Clarification on Feeling

[Nemesys]

I identify as an INTP and agree on nearly everything I've read about it, although some of the strong stereotypes do not apply to me: bad hygiene, lack of emotion, etc. I have also read up on ISTP, INTJ, some ENTP, and recently INFP. I don't consider myself a feeler, nor do my friends. For evaluation purposes, my age is 15 (although haven't even been 15 for a month, so rounding to 14 wouldn't be completely inaccurate). My issue is Introverted Thinking vs Introverted Feeling. I have done some reading and I am somewhat split because of minor details. I will be referencing http://personalityjunkie.com/05/introverted-feeling-fi-vs-introverted-thinking-ti/ as I delve into the specifics. For the Ti, I somewhat disagree on the idea that Ti's oppose Te systems. Don't get me wrong, I find (most of) them frustrating because you can't operate in an extremely structured environment with people and have them always be effective because people are individuals (may seem like an Fi think to say, although I would disagree) and differences should be accounted for. With the car example, I am definitely like that. When it inconveniences me or doesn't apply, I wont follow them. And the first sentence of the Fi section I disagree with. I personality dont care about personal tastes. When that affects someones decision, I find it strange unless the taste is somehow justified. This is where the problem stems.

Both Fi and Ti analyze and make decisions based on subjective principles.
Now it seems that whether you are a Ti or Fi user is based off of wherever, whatever, or whoever you derive your principles from. I feel I am missing something, or the downsides of soft science is showing its face. The former seems more likely.

Now I am just going to post this and revise if anything else comes to mind because if I dont it will never get posted

P.S: I do realize I am not taking into account any other functions, but this is because I would rather know the difference of these 2 functions specifically.


EDIT1: Forgot something major. I find it very difficult to differentiate between humans and normal feeling (everyone has feelings) and being a feeling type. Its not like I am always emotionless. When alone, I do go over feelings (not constantly like a Ni-Fi loop) but find myself throwing them out when around people and especially when discussing topic such as philosophy. Perhaps this could be emotional immaturity, but I find any investment, particularly emotional, is scary and avoid it. If anyone could clarify, that would be nice

 

[IndigoViolet11]

• Everybody got think and feeling
• We got different functions
• Think and feel at the same time is ok
• There is various perception and our values affect it.

Neither I agree with the link.

Ti and Fi

This is a quote from the linknu provide
ITPs’ methods often run contrary to those of Extraverted Thinking (Te). Te methods, such as “the scientific method,” are standardized and collectively endorsed. To participate in a Te system, one must consent to a predefined set of rules, protocols, and procedures. Te systems oppose the subjective preferences and methods of individuals. Their goal is to make things as regulated as possible to ensure maximum predictability and control over outcomes.

Since IFPs use Te, they are typically less averse to standardized methods than ITPs are. IFPs are okay with standardized methods so long as they don’t impinge on human (or animal) rights or contribute to other injustices. Like TJ types, IFPs actually appreciate a world that feels orderly and rational; they want “the world to make sense” (Te).

Since I got very close score on Ti and Te, I could tell that I do not have a concrete opinion. I do both, either breaking rules, bending them, or obey them. However, it is totally normal for a intuition type of person to ask such question that hey why i have follow this and that, but to know rules is only to know how to break them, imo. I like science style rules too, and I enjoy seeing pure structure. i mean, obsessed with it lol. But if i break them, and i did so lol.. and then boom, yay, they fall. Lets build another lol?

 

[Sinny91]

Cool OP, welcome to the forum. I too am confused about the human/feeling thing.
I don't fully understand it, but I do recognise a distinct difference between Thinkers and Feelers irl.

 

[FlorisV]

Have to read up some more on MBTI but I'm definitely INTP while I also qualify (though not as strongly) as a Highly Sensitive Person according to other tests.

Seems that lotsa thinking can also be a coping mechanism to deal with feelings, trying to solve it with logic. I do try to eventually convert all the thinking to concrete action so it has use but my thinking dominates over my feeling.

What makes it even more complicated is that feelings can influence and steer your thinking...and it works the other way round as well....so what to trust???

With thinking I can at least modify convictions that I have through new input. Which can in turn make me feel differently.

Conversely my feelings steer my thoughts towards solutions that I like rather than stuff I'm not motivated to do.

 

[Urakro]

Even though overly stated, I'd like to first say that everyone has the capability of all the functions. We all can produce the defined results of intuition, sensing, thinking and feeling.

Once in awhile, a person can run into a conflict between the judging functions. There is a practical way of going about a decision, and also (can't find a better word for it) but an ethical, more feel-good way. Both of these options will present themselves to the ego.

A thinker may have a slight preference for the practical way, ignoring and not completely trusting in the direct consequence to human feelings, or immediate well-being. The thinker more relies in it's reasoned facts and truth. Depending on the situation, this could be detrimental to the current well-being and sensitive feelings of others or his self.

The feeling function has a preference to judge it's decisions on how it affects human feelings. If this conflicts with facts, the feeler has a tendency to shove that practicality aside, with a desire to sustain harmony. The reasoning comes from how things make people 'feel' which is I suppose another form of practicality and truth, perhaps not dealing with hard tangible facts, but of the rationale of human interaction.

Which means even if a thinker-based objective and a feeling-based objective are in conflict, they can still both be just as right as the other, but coming from different angles. Yet, there are just as many times when the thinking conclusion and feeling conclusion are in tune and don't conflict. I'd say you don't really know what a person's preference is until you catch the opportunity to see them struggling with both of these approaches in conflict and then observe which they have a tendency to rely on. Just as you don't know if a person is right or left handed until you catch them doing something which requires only one hand, and they have full freedom of choosing between which.

 

[AphroditeGoneAwry]

Jung states that Fi folks are "silent, inaccesible, hard to understand; often they hide behind a childish or banal mask, and their temperament is inclined to be melancholy. They neither shine nor reveal themselves, and their true motives generally remain hidden. Their outward demeanor is harmonious, inconspicuous, giving an impression of pleasing repose, or of sympathetic response, with no desire to affect others, to impress, influence, or change them in any way." Psychological Types, pps 388-389.

Jung states that Ti folks are "strongly influenced by ideas, and he will follow them inwards intently. His judgment appears cold, inflexible, arbitrary, and ruthless. He may be polite, amiable, and kind but one is constantly aware of a certain uneasiness betraying an ulterior motive--the disarming of an opponent, who must at all costs be pacified and placated lest he prove himself a nuisance." Psychological Types, p 384.

~~~

It almost appears here in these definitions by Jung that the INTP can appear more 'friendly' than the INFP. And I believe I manifest this in myself as well. Fe is used in INTP more than INFP, so it is a bit ironic that while an INFP might appear more aloof, or hide behind their mask, they are actually quite concerned with the feelings, and this does transcend into caring for the feelings of others in healthy INFPs. INFPs are some of the kindest (if not the kindest) type I know. And they are extremely self-effacing.

Whereas INTPs use our Fe for one main purpose usually (unless it is in our closest relationships, when it is used more personally), and that is to get people to share information that will help us find the truth (Ti). So it is almost more important for an INTP to be kind if he wants to be successful in this. INFPs feel no such drive. They are consumed with their own feeings-principles and can not care so much about truth, per se.

However, you can tell the difference in play when a Ti value clashes with an Fi value. Ti folks will adhere to the truth of the matter even if they slice and dice others' feelings in the process. Fi folks will do no such thing. They will be more likely to just not act, or to avoid the situation, and/or just go deeper into themselves if the situation is unavoidable, verses going out of their Fi zone to hurt another.

So on the surface Ti versus Fi might appear more friendly, but underneath, Fi is actually more interested in the feelings involved (even others' feelings) than the 'truth' of the idea, and therefore, in action, Fi will prove itself friendlier than Ti in those times where Ti values might be compromised. Spock is very kind, but cutting when necessary (when the truth is on the line). That is what makes his character so interesting. INFPs keep to themselves but are not very concerned with truth, more concerned that everyone is respected according to what their Fi finds important (their personal values).

Does that make sense?