Fe

[flow]

I'm finally starting to understand all of my different MBTI abilities, such as the obvious INTP traits like Ti (Introverted thinking) and Ne (extroverted intuition), I'm also starting to realize I've had strong Fe (extroverted feeling) all my life. Does anyone else share this affliction? Haha it's actually not a bad thing, but it does seem at odds with how the rest of my mind works (good ol' rational thinking). I'm realizing that Se may be my weakest trait, though Si may be up there too... (sensing in general I seem very poor at). Anyone else?

 

[Decaf]

Me too. One of the greatest mysteries of growing up for me has been how to rationalize not only its existence, but its persistent subtle influence. While my life seems to function without its presence, it pops up every once in a while and shows me how much its actually been doing. I think I'm going to start calling it the 'ninja function'.

 

[Enne]

Hmm..sadly, my Fe only comes out when I've had enough.

 

[Xel]

My emotions are never really that strong unless I'm viewing some kind of art. Emotions are also linked with certain ideas that hold weight for me (both rational arguable ideas like the unconscious or more irrational yet potent ones like true love)... but could those "emotions" simply be Si or intuition

 

[echoplex]

That's funny about Si, 'cause I would say my Si is quite strong, although like you, my Se is probably my weakest.

Back to Fe: I've thought for a while that it's my weakest, or at least 2nd weakest function. I think that typically for INTPs it's position is one of weakness, but also one of emergence. While many INTPs may never care to develop Se or Te, we seem to have a strong, although possibly hidden, underlying desire to develop Fe.

I think Ti has a tendency to beat a person down after a while, and even Ne can't quite sooth us after a while. So I think we kind of see Fe as a sort of temporary relief from constant analysis. I have to admit it is nice (although a bit weird) to just relax my mind occasionally and just try to make everyone around me feel good. It doesn't last long, but it's a nice break from the supercomputer we fondly know as Ti.

Plus, it's not like Ti is ever gonna up and leave us. If it ever even tried to leave, I'd track it down and murder it! *ahem* excuse me, I lost control for a second. But it seriously better not leave.

 

[Ermine]

Agreed. I find Fe dominant people fascinating, depite my having little in common with them. Mostly due to that Fe envy.

 

[Enne]

Agreed. I find Fe dominant people fascinating, depite my having little in common with them. Mostly due to that Fe envy.

Fenvy.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

I'm also starting to realize I've had strong Fe (extroverted feeling) all my life. Does anyone else share this affliction?

Yep, the malady is mutual.

Unfortunately, it tends to manifest itself as this:

http://intjforum.com/showpost.php?p=208144&postcount=21


But also, I like to please people I care about. It makes me feel good to make someone else happy. Usually others have desires that they want to fulfill while I'm kind of indifferent so I am happy to accommodate. It helps things to run smoothly and I can ride on the happiness of others.

I have found that feelings come out when something in the present reminds me of a past feeling (typically negative) or they are triggered by music or literature or film. In general my feelings come out of nowhere- I'm starting to recognize that most of my feelings are not my own, but those felt by characters in novels or the person singing the song. Also, when I feel down it is often because I am hormonal or tired or I forgot to eat. In other words, it's not the feeling of emotion that I initially think it is, but a feeling of the body. Now that I understand that, my life is far less tumultuous.

 

[Enne]

http://intjforum.com/showpost.php?p=208144&postcount=21

Blasphemy!

But... I don't feel this. Maybe that was an extreme case?

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

Yeah. It was a once in a lifetime extreme case for me, too. But it's hard to shake.

 

[Razare]

Fi ftw

 

[severus]

I think my Fe is pretty strong also. Actually, I think it is getting weaker as I get older.

 

[walfin]

On a side note, I don't think all INTPs necessarily have stronger Fe than Fi (try this, if someone else hasn't yet posted it somewhere else).

I have waaay higher Fi.

 

[flow]

True enough. I scored higher on Fi than Fe. But I think I probably scored higher on both Fi and Fe than the average INTP, considering I'm a borderline INFP.

 

[Anling]

My Fe also pops up out of nowhere. It probably is more active than I ever realise.

I'm starting to recognize that most of my feelings are not my own, but those felt by characters in novels or the person singing the song.

I do that too. If I'm reading something too emotionally tense I have to take breaks because it gets me all worked up. Especially with negative emotions. When I'm reading a story where someone else is making a character's life go to hell, I end up feeling the need to rend things and not knowing what to do about it. So I take a nap.

Also, when I feel down it is often because I am hormonal or tired or I forgot to eat. In other words, it's not the feeling of emotion that I initially think it is, but a feeling of the body.

I hate hormones! Even small changes throw me off. I hate being all emotional for absolutely no reason.

 

[Agent Intellect]

Fe, i'd say, is an automatic function for us. it happens beneath the surface, out of sight, and therefore we don't have to consciously use it. being such conscious and thoughtful individuals, it becomes more difficult for an INTP to notice that they are doing something "Fe-ish".

this, of course, going along with my current theory that extroverted judging functions are a more unconscious function (happening beneath the surface) while introverted ones are more of a conscious function (happening in the forefront of the mind, ie ones inner monologue). the closeness of the introverted judging functions could account for why it seems many INTP's actually score higher on Fi then Fe.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

I posted this on the INTP or ENTP thread, but it makes much more sense to have it here:


Why is the difference between Fe and Fi so hard for me to understand?

Okay, so I'm trying to figure out how this is for me: My feelings are like this: typically, I have a hard time understanding the feelings of others. This can lead to people thinking that I don't care. It's not that I don't care so much, but... in a way I sort of don't. If someone isn't around and I have an amicable relationship with them, I don't really think about them. If our relationship is on the rocks (and I happen to care about them), however, I will analyze and mull like crazy and rehash emotion after emotion, misstep after misstep, trying to make sense of the whole thing. Harmony is incredibly important to me. Drama and discord needs to be solved, but if that is impossible, I will run for the hills. (I don't mean arguing issues or debating; that's entirely different and something I tolerate well.)

Typically, though, I don't feel like I feel a whole bunch. I mean, sure, I feel love for my kids and my cats and my husband, but what makes me feel more than anything is good words in books, interesting ideas, music, films, some bird taking a bath in my bird bath- stuff that isn't an actual part of my actual life. But once I'm done experiencing the book or the film or whatever, the feeling also disappears and I forget it almost immediately.

So what is that? Fe or Fi? Anyone?

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

Anybody here ever read Personality Type by Lenore Thomson? She posits that the order of INTP functions is thus: Ti Ne Fi Se Ni Te Si Fe.

I don't know a whole lot about her, that's pretty much it.

 

[JoeJoe]

As I've said in other threads before, my Fe is also pretty strong.

 

[snowqueen]

I posted this on the INTP or ENTP thread, but it makes much more sense to have it here:


Why is the difference between Fe and Fi so hard for me to understand?

Okay, so I'm trying to figure out how this is for me: My feelings are like this: typically, I have a hard time understanding the feelings of others. This can lead to people thinking that I don't care. It's not that I don't care so much, but... in a way I sort of don't. If someone isn't around and I have an amicable relationship with them, I don't really think about them. If our relationship is on the rocks (and I happen to care about them), however, I will analyze and mull like crazy and rehash emotion after emotion, misstep after misstep, trying to make sense of the whole thing. Harmony is incredibly important to me. Drama and discord needs to be solved, but if that is impossible, I will run for the hills. (I don't mean arguing issues or debating; that's entirely different and something I tolerate well.)

Typically, though, I don't feel like I feel a whole bunch. I mean, sure, I feel love for my kids and my cats and my husband, but what makes me feel more than anything is good words in books, interesting ideas, music, films, some bird taking a bath in my bird bath- stuff that isn't an actual part of my actual life. But once I'm done experiencing the book or the film or whatever, the feeling also disappears and I forget it almost immediately.

So what is that? Fe or Fi? Anyone?

Can't help you out here but yet again you have described my experience with startling precision.

 

[Anling]

@ brain
Sounds like Fe to me.