You won't find an INFP male just anywhere. Not only is this the rarest personality type, but women make up the majority of the type.
A man with this personality type is rare indeed, but they can be found. And this man is worth looking for. Trust me. Look in the places where artists hang out or in the woods taking photos of birds or other wildlife.
You might also find him volunteering at the local animal shelter or working behind the scenes at the local soup kitchen. Or perhaps he works in a senior home.
This man loves to help others, but he doesn't necessarily want the attention. He's quiet, sensitive, and very much an individual.
Let's take a closer look at him.
INFP: A By-Product of the Myers-Briggs Personality Test?
The Myers-Briggs personality inventory is one of the most widely used personality indicators in the world. It is used by employers, universities, and even the government to match individuals to specific positions.
This test separates people into one of sixteen different categories. You can gain a better understanding of this test in this guide to the basics. If you haven't yet had the chance to find out your type, you can take a quick test to get your answer.
What is INFP?
The sixteen personality types are based on four categories:
This means that an INFP person is someone who is more inwardly focused on their thoughts than what is going on in the outside world. They gain energy by taking time to be alone.
When gathering information, they are more likely to go by how something makes them feel rather than use their five senses.
When making decisions, the INFP takes into account how their decision will affect everyone involved and they are open-minded in most instances and willing to change their minds when the information indicates the need to.
Many writers and artists are INFPs. Among them, you can find:
For other people who fall into this category, check out 57 famous INFP individuals.
As with all of the types, there are both strengths and weaknesses. Some of the most telling traits of this personality are that they:
You can get an idea of what strengths and weaknesses are present in the INFP person in this article describing ten strengths and weaknesses. For now, let's take a look at the male INFP.
Who Is the Male INFP?
THE male INFP isn't easy to find because there are so few of them. INFP personalities only make up 2 to 5% of the entire population. Of them, only 1-1.5 % are males.
These sensitive, creative men often find themselves uncomfortable around other men who are loud and pushy. They march to the beat of their own drummer. Let's take a look at 7 common characteristics of this rare male.
#1. Observant
The INFP male is likely to notice every little detail that everyone else misses. They may notice a gnarled tree or the presence of an old lady who sits in the park every morning.
They notice the subtle change in energy in a room before everyone else. These are things that produce emotion within this man, so they are something important. He will notice if something is bothering you or if you are feeling “off” today.
There is another side to this, however. While the INFP male notices the little details, they may fail to notice much of the bigger picture.
For example, this man may be a passenger in a car to work every day for several years. He gets a car and has to drive himself, and he may feel lost as to which way he needs to go. After all, he didn't need to navigate before, so he found the little things he observed along the way a priority.
#2. Empathetic
INFP males are very empathetic. In addition to being able to notice when there is a change in your mood or behavior, they are likely to understand how a situation may be affecting you. Part of this skill comes from being a good listener. This man will sit and really listen to what you have to say. This makes those in this category great counselors.
The downside to this great empathy is that a man in this category can often actually feel another's pain so deeply he may not be able to separate it from his own. Once he has taken the time to understand what it means to be so highly sensitive and how to protect himself from literally taking on the troubles of others, he makes a great counselor.
This is the man you don't have to be afraid to cry in front of. He is never put off by emotion as he has spent so much time learning about his own that he understands yours as well.
#3. Avoids Conflict
One thing the INFP male dislikes the most is conflict. He will do everything in his power to prevent it. This man will willingly talk a problem over for hours as long as you are willing to listen and remain cool and collected. This type isn't nicknamed the Mediator for no reason. It isn't only personal conflict that he will avoid.
He will try to get others to stop and talk about any issues that arise. In his opinion, there is nothing important enough to yell and scream about. Calm conversation is all you need to solve an issue.
This approach can backfire on some of these men. People may view him as a pushover. This is not the case. This man can't be talked into doing anything he doesn't want to do. He simply won't fight about it. If he doesn't feel something is worth having his way, he will apologize, even if he doesn't need to.
He will be willing to listen and hear your take on the situation, and will even consider how a decision affects you, but if he feels he is right, and nobody else will be hurt, he will forge ahead on his own path with quiet determination.
#4. Strong Moral Beliefs
One area where this man will steadfastly hold his ground is in matters of moral values. His morals have been created after much contemplation and he has a strong sense of what he considers right and wrong. In this area, he doesn't often see any gray areas. Often, this causes this man to seek a position as a judge, and he can be a harsh one.
This can be difficult to achieve, however, because judges must become lawyers first, and this goes against his internal need to avoid conflict and arguments.
This steadfast adherence to his values can make this man appear stubborn, and indeed, he can be. However, his willingness to learn and grow, as well as his willingness to try and understand another person's viewpoint, does give him the chance to see if his viewpoint may be faulty in some way.
You need to be prepared to bring out your most logical points, however, because this is one area where an INFP man will dig in his heels if you can't make your case to his satisfaction.
#5. Introspective
As with most introverts, the INFP man spends a lot of time within his own head. To others, this can make him appear self-absorbed or self-centered, but this is not the case at all. He simply wants to understand his strong emotions better.
This man is constantly seeking to know himself and others better. He will examine each and every thought and action.
This isn't done in a judgmental way or in a manner that those with anxiety have. He simply explores the emotions and tries to determine how they impacted his actions. It also helps him determine if he needs to improve in some way.
As noted, this introspection can cause others to see this man as being self-absorbed. The difference is that he isn't only trying to understand himself better, but he is also wanting to learn how he can better relate to those around him.
He believes he needs to understand himself before he can fully understand others. This is necessary when he is in need of making important decisions, because his natural instinct is to take into account how each decision will affect everyone involved.
#6. Outdoorsy
After talking about how quiet and gentle this man is, you probably wouldn't think of him in an outdoor environment, surrounded by trees, bugs, and few creature comforts. After all, isn't this where you find adventurous, rugged men?
We seldom recognize that the great outdoors offers many different things to many types of people. Besides, it's where trees and animals exist. This man loves all living things and can be found wandering among the trees, dipping his feet in a stream to feel the coolness, or photographing a mother bear and her cubs.
This man often sees nature as a way to quiet his mind and emotions after so much time in a world that is never quiet. He wants to learn about plants and animals and will find a way to include nature in his life, even if it is only a small garden in his yard.
These men don't strive for the adrenaline rush of shooting an animal or kayaking through white waters. The biggest danger they face is possibly forgetting that those sweet little bear cubs are not for petting because Mama Bear isn't far away.
#7. Committed to Growth
When it comes down to it, all the introspection, willingness to listen, and exploration all serve an even greater purpose for the male INFP. This is his wish to grow. He is the one you can find attending seminars and retreats that explore all the dimensions of his spirit and mind.
This man wants to become what he believes is the best possible person he can be and he knows that takes exploration, understanding his weaknesses as well as his strengths, and gaining knowledge from others who have already been on this path.
This man is very much an individualist, but that doesn't mean he doesn't respect the knowledge that others have to offer. He will spend hours, even days, listening to spiritual leaders and other thought leaders who have been through the growth journey.
He will question them endlessly, seeking answers that let him know just how much thought they have put into their own growth. He is open-minded and won't limit himself to traditional trains of thought. He will even use his innovative spirit to take the things he's heard and connect them in ways others may not have considered.
Final Thoughts on Being an Male INFP
Knowing a male INFP is something you will never regret. These are the gentle beings who make you think and question. Their idealism can have you imagining things you never thought were possible.
You will need to make sure to give them space. After all, they are introverts… so they will need time alone to re-energize or can burn out quickly. However, they are more in touch with their emotions than most of the population. Their creativity and willingness to listen and grow are unequaled.
You can relate better to the INFP male in your life if you are willing to get to know yourself on a deeper level. Doing so will help you adapt to the inevitable changes and grow into your highest possible self as well. Plus, your loyal INFP will be right there with you on your journey.
And if you're looking for more resources on personality types, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 8 ENTP Strengths and Weaknesses for This Personality Type
- 9 ENTJ Strengths and Weaknesses for This Personality Type
- 8 INTP Strengths and Weaknesses for this Personality Type
Finally, if you want to identify YOUR personality type, then take one of these 11 personality tests to better understand what makes you tick.
