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Being "Fi"

Fi users are hard to explain, in part because their rich inner life is exactly that—an inner life. Unless an Fi is very good with words (or has a highly developed extroverted function), their inner life isn’t going to be readily available to others or even all that explicable. I, personally, am an INFP, so I’m coming at this from an INFP’s standpoint. As such, my view of an Fi may tend more towards an INFP than any other type (though I’ve tried to make this apply to ISFPs as well). For me, Fi users are people who are conceptual. They think of concepts before they think of the people involved. This is not to say that they are cold. Fi’s are generally very loving individuals. However, due to their Introverted nature, it’s hard for them to share that love with more than a handful of people at a time.

Fi’s tend to have a highly valued code of honor or truth that they work from. This code differs from Fi to Fi, but it is nearly always central to the Fi’s being. It is what the Fi uses to navigate the world. If something conflicts with an Fi’s code, then the Fi will either shun it or fight against it. Fi’s have a very strong sense of right and wrong and will choose what they do and who they do it with based off this value system. Fi’s may feel like they can sense a person’s true intentions and, if the Fi’s judgement is not clouded by other things, they may be right more often than not. Fi’s tend to have a tremendous amount of empathy towards others, but may not show it in a conventional way.

The best way to understand an Fi user and their love of other people is to think of random acts of kindness and quests. Fi users can be very quiet and non-intrusive in their love, partly out of their well-developed sense of other people’s space. Rather than making a point of washing the dishes or making someone’s favorite food, an Fi user is more likely to do these things and then disappear from the picture. Some of the shyer Fi users may even take steps to cover their tracks so that the act of kindness cannot be traced back to them (such as Boo Radley from To Kill A Mockingbird or Amélie in Amélie). This is because the Fi user isn’t necessarily interested in praise for their actions as much as knowing that they’ve made someone’s life a little brighter. The other way that Fi users show their love is through taking on a cause (or quest) that they believe will better the world. These causes can be anything from the universal (environmentalism, fighting breast cancer, ending world hunger) to the very personal (helping a friend, supporting a local business, making beautiful artwork). Whatever the cause is, you can be sure that the Fi will be passionate about it and will most likely be working hard to uphold it.

Fi users are often creative people. This may manifest itself in any number of ways, from painting or writing to inventing new solutions to problems. Fi’s may also be very devoted to figuring out who they are and what they stand for so that they can have a more concrete idea of their cause and value structure. Once an Fi figures this out, it becomes easier for them to relate what drives them to other people.

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Neuroscience of Personality

For the longest time, Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types has received criticism for being too vague and abstract without any basis in how human beings are actually made up. Dario Nardi’s Neuroscience of Personality reveals that Jung was right all along. How we process information, think, and behave is directly related to various brain states; different personality types use their brains in different ways. It’s not that each area of the brain corresponds to a specific cognitive function, but that similar types share common patterns of neurological activity. Most of the time, two types that share the same dominant function will have the same brain state. Secondary function brain states are employed by an individual less frequently, but are still highly noticeable. Sometimes a person will slip into his or her opposite physiological type, as indicated by brain scans. This evidence corresponds perfectly with the function hierarchy. Now let’s have a look at what’s going on inside the heads of the different psychological types.

Extraverted Sensing (ESTP, ESFP) - Nardi describes the brain activity of dominant Se users as a “tennis hop” pattern, with all regions at low amplitude and out of sync. Like a tennis player, Extraverted Sensing types are ready to respond any which way at a moment’s notice; they tend to be highly aware of their surroundings and alert to opportunities that arise in the present moment.

Introverted Sensing (ISTJ, ISFJ) - The activity of Si users corresponds with their job training and background. Introverted Sensors believe in the value of practice, so they have spent much time throughout their lives developing neural pathways from diligent repetition. Their brains become highly synchronized when they review the past, and they can be observed taking actions that help sustain traditions.

Extraverted Intuiting (ENTP, ENFP) - Since Ne types are so wildly creative, their brains are often high amplitude and out of sync. Each region is providing unique input, which is why they can easily think up highly original ideas. But their open-mindedness can sometimes keep them from focusing in depth on one particular task, as they use the sounds and ideas around them as creative input.

Introverted Intuiting (INTJ, INFJ) - Just like Si users use their whole brain to reflect on the past, Ni types get into this state when they imagine the future. These people are different in the way that they show increased activity when faced with unfamiliar situations, whereas others would show increased activity when faced with tasks in which they have developed expertise. In fact, Introverted Intuitors get into a zen-like state very easily; Ni is about incorporating many different inputs into one comprehensive picture.

Extraverted Thinking (ENTJ, ESTJ) - Just as Te users are primarily concerned with efficiency, their use of brain resources tends to be very efficient. They save their mental energy for when the tough decision making comes. Accordingly, they tend to be fact and evidence based, understanding that in order to convince people they must refer to what everyone can observe. But they can also be impatient to complete tasks, making errors along the way while still showing confidence.

Introverted Thinking (ISTP, INTP) - Ti dominants rely on four areas of the brain that enable them to perform highly complex, logical reasoning. These areas are grouped together and are used for thinking that resists environmental and social pressure. Thus, Introverted Thinkers can seem highly detached in their ability to think clearly. A problem area for them is that they tend to stop listening to someone when they believe the speaker lacks credibility.

Extraverted Feeling (ESFJ, ENFJ) - Extraverted Feelers have similar brain use as Extraverted Thinkers, only they focus on morals and ethics instead of facts and logic. One area that is especially active in these types is the region that monitors social behavior and adapts to feedback. At the same time, they use the front of their brains to suppress internal emotional impulses. Their brain is in a balanced state when they explain the morals and social responsibility behind their decisions.

Introverted Feeling (ISFP, INFP) - Fi dominant users show a pattern that reflects active listening. Such regions are for focusing on tone of voice and sincerity. They use their whole brain to listen to other people speak. They have barely any activity in regions that work with logical principles. Increased activity occurs when they are asked to talk about something that’s important to them personally.