Can an INFP Be Selfish and How Fe Influences Their Behavior
An INFP, just like any other personality type, can indeed be selfish. While often seen as empathetic and idealistic, INFPs, as human beings, can exhibit selfish behaviors from time to time. This article explores the factors that can influence their behavior and how their secondary function, Fe (Feeling), impacts their interpersonal interactions.
Factors Leading to Selfishness in INFPs
Selfishness in INFPs can stem from a variety of internal and external factors:
Personal Values
INFPs are driven by their core beliefs and values, which often align with helping others. However, if they prioritize their own needs or desires due to a sense of strong conviction, their actions can appear selfish. For instance, they might focus on their own personal goals or values, neglecting how these goals affect others.
Emotional Overwhelm
INFPs are highly sensitive and can become emotionally overwhelmed. In such situations, they may withdraw or focus on their own needs, appearing self-centered. Their sensitivity to emotions can cause them to put their own well-being first, leading to decisions that might seem selfish to others.
Setting boundaries is a challenging task for INFPs. When they do assert their needs, it might be perceived as selfishness. Even though they are simply trying to take care of themselves, others may misunderstand their intentions, leading to assumptions of selfish motives.
Conflict Avoidance
To prevent conflict, INFPs might prioritize their own comfort or desires over addressing the needs of others. This can lead to situations where their actions appear selfish, but their primary goal is to maintain harmony and avoid confrontation.
The Influence of Fe in INFPs
INFPs have Fe as their 5th function, which they often repress or reject. However, despite being repressed, they can still access it more easily compared to other repressed functions. The way they use Fe can have a significant impact on their behavior:
Fe as a Taunt or Defense Mechanism
When Fe is used, it is often to taunt or defend the psyche. This use can be negative and dismissive towards those who have Fe in their ego position, making INFPs dismissive of the needs or perspectives of others who have this function.
Examples of Fe's Impact
INTPs with Fe: In this case, Fe is in the ego and thus INTPs prioritize it. They might dismiss the needs of INFPs (with Fe in the shadow), as Fe is a blind spot for them due to its negative impact. Fe Domination: If INFPs with Fe in the shadow encounter someone with a dominant Fe, they may face dismissal and rejection, as Fe in the shadow tends to emerge negatively during stress.INFPs and Relationship Dynamics
INFPs, with their Fe in the shadow, may have difficulty adhering to group or conventional rules, especially in smaller, one-on-one settings such as romantic relationships. They may resist these demands, seeing them as external pressures that conflict with their internal values. This resistance can be seen as selfish, particularly when these demands are seen as non-individualistic in nature.
Fe and INFP’s Self-Perception
INFPs might not perceive themselves as selfish, as their values are often subjective and detached from external standards. They do not let external values influence their internal ones. This does not make them unhealthy; rather, it means they operate based on their wiring, while Fe, which sees their actions, judges them based on objective and universal values, potentially leading to negative perceptions.
Conclusion
While INFPs, like all personality types, can exhibit selfish behavior, it is essential to understand the underlying factors and the influence of Fe. Recognizing and addressing these aspects can help INFPs better navigate their relationships and personal choices, while fostering a more empathetic and understanding environment.