me a victim. °Be gentler with me. Understand me, accept me the way I am, and help me to accept myself. °Just be themselves, honest. °Listen and not prejudge things; really listen.

Responses to, How would you like people to remember you? summarize the composite of these people. Their legacies are portrayed by: °How much I loved. °As a nice person and someone who had good ideas. °That I tried. °I want people to be better because they met me, not worse. °As somebody who cared, and as somebody who people thought loved them. °As having made a difference in their life...that I've made a difference in the world. °Caring, empathetic, trustworthy, insightful, always seeking the truth.


In conclusion, these are deep, complex, somewhat melancholy people who are hard to understand.



©2004 Elizabeth A. Meckstroth