Among the Myers-Briggs personality types, INFP (mediator type) is often considered one of the most idealistic and emotional groups. Their understanding of love is far beyond the sweet words on the surface, and it is also a kind of harmony and sublimation deep in the soul. However, precisely because INFPs are naturally kind, empathetic, and easy to trust others, they are often more likely to encounter 'manipulated partners' in their relationships.
Manipulation can be used in many forms, some are very obvious, while others are extremely obscure, especially for people like INFP who are used to thinking from the perspective of others and are always willing to believe in the kindness of others.
This article will deeply analyze how INFP can identify manipulating behaviors, understand its own emotional weaknesses in a romantic relationship, and provide practical coping strategies. At the same time, it will also combine the currently popular MBTI (Myers-Briggs Personality Classification) system to help you understand the hidden psychological mechanisms in your emotions more scientifically based on the 'personality type'. If you don’t know your MBTI type yet, you can click to enter our free MBTI personality test page to get exclusive analysis.
INFP personality: Why are it easy to be manipulated in relationships?
INFP is an idealist in the MBTI type sixteen personality. They advocate true love and desire the connection of the soul. They are willing to believe that human nature is good. Even if the other party's behavior has obvious red flag signals, INFP often chooses to 'understand, be considerate, and give the other party a chance.'
1. It is easy to idealize your partner and ignore reality
INFP tends to romanticize love, and this idealism often causes them to ignore the details in reality and even make excuses for the other party's toxic behavior.
For example: In the early stages of a relationship, manipulative partners often use 'love bombing' - extreme enthusiasm, intensive love, and exaggerated commitments. For INFPs who long for affectionate connections, this 'dream lover-like' offensive is extremely lethal and easy to fall into it without knowing it.
2. Too empathetic, you are easily 'emotionally blackmailed'
INFPs are very likely to feel guilty about others' negative emotions, which allows manipulated partners to make INFPs feel guilty and compromise through 'injured emotions'. for example:
- 'You really hurt me'
- 'I have paid so much, but you don't care about me at all.'
This emotional blackmail often causes INFP to make concessions without realizing it.
3. Fear of conflict and it is difficult to set boundaries
INFP does not like disputes and often 'rest and calm people' in relationships. But when a person does not set boundaries, he will become the 'ideal object' in the eyes of a manipulator.
For example, the other party may deliberately neglect you, use a 'cold and hot' attitude to make you fall into emotional fluctuations, and then control your emotions and behaviors.
4. Self-doubt and isolation tendency
Especially Turbulent INFP (turbulent INFP) , they are more likely to be controlled by self-doubt than Assertive INFP (confidential). They will ask themselves repeatedly: 'Are I too sensitive?', 'Are I not good enough?' - This process of continuous internal friction gives the controller an opportunity to take advantage of.
In addition, many INFPs tend to shut themselves off and stay away from friends and family when they are in a low mood. This kind of 'self-isolation' is also easy to be used by manipulators, such as cutting off your social relationships, making you more dependent on them.
How to identify manipulation behavior: Beware of these 7 signals
There are many forms of manipulation, and the following are some common types of emotions:
- Love Bombing : Excessive love and premature commitment to the future.
- Emotional blackmail : Use sadness and guilt to control you.
- Reality distortion : makes you doubt your memory of facts (gaslighting).
- Frozen and hot : Use 'cold treatment' to stimulate your anxiety.
- Deliberately make you rely on : make you slowly lose your independence.
- Degrading your judgment : It implies that you are always thinking too much and being too sensitive.
- Control your social circle : gradually keep you away from friends and family.
How INFP gets rid of emotional manipulation: Practical advice
1. Test love with 'reality'
Idealism is the talent of INFP and the weakness. When facing relationships, please ask yourself more:
- 'What did this man do? Not what did he say?'
- 'Are my feelings nourished or exhausted now?'
Judging a person with real behaviors and details, rather than immersing himself in his fantasy of the future.
2. Express your needs clearly
Learning to say 'no' is not a kind of selfishness, but a manifestation of emotional health. You also have emotions and needs, and you cannot always give in.
Try to express yourself like this:
- 'I understand your current emotions, but I also have my own bottom line.'
- “I’m willing to support you, but not at the expense of your own health.”
If you want to have a deeper understanding of your communication style and personality traits, we recommend that you read the MBTI Advanced Personality Profile , which can provide higher-level personality analysis to help you make more calm judgments in love and life.
3. Maintain your circle of friends and establish an emotional support system
In a romantic relationship, you must also maintain other interpersonal connections. Friends and family can provide you with multiple angles of feedback and support to help you avoid being 'trapped in one's emotional world.'
suggestion:
- Meet friends at least once a week
- Keep on regular phone calls with close family members
- When encountering doubts in relationships, bravely seek objective opinions from third parties
If you find that you are manipulated and unable to extricate yourself, please seek psychological assistance as soon as possible. PsycTest Quiz official website (psychtest.cn) provides a variety of psychological self-test tools to help you clarify emotional confusion and seek professional resources.
Summary: INFP can also have 'sober love' in relationships
INFP is born gentle, loyal and idealistic, and they deserve beautiful and pure love. But on the road to true love, rationality and boundaries are also needed.
By recognizing manipulation behavior, firmly expressing needs, and maintaining one's own social life, INFP can gain a healthy and intimate relationship without sacrificing itself.
If you don’t know your MBTI personality type, please click to enter our free MBTI personality test to get an exclusive report to understand your underlying emotional style, communication methods, personality blind spots, etc.
You can also further read our MBTI Advanced Personality Archives to gain an in-depth understanding of the emotional patterns, career development, conflict handling and other advanced interpretations of 16 personality types.
Further reading recommendations
Tags: MBTI, INFP, emotional manipulation, personality test, free MBTI test, type 16 personality test, Myers-Briggs personality test free, PsycTest Quiz
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