Ti and Fi Differences

I notice a couple of terms seem to come up frequently that get interpreted in a myriad of ways depending on a person's preferences. The two terms are "analyze" and "categorize."

What I notice is that many times INFPs will claim that they are "analyzing" and "categorizing." What they really SEEM to be doing instead is sorting out and examining their feelings about something, and weighing whether it is good or bad, right or wrong. And when they categorize, it is often just these categories they are considering -- whether they like it or dislike it, whether it feels nice or awful. Whether to move toward or away from; whether it is pleasurable or unpleasurable.

When a person is trying to weigh between INFP and INTP and they suppose they are "analyzing" and "categorizing," it's important to pay attention to whether the analyzing is employing impersonal frameworks to analyze from. An INTP is more likely to analyze an experience through neutral notions, such as whether a light is red or green, or a test result is malignant or benign. Whether a person is drunk or sober. Whether a glass is empty or full. These are all value-neutral frameworks. And when categorizing is done, it again reflects neutral categories: rainy weather or sunny; on time or late; up or down; liquid or solid. There are NO value judgments being made.

I remember some time ago I was delivering a class with somebody over the phone to explore cognitive processes. I asked them to organize several objects in some way and then let me know what ways they were organized. After a moment of silence, the client said, "I can organize them according to which ones I like best!" This did not reflect objective organizing -- he was betrayed by his favorite function (introverted Feeling), and drawn to do what he does best in place of the objectively organizing exercise I was asking of him.

So the thing to notice when you believe you like to do "analyzing" and "categorizing" is to notice whether these activities are impersonal or personal; whether they include values judgments or whether they are values neutral. That will provide the best indication as to whether the activity is rightly defined as Ti or Fi. To really drive the point home, make an effort to consciously perform each form of "analyzing" and "categorizing" in order to see how easily you can do it. That ought to burble up a sense of how unconscious one of the processes is for you.

Fe and Fi Differences

My husband and I moved into a new house less than a year ago, and we're still settling in.

The downstairs bathroom seems to be the "guest bathroom," since it is closest to the guest bedroom and the living room.

A few weeks ago, I felt it should be furnished appropriately for guests! To that end, I collected together a number of bottles of shampoo and conditioner from various hotel stays, and put them in a plastic bin that I set in the shower. I chose shampoos & conditioners that featured a color scheme on the container that matched the house's color scheme, so as to stay in keeping with the theme. I thought this would have a subtle affect on any visitors, and make a nice impact.

I also got a wire toilet paper holder for spare rolls of tissue. That way, one could replace the toilet paper roll easily without having to rummage through cupboards looking for fresh rolls.

All very considerate, wouldn't you say......?

Well, as it happens, my husband often uses that bathroom. And one day I happened to notice that my supply of shampoo was mysteriously dwindling. I thought perhaps I had mis-remembered how many shampoos I had put there...? Then I noticed that the wire holder for spare toilet paper was nearly empty. And at last I connected the dots!

My husband supposed I had thoughtfully gone to all this effort on HIS behalf! He was delighted with these convenient supplies for his personal comfort.

It was a difficult conversation to navigate the understanding that this was intended for GUESTS, not my dearly beloved husband.

For me, I felt astonished that he wouldn't have known that, figured that out, or at least CHECKED with me about these generous gestures.

And such is the problem with introverted Feeling -- it doesn't have an awareness of other people's feelings. It's not trying to hurt anyone; it isn't evil-intentioned; it is simply oblivious to the presence of others' feelings. It doesn't automatically consider the "other," the intentions of the person making the effort. That's not where its attention goes.

Introverted Feeling is a very challenging process for me to be with, especially in its inflated form. In other words, I wanted to wring his neck! And yet, he was simply being himself. It can be deeply challenging to honor diversity sometimes when I feel "injured" by his "obliviousness." SIGH!

Maybe I will go eat all his dark choclate in a fit of introverted Feeling. But somehow that doesn't feel like the right thing to do either...