I am back with the second of our Writing the 16 Personalities series posts, and as you can see, today we are spotlighting the INFP!
Again, as a reminder, the disclaimer. Every person is a unique and different, therefore the things I post in here may not, and probably will not apply to ever single human or character. These are the vague generalities of which the people with this type seem to generally have, but it does not apply to everyone. That is the most important thing to recall. These are not a formula to force a person or character in, as each person (and therefore character) is and must be unique to themselves.
If you are this type and see that I’ve gotten anything wrong, please comment it below! I’m doing my best to research the types I don’t know as well so as to not fall prey to any harmful stereotypes.
Regardless, I hope some of these facts today help you to write your INFP character.
General Overview:
INFPs are one of the sweetest and most compassionate of the 16 types, with many sides to them. I have a few INFP characters, who are some of my favorites. INFPs are known for their empathy, wanting to help—not hurt—others, and share the good things in life. They try not to judge others, regardless of what they’ve done, and sometimes even feel compassion for villains. They’re quietly passionate and creative dreamers, who are often called idealistic.
However, these traits can sometimes cause them to become people pleasers and leave them emotionally vulnerable. The fact that the real world doesn’t live up to their idealistic dreams can cause them to come across as unrealistic, and sometimes they criticize themselves, believing they aren’t good enough, and therefore give up on their dreams.
In relationships, INFPs are some of the most devoted and loyal people. They are hopeless romantics (which can sometimes hinder the relationship if they put unrealistic expectations on their partners), and generally respect their partner’s independence. They tend to focus on their partner rather than themselves, though sometimes they can take this too far and neglect themselves. They can also hide their own needs from their partner for fear of conflict and try to fix them on their own, causing some issues in the relationship.
In friendships, INFPs tend to have a small, intimate circle of friends, since they can sometimes struggle to make them, resulting in them feeling lonely. Despite this, however, INFPs, like many introverts, need alone time to recharge, so they may withdraw from socialization for a time. But, when their friends need them, they are there to fiercely protect them in ways they’d never do for themselves.
A note for those familiar with the Four Temperaments personality types: INFP is the equivalent of Pure Phlegmatic.
Words/Phrases that can Describe INFPs:
- Dreamers
- Empathetic
- Open minded
- Unrealistic
- Compassionate
- People Pleasers
- Devoted and loyal
- Creative
- Self-Isolating
- Quietly Passionate
- Self Critical
- Idealistic
- Romantics
Writing INFPs as Characters:
I would first advise you not to create a character solely because you want an INFP character. Like I said above, every single person is different, therefore creating a character and shoving them into the box is not a wise thing to do. Let the character evolve naturally into whatever personality type the story and character call for. And if it happens to be an INFP, great!
And even if your character is an INFP, that doesn’t mean he or she must fit everything listed here. The 16 personalities were created to help others understand people, not to shove someone into a box.
You could have an INFP character who maybe struggles with being loyal to others due to some backstory trauma. Or maybe he or she is not interested in romance. Perhaps they have a good enough self-image (or even one that is way too inflated) that they don’t often find themselves being critical of themselves, despite their failures, but just get up and go on. Or maybe your INFP is close-minded, for some reason or another. These are only vague guidelines, not rules.
Character Roles as an INFP:
What are the best roles for an INFP to play in your story? Well, like any character, they can potentially play in any role! But these are the three best roles for an INFP to play in my opinion.
INFP Protagonist: Kind, compassionate, and idealistic, INFPs are popular as introverted main characters. Often they can present their allies with their dream and goal, and while another character may have to help them structure a plan to reach it, they are the predominate force behind it, constantly encouraging their friends, even when they fail. But sometimes these main characters need some encouraging too, especially when they themselves fail.
INFP Sidekick: INFP sidekicks are also great, and my favorite of all my INFPs I have in my stories is in this role. They are such strong, supportive characters, any protagonist is lucky to have an INFP as an ally. Typically INFPs are compassionate and non-judgmental, but also understand people’s independence, so they might not pressure the protagonist unduly unless, perhaps, more lives are at stake if the protagonist doesn’t act.
INFP Love Interest: Probably one of the most popular love interest personality types are INFPs because of their romanticism and idealism. They are known for their loyalty and compassion, and this character won’t give up on their love. They may have to learn that love is more than a fluffy feeling inside, and may have to overcome some of their unrealistic ideals for a perfect spouse, but in the end, they will understand and be the better person for it.
Some Common Misconceptions about INFPs:
Here are some common misconceptions about INFPs to help your INFP character avoid!
- Crybabies
- Always irrational
- Not analytical
- Not intelligent
- Can’t make decisions on their own
- Weaklings
- Need people to look after them
- Depressed ENFPs
- Messy and disorderly
- Sweet, loving and kind ALL the time
So that’s my post on INFP characters! Are you an INFP? Do you have an INFP character? Do you consider yourself an idealistic romantic or more of a realist? Let me know in the comments below! ~ Kay Adelin
Kay Adelin 