highonmbti

[highonmbti]

can you do enfp vs esfp? i don't think you've posted it before

ENFP vs. ESFP: What’s the Difference? 

ENFP: Ne-Fi-Te-Si

ESFP: Se-Fi-Te-Ni

The other day I was on the phone with my ESFP friend going on and on about black holes and how weird and incomprehensible they are. She was engaged in the conversation for a bit, but then added “this is cool and all, but wouldn’t it be great if this applied to real life?” 

This exchange nicely illustrates the difference between ENFPs and ESFPs. Both perceive through an exploratory lens and judge primarily according to what feels right to them personally (Fi), but the CONTENT of the information they like to explore is different. ENFPs are more interested in concepts and possibilities (Ne), while ESFPs are more interested tangible, practical information and experiences (Se). 

Ne dominance (ENFP) vs. Se dominance (ESFP)

ENFPs are primarily attuned to and engaged with possibilities. These possibilities are conceptual in nature, prompted by the question “what if?”. This perspective allows them to be great at generating ideas, perceiving connections, and entertaining abstract theories, though these theories can be somewhat impractical and unrealistic.   

ESFPs on the other hand are primarily attuned to and engaged with the tangible, practical, and concrete information available in the here and now. Unlike ENFPs who are so caught up in “what if” that they can get lost in theory and hypotheticals, ESFPs, above all, are present. The Se perspective makes them observant, adaptable, down-to-earth, and reactive, as well as in tune with aesthetics, sounds, etc. Above all, they are interested in “what is”, sometimes living in the moment to a fault.

Inferior Si (ENFP) vs. Inferior Ni (ESFP)

Of course, no human perceives only sensory or only intuitive information, and this is true for both ENFPs and ESFPs despite being dominant perceivers. However, ENFPs grasp on the concrete and ESFPs grasp on the conceptual is generally somewhat immature and manifests in the form of inferior functions. 

Since ENFPs lead with Ne, which is both intuitive and exploratory, they have more trouble with Si, which focuses on sensory information from a subjective, conclusive perspective. On the one hand, this means that the ENFP can be surprisingly good with specific details or fine arts like drawing, but this also means ENFPs generally have trouble with attention to detail, respect for tradition, learning from their mistakes, and being truly present. Under stress, ENFPs can fall into an Si grip, where they become fixated on details or past experiences, overly sentimental, obsessively worried that something is wrong with them physically (i.e. developing a terrible rare disease), or stuck in a behavioral rut. 

On the other hand, since ESFPs lead with Se, which is both concrete and exploratory, they have more trouble with Ni, which focuses on intuitive information from a conclusive perspective. This means that ESFPs can have out of the blue, “I just know” moments that are surprisingly astute, but this also means they have trouble planning ahead, making generalized conclusions without clear evidence, appreciating metaphorical language, perceiving the “essence” of things or ideas and having a clear “vision” of what they want or what’s meant. When under stress, ESFPs can fall into an Ni grip, where they become paranoid, overly existential or hopeless, no longer perceiving options for action and experience in their life. 

Further observed differences 

ENFP intuitive perceptions are exploratory, more focused on “what if this?” or “what if that?” whereas ESFP intuitive perceptions are more conclusive, more focused on what they “just know” is going to happen.

ESFPs constantly take in and engage with sensory information, noticing details and truly “being” in the world around them, while the ENFPs relationship with sensory information is more subjective, focusing on what a certain object means to them or how it makes them feel. 

ESFPs are much more physically observant than ENFPs, noticing subtle changes in people’s behavior or appearance, while ENFPs tend to be more perceptive about people’s hidden motivations.  

Because ESFPs see people for who they are in the present rather than their hidden motivations, they tend to be somewhat less judgmental than ENFPs. 

Both types are open, but in different ways: For ENFPs this is about openness to ideas, while for ESFPs this means openness to experience. 

ENFPs are generally more optimistic than ESFPs, because they can see multiple possibilities and solutions to any problem. Since ESFPs are focused on what’s real and tangible, these alternate positive possibilities are more slightly difficult for them to perceive. 

ENFPs are much more likely to entertain a hypothetical concept than ESFPs, even if it has no direct practical application on real life. 

ENFPs are more likely to help a friend in trouble through motivational talks that hope to shift that person’s perspective to perceive alternative possibilities, while ESFPs are more likely to help friends out in more tangible ways, like doing a fun activity to get their mind off things. 

To summarize ENFPs are more engaged with concepts and possibilities and struggle with attention to detail, while ESFPs are more engaged with tangible reality and real life experience and struggle with attention to meaning and significance. 

Hope this helps! 

[highonmbti]

Hey there! I'm an ENFP with a ESTJ mom... I'm spending a lot of time in my house these days, avoiding social interaction for some reason?? (I do this from time to time) and I came into a conclusion: I think that, since my mom and I are really different and she absolutely hates abstract ideas and this kind of 'deep conversation', I may not be getting the energy I need from people, therefore I get drained and the 'antisocial cycle' gets worse. Do you think that this makes sense?

Yes, if you perceive that as the situation you’re likely correct. It sounds like you could be in a Si grip.

An Si grip can occur for an ENFP if some obstacle inhibits positive use of Ne. If the possibilities Ne perceives feel constrained or confined, Si steps in and manifests in withdrawal, obsessiveness, stagnancy, and perhaps hypochondrial behavior and/or a focus on the body.

Ne is an extroverted, objective function, which means that it constantly needs ideas and possibilities to engage with in order to feel alive. If Ne has nothing to engage with and cling onto, it’s basically grasping at an abyss, hitting a concrete wall that prevents it from doing its job.

It sounds like you’re finding that wall in your relationship with your mother. I’d recommend finding other ways to engage your Ne - research a topic that interests you, hang out with friends, find an opportunity that excites you - and hopefully you’ll feel more energized and positive.

[highonmbti]

Hi! My best friend is an INTJ (I'm sure of this) and, strangely enough, she's super, super sensitive. Like, I have to watch what I say every second of every day (I'm an ENFJ, and I'm still too harsh for her 90% of the time.) Thoughts on what could be causing this? I've thought maybe Fi overuse, but I'd love to hear your opinion!

Yep, sounds like she’s in a Ni-Fi loop. This loop occurs when the INTJ feels inhibited in her usual Te objectivity by a feeling of powerlessness, inadequacy, rejection, uncertainty, or other negative emotion. I’ll bet she’s also defensive and temperamental, which is the result of a relentless power struggle between Te and Fi.

To help her escape this loop, I’d look for ways to re-engage her extraverted thinking. Helping her set some sort of personal goal, no matter how small, could prompt her to feel proactive and confident in her abilities. Once Te begins to produce objectively validated results, it will slowly regain the confidence to take back its leadership position and control the influence of Fi.

[highonmbti]

LOVE this analogy. I think it hits the nail on the head for this situation.

The concept of the inferior function is captured well by the comparison to a young child: simple, lighthearted, and comforting, yet immature and disastrous if left in charge for too long.

We often overlook positive manifestations of the inferior function. I think this is because inferior functions can be used so well to explain our weaknesses and anxieties, and also because descriptions of positive manifestations may just sound like descriptions of types hat have that function in the dominant or auxiliary position.

But it's really important to keep in mind that not all manifestations of the inferior function are negative - in fact, use of the inferior function can contribute to a sense of relief and balance.

Thanks for your perspective!

As an ENTP I found myself listening to the songs that I used to listen in a time when I was really depressed in a time when I'm going through a stress and tear-full period. Do you think that this particular tendency of mine for these songs may have something to do with my inferior Si?

Yes, it might! Especially if this association between songs and memories is more infrequent, occasional, random and/or intentional, such in as the situation you’re describing.

In contrast, a dominant Si user is more likely to automatically experience song-memory associations across a broader variety of both songs and associations, since their dominant function deals in subjective sensory perceptions.

I also think that people do this in order to access emotional information, as well as to allow themselves to fully experience the emotion that they’re grappling with. But I don’t think doing so for this reason is necessarily specific to their functions.

[highonmbti]

Interesting, thanks @songs-and-types! It would be cool to flesh out whether there is a real difference between Si and Ni users and how they approach song-memory recall, or whether this is just universal/not specific to type. @angry-lii-intp, why do you say so?

As an ENTP I found myself listening to the songs that I used to listen in a time when I was really depressed in a time when I'm going through a stress and tear-full period. Do you think that this particular tendency of mine for these songs may have something to do with my inferior Si?

Yes, it might! Especially if this association between songs and memories is more infrequent, occasional, random and/or intentional, such in as the situation you’re describing.

In contrast, a dominant Si user is more likely to automatically experience song-memory associations across a broader variety of both songs and associations, since their dominant function deals in subjective sensory perceptions.

I also think that people do this in order to access emotional information, as well as to allow themselves to fully experience the emotion that they’re grappling with. But I don’t think doing so for this reason is necessarily specific to their functions.

[highonmbti]

how would you describe an unhealthy ISFJ?

Unhealthy ISFJs

Unhealthy Upper Functions: Check out the Si and Fe unhealthy function descriptions here

Si-Ti loop: An ISFJ in an Si-Ti loop begins to bypass the external connection emphasis of Fe in favor of the withdrawn analysis of Ti. This ISFJ becomes overly analytical and perhaps chronically anxious. They overthink most things, especially other people’s intentions and perceptions of them. They may become fixated on past mistakes and distrusting of reassurance from others. They find it more difficult to “let loose” and perhaps overcompensate, overwork themselves, and/or check-out from interacting with people entirely. This state is likely caused by perceived social rejection, a lack of confidence, or some sort of prolonged interpersonal conflict.

Ne grip: Instead relying on Si to ground themselves in what’s known, this ISFJ begins to reject the way they’ve traditionally done things and engage in uncharacteristic bursts of flightiness and unpredictability. Though they no longer trust their traditional methods, they become paralyzed by the thought of a million potential negative outcomes, making them feel lost and overwhelmed. This causes their decisions to be uncharacteristically impulsive, which is followed by immediate regret and a further sense of ambiguity and chaos. This state is likely caused by some event that causes them to question what they’ve always counted on as true or trustworthy, leading to a sort of existential crisis.

[highonmbti]

As an ENTP I found myself listening to the songs that I used to listen in a time when I was really depressed in a time when I'm going through a stress and tear-full period. Do you think that this particular tendency of mine for these songs may have something to do with my inferior Si?

Yes, it might! Especially if this association between songs and memories is more infrequent, occasional, random and/or intentional, such in as the situation you’re describing.

In contrast, a dominant Si user is more likely to automatically experience song-memory associations across a broader variety of both songs and associations, since their dominant function deals in subjective sensory perceptions.

I also think that people do this in order to access emotional information, as well as to allow themselves to fully experience the emotion that they’re grappling with. But I don’t think doing so for this reason is necessarily specific to their functions.

[highonmbti]

So I'm kind of new to this whole personality type concept, but I'm almost 100% sure that I'm an INTP. However, I feel like I more strongly relate to Fi rather than Fe. What would that mean?

That’s totally normal. INTPs are Ti doms, and Ti and Fi work in very similar ways. They’re both subjective and focus on analysis, causing the user to form self-referential, personalized judgments. INTPs need things to make sense to them personally, so they’ll end up forming uniquely personal values, opinions, etc. in a way that resembles Fi, despite Fi not being present in their stack. 

It’s common to relate to functions that have the same structure (e/i) as your dominant or auxiliary functions but that deal with different content (F/T, N/S). As a Fi user myself, I originally related more to Ti than to Te. I strongly relate to the idea of introverted judgment, (e.g. that things need to make sense to me personally, the importance of critical thinking, and not taking things at face value) but as a Fi user the analysis I’m most interested in is related to people. Understanding people’s motivations and personal introspection is much more intriguing to me than the intricacies of, say, how to code or engineer an airplane. 

As an INTP, you have Fe in your stack because it represents a perspective that your Ti focus often causes you to overlook. If you’re most interested in personalized logical analysis when making decisions (Ti), you’re going to spend less mental energy looking outward to consider the values and emotions of people in the group (Fe). However, you can’t be a healthily functioning human being without taking non-logical elements (F) or external information (e) into consideration when making decisions - so you’re somewhat forced to use Fe. Your Fe perspective will be inconsistent, incomplete, and underdeveloped, but it’s still there, playing an important role in your behavior, particularly in regard to your weaknesses or anxieties. This Fe may not sound like the Fe in the descriptions, but that’s because it’s restrained and manipulated by Ti - often resulting in thoughts and behaviors that resemble those of Fi users. 

So yeah, it makes sense that you found Fi more relatable than Fe, particularly since your dominant function (Ti) and Fi share the same structure. 

Hope this helps! 

[highonmbti]

Would it make sense for an auxiliary Fe user to have problems with accepting that they're gay, especially when they were younger and their Fe was underdeveloped?

Accepting yourself for who you truly are, especially in the face of external judgment, is difficult no matter what your MBTI type. This problem is definitely not exclusive to Fe users. 

However, I’d imagine that an IxFJ in particular might have trouble with this because: 

Fe naturally looks outward at others/the group/society, and Fe users tend to think they “should” be a certain way based on accepted societal standards. Accepting that you’re gay, which you might perceive as alienating yourself from what society approves of, is generally not an appealing thought to someone who is afraid of rejection and/or alienation by a social group. 

Plus, Fe fundamentally understands that it’s easier to get along with people than to cause disruption or friction, so something like accepting that you’re gay forces you to confront the fact that you have no choice but to interact with the world in a way that could potentially cause conflict, friction, or rejection, which is generally anxiety provoking for Fe users. 

Fe is not as introspective as Fi, so Fe users often find that they dont know themselves as well as Fi users, particularly if they feel like they can’t talk about it with anyone. Therefore, it’s somewhat easier for Fe users than Fi users to trick themselves into believing that they’re something that they’re not. 

Hope this helps! 

[highonmbti]

As an INFJ, I'm pretty awkward about physical contact. I didn't like hugs as a preteen, because I didn't know what to do with my hands. That was years ago, and I can deal with it okay now. Actually I find I secretly want people to hug me, or hold my hand, or rest their head on my shoulder, even if we're casual acquaintances and it's not amorous. Like, I just crave physical proof that they are really there, and happy to spend time with me. Is this a common "side effect" of developing inferior Se?

Yes, it definitely could be! 

Being an Ni dom means that you’re naturally inclined to be somewhat removed from (and therefore less comfortable with) the physical world around you. This can make it harder to naturally know what to do with your body, be physically present, and/or be effortlessly reactive. As you develop Se, you start to become better at these things, but Ni (convergent intuiting) will always be your dominant perspective - which means that while physical connection may be something that you desire, being fully present is fundamentally more difficult for you than for someone who has unfiltered Se. 

Note: I personally know several Ni doms who are awkward about physical contact. They’re so up in their own heads that it’s hard for them to just “be”. One of these Ni doms has well developed Se in some ways - he’s an incredible athlete (and a particularly aggressive and reactive one at that) - but otherwise very reserved about showing physical affection and sort of freezes up when he’s hugged (though he loosens up a ton after drinking alcohol). How inferior Se manifests will be different from person to person, but awkwardness with physical contact seems to be a pretty common symptom! 

[highonmbti]

ENFP anon? Omg same here. ENFP as well and my procrastination is INSANE. I had a test today and I could bring in a sheet of paper front and back and I didn't sleep because I was watching vlogs until 4 am... I could NOT force myself to get up and do the freakin work and also wouldn't allow myself to go to sleep cuz I knew I wouldn't wake up. Oh the torturous life of a non disciplined person! From 4am to 11am I ended up having a one sided sheet of paper. RIDICULOUSNESS lol I rlly do need help👌🏼

Oh man, the struggle is real!

As an Ne dom I find that part of the procrastination problem isn’t directionlessness necessarily - it’s too many directions. Ne pulling me in multiple places at once, which makes it difficult to focus. There are always more interesting possibilities to explore! 

For example, I’ll be trying to reply to a ask on this blog, and then I’ll think of something I could reply to another ask, and then some interesting topic I want to research, and then 2 hours later I have 5 half filled out ask responses but nothing complete to post. And then I’ll go back and look and what I already wrote and think of a completely new way to write it and feel compelled to start all over… it’s a miracle I ever get anything done TBH. 

But then there’s the opposite extreme where I’m hyper focused - this happens when the topic I’m learning about or writing about gets more and more intriguing and stimulating as I think more about it. There has to be idea after idea to play with in order for me to stay naturally engaged. Once we get into the executional phase, I quickly feel bored and stifled. ESPECIALLY if there’s lots of details and precision involved. 

I think this is why Ne doms usually have so many diverse interests - we end up having a wide breadth of knowledge, because we’re more interested in ideas and possibilities than digging deep into execution and implementation. I find that I know a little about a lot of things, while a high Si user is predisposed to knowing a lot about fewer things. 

But yeah, Ne and procrastination tend to go hand in hand. The best way to combat this is to develop your lower functions - hopefully this post will help you out a little bit! 

[highonmbti]

Hi I'm new to mbti & I'm not sure whether I'm an entp or an enfp since, I don't realise when people are upset with me & I'm not great at recognising emotions yet I make a lot of decisions based on whether the outcomes would upset my friends😕 help😂

ENTP vs. ENFP: Quick Comparisons

Hmm ok none of those things necessarily indicate ENFP or ENTP. The difference is Aux Ti-Tert Fe vs. Aux Fi-Tert Te. The best way to figure it out is to read about cognitive functions, but for a quick sense of which you are ask yourself these questions: 

Is it more important that you make sense of things logically (ENTP), or that things feel right to you personally (ENFP)?

Are you more interested in accuracy (ENTP) or authenticity (ENFP)?

Do you analyze first empathize second (ENTP), or introspect first implement second? (ENFP)

Do you empathize through proximity to someone, feeling their emotions just by being around them (ENTP), or empathize through introspection, intentionally putting yourself in that person’s shoes in order to understand their pain (ENFP)?

Are you more likely to withdraw to analyze (ENTP) or to introspect (ENFP)?

Are you more interested in using logic to play with (ENTP) or to standardize, categorize, and implement (ENFP)? 

Which are you more interested in: understanding and dissecting a system logically (ENTP) or morally/ethically/emotionally (ENFP)?

Do you have a hidden soft, gentle side (ENTP) or a hidden blunt, cold side (ENFP)? 

Are you more interested in acceptance (ENTP) or validation (ENFP)? 

Are you more likely to offend someone accidentally (ENTP) or have trouble with pure objectivity, efficiency, and organization (ENFP)?

Are you more confident in your understanding systems and puzzles (ENTP) or your understanding of people (ENFP)?

Also, here’s a more comprehensive post on ENFP vs ENTP, which specifically focuses on ENFPs vs. ENTPs with well-developed Fe. Hope this helps!

[highonmbti]

I'm an ENFP. How do I get myself to study? I know I SHOULD but I just... DON'T... This is going to fuck me over in the long term and I know I should just do it, but even when I do I get distracted by SOMETHING unless I'm in a library. hELP ME

Haha I’ve been there. Here’s a post on developing xNFP lower functions that should help! 

[highonmbti]

When unhealthy lower functions start overtaking upper functions, is it possible for first and third/second and fourth functions to switch, or can it only happen between opposite functions?

Cognitive Function Dynamics: Unhealthy Function “Switching”

Great question! Functional “switching” can only happen between opposite functions. This is because these are the only functions that have completely codependent relationships. 

Your perceiving functions and your judging functions, though dynamic and interactive, exist in two separate codependent, symbiotic systems. Reliance on one perceiving function automatically means less reliance on the other perceiving function, just as reliance on one judging function means less reliance on the other judging function. 

Unhealthy states are caused by disturbances in the balance of your two judging functions or your two perceiving functions. The rise of a lower perceiving function has no automatic, inherent effect on an upper judging function, and vice versa, because perceiving functions and judging functions are’t competing to preform the same task. 

I’ll use my type (ENFP) as an example. The ENFP dominant function is Ne, which means that ENFPs default to perceiving through an exploratory, intuitive perspective. This automatically means that ENFPs will be less comfortable perceiving in the opposite way - conclusively and concretely (Si). 

Therefore, weakening Ne means more reliance on Si, and vice versa. Ne and Si are yin to each other’s yang - two sides of the same coin. 

However, weakened Fi or strengthened Te have no direct effect on the strength of Ne. Fi and Te exist in their own judging function equilibrium, and the relative health and balance of that equilibrium exists separately from the relationship between Ne and Si. An ENFP in a loop may FEEL like their Te is taking over because they’re not used to using it this much, but this change in judging perspective does not have an effect on your perception preferences. An ENFP will still lead with Ne regardless of whether Fi or Te is currently taking the lead on the judgment process. 

Therefore, there can only be “switches” in power between the dominant and inferior function (a grip) and between the auxiliary and tertiary function (a loop).

Hope this helps!

[highonmbti]

enneagram type comparisons at a glance

compiled from typewatchenneagram.

1 vs 2 | Ones are much harder on themselves than Twos. Twos can think highly of themselves merely by seeing themselves as considerate of others. Even when Twos are self-critical, they have more of a pride in being self-critical. Twos, being image-center first, won’t hesitate to have outbursts of emotion, which seems like a lack of self-control to the One.  1 vs 3 | Ones couldn’t promote themselves to save their lives while that’s the Three’s gift should they choose to use it. Threes also have much stronger egos and are sometimes willing to cut corners. In the off-chance Ones do self-promote, it’s for the greater good, not personal benefit. 1 vs 4 | A One’s strict superego precludes them from emotional displays and indulging like a Four. Ones, unlike Fours, aren’t reactive; they have to look before they leap before reacting emotionally. A Four sees being emotional as authentic while a One sees that as a lack of self-control. 1 vs 5 | Fives, unlike Ones, don’t need to adhere to standards that apply to everyone to think they are good enough. Unlike Fives, the way Ones are rational is tied to self-control. Ones find it easy to engage the world while Fives find it draining. Fives don’t need to obey the rules while Ones are complaint to the rules. 1 vs 6 | Ones, unlike Sixes, do not worry and are very sure of themselves. They know what their purpose is in the world. They “just know” way things should be and they pride themselves in not wavering in their convictions. Ones have a drive for self-improvement that Sixes don’t have.  Ones equate repressing themselves with being more worthy. Sixes find it much easier lying to protect loved ones as they don’t have a transcendent view of morality like Ones. 1 vs 7 | Ones are inhibited. Sevens are anything but. Sevens do not believe in restricting themselves like Ones do. 1 vs 8 | Ones are contractive while eights are expansive. Eights are very comfortable making exceptions to the rules when judging people. Eights also find it easy to exempt themselves from following any rules. Unlike Eights, Ones need to follow their rules to consider themselves moral people. 1 vs 9 | Ones are tight while Nines are easygoing. If the one’s dedication to their cause is strong enough they will view losing connection with people outside their family as necessary sacrifices for the greater good while for a Nine there is nothing worse than estrangement. Nines aren’t aggressive like Ones are. They lack the One’s constant need for self-improvement and complex around perfectionism. 2 vs 3 | Twos, being compliants, feel they have to do something, in contrast to Threes who want to do something. Twos, despite being other-directed, are really creating and meeting their own expectations. Twos also find it very difficult to forgive themselves. 2 vs 4 | Fours are elitist and are very comfortable with that. Fours don’t like it when Twos trivialize the complexity of their problems when a Two says problems can be helped. Fours go out of their way to show they are not gentle while Twos suppress that. Twos are other-directed while Fours are more attuned to their own needs and self before others as the self is their primary focus. 2 vs 5 | Twos like people while Fives range from apathy to being misanthropic. Twos feel a need to be in a facilitating role for others while a Five is very comfortable withdrawing from people. 2 vs 6 | Twos tend to be much more certain and sure of themselves than Sixes. Twos are the iron hand beneath the velvet glove and are more formidable than they appear. Twos have pride in that it is always others that need their help and never the Two. Twos, being enablers, are naturally parental while Sixes are natural team players. Twos repress what is at odds with their gentle self-image whereas Sixes repress themselves to fit in. 2 vs 7 | Twos are drawn to putting themselves in positions of assisting others where they have to live up to their own expectations. Sevens don’t like to put themselves in positions that would curtail their freedom. 2 vs 8 | Twos suppress the sides of themselves that aren’t gentle while Eights wear their badassery on their sleeves. 2 vs 9 | Twos, unlike Nines, have controlling tendencies. Twos also have much stronger egos and are more formidable. 3 vs 4 | Threes focus more on self-development while Fours focus more on self-expression. Fours must live out their emotional states. Fours sink or swim wherever their emotions take them while Threes don’t like to give free reign to the expression of their emotions. 3 vs 5 | Threes are much more comfortable promoting themselves. Fives find it awkward to sell themselves in any capacity. 3 vs 6 | Threes think it is their destiny to become someone outstanding whereas Sixes aren’t as naturally confident in their abilities. Threes keep their eye on the ball while Sixes are prone to getting stuck in contingency planning. 3 vs 7 | Threes focus much better than Sevens and aren’t as naturally spontaneous as Sevens. Sevens are much less aware of how they come across to others. Sevens are also more spontaneous and less staged. 3 vs 8 | Unlike Threes, Eights are anything but apologetic and are comfortable with people not liking them. Eights view themselves as animalistic where that is too uncivilized for a Three’s self-image. 3 vs 9 | Threes need to become someone outstanding. They are prone to overestimating their abilities where they have their ego invested whereas Nines tend to underestimate their abilities. Nines have an inhibition against taking the initiative to make themselves heard, unlike Threes. Threes focus on meeting expectations and personal goals while Nines care about avoiding obligations. “Seize the day!” doesn’t resonate with Nines like Threes. 4 vs 5 | Fours are in the feeling triad so feelings are their home base, unlike Fives who have to periodically detach from them to prevent from feeling overwhelmed. 4 vs 6 | Fours are comfortable with their elitism as they just know they have insight and creativity others lack. Sixes don’t like it when people place themselves above others due to it being unfair. Sixes don’t romanticize being different like Fours do. 4 vs 7 | Sevens are more future-oriented and Fours are past-oriented. Sevens have a blind faith that the future will be better for them and always seem to be avoiding something to Fours. 4 vs 8 | Eights are the tough exterior with the marshmallow core underneath while Fours are the opposite. Eights trivialize their emotions whereas Fours amplify them. Eights avoid displays of emotional vulnerability while Fours see the ability to live out their emotions as desirable.  4 vs 9 | Fours use separation to proudly affirm how different they are while Nines fear being separated from others. Unlike Nines, Fours like to bring attention to themselves and are comfortable taking the initiative to make themselves heard. 5 vs 6 | Fives are naturally curious types and love knowledge for its own sake. They are oblivious to procedures and policies in power structures. Unlike Sixes, their first instinct is to intellectualize their emotions. Sixes don’t romanticize isolation and don’t have delusions of grandeur like Fives do. In contrast to Fives, Sixes orient themselves towards practical application of knowledge. 5 vs 7 | Fives like to operate at some distance from the environment while Sevens move the environment closer to them. Fives have a limited amount of themselves while Sevens have lots of energy. Sevens are naturally spontaneous.  Sevens have much more energy and have trouble focusing. Sevens don’t feel a need to recharge like Fives do. 5 vs 8 | Instincts are an Eight’s strength while being a Five’s weakness. Eights have much more energy and will and aren’t overwhelmed by their emotions. 5 vs 9 | Nines are drawn to comforting thoughts as opposed to Fives who are mentally intense, strong-minded, and argumentative, and drawn to disturbing thoughts. Fives like to argue for sport while Nines don’t want to bother with winning an argument since it means getting angry which feels unpleasant. Fives, unlike Nines, put a premium on what they say being well thought-out. Nines have a bias to simplify whereas Fives have a bias to complexity. Nines have an elastic cognition while Fives are constrained by their internal logic. Nine thinking is involved with generalities whereas Five thinking is highly concentrated, penetrating, and almost microscopic in its focus. Nines are more “present” physically. Nines see being united and coming together in a positive light. 6 vs 7 | Sixes don’t have the blind faith in the future and themselves that Sevens have. Sixes are much more self-conscious than Sevens. Sixes are much more naturally responsible. Sixes are compliant types with a strong superego influence. 6 vs 8 | Eights like to feel grand and Sixes don’t. When the desire for clarity and the desire to avoid weakness conflict, the Six will choose for former and the Eight the latter. Eights often see the need for clarity as weakness and deny it. 6 vs 9 | Sixes see Nines as not alert enough while Nines see that Sixes need to chill out. Nines find it easier to gloss over discrepancies. What is okay to a Nine has a very wide latitude. Effective communication isn’t as important to Nines as it is to Sixes who need things to be spelled out. Nines are comfortable letting things happen on their own while Sixes notice what can go wrong. Sixes, being reactive types, find it much harder to shield their annoyance from others. When Nines feel smaller than their internal resources to deal with a situation, they get to a “what’s the point anymore?” paralysis. Sixes lack the presumption of Nines. 7 vs 8 | Sevens don’t want to control people whereas Eights will control people to avoid being controlled. 7 vs 9 | Sevens overestimate themselves while Nines don’t. Sevens want a lot and have a hard time accepting the world won’t give it to them. Nines are much better at adjusting their wants to realistic expectations. Sevens don’t feel invisible at all and easily take the initiative to make themselves heard. Unlike Sevens, Nines hold back their cockiness until they feel comfortable. 8 vs 9 | Nines don’t invite conflict like Eights do. Eights have a much easier time expressing anger and don’t feel invisible at all.

behind the cut: wing comparisons

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[highonmbti]

hiiii! could you make comparisons between Ne and Te and between Ni and Ti? Thank youu!!

No problem! I’ve written about Ni vs Ti before, but here’s a brief overview of both comparisons.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) vs. Extroverted Thinking (Te)

Ne is a method of objective perception, while Te is a method of objective judgment. Ne explores conceptual possibilities, while Te explores existing logical standards and truths. 

Ne focuses perceiving possibilities. It generates ideas and makes intuitive connections between them. It deals with concepts and theories, and is more interested in ideas than tangible reality. 

High Ne users are conceptually exploratory. They’re open to ideas and great at perceiving connections. They’ve usually got a variety of random interests and skills. They’re more interested in the ideas than the execution of those ideas, which can cause them to be scattered or multi-directional. Generally, they’re more interested in “what if” than “what’s known”. 

High Ne users: ENFP, ENTP (dominant), INFP, INTP (auxiliary)

Te focuses on purely objective judgment. It evaluates according to what’s objectively true, logical, or efficient. It deals with black and white logic, and is more interested in what’s efficient than values or human emotions. 

High Te users use pre-existing logical standards make judgments quickly and with confidence. They are decisive and action oriented, looking to use logic as a tool rather than as something to play with. They’re usually straightforward, direct, and loathe inefficiency. This can cause them to be overly objective and overlook the importance of subjectivity, individuality, and human emotion. 

High Te users: ENTJ, ESTJ (dominant), INTJ, ISTJ (auxiliary)

Introverted Intuition (Ni) vs. Introverted Thinking (Ti) 

Ni is a method of subjective perception, while Ti is a method of subjective judgment. Ni creates personalized understanding of essence, vision, or meaning, while Ti creates personalized understanding of logical accuracy and consistency. 

Ni focuses on perceiving essence. It synthesizes intuitive impressions in order to come to a singular understanding or view. It deals in intuitive meanings, vision, and implications, and is more interested in what’s meant than what is.

High Ni users are intuitive and singularly focused. Their intuition naturally forms perceptions of meaning, essence, vision, purpose or truth that gives them a sense of confidence in their perception process. They’re more comfortable with what they “just know” than when they’re asked to point to details or alternatives. They often have a clear vision of how things are or how they’d like things to be, which may make them appear somewhat inflexible to others. 

High Ni users: INTJ, INFJ (dominant), ENTJ, ENFJ (auxiliary)

Ti focuses on judging logical accuracy. Ti needs to make sense of things personally. Unlike Ni, which synthesizes ideas together to form a singular understanding, Ti is more likely to pick ideas apart, needing to evaluate logical consistency from the bottom up. Ti is more interested in accuracy than maintaining harmony or consensus. 

High Ti users are analytical and skeptical. They don’t like to accept things at face value - they like to figure things out for themselves. They are discerning, precise, but often overly analytical or nit picking. They see logic as something to play with and refine and are therefore a much less straightforward and decisive than TJ types. They’re generally more interested in “what makes sense” than “what’s best for the group”. 

High Ti users: INTP, ISTP (dominant), ENTP, ESTP (auxiliary)

[highonmbti]

What would an unhealthy ISTP mistype for? ENJF? I kept mistyping for INTP not so long ago and I think I was in a TiNi loop confusing myself as an intuitive. Also, even if people with mental illness are hard to type, I saw a pool on a BPD blog once where the majority tested as ENFP, which absolutely fits with your ENFP and need for validation post. Tests can be shallow, though. But...

Any type can mistype as another type. I’d say the most likely mistypes for unhealthy ISTPs are INTP or INTJ (if in a Ti-Ni loop), and ISFP or ISFJ (if in a Fe grip), but any mistyping is possible, as MBTI indicates thought process rather than behavior. 

And yes, I’m not surprised to hear that lots of people with BPD identify as ENFPs. If your dominant cognitive process is the perception of possibilities (Ne), it might make you more susceptible instability and impulsivity, and like you mentioned, Fi-Te can cause people to search externally for validation related to their emotions or identity. So if your mental processes (your functions) are already predisposed to some of these unhealthy behaviors, it’s probably easier and more likely for a mental illness that involves these tendencies to develop.