In a not very serious attempt to describe a person with strong dominant , that is, a person who can be seen as some sort of mixture between an INTp and an INFp, I have tried to put together those parts of misutii's translations of Filatova's INTp and INFp descriptions that I can identify with to a reasonable or high extent, and I have eliminated all other parts. I have also added a few parts from a description of an Enneagram 5w4. Sometimes I have rewritten the original description, either reformulating it or adding or subtracting sentences as I have found appropriate. Almost all references to functions are eliminated.

The result is a description of a person that might, or might not, be an accurate representation of who I am. But at least it is a description that I can identify with without reservations. There are no parts in it that I don't identify with.

If someone wants to analyze it in a functional perspective, that would be welcome and interesting. It would also be interesting to see how many people can identify with it, especially if they think that they are INTps or INFps.


An IN p Profile – A Phaedrusian Synthesis

The IN p's principal goal is to find out the truth about himself, the world, and his place in it.

With his strong the IN p perceives general patterns in the external world in a timeless perspective, where both logic and ethics should form a unified whole.

He is primarily an observer. In a sort of meditative, passive state, he observes the flow of time and the events and processes in it. The consciousness of the IN p easily encompasses countless moments in time, moving back and forth between them with ease as he is traversing the time axis. His attitude towards time is friendly and accepting. What will be, will be.

He is a dreamer with a strong romantic side that is not immediately obvious to others. He is a philosopher, contemplating the meaning of life and his own existence in a universe he wants to understand as clearly and accurately as possible. He is drawn towards novels containing fantasy, adventure, mysteries and logical enigmas.

The IN p sometimes love to give himself up, dreaming. His dreams, as a rule, focus on something beautiful or logical: the "round-the-world" journey that at the same time is a journey to discover his own identity. And maybe the world in which such a journey takes place is not our world, even though it might resemble it. It is more likely that it is a fantasy world, full of unexpected events, mysteries and philosophical puzzles, in which he or the character he identifies with acts like a detective, trying to solve fascinating enigmas with his analytical intellect.

The imagination of the IN p takes in the dynamics of the world, which he is trying to make sense of with the help of reason. He easily appears to model the behaviour of people and events, examining what he can predict in the future as a consequence of the aftereffects of activities that people complete in the present or as the result of what happens in the world. Possessing the gift of foresight he often already knows what is going to happen, or at least which future scenario is the most likely. Frequently it seems as though he knows, and sees straight through, everything (and in a certain sense this is correct).

The ability to penetrate right to the essence of a problem and to see the eventual result represents the nature of enlightenment. Indeed the IN p will sometimes, in speaking or writing, cite wise historical figures and philosophers. His forecasts, as a rule, are painted with skepticism, thus he primarily voices his fears when necessary (i.e. to safeguard those close to him from acting rashly). He himself repeatedly, and scrupulously, checks everything before beginning to act. He tends to be somewhat disappointed when others, despite his warnings and critical observations, make mistakes due to thinking or acting to hastily. With respect to his own abilities and talents there is an internal, frequently secret, conviction that he exceeds others in his talents, knowledge, and analytical abilities, but as a rule he tries not to demonstrate this conviction too openly – unless the stupidity of others reaches above a certain limit or he is stressed out by too much opposition or outer stimuli.

One of the principal attributes of the IN p is his pride, connected with his self assertion. Frequently he observes that others are lacking in ability in doing things that come naturally to him. Many of his mental abilities are relatively superior to others. People with this psycho-type often have a splendid memory. The IN p puts to use his powerful base of knowledge to identify the source of a question and to comprehend all facets of a problem.

He often seems encyclopedically formed. But his tendency to feel himself significant does not, in any way, mean that he will attempt to find a higher placement or status in society. He rather prefers to raise himself as high as possible in the field of knowledge, which for him represents a deeper degree of insight. Through this he is able to feel superior to others.

But he is also painfully aware of the fact that he lacks natural ability in many areas where most people do not run into any problems. He harbours conservative qualities relating with his distrust of anything new, which has not survived sufficient criticism or any sort of process with an unknown conclusion. He can also have a tendency to ignore reality, and it is often difficult for him to cope with the practical demands that are necessary for his own survival.

The IN p knows how to obtain a bird's eye view, from above, on the dynamics of an ongoing process. Once he has predicted the eventual result he awaits the "right moment" to act and will not do anything until such a moment arrives (he will never undertake useless work). After he is aware of the real prospects he might move into action.

His ability to recognize the whole of something sometimes leads the IN p to multiple solutions for the same problem. Thus, now and again, he finds it difficult to give preference to one thing over another. He does not like being hurried; he waits for a problem to "mature" and his opinions to be incorporated into the big picture of things, which is already present in his imagination. In the IN p is characteristic a certain reservation; he tries to leave enough room for possible corrective measures to be taken in the future. If and when he finally reaches a conclusion, and is confident in its correctness, and if those that surround him fail to understand or accept his conclusions, the IN p's indignation and emotionalism can sometimes reach such a degree that, for a long period, he cannot be quieted, as he continues, with fervor, to prove his position to all.

The IN p's fitness for work is exceptionally selective. If he finds the proper career he can immediately display remarkable energy and fantastic fitness in his tasks. His life can be a continuum of sleepless nights and states of extreme stress, which may last for weeks or months. He naturally works in solid and pedantic manner.

On the other hand if he fails in finding the right job or career, then his skepticism begins to take over as he asks himself: "Why is all of this necessary? Nothing good can come of this…" He cannot even force himself to meet the bare minimum expectations, which may lead to serious repercussions, such as being dismissed from work or dropping out of college or university. In such cases he feels helpless to do anything, and his irrationality leaves him at difficulty even to meet the minimum needs for survival.

If the IN p survives the attack of melancholy, disappointment, and frustration, he tends to isolate himself. When the dark period comes to a close he will once again emerge, bright and alert, with positive expectations directed towards changes in his life. If he finds himself in an understanding and supporting atmosphere his best qualities are revealed: his extreme natural curiousity which leads him to investigate more and more areas of human understanding and sometimes come up with original and unexpected solutions, often in the form of syntheses between seemingly unrelated fields of knowledge – a result of his ability to see things from many different perspectives at the same time from a very general view point.

The IN p has a natural sense of esthetics. He can respond to many forms of art. He understands music and poetry, and frequently creates his own. He also have natural literary gift. Many writers can be found in this psycho-type.

Being weakly orientated in the area of emotions, the IN p prefers to hide his feelings. However, if strongly afflicted his emotionality can literally lash out, he may lose control of himself. In order to protect himself from such situations the IN p prefers to maintain a psychological distance. Too much familiarity makes him feel at least slightly awkward. He feels fully confident only among selected few, to which he is open and sincere. His kindness, now and again, is astonishing, but towards most people he remains neutral.

The IN p is focused on his dreams and they help him hide from reality, which sometimes proves to be too rough and severe for his tastes.

His activity in business is unpredictable, since his fitness depends exclusively on his mood: short flash-assaults alternate with periods of prolonged inaction. As a rule, he possesses a low energy drive, and therefore finds it difficult to force himself to work. The inherence of asthenia – rapid enervation and low activity – is frequently compensated for by the need for a prolonged night sleep. For this very reason, without the necessary moral support, he frequently finds himself at a lower social position than would correspond with his abilities. Thus the IN p is prone to regard energetic people, whom hold a higher social status, with a secret sense of envy, to consider that life has wronged him. Meanwhile he comforts himself in the fact that his high principles do not permit him to act by the same methods as others. Thus he justifies his passivity by placing himself morally above those that surround him, thereby psychologically protecting his weak areas. The IN p finds it difficult to accept personal responsibility, because he is not confident that he will be able to deliver if he promises to do something. Routine work he only accepts reluctantly, and if not limited in time, it tends to bore him.

If he falls ill the IN p is able to strictly observe his physician’s instructions and scrupulously follow a regimen in diet and medicine etc.

His inherent strengths frequently manifest a bi-polar nature: some individuals of this psycho-type develop an enviable sense of purpose and perseverance, while others on the contrary demonstrate complete inertia. In conclusion, it must be said that, for the IN p, the proper job or career is especially important to find, or his innate talents will be utterly wasted.

The IN p does not strive to be a leader, but he is no follower either. He always goes his own way, alone if necessary. Favourable conditions for activity must be, as much as possible, creative. He finds it difficult to manifest initiative, to clash with his environment, and thus he often tries to adapt to the norms and principles dictated by the society in a way that is consistent with his own principles.


The IN p at work and in the home:

Although the IN p clearly does not strive to be a leader, he would like to have an influence on the strategic course of events, as strategic thinking is one of his main assets.

With subordinates the IN p prefers a logical style of contact; he knows well how to distinguish the abilities of one coworker over the other and put such knowledge to use. However, he is not always confident in entrusting subordinates with work. He is inclined to check over everything and is not reconciled with the thought that another can work better than himself.

In terms of lifestyle and health he remains completely dependent on his significant other.

Indecisive and somewhat sentimental, he does not love to take responsibility for others and barely for himself. The IN p prefers not to occupy offices of leadership. If, nevertheless, fate forces him into such a position he can successfully manage strategic tasks. He gently associates with subordinates.

In family life he finds it difficult to occupy himself with domestic tasks. If you rigidly and scrupulously require the execution of domestic responsibilities from an IN p, you will attain little besides embitteredness; in such a state he may even provoke arguments in the domestic sphere. In order to solve this problem in an acceptable manner the IN p tends demonstrate his helplessness. He wants others to help him in avoiding domestic tasks and shifts responsibility away from himself. He often finds excuse for that kind of behaviour in his lacking practical ability.


Summary:

1. The IN p dynamically comprehends all worldly processes. He has the ability to traverse the time axis and see distant prospects. He is skeptical and critical, but at the same time he is a dreamer and a romantic that is easily separated from reality. He is capable of proposing new ideas in areas of interest. He sometimes loves to speak about moral problems, but his approach to them is scientific. His ultimate goal is a unified Theory of Everything, in which esthetics, ethics, and science all have their places.

2. His fitness for work is exceptionally selective and unpredictable, since it depends exclusively on his mood. He frequently possesses low energy and therefore finds it difficult to force himself to work. If he finds an appropriate job he works without tiring, indeed are difficult to stop. He is a meticulous and scrupulous pedant, who knows how to separate information within a system.

3. The IN p tries not to act emotionally since he is not confident that he can always control his feelings. When he does lose control, his behaviour towards others, and himself, is unpredictable. With close people he prefers to associate at a close psychological distance, tries to be polite, to develop relations over time; however, he does not always succeed, because he is sometimes capable of offending others without noticing it.

4. He feels well in a comfortable and cozy home, but he is unwilling to spend the necessary time and resources to create such an environment himself and so prefers if another would take this responsibility. Sometimes it is difficult for him to mobilize himself to carry out necessary activities; he appears as if paralyzed, and in such cases external interference might prove useful in helping him "untwist". He ably feels the beauty, harmony, and commensurability in the world, but badly manages practical tasks.


Professional Possibilities:

The IN p natural home is in the intersection between Art and Science. He combines intellectual and emotional imagination, and he enjoys the realm of philosophy and beautiful constructs of thought. The marriage of mental perspective and aesthetics is the best of life for him.