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You may think, “It’s just one-letter difference.” However, ISFPs and INFPs are vastly different.

ISFP & INFP: Introverted Feeling 

(Dominant: First Function)

ISFPs and INFPs share introverted feeling (Fi) as their dominant function.

ISFPs and INFPs feel everything deeply and intensely. They have such intense feelings that sometimes they are not able to control them and get "carried away" by their feelings. My ISFP friend once put it as, "My feelings are the train and I am just a passenger on it."

These feelings are personal and unique to each Fi user. As ISFPs and INFPs grow up, these feelings form a "value system" which ISFPs and INFPs use to evaluate things in the external world.

ISFPs and INFPs’ Fi assesses information reported by auxiliary functions then judges it good or bad. Because of this, young ISFPs and INFPs can be judgmental. They see the world in black and white. As they grow up, they start to see the spectrum and become more open-minded.

Fi seeks what is significant to it. What is valuable for it. What it loves.

ISFP: Extroverted Sensing 

(Auxiliary: Second Function)

ISFPs have extroverted sensing (Se) as their auxiliary function.

Se is adept at perceiving the external world through the five senses: sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. Se has no filter. Se does not judge. Se absorbs and savors all raw sensory stimuli around the user without any post processing.

If Se were ISFPs’ dominant function, they would never cease to explore the world seeking new sensory experiences. (That’s what ESFPs do.)

ISFPs still use their Se a lot. They know how to enjoy the present moment to the fullest. But as it is their auxiliary function, ISFPs’ Se reports back to their Fi eventually.

Fi judges the sensory information Se sent up. In the sea of sensory experiences, Fi finds what it loves the most.

It can be anything. Every ISFP is different. It can be the refreshing sensation of running through cold air as your heart pumps hot blood throughout your body. It can be the dry but resonant sound of the bass guitar. It can be the taste of the warm, sweet cake that took you three hours to bake.

Whatever the experience is, the ISFP commits to it and masters it. Many ISFPs are world-class athletes, master musicians, top chefs, or something else. Their possibilities are as limitless as all the sensory experiences the world holds.

ISFP: Introverted Intuition 

(Tertiary: Third Function)

ISFPs have introverted intuition (Ni) as their tertiary function.

Ni discerns patterns and connections between and behind all things in the external world. Then it subconsciously processes this information and outputs fairly accurate future predictions which the Ni user perceives as odd "insight" or "hunches."

It’s no magic. Ni might seem invisible but it is always working silently yet diligently in the subconscious, observing and analyzing everything.

Since Ni is ISFPs' tertiary function, they don’t use it often. Still Ni gives ISFPs random hunches and insight now and then to help them navigate through life.

ISFP Fi-Ni Loop

When someone is moderately stressed out, they fall into the dominant-tertiary loop. This loop makes the person favor their dominant and tertiary functions and neglect their auxiliary and inferior functions.

When ISFPs are stressed out, they fall into the Fi-Ni loop. 

In healthy ISFPs, their auxiliary Se feeds their dominant Fi with information. In looping ISFPs, their tertiary Ni feeds their Fi with information.

Usually the loop starts when Fi has an idea that serves as a trigger. Let's say you suspect your boyfriend is cheating on you.

Fi: I think my boyfriend is cheating on me. (trigger)

Healthy ISFPs are able to use their Se to collect objective information to verify the suspicion. Se scrutinizes everything and sees nothing is wrong. The suspicion vanishes. Fi is relieved. The ISFP is happy again.

Unhealthy ISFPs are unable to use their Se. Instead, their Ni provides their Fi with "information." But since their Ni is tertiary, it is clumsy and erratic. Ni over-analyzes everything and sees patterns that aren't there. Ni gives the ISFP "insight" and "hunches" about bad future events that never take place.

Your boyfriend smiles to a cashier in a grocery store.

Ni: He's flirting with her. How can you trust a man who smiles to a woman like that when his girlfriend is right behind him? (over-analysis) He's cheating on you. He will leave you soon. ("insight" & "hunch")

Fi: That's so terrible. I'm so hurt.

Hurt Fi is more likely to find more things to feel bad about. The ISFP's deranged Ni goes paranoid each time, hurting Fi further. Fi finds more things to be hurt over. The ISFP is in the loop.

Fi: How can this be? Am I not attractive enough? (new trigger)

Ni: Let's see.

Your boyfriend smiles to a waiter in a restaurant.

Ni: He fancies him. It just shows in his eyes. I always suspected he was gay. Actually I think he's bi. Either way, no, you are not attractive enough for him. (over-analysis & "insight")

Fi: That is so terrible. I'm so hurt. I'm scared he might leave me soon.

The ISFP is possessed by the premonition of impending doom. They fear the future. They are unable to enjoy the present. They are out of their natural easygoing, down-to-earth self.

The way out of the loop is in your auxiliary function. For ISFPs, it's their Se. ISFPs need to actively nurture their Se to get out of their Fi-Ni loop.

A good way to do this is to jog in nature. The exercise makes your body feel alive and your senses alert. Nature provides so much to appreciate and enjoy. Look at the clear blue sky. Breathe in the refreshing cool air. Feel the warm sunlight on your skin. Hear the high-pitched chirping of birds. Relish the sweet smell of wet decomposing leaves.

Forget the future and what Ni tells you will happen. Fully engage in your Se and let your Fi feel. As your Se regains its natural place in your function stack, you will be able to enjoy the present to the fullest once again.

INFP: Extroverted Intuition 

(Auxiliary: Second Function)

INFPs have extroverted intuition (Ne) as their auxiliary function.

Ne is in charge of seeing patterns and connections between and behind all things. Ne sees possibilities. For Ne, unlike Ni, the possibilities don’t have to be probable. They only need to be interesting. That’s why Ne’s hunches are often less accurate than Ni’s.

If Ne were INFPs’ dominant function, they would never cease to explore all the possibilities that could branch out from their reality and experiment to see if they are really interesting. (That’s what ENFPs do.)

INFPs still see all those possibilities with their Ne. But instead of experimenting, their Ne reports the possibilities to their Fi.

Fi then assesses the possibilities and determines what is the most exciting. What is the most precious. What is worth exploring.

Stephen King says in his memoir On Writing that every story, however grandiose, grows out of one question: the premise. And the premise often takes the form of “What if?”

“What if a mistreated orphan learns that he is a wizard?”

“What if my boyfriend is a vampire?”

“What if I am forced to either kill other teenagers in an arena or die?”

Ni predicts “what will be.” Ne explores “what could be.” 

“What if” is like Ne’s catchphrase. Asking that very question is what Ne does. Follow an ENFP around for a day. You'll see.

After choosing the most exciting of the possibilities, INFPs’ Fi lets Ne take charge again. Now their Ne can run rampant. Ne is the life force that makes the premise grow. This is why INFPs are often talented at creative writing.

INFP: Introverted Sensing 

(Tertiary: Third Function)

INFPs have introverted sensing (Si) as their tertiary function.

Si perceives the external world through a filter of significance. Si notes the most important details then stores them in its internal archive. Thanks to that, dominant Si users have great memory. Their memories are vivid to a degree that it can be compared to reliving the experiences.

Since it's their tertiary function, INFPs don't use Si often. Still Si replays relevant memories as INFPs run into similar situations in life. Si lets INFPs learn from the past. Bad memories help INFPs not repeat the same mistakes. Good memories help INFPs choose the best course of action for optimal outcome.

INFP Fi-Si Loop

When INFPs are stressed out, they enter the Fi-Si loop. Instead of their Ne that normally reports to their Fi, now Si informs their Fi.

The "information" Si has is memories. In looping INFPs, Si constantly replays painful memories for their Fi to feel and suffer from over and over again.

Like other loops, the Fi-Si loop starts when the dominant function, Fi, has an idea that serves as a trigger.

Fi: I think my boyfriend is cheating on me. (trigger)

Si: Your ex did cheat on you when you were 17. (replay)

Fi: Oh, yeah. That hurt so much. It still hurts.

The hurt Fi comes up with another idea that serves as a new trigger. Then Si replays another memory for Fi to process.

Fi: Why would he cheat on me? (new trigger)

Si: Last time, your ex said you always had your head in the clouds and he never felt like you were there with him. (replay)

Fi: Oh, right. I guess I'm still like that. I tried so hard to change though. Obviously it wasn't enough. That's sad and depressing.

The INFP is now in the loop and constantly haunted by the past. They are unable to enjoy the present or think about good things the future holds. They are out of their natural optimistic, open-minded self.

To get out of the Fi-Si loop, INFPs need to nurture their auxiliary Ne. INFPs should deliberately try to use Ne whenever their Si tries to talk to their Fi.

Fi: I think my boyfriend is cheating on me.

Si: Your ex did cheat on you when you were 17.

Ne: Come on. Of course there are jerks, but there are a lot of awesome guys too. There are billions of guys on this planet. Also we still don't know if he's really cheating on you. There's a possibility that he isn't and it's all a misunderstanding. Why do you think he's cheating on you?

Fi: Because he doesn't look at me as passionately as before.

Ne: There might be a problem in his family. Or in his job. Or he's just feeling tired. You'll never know until you ask!

Fi: But I'm scared my suspicion might prove true.

Ne: Let's assume that could be the case. If he turns out to be a jerk, you’ll get a new opportunity to find a better person! In any case, you need to take actions and look for new possibilities. You aren't going to achieve anything if you keep sulking in the corner with Si!

Fi: That's right. Anything will feel better than this wretched remorse.

Te: Let's call him to see if he's free this evening. Let's ask away the question.

Ne: Yes! We've got nothing to lose. In the worst case, we lose a jerk and get to find a better person. In the best case, the INFP will be happy with her boyfriend again!

Forget the past and Si's nagging. Fully engage in your Ne and actively seek new experiences and possibilities. Think of all the good things the future holds. Good things tend to happen to those who seek them. As your Ne regains its natural place in your function stack, you'll be able to put your focus back on the present and be optimistic about the future again.

ISFP & INFP: Extroverted Thinking 

(Inferior: Fourth Function)

ISFPs and INFPs share extroverted thinking (Te) as their inferior function.

Te seeks to control the external world. It seeks to organize things, solve problems, and be productive.

Since it's their inferior function, ISFPs and INFPs don't use Te often. They can be disorganized or messy at times.

Still they use it sometimes. For example, many ISFPs and INFPs like to keep a to-do list and check things off it. Some ISFPs and INFPs like to follow a routine. Some of them may have a time table for each day.

Though their place might seem messy to others, ISFPs and INFPs are able to find what they're looking for in the mess. It seems chaotic, but there's an underlying order in it, often only visible to ISFPs and INFPs themselves.

ISFPs and INFPs are able to use Te for a prolonged period of time if they are required to, but they need to expend a lot of energy to do so.

ISFP & INFP Te Grip

When someone is really, I mean really stressed out, they fall into the grip of their inferior function.

For ISFPs and INFPs, it's their extroverted thinking (Te).

Te subdues all the other functions that ISFPs and INFPs normally use. So there is barely any difference between ISFPs and INFPs when they are in the grip of their Te. They turn into obnoxious, pedantic assholes who spend all their time criticizing everyone and finding flaws in everything.

They feel an irresistible urge to control everyone and everything. Since Te is their inferior function, it is clumsy and immature. Unlike ENTJs’ Te, unhealthy ISFPs and INFPs’ Te does not establish order or yield productivity. It only brings anger, conflicts, and resentment.

Unhealthy ISFPs and INFPs’ Te might make them perceive nonexistent "problems" and spend all their time "solving" them. Unhealthy ISFPs and INFPs may try to "fix" something that is already perfectly working or "organize" an already tidy environment.

In extreme cases, ISFPs and INFPs might fall victim to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the ultimate manifestation of unhealthy Te.

If you are in Te's grip, it means there is something in your life that's distressing you immensely. You need to remove that thing. If it's a bully, tell your parents and teachers. If it's a sexual predator, call the authorities right now. If it's a job, look for a job that better suits you or has less shitty people.

Once the culprit is removed, you will slowly recover. When the amount of stress you get daily is significantly reduced, your Te will no longer feel the need to take charge and will slowly calm down and withdraw.

Then you will notice the Fi-Ni or Fi-Si loop in you. The loop was there the whole time, but it was not visible because the tyranny of Te was just too destructive. But now Te is gone, your Ni or Si will try to haunt your Fi.

ISFJ: lives in the past.

ISFP: lives in the present.

INFJ: lives in the future.