INFPs and Introverted Sensing (Si)
I guess I will start with INFPs and their tertiary function, introverted sensing (Si). This is the type that I know the best (even better than my own; probably because I know nine of them and are close to many).
I have observed that the third function in the function “stack” seems to be the one that plays the biggest part in the feeling of personal comfort and safety. If it is imbalanced or upset, it seems to affect the first and second functions’ ability to properly function.
In INFPs, this is noticeable with their Si (introverted sensing). Si is a function that deals with bodily sensations and with internal sensory stimuli. It also deals with consistency and regulation.
In all the INFPs I have known closely, I have noticed that they seem to be very conscious of their Si.
INFPs seem to be quite conscious of sensory stimuli, whether it is external or internal. They seem to be attracted to comfy clothing, good foods, and visually beautiful things. This can make them seem a bit materialistic or like they have lavish tastes. They like to indulge in things or experiences that feel good. It isn’t excessive or anything; it is just a source of comfort for them.
My mother loved expensive chocolate and beautiful art. My boyfriend only wears soft sweatpants and soft sweatshirts (I’ve only seen him in jeans once and it was for a funeral). My close INFP friend almost obsesses over critiquing food. My other INFP friend is really attached to one specific type of chewing gum (because of it’s taste and consistency) and keeps a whole dresser drawer full of it (I am not joking; he showed me after I didn’t believe him).
The downside to this is that they can be very easily disrupted if their Si is stimulated negatively.
INFPs are very sensitive to pain. Maybe there are some out there that have a higher tolerance but all the ones that I know are at the least very distracted by it and at the most, dysfunctional with it.
My mom flat out admitted that she was a baby with pain. She couldn’t handle any of it and always had a stash of aspirin with her. I can’t even count the number of times I have had to play nurse to my INFP friends. My one friend is the biggest baby with pain and cannot function at all if he gets a slight cut or a small headache. We were swimming and he stepped on a seashell and got a minor scrape (didn’t even draw blood; his skin just got roughed up) and then drove all the way home to go treat it.
They aren’t very good with feeling tired or hungry either and will get out of sorts until they encounter sleep or food.
They also seem to know intuitively if something is wrong or off inside their bodies. They are very good at telling when they are sick or if something isn’t right.
Their Si isn’t all bad though. It is a function that is fairly easy to deal with as sensory stimuli is often easy to externally “fix” (compared to if you had introverted intuition as a tertiary function).
You can also easily show INFPs you care with this function. This is why they often experience and give affection through actions and experiences rather than words or affirmations.
The way to their heart is often through their stomach. A good way to show them that you care for them is to make or bring them good food (I had no idea that I would get a bunch of INFPs to like me when I brought baked goods to robotics meetings; I was only trying to get rid of the sweets because my family couldn’t eat them all).
Letting them sleep in is another way of showing you care as sleep is very sacred to them. Another way is to let them control the temperature in a car if they are too hot or cold (and you aren’t).
A lot of INFPs also seem to like meaningful physical touch. The ones I know really enjoy hugs and physical contact from people they care about. They are still introverted and don’t like total strangers touching them but they can be very touchy-feely with people they love.