How can you quickly and effectively identify an INFP (Mediator) personality type in a group?

"INFP" is one of the 16 MBTI personality types. The four letters stand for different characteristics—Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Perceiving. As one of the most empathetic and imaginative personality types, INFPs are often called "Healers" due to their idealism and gentle empathy for others. It's no surprise that topics about the INFP personality consistently rank among the most popular across multiple social media platforms.

When you look closely, you'll find they share some distinct commonalities. Here are some clear signs and INFP traits to look for.

• 1. Your Intuition Tells You What’s Right and Wrong

  Sometimes, you may not even consciously know what your values are, but you have an intuitive sense that something is right or wrong.

  You feel a strong sense of discomfort when what you're doing doesn't align with your authentic self. Over the years, you've learned to trust these instincts and follow their lead.

• 2. Authenticity Means Everything to You

  You feel peer pressure just like anyone else, but you're unwilling to be someone you're not. Being true to yourself is paramount. You want your friends to love you for who you really are, not for some vanity driven by status.

  As noted in the INFP Deep Relationship Report, Mediators are also drawn to those who are genuine with them. They find a truly authentic person incredibly attractive, while those who are fake or superficial hold no appeal.

• 3. You Are Deeply Nostalgic

  You have a strong emotional connection to the things you loved in your childhood: your favorite movies, books, songs, places, and experiences.

  When you're stressed, you can sometimes calm yourself by re-reading a favorite book or looking at photos from your fondest memories. While you are drawn to novelty, you also feel an inexplicable connection to the past and the magic of cherished experiences.

• 4. Easy-Going on the Surface, Stubborn at the Core

  Among friends, you might seem agreeable and go-with-the-flow. But deep down, you are fiercely connected to your beliefs, morals, dreams, and ideals.

  When it comes to your core values, you are immovable. Your moral compass guides you, and it's crucial for you to stand up for what you believe is right and personally meaningful.

  Most importantly, you want to live a life that is in line with your values and moral code. That is what matters most to you.

• 5. You Crave One-on-One Connections

  You might shy away from large social gatherings and loud parties, but that doesn't mean you're entirely anti-social. You thrive when you can have deep, meaningful one-on-one conversations.

  Sharing dreams, discussing possibilities, and exploring the meaning of life—these are the interactions that bring you pure joy and fulfillment.

• 6. You Have a Rich Inner World

  You often find yourself lost in deep thought, imagining hypothetical scenarios or pondering philosophical questions.

  You love to daydream and have a vivid imagination. Sometimes you get so lost in your inner world that you enter "hermit mode," and your loved ones have to actively pull you out. Exploring this inner world is a key aspect of many INFP traits.

• 7. You Always Feel What Others Are Feeling

  From a young age, you learned to put yourself in others' shoes. "How would I feel if that were me?" is a question you constantly ask to understand someone's emotional state.

  Because this comes so naturally, you often absorb the emotions of others, even when they try to hide them. Sometimes you need extra alone time because you get drained by being overly empathetic.

  As the INFP Deep Career Report mentions, psychology work involves helping others, which is another significant value for INFPs. As psychologists, they can help others understand their inner workings and guide them through problems—one of the things that brings an INFP the most joy. (Read more: Which MBTI Types Are Most Affected by Others' Emotions?)

• 8. You Hate Being Labeled

  You believe everyone is complex and their experiences are unique. Therefore, you despise being pigeonholed or labeling others.

  When people try to sum you up, you feel they're ignoring the thousand things that make you who you are. It feels like a betrayal of your individuality.

• 9. You Don't Mind Being a Misfit

  You enjoy being different. You love the quirks that make people unique and have no desire to be a copy of someone popular.

  If you believe you are presenting your best, most authentic self, you don't mind not fitting in with society.

• 10. You Never Do Something Just Because Someone Tells You To

  Unless something aligns with your values, you won't do it just because someone forces you to.

  The more authoritarian the people around you are, the more likely you are to rebel against them completely.

• 11. You Empathize with the Underdog

  You feel a burning need to stand up for people or animals who have been dismissed, rejected, or bullied.

  While you may seem easy-going at first glance, you will rise with fiery determination and boundless energy to protect the persecuted.

• 12. You Underestimate Your Impact on Others

  You tend to have a live-and-let-live mentality. Because you are so independent by nature, you can be oblivious to the effect you have on others.

  People are drawn to your integrity and sincerity. You often inspire people to be more authentic, genuine, and imaginative.

• 13. You Crave Freedom, Affirmation, and Acceptance

  Autonomy is essential to your well-being, and you will do whatever it takes to ensure your independence. You hate being tied down by someone else's rules. You often feel a thrill on the open road or when traveling to a new place you've never been.

  You want to follow your intuition, imagination, and ideals wherever they may lead. You just hope people will accept your free spirit and affirm the core values of your personality.

• 14. You Are a Dreamer

  INFP writer Edgar Allan Poe once said, "Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."

  As an INFP, you identify with this wholeheartedly. Your imagination is where you are completely free. There are no boundaries, no mistakes, no rules or regulations.

  You don't need to buy a plane ticket to go to a new place. You don't need to conform to social expectations. For these reasons and more, you are a quintessential dreamer.

• 15. You Love the Rush of a New Idea

  Playing with innovation and creativity brings you pure joy. When you get a spark of inspiration, you can't wait to follow it down the rabbit hole to see where it leads.

  In your friendships, you love sparking ideas and inspiration in your friends and getting that in return.

• 16. Your Favorite Songs Are Deeply Personal

  The songs that move you are so intertwined with your values, emotions, and experiences that you feel vulnerable listening to them in front of others.

  It’s like revealing your deepest secrets without realizing it.

• 17. You Know if People Are For You or Against You

  You have an innate sense of who to trust and who not to. You don't need someone to spell everything out for you.

  Your intuition is powerful, and you can usually tell by instinct if someone has ulterior motives, even if they appear friendly on the surface.

• 18. You Have a Need for Personal Space

  Sometimes you want to wear a shirt that says, "Do Not Disturb." While you may welcome affection from a few close friends or a significant other, you get irritated by those who casually break your personal boundaries.

  You need physical and emotional space and struggle in chaotic, crowded environments.

• 19. You Believe Not Taking a Risk Is Failure

  A safe, conventional life holds no meaning for you. You know that to chase your dreams, you must be unconventional in many ways.

  You can't play it safe and expect to change the world or achieve your ideals. Sure, mistakes might happen, but at least you'll know you lived a full and meaningful life in the end.

• 20. You See Random Connections Others Miss

  In your daily life, you are often struck by the random connections that tie everything together, spanning the past, present, and future.

  Explaining these connections can be daunting, as many people don't have the patience for your deep thoughts. (Read more: Beyond the Surface: Which MBTI Types Are Wired to Seek Symbolism?)

• 21. When Stressed, You Stop Being the "Nice" Person

  Under extreme stress, you can become overwhelmed by all the problems and inefficiencies in the world around you. You become more sarcastic, cynical, and quick to point out errors in judgment.

  Your thinking function goes into overdrive, almost disconnected from your feeling function, which can be very confusing for you.

• 22. You Hate Doing Things "By the Book"

  As a child, you were probably told to do many things just because it was expected of you, like:

  "Be sure to greet your uncles and aunts," "Share your toys with your siblings," "Don't talk back to your grandparents," "Don't pair a striped shirt with a floral skirt!"

  While you want to be kind and considerate to others, you hate doing so at the expense of your own freedom and values. "Why can't I wear a striped shirt and a floral skirt at the same time?"

• 23. You Distrust Show-Offs

  People who are exceptionally loud and arrogant make you uneasy. You especially don't know if you can trust what they say.

  You often feel an irresistible urge to knock their ego down a peg.

Fun Facts About the INFP Personality Type:

• Personality Traits: Scores high on artistic, reflective, uncareful, sensitive, flexible, and appreciative.
• Ideal Work: The most important features of an ideal job are creativity and originality.
• Health: Among the least likely of all types to suffer from heart disease.
• Relationships: One of the types most likely to report dissatisfaction in marriage.
• Learning: Tend to be more successful than average in learning a foreign language.
• Job Satisfaction: Most likely type to be dissatisfied with their work.
• Finances: 70% of Mediators say they have made a personal budget but have never stuck to it.
• Empathy: 92% of Mediators report feeling strong empathy for fictional characters. (Read more: The Quirky Dark Humor of the INFP Personality or check out the rarest MBTI type)
• Modern Life: 72% of Mediators say that in their opinion, modern life is too complex.