Why I Think My Character is an INFP

In my last post, I talked about the Myers-Briggs test and what the four letters stand for. When I took the personality test a few years ago, my results came out to be INFP, which basically means my dominant traits are: (I) introversion, (N) intuitive, (F) feeling, and (P) Prospecting. When you compare the INFP to the other fifteen personality types made up of four letters, the INFP is one of the rarest personality types, making up about 4-5% of the world’s population.

Although easily misunderstood, this personality type nicknamed the “Mediator” is known for being quiet, creative, and idealistic. Interestingly enough, when I read the description regarding the Mediator personality, I couldn’t help but think many of the qualities align closely with my fictional character Troy, who is the main protagonist in Before the Legend and the sequel, Roman Identity. Based on the description provided on 16Personalities and my reflection on this personality type, here’s why I believe my character is also an INFP.

Troy Acertius

Rich Inner Worlds

INFPs are introverted by nature. Introverts naturally look inward vs. outward so we are in our heads a lot, whether it’s ruminating on what someone said (good or bad) or daydreaming. We live in our heads (at least it feels that way) and for INFPs, this is no exception. They have a rich inner world, filled with possibilities, beauty, and wonder which lends itself to creativity. Therefore, many with this personality type gravitate to the arts, whether it’s music, fine art, or writing.

My character Troy prefers solitude over crowds. While he comes across as a loner, his inner dialogue filled with his nuanced observations of the people and scenery around him is a testament to the rich inner world that keeps him stimulated and engaged. While my character is not fond of small talk or public speaking, he can capture his thoughts and musings into the written word.

Higher Calling

INFPs naturally seek purpose in their lives. Not that other personality types don’t seek purpose but INFPs derive great satisfaction in pursuing a greater calling in life. They tend to look for meaning even in abstract things and are drawn to satisfying their spiritual need. While they are quiet, unassuming types, they typically care about the welfare of others and want to make the world a better place.

In Roman Identity, finding his purpose is a recurring theme for the young protagonist. When Troy learns he is to become the Mediator (how fitting) he is naturally curious about the role and how it fits in the greater scheme of the kingdom. Troy is also concerned about the welfare of others, including animals. You will see this explored in Roman Identity (hint, hint).

Empathy

One of their biggest qualities that’s shared with nearly all INFPs is their capacity to empathize with others thanks to their wiring to lead more with emotion. I can summarize empathy as having the ability to feel another person’s pain, and that is true of many with this personality type.

My fictional character Troy has a big heart and can empathize or feel another character’s pain even if he hasn’t experienced it personally himself. We see that a little in Before the Legend, but we really get to see that explored in Roman Identity when Troy begins to view the practice of slavery in a different light than his contemporaries. In the series, Troy’s tendency is to lean more on emotion vs. logic, whether it’s making decisions or in how he interacts with others. This of course becomes even more apparent as he comes of age. Unfortunately for Troy, this is a negative trait, especially as a boy of high station, who’s been groomed to believe that showing emotions or vulnerability is a sign of weakness.

Authenticity

INFPS in general highly value being true to themselves and their values. Pretending to be something they’re not does NOT bode well with this type. They crave authenticity and self-expression. This, of course, can put them at odds with mainstream society who pressure them to conform to a certain mold of being. They want to feel accepted for who they are and thrive in relationships where they feel free to be themselves.

My protagonist also highly values authenticity. He has a different way of seeing things and deep down wants to be accepted for who he is. Although he’s pressured to be more like his older brothers who are the polar opposite of him, he has a serious internal struggle with being something he’s not.

Because of his need for authenticity, Troy becomes easily disinterested in superficial things or small talk. Rather, he craves deep connections with others. Because he doesn’t quite fit the mold, he often feels alienated or misunderstood which is a feeling that many INFPs can relate to including myself.

Other INFPs in literature

Obviously, my character is not the only one that might fall under this personality type. Here are two examples of popular INFPs in literature.

Source Danny Ballan

Popular book character such as Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings is thought to be INFPs. While I did not read the books, the movies depict the main protagonist Frodo as a shy, kind-hearted, curious hobbit, making him stand out from the other hobbits. He possesses many of the traits seen in this personality type so it’s no surprise why he’s suspected to be an INFP.

Source: Anne of Green Gables

Again I did not read the book so I can’t get into specifics but from watching the movie adaptions of Anne of Green Gables from the 1980s, I got a powerful impression of the young protagonist, Anne Shirley. She is free-spirited, imaginative (remember we talked about rich inner worlds), and unapologetically Anne Shirley with an “e” throughout the series making her a fearless, independent-thinking character. Considering she checks nearly all the boxes, it’s no wonder many would classify her as an INFP.

I’m sure there are way more book characters that could be classified as the “Mediator” personality than what I discussed but I wanted to briefly call out the most popular ones. Overall the traits that we discussed are not exclusive to INFPs alone. However, you will see these combined traits in nearly all INFPs. And while INFPs are the minority, and often grow up feeling misunderstood or overlooked, they’re plenty of INFPs including some famous figures past and present (William Shakespeare, Alicia Keys, Julia Roberts, Johnny Depp, and Tom Hiddleston), just to name a few that have made their mark in the arts.

If you are an INFP reading this know you do matter and the world can use more of our optimism, compassion, and empathy. And even if you aren’t one you are unique in your own way.

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Question to readers: Based on the Myers-Briggs test, what personality type is your book character?

Why Introverts Make Good Writers

I return to blogging because I like to write. Never did it cross my mind that my keen interest in writing had anything to do with who I am on a fundamental level until recently. After you read this you’ll understand the connection I started to make with introversion to writing.

It is estimated that at least 1/3 of the population are introverted. For a significant portion of the population, including myself we felt largely misunderstood. We felt something was wrong with us. I may not have been able to articulate it during childhood, but I learned early on that being outgoing, sociable, and assertive were more socially acceptable than being reserved, quiet, and passive. While introversion is still largely misunderstood and looked upon as a “deficiency,” today more people are becoming enlightened as to what introversion actually is and more importantly the inert strengths that introverts possess, largely thanks to Susan Cain’s book: Quiet:The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. One of the many arenas introverts are making their mark on the world is literature.

This is not to say that extroverts can’t be good writers too. Writers are as varied as the number of books that are out on the market. From my own experiences I’ve come to see how my natural strengths that many other introverts possess can actually play in their favor when it comes to writing. Granted this won’t apply to every single introvert (there is great variation even among introverts) but the overall principles will apply to many.

Writing is their preferred method of communication. 

Typically extroverts tend to vocalize their thoughts. Introverts by nature tend to internalize their thoughts. From observation, my extroverted counterparts tend to be more vocal on expressing their thoughts and feelings vs. my introverted friends. For some introverts, speaking out especially to those they don’t know very well can be unnerving or awkward. Add shyness and anxiety to the mix and this problem is 10x worse especially in crowds. Even if you aren’t necessarily shy, it can be hard to articulate the thoughts and ideas swirling in your heads when someone puts you on the spot. Many find it easier to express their ideas into writing because it allows them time to sort out their thoughts and choose the right words. As a result many introverts have become comfortable writing their ideas and over time writing becomes second nature.

We have rich inner worlds.

It can be joked that introverts live in their heads. Silly as it sounds there’s some truth to those words. I’ll recall a friend of my friend on Facebook quoted that the “quietest people have the loudest minds.” As an introvert, I can personally attest to that fact. Because we are constantly ruminating different thoughts and working out ideas in our heads it’s no wonder that many introverts are naturally creative people. One of those creative outlets can be writing. With a creative mind you can brainstorm the plot of your next story from a single idea that popped in your head. You can imagine the setting of the plot, from the scenery of the world you’re creating. For the characters that populate your world, you can visualize everything from their physical appearance, down to their mannerisms and facial expressions. Once the ideas flow, the possibilities for the next novel are endless.

The need for quiet.

While this may not appear to many as a strength, our strength or energy comes from recharging alone. Quiet environments are the most conducive for this. Because long periods of quiet time doesn’t phase us as much (I actually welcome it) we can concentrate better. This plays into writing because the longer you can spend concentrating on your writing, the more productive you will be. Not only will you increase your word count but the quality of your writing will also benefit when you take away the distractions and tune in to your inner voice as you read the story and see if things flow. High levels of concentration are especially needed for the editing and re-writing process which is essential if you want to publish a book.

Because introverts get their energy from being alone, spending time alone or engaging in quieter activities is ideal for us. Stereotypically you’ll find an introvert at home curled up in their bed or couch reading a good book instead of going to a social gathering. Again that’s not true of every introvert in every situation. There’s times I actually want to go out and spend time with friends. A lot of times I genuinely enjoy myself when I do go. But there’s nothing more relaxing than unwinding after the event is over. A popular pastime particularly for quieter introspective souls is reading. Reading is indirectly related to the craft of writing because from reading you can learn from another author’s writing styles. Are they good at describing action scenes? Good at writing dialogue? Or maybe it’s believable characters. Without copying, we can emulate plot devices that work and avoid those that don’t in our own writing.

Granted, not every introvert will automatically excel at writing, but these three traits can help you in improving the craft. Like any craft it takes time and effort to perfect. And the good news is that these traits can be true of anyone whether you’re an extrovert, introvert or somewhere in between (ambivert). So if these traits are applicable to you, see them for what they are. And if your goal is to become a writer use them to your advantage in becoming a better writer than you were yesterday.