INFPs are among the rarest types, at around 1% of the population, according to Dario Nardi, Ph.D., a personality expert and author of Neuroscience of Personality. Female INFPs also outnumber male INFPs two to one, he adds. And according to John Hackston, head of thought leadership at the Myers-Briggs Company, INFPs are loyal, creative, and thoughtful, “but at a first glance, people with this personality preference can be seen by others as cool and distant.” Nardi adds that INFPs’ sensitive and idealistic nature can also make dating and intimacy a challenge. They’re also known to put their partners on a pedestal, he says, which can lead to some disillusionment down the line. All that said, these people do make loyal and empathetic partners. They’re great listeners, and they prioritize depth and authenticity in relationships, according to Hackston. Both he and Nardi also note that being with someone that shares the same core values as them is a nonnegotiable. As far as MBTI compatibility goes, Hackston says INFPs have a lot in common with ENFPs, “sharing both the same deep values and focus on the future and the big picture.” They’ll also likely have good luck with INTPs, “so long as the INTP takes the INFP’s values seriously and uncynically,” he adds. ISFPs and INFPs can also form deep connections, should they share values, “though they may occasionally find themselves talking at cross purposes,” Hackston notes. They also have an encouraging and supportive quality about them, with an intuitive ability to see people’s potential, Hackston explains, so some INFPs may find themselves in fields like counseling or human resources. In general, they likely won’t be thrilled with a job that requires a lot of direct communication and/or analytical thinking, preferring a quiet environment (and a quiet team, too), Hackston adds. In short, Nardi says, these folks like jobs where they can be creative and live in line with their beliefs, preferably avoiding jobs that require repetition or a lot of logical thinking. And because morality is so significant to this personality type, Hackston also notes it’s important INFPs understand their own system of values and find a professional path that aligns with them. “Develop ways to add meaning to your work,” he says, suggesting to think about how you can mold your role to reflect your values. On a day-to-day basis, Nardi tells mbg that INFPs benefit from daily stability, self-care, and privacy. “They also benefit by learning time management and ways to assert themselves,” he says, adding, “A sense of inadequacy may plague them. They find long-term relief by attending to the quality of their work.”
