In fact, I do think that INFJ Type Ones are very common, given that INFJs are the most revolutionist MBTI types. After all, Type Ones are known as "the Reformer" and on top of that, Type Ones with Two-Wing are called "the Advocate", which is actually one of the terms used to describe INFJs. So there, I'm not a Type Two with One-Wing, but a Type One with Two-Wing. It's scarily easy to mix up, especially for me, because whatever Type One and Type Two are concerned with both appeal to me.
Still, I think that I'm a person who would more outwardly display Type Two traits, with a very consistent underlying torrent of Type One ideals.
Type One Overview Video
"Type One is the part of us that cares tremendously about integrity; honesty, integrity; being aligned with truth, with higher values, with ethics. Ones have very high standards for themselves. They do their best to walk their talk. They care about integrity and they care about fairness and justice, and ethical conditions in the society - in the whole planet, really. There are different areas that Ones may focus on but whatever their focus, Ones want things to be done correctly with integrity - with love, really. They are people who care about things - care about issues, care about what's going on in the world. All this is quite wonderful. The challenge for Ones is that they can become quite rigid in their views, in their attitudes towards things and even in their attitudes towards themselves. That rigidity can actually become harshness towards themselves. Self-criticism - They can be very painful and cause one a lot of difficulties and become very hard on the people they care about."
It's not difficult to see how an INFJ can be confused between being a Type One and a Type Two. In a previous post I made about Type Twos, it is quite obvious that INFJs with a very developed Fe can very well be a Type Two. In fact, ENFJs are most commonly Type Twos, and according to our functions stacks, if an INFJ develops his/her Fe beyond his/her Ni, he/she will start to resemble ENFJs more in the way they deal with things in the outer world (Fe-Ni swap). Still, once again, an INFJ cannot become an ENFJ, because we don't swap our tertiary and inferior functions easily. So before I move on about Type Ones, I find the need to address a question in the MBTI community.
Can an INFJ become an ENFJ?
For one, you cannot change your MBTI. MBTI does not gauge your exact behaviour and is more of a description of your base personality. As you go through life, you may over-develop certain functions. For example, if you grow up in a family that places huge emphasis on studies and you come to believe in that as well, you can easily over-develop your T functions.
So can an INFJ resemble an ENFJ?
On the outside, yes, definitely. If INFJs are the most extroverted Introverts, I can see how INFJs may look like ENFJs on the first meeting. In fact, INFJs who grew up in families that have a lack of Intuitive types have the tendency to under-develop their Ni function, because their gut feelings are often rejected by the people around them. Instead, they can end up developing Fe beyond their level of Ni, and this kind of swap ends up resembling ENFJs.
However, it is extremely difficult for an individual to change their tertiary and inferior functions and that is where the difference between INFJs and ENFJs shine through. If I'm being completely honest, I think we INFJs are very envious of ENFJs, because the way their functions are stacked means that they don't experience emotional "constipation" as much and they act better under stress.
Every single type, under stress, turns towards their inferior function. In the INFJ's case, our tertiary function is Ti, which works with Ni and Fe nicely. However, under stress, we revert to using Se, a sensing function, not to mention, Extroverted Sensing. Extroverted Sensing is a very dangerous function when not balanced or checked because over-indulgence in Se can lead to over-drinking, over-eating, smoking, taking drugs, cutting, etc etc, anything to stimulate our senses. When an INFJ is stressed, they try to shut down their inner world by focusing too much their Se. Usually, once the INFJ got out of the moment of stress, a huge wave of guilt sets in once they realise that they had done all these unethical acts that were selfish and insensitive.
We think that ENFJs have it better. Their Se is tertiary while Ti is inferior. This means that ENFJs are one of the only types that handle stress well. Under stress, ENFJs sit down and think, retreating into their own minds to rationalise things. That's what INFJs do when not under stress and sadly, we tend to throw our Ti out the window once we are overwhelmed.
So, no, INFJs cannot become ENFJs. Under stress, every single person revert to their base personalities. If you place an INFJ and ENFJ under a situation of huge stress, you can immediately see the difference. INFJs will break down, either in hysteria or completely paralyse themselves, trying to either overload their sense or shut themselves down. ENFJs will just sit down and think through it. The good thing, I guess, for INFJs is that once the climax of the stress dies down, the Ti comes back almost immediately and the first thought is usually "Did I just do that? Well, that was stupid." And then Fe comes back later with the guilt.
In fact, in a survey conducted by MBTI researchers, when asked "If you have to choose another type to be, which type would you be?", the most common answers amongst INFJs are ENFJ and ENFP, because "they seem to have life easier".
Now, back to the Type One stuff.
Type One in Brief
Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organised, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic [INFJ much?]. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic and noble [INFJs are the most realistic idealists, probably because we are cynical as hell. We are very weird people - very idealistic, thinking the entire world can be changed and made better, but at the same time, very realistic because of pessimism]. Can be morally heroic [Heroic? I don't see it as being heroic.]
Basic Fear: Of being corrupt/evil, defective
Basic Desire: To be good, to have integrity, to be balanced
Enneagram One with a Nine-Wing: "The Idealist"
Enneagram One with a Two-Wing: "The Advocate"
Key Motivations: Want to be right, to strive higher and improve everything, to be consistent with their ideals, to justify themselves, to be beyond criticism so as not to be condemned by anyone
Correspondence of Type and MBTI
Q: It seems that Enneagram Types 1 and 4 are the strongly correlated with the INFJ personality. How are these two "flavours" of the INFJ different?
A: The Type 1 INFJ would fall in line with the humanitarian portrait of the type, whereas the Type 4 INFJ would be more in tune with the rare and mysterious image.
The Meaning of Type One Arrows (in brief)
When moving in their Direction of Disintegration (stress), methodical Ones suddenly become moody and irrational at Four. However, when moving in their Direction of Integration (growth), angry, critical Ones become more spontaneous and joyful, like healthy Sevens.
I'll make another more informative post about how the entire Enneagram system works some other time. It's quite an extensive system that I'm not very sure about right now.
Type One Overview
We have named the Type One The Reformer because Ones have a "sense of mission" that leads them to want to improve the world in various ways, using whatever degree of influence they have. They strive to overcome adversity -- particularly moral adversity -- so that the human spirit can shine through and make a difference. They strive after "higher values", even at the cost of great personal sacrifice.
History is full of Ones who have left comfortable lives to do something extraordinary because they felt that something higher was calling them. During the Second World War, Raoul Wallenburg left a comfortable middle-class life to work for the protection of thousands of European Jews from invading Nazis. In India, Gandi left behind his wife and family and life as a successful lawyer to become an itinerant advocate of Indian independence and non-violent social changes. Joan of Arc left her village in France to restore the throne to the Dauphin and to expel the English from the country. The idealism of each of these Ones has inspired millions.
Hah, this is hilarious. I was just reading the description of an INFJ on Personality Institute yesterday and this is what they said "In that they (INFJs) are inherently sacrificial in relating, as leaders -- as with Joan of Arc, their prototype -- they are capable of inspiring deep levels of devotion from their followers, which is often puzzling to those outside the sphere of their influence." Also, "This type (INFJ) is "Joan of Arc" in modern-day dress, living to "war" on behalf of those likely to be outcasts of society, for those unable or unwilling to defend themselves against anything that militates the sanctity of the selfhood of mankind." Yeah, what was that about INFJs not being Type Ones again?
Ones are people of practical action -- they wish to be useful in the best sense of the word. On some level of consciousness, they feel that they "have a mission" to fulfill in life, if only to try their best to reduce the disorder they see in their environment.
Although Ones have a strong sense of purpose, they also typically feel that they have to justify their actions to themselves, and often to others as well. This orientation causes Ones to spend a lot of time thinking about the consequences of their actions, as well as how to keep from acting contrary to their convictions. Because of this, Ones often persuade themselves that they are "head" types, rationalists who proceed only on logic and objective truth. But, the real picture is somewhat different: Ones are actually activists who are searching for an acceptable rationale for what they feel they must do. They are people of instinct and passion who use convictions and judgements to control and direct themselves and their actions.
In the effort to stay true to their principles, Ones resist being affected by their instinctual drives, consciously not giving in to them or expressing them too freely. The result is a personality type that has problems with repression, resistance and aggression. They are usually seen by others as highly self-controlled, even rigid, although this is not how Ones experience themselves. It seems to them that they are sitting on a cauldron of passions and desires, and they had better "keep the lid on" lest they and everyone else around them regret it.
It's so INFJ, I don't even need to say more.
Ones believe in being strict with themselves (and eventually becoming "perfect") will justify them in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. But by attempting to create their own brand of perfection, they often create their own personal hell. In stead of agreeing with the statement in Genesis that God saw what He had created, "and it was good," Ones intensely feel that "It wasn't -- there obviously have been some mistakes here!" This orientation makes it difficult for them to trust their inner guidance -- in deed, to trust life -- so Ones come to rely heavily on their superego, a learned voice from their childhood, to guide them toward the "greater good" which they so passionately seek. When Ones have gotten completely entranced in their personality, there is little distinction between them and this severe, unforgiving voice. Separating from it and seeing its genuine strengths and limitations is what growth for Ones is about.
That's actually the main problem I have with creationists because they like to think what God created is perfect. Hello, are you blind? Have you been living under a rock? This world is not perfect, far from it. It can be, but it isn't. Stop your preaching over there and do something! It doesn't matter to me who or what created this world insofar as where this world will proceed towards. It is certainly interesting, the idea of Origin that is (that's a Type Four obsession), but it should not and cannot determine the future of mankind!
Levels of Health
Healthy Levels
Level One: (At their best) Become extraordinarily wise and discerning. By accepting what is, they become transcendentally realistic, knowing the best action to take in each moment. Humane, inspiring and hopeful: the truth will be heard.
Level Two: Conscientious with strong personal convictions: they have an intense sense of right and wrong, personal religious and moral values. Wish to be rational, reasonable, self-disciplined, mature, moderate in all things.
Level Three: Extremely principled, always want to be fair, objective, and ethical: truth and justice primary values. Sense of responsibility, personal integrity, and of having a higher purpose often make them teachers and witnesses to the truth.
Average Levels
Level Four: Dissatisfied with reality, they become high-minded idealists, feeling that it is up to them to improve everything, crusaders, advocates, critics. Into "causes" and explaining to other how things "ought" to be.
Level Five: Afraid of making a mistake: everything must be consistent with their ideals. Become orderly and well-organised, but impersonal, puritanical, emotionally constricted, rigidly keeping their feelings and impulses in check. Often workaholics -- "anal-compulsive", punctual, pedantic and fastidious.
Level Six: Highly critical both of self and others: picky, judgemental, perfectionistic. Very opinionated about everything: correcting people and badgering them to "do the right thing" -- as they see it. Impatient, never satisfied with anything unless it is done according to their prescriptions. Moralising, scolding, abrasive and indignantly angry.
Unhealthy Levels
Level Seven: Can be highly dogmatic, self-righteous, intolerant, and inflexible. Begin dealing in absolutes: they alone know "The Truth". Everyone else is wrong: very severe in judgements, while rationalising own actions.
Level Eight: Become obsessive about imperfection and the wrong-doing of others, although they may fall into contradictory actions, hypocritically doing the opposite of what they preach.
Level Nine: Become condemnatory toward others, punitive and cruel to rid themselves of "wrong-doers". Severe depressions, nervous breakdowns, and suicide attempts are likely Generally corresponds to the Obsessive-Compulsive and Depressive personality disorders.
I actually think I'm always above Level Five, despite the stupid things I do. The kind of self-harm I inflict is generally a result of Disintegration (stress) since Type One disintegrate into Type Four. Why? Because I think the difference is that at Unhealthy Levels, Type Ones blame the world for everything - that the entire world is wrong. In Disintegration, we blame ourselves for incompetence, which is a Type Four characteristic. So I'd think I'm at Level Four, trying to go to Three.
Type One with Nine-Wing (1/9)
My 3 highest scoring Types are 1, 2, and 9 respectively. Highly confusing, I know.
Balanced and Transcendent States
Healthy 1/9 overcomes emotional repression, discovering an inner warmth. Although they still have a tendency to judge, they do not take their judgements quite so seriously, allowing for the possibility that they may be wrong. The Nineish tendency to withdraw from stress comes under conscious control, allowing them to take a more active role in life, although there is still a gentle, quiet feeling. The compulsive workaholic turns into a responsible but fun-loving person who allows time for just letting go and relaxing.
In extreme integration, the joy of Seven comes in strongly, adding a sense of enthusiastic involvement in life. This combines with Threeish charisma and accomplishment to build a powerful sense of self-creation and self-esteem. 1/9 saints are gentle but persistent teachers. The selfless union of Nine combines with the deep wisdom of One, opening a special kind of access to reality. Spiritually advanced 1/9s seem to be effortlessly in touch with the unfolding Work of the world.
Unbalanced and Unhealthy States
Unhealthy 1/9s often overcontrol their emotions, resulting in a kind of physical rigidity accompanied by an undercurrent of vaguely explosive energy. The repressed emotions, particularly anger, build up unnoticed and leak out in the form of tics and nervous gestures. One disintegrates into Four, resulting in hostility, introspective withdrawal and deep self-hatred, while Nine disintegrates to Six, bringing in suspicion, blaming and passive-aggressive behaviour. But the fearful blaming and suspicion are kept inside, where they become bottled up ever more tightly.
STOP STOP STOP. That sounds a lot like me, A LOT. But...but my 2 is higher than my 9..by like 1%, but still! Wait a flying second. This description is EXACTLY how I behave under stress: bottling up, extreme suspicion, withdrawal, self-hatred...I'm so confused.
As the repressed emotionality becomes more and more tightly bound, behaviours begin to resemble robotic, automatic rituals. All of life becomes a lockstep repetition of extremely stylised routines. In deep imbalance, 1/9s can become extremely anxious about getting everything precisely right. Every tiny move is subject to intense, painful scrutiny, and past behaviours are examined in agonising detail. Eventually, psychotic 19 might become completely paralysed into inaction, stabbed through the heart by the endless need to repeat behaviours until they feel precisely correct.
I'm so confused~ SO VERY CONFUSED~ ...Let's just look at 1/2, maybe there are overlaps.
Type One with Two-Wing (1/2)
Balanced and Transcendent States
Healthy 1/2s begin to loosen up somewhat, becoming able to let go of their righteous judgements. They begin to allow for the possibility that their views might not be entirely accurate. Their other-directed corrections soften up and actually become helpful rather than intrusive. They become able to see the difference between proud perfectionism and healthy tolerance of differences.
When 1/2s attain spiritual opening, they can become teachers of the highest order. One integrates to Seven, bringing in joy and enthusiasm, while Two integrates to Four, replacing selfish manipulation with genuine compassionate concern for others. Deep Oneish wisdom combines with Twoish loving generosity for an intensely personal kind of guidance, even when they are addressing large groups. Somehow advanced 1/2s seem to know exactly what is needed for maximum teaching value in any situation. They teach by asking the right questions, gently guiding the student to deeper insights.
Unbalanced and Unhealthy States
Unhealthy 1/2s run into problems with Twoish pride interacts with Oneish perfectionism. A tremendous inner conflict rages between the Two-Wing that says "I am a good, generous person" and the Oneish view that sees every tiny error as a sign of fundamental worthlessness. One disintegrates to Four, where self-critical introspection creates a spiral of hopelessness, while Two disintegrates to Eight, so when the heavily repressed anger erupts, it does so in sudden fits of hypercritical rage, sometimes accompanied by overt violence. Naturally, these violent fits then become more food for the self-judgement spiral, as the 1/2 falls into guilty remorse.
This sounds correct too. I supposed since all Types have two wings and it's just the general inclination, I may be a Type One with equal inclination towards Two and Nine.
In the worst cases, repressed Oneish anger and hostile Twoish pride combine, creating intense sessions of wrenching, hand-wringing despair. In my anger is not expressed towards others, then it is directed at myself. I am not good enough if I cannot meet my own standards. I must work harder and harder or I will fail my own increasingly difficult self-tests. Self-punishment is necessary, in the form of gruelling work days, endlessly tormented repetitions of not-quite perfect tasks, and every kind of refusal to experience any sort of pleasure. Suicide is possible.
Yup, I'm almost 100% positive that I'm a Type One with very equal Two and Nine Wings. I'll explain Wings in my general Enneagram post when I have the time to do one. Just keep in mind that everyone has two wings, but most show inclinations towards one over the other. For example, One is adjacent to Two and Nine, so people of Type One will lean towards either Two or Nine. I think I', leaning towards both sides almost equally and that's why I seem to be able tor relate to both equally.
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