How To Spot An Introvert

Whilst most people rely on how determining whether someone is introverted by how they speak much, whether they listen well or not, whether they are leaders or followers, whether they’d go to parties regularly and so on, such methods will lead to inaccuracy when someone does not fit the mould.

Here are some tips that will help you spot even the most talkative introvert:

• The natural equilibrium state of an introvert will be detached or contained within themselves as that is where they gain energy from
• In conversation they will typically have a neutral to backward lean - they may lean forward while they draw upon extroverted functions, but they will return to their equilibrium contained state after
• There will be a greater comfort level in using introverted functions when disengaging eye contact (up, down, left or right) from the conversation or environment

The Introvert Myth

Common belief is that introverts are most drained by being around people and social interaction, however this is not the case with all introverts. In fact many introverts will not find interacting with other people that draining and be highly articulate, well skilled in conversation and public speaking (particularly IxxJ's as they have their external interaction function, Fe or Te, placed second on their functional hierarchy), which can result in them being misconceived or mistyped as extroverts, when they are actually drawing their energy from inside as introverts do.

The truth is that introverts are drained by different aspects of the external world depending on what their dominant (which is what we are most stimulated by) and hence inferior cogntive function (which is what we are most drained by) is:

Si dominants (ISTJ and ISFJ) are most drained by Ne i.e. the different patterns and possibilities of the external world

Ni dominants (INTJ and INFJ) are most drained by Se i.e. the literal physical details of the external world

Fi dominants (ISFP and INFP) are most drained by Te  i.e. the structural dynamics and protocols of the external world

Ti dominants (ISTP and INTP) are most drained by Fe i.e the social dynamics of the external world

Famous INFP

Male

Jimmy Carter
Danny Devito
Robert Downey Jr.
Tom Hanks
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Michael Jackson
Jack Johnson
Toby McGuire
Jon Cryer

Female

Christina Appelgate
Kim Basinger
Kate Beckinsale
Monica Bellucci
Cher
Jennifer Connelly
Marcia Cross
Ellen Degeneres
Calista Flockhart
Steffi Graf
Katherine Hepburn
Norah Jones
Sophie Marceau
Andie McDowell
Gwyneth Paltrow
Kristen Stewart
Julia Stiles
Mena Suvari

INFP Profile

Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Auxiliary Cognitive Function: Extroverted Intuition (Ne)
Tertiary Cognitive Function: Introverted Sensing (Si)
Inferior Cognitive Function: Extroverted Thinking (Te)

INFP Celebrities

Extroverted Thinking (Te) - Cognitive Functions

What Is It?

Extroverted Thinking (Te) is an external “dynamics” judgment function that makes objective decisions based on the systematic dynamics of the external world.

Who uses it?

• As a dominant function (most stimulated by) – ESTJ, ENTJ
• As a auxiliary function (supporting the dominant function) – ISTJ, INTJ
• As a tertiary function – ENFP, ESFP
• As an inferior function (most drained by) – INFP, ISFP

What are it's characteristics and themes?

• Systematic
• Efficient
• Competitive
• Forceful
• Authoritative

 For more about the cognitive functions and how to further develop their use check out Functions of Type: Activities for Developing the Eight Jungian Functions

Introverted Feeling (Fi) – Cognitive Functions

What Is It?

Introverted Feeling (Fi) is an internal “compass” judgment function that makes subjective decisions based on personal feelings, morals and values.

Who uses it?

• As a dominant function (most stimulated by) – INFP, ISFP
• As a auxiliary function (supporting the dominant function) – ENFP, ESFP
• As a tertiary function – ISTJ, INTJ
• As an inferior function (most drained by) – ESTJ, ENTJ

What are it's characteristics and themes?

• Poignant
• Empathetic
• Idealistic
• Virtuousness
• Conviction
• Devotion

For more about the cognitive functions and how to further develop their use check out Functions of Type: Activities for Developing the Eight Jungian Functions  

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) – Cognitive Functions

What Is It?

Extroverted intuition is an external “stimulus” perception function that gives us information based on the present environment via patterns and impressions, that gives us information in terms of ideas, interpretations and possibilities we can use to make decisions.

Who uses it?

• As a dominant function (most stimulated by) – ENTP, ENFP
• As a auxiliary function (supporting the dominant function) – INTP, INFP
• As a tertiary function – ESTJ, ESFJ
• As an inferior function (most drained by) – ISTJ, ISFJ

What are it's characteristics and themes?

• Creative Thinking
• Brainstorming
• Pattern Surfing
• Enthusiastic about possibilities
• Improvisation

For more about the cognitive functions and how to further develop their use check out Functions of Type: Activities for Developing the Eight Jungian Functions

Introverted Sensing (Si) – Cognitive Functions

What Is It?

Introverted Sensing (Si) is an internal “worldview” perception function that gives us information based on past experience using the 5 basic senses that we can use to make decisions.

Who uses it?

• As a dominant function (most stimulated by) – ISFJ, ISTJ
• As a auxiliary function (supporting the dominant function) – ESTJ, ESFJ
• As a tertiary function – INFP, INTP
• As an inferior function (most drained by) – ENFP, ENTP

What are it's characteristics and themes?

• Grounded
• Consistency
• Stability
• Practicality
• Specificity
• Maintenance
• Memory

For more about the cognitive functions and how to further develop their use check out Functions of Type: Activities for Developing the Eight Jungian Functions

Which personality type is most likely to be interested in Myers-Briggs/Jung Theory?

My initial thinking was definitely one of the NF (Idealist) personalities – in The Art of Speed Reading People, Tieger mentions “for the philosophical idealists life is a journey of self-discovery – a perpetual search for meaning. Their mission is to understand as much about themselves and others as they possibly can, in order to achieve their potential” – is this not the essence of the MBTI/Jung Personality theory? Helping people understand themselves and others better.

But, lets look at it from a more segmented perspective, dealing with the 4 key preferences:

Introvert or Extroverts? Introverts are much more likely to be interested as they prefer introspecting, which is required to discover your personality type in the first place, and lets be honest there's a whole lot of reading, which many extroverts will find draining (they'd probably rather be amongst other people discussing it).

Intuitive or Sensors? Whilst MBTI does have a wide and growing range of practical applications, it’s very much theoretically based, which means Intuitive types are much more likely to be interested.

Thinkers or Feelers? Feelers tend to be more interested in personal analysis and human nature than thinkers who are generally more interested in impersonal analysis and things/objects.

Judgers or Perceivers? Perceivers are generally more likely to be curious and looking to expand their knowledge than judgers – so they’d be more likely to find out about or stumble upon MBTI in the first place.

So, that makes sense that an NF is the most likely to be interested in Myers Briggs/Jung Personality theory, but are INFP actually the most likely to be interested in it?

Well, PersonalityCafe forums seems to agree – out of all the forums for individual types INFP’s by far have the most posts - looking at it on 17/5/2010 they have 1574 threads and 40014 posts, the next highest being INFJ’s with 952 threads, 21053 posts followed by, ENFP in 3rd with 730 threads, 15404 posts.