Personality type and insight

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Insightful Personality or Personality Disorder?

This is massive & apologise for the length.

Behaviour is my interest if not my 'thing' and it is this 'thing' that I haven't ever read or come across before but strive to understand more. I post this and hope someone with incredible knowledge in behavioural psychology can offer up some more info as it's something I've never heard of before. I'm not looking for self help or spiritualism advice but an understanding of this perticular thing I have going on.

I've posted bits of my personality profile to gain an understanding of my personality type and the significance of this in understanding the question. But this can be skipped as it's probably meaningless to most. Scroll down to THE PROBLEM

My personality type is INFJ on the myers brigg personality test. You can do it here if you don't know what it is.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
When I stumbled upon that and the results were a revelation to me. I had been experiencing some sort of identiy crisis, wondering if I was losing it after a series of events which led me to question my sanity. Some of these events were:

I'd stood up for the underdog at work (so to speak) putting in an official complaint after my managers made my colleague (who was pregnant and bleeding) remain at work until she had finished her job.

One of said managers stapled her finger and was in crisis and I was quick to ease her distress

I'd sought vengeance on some guy (made a comedy of a drama and exposed him for his low life acts)

I'd asked someone to stop flirting with me because it was superficial and made me uncomfortable

I could really feel what a friend was experiencing with health problems

That was just a few things that led me to question if my actions were normal.
Then I came across this text - exert from INFJ profile type logic.. It certainly explained my behaviour.

INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ.

"There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.

INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.

Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.

It didn't only explain my behavoiur it explained my whole life and my whole way of being. I am a writer, at that time I wrote for a newspaper (I know my text here are far from professional & I can't spell) I now a lot now but rarely factual, mainly - comedy, fiction, drama, political and economic satire. I have also qualified as a counsellor. I couldn't believe how accurate the text was of myself.

So that first paragraph made sense. It was incredible. But it got more incredible the more I read.
This bit is crucial to what this post is about

NFJs readily grasp the hidden psychological stimuli behind the more observable dynamics of behavior and affect. Their amazing ability to deduce the inner workings of the mind, will and emotions of others gives INFJs their reputation as prophets and seers.

I SHALL RETURN TO THE ABOVE IN A MOMENT
But everything in those personality profiles describes me in entirety.

INFJs are distinguished by both their complexity of character and the unusual range and depth of their talents.

abosolutely - few understand me and my talents extend from dressmaking to program making, building cupboards to changing break pads. (I can quite literally make anything)

INFJs are deeply concerned about their relations with individuals as well as the state of humanity at large. They are, in fact, sometimes mistaken for extroverts because they appear so outgoing and are so genuinely interested in people

Again so true.

On the contrary, INFJs are true introverts, who can only be emotionally intimate and fulfilled with a chosen few from among their long-term friends, family, or obvious "soul mates."

Absolutely

W

hile instinctively courting the personal and organizational demands continually made upon them by others, at intervals INFJs will suddenly withdraw into themselves, sometimes shutting out even their intimates. This apparent paradox is a necessary escape valve for them, providing both time to rebuild their depleted resources and a filter to prevent the emotional overload to which they are so susceptible as inherent "givers." As a pattern of behavior, it is perhaps the most confusing aspect of the enigmatic INFJ character to outsiders, and hence the most often misunderstood -- particularly by those who have little experience with this rare type.

This is one such time. Currently in isolation having withdrawn to rebuild my depleted resoures. Tired of giving to takers who do nothing but take and don't even give back on the one time you may need them.

Due in part to the unique perspective produced by this alternation between detachment and involvement in the lives of the people around them, INFJs may well have the clearest insights of all the types into the motivations of others, for good and for evil.

Usually self-expression comes more easily to INFJs on paper, as they tend to have strong writing skills. Since in addition they often possess a strong personal charisma, INFJs are generally well-suited to the "inspirational" professions such as teaching (especially in higher education) and religious leadership. Psychology and counseling are other obvious choices, but overall, INFJs can be exceptionally difficult to pigeonhole by their career paths.

Hense why I'm writing this.  People have mentioned I'm charasmatic and psychology seems to be what I have a natural understanding of & why I'm here afterall.

Many INFJs perceive themselves at a disadvantage when dealing with the mystique and formality of "hard logic", and in academic terms this may cause a tendency to gravitate towards the liberal arts rather than the sciences

.

True I am an artist. (There is a limit to my talents though - I'm useless with maths and I have an aversion to biology)

INFJ "systems" are founded on human beings and human values

Absolutely, I have no values in the superficial, my values are virtues.

The above made so much sense at the time but more than that it gave me a sense of identity. Not only that i was normal, and not only that, but because this personality type is rare (just 1% of the population) it also made sense why I found it so hard to identify with the majority.
But it was good because it meant there are others too. And the others I discovered had the same film & the same music and the same interest listed as me. It was the most bizarre experience. I had personality clones.



THE PROBLEM
I've pasted the above as I've tried to convey that my personality type is recognised as having incredible insight into the motivations of others, and I do. I know why people behave the way they do and I know what motivates that behaviour. (but it's bothering me - only observing the hidden in people stops me from taking them at face value)

I know it can be perceived as me thinking I know something I don't, or me reading more into it than there is BUT really I am NEVER wrong about people EVER. If I was wrong I would say it's a disorder, but as my perceptions of people are always proved right, how can it be a disorder? I'll give a few examples but there are so many on a daily basis. From instantly recognising control freaks to well read on.

Example 1
A long time ago a friend sent an acquaintance around to my house for computer related stuff. On opening the door to this man I have never felt so uncomfortable with someone. I had two young children at the time. He sayed an hour or so and tinkered with my pc and borrowed a program he took away. I was relived to close the door as he left, convinced he was a peadophile. Why? I instinctively knew.
But instincts are a funny thing, what I felt within minutes was an unconscious process of all my knowledge, experience etc... which concluded that. For example I wasn't thinking what follows, the knowledge was in the back of my mind but my mind computed it all in seconds and came up with incredible 'insight' - he was in his 50's. He still lived with his mother. He worked at a private primary school his sister owned. He had an arrogance about him. He mentioned he had hundreds of thousands of images on his pc.
Now I know you can't conclude a person is a paedophile from his circumstances and I didn't. It was a feeling not a thought.
It was difficult to tell my friend I suspected his acquaintance of being a paedophile, but he was really understanding and suggested we went to the police. especially as the guy was in regular contact with kids at school he worked. We did, the police took us seriously but nothing became of it. He tried to come around again and again trying to return my program he'd borrowed but I was having non of it. (I had two young children). I didn't see him again. 3 years later I learned he'd gone to jail for having indecent images of children on his pc, 10 of which were considered category 1 which sent him to jail for 3 years. I don't know how that came about, it was nothing to do with me, but again this proved my incredible insight into the behaviours of others to be accurate. I've never been proved wrong.

Example 2
I was on holiday with 10 girls and met and saw this guy for a few nights. I knew  one of the other girls had her eye on him. I found it really frustrating as I could quite clearly see her hidden agenda was to get this guy at any length. When I said to a few of the other she was doing her best to take this guy from me they didn't believe me and said 'No you've got it wrong'.. and 'She's got a boyfriend'
But they believed later, it became pretty obvious although she didn't get him. I HATE DEVIOUSNESS. Again I think I assessed unconsciously her behaviour, she had been married just a month and started to see other guys, eventually taking one of her colleagues boyfriends/someone else husband so it was a repeat pattern of behaviour that I could quite clearly observe, but others couldn't. There were other visual signs and language I picked up on, but I'm never wrong.

Example 3
Someone called me, we chatted on the phone and I observed something strange in his laugh. I listened carefully as it didn't sound right. I spend a lot of time with this person afterwards, we were good companions, had a laugh and lots of fun. I recognised immediately there was no 'emotional' connection but we got on very well. Then I began to observe other things, eventually I came to realise this person had Aspergers Syndrome. Therefore the laugh I had initially obersved as strange, was in fact a false laugh. False facial expression (think Gordon Brown - that smile - I'm convinced Gordon Brown has Aspergers Syndrome) along with other things, lack of emotion, clothes, encyclopeadic knowledge.

I've also identified Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Control freaks. The list goes on and on. Some are more complex and far more interesting but I've only listed a few random I hope can be understood.

Example 4
Even the trivial: I got a text from someone who'd removed me from her facebook friends (I presumed because I'd fell out with a mutual friend, I understood and it wasn't a problem) the text was unexpected and said 'Hi how are you, hope you're feeling better, such an event is on & I thought you may be interested'  I realised it wasn't about how I was feeling or an event but was really about her getting back into communications with me because she wanted me to make a video for her. I said that to my sister who was with me when I recieved the text and she said 'Are you sure, people don't operate like that, maybe you need to get out more'..  I can't share my 'incredible insight' without it back firing and people think it's me being paranoid or weird or whatever.. I've heard it all before.
I didn't reply to the text and low and behold she uploads a video a week later, having gone and had a rubbish one made. I just knew. I'm never ever wrong. And I hate people with their hidden agenda's.



But it's extending to third persons now. For example the gas man came as routine to check the meter and said he'd been to a house where the meter was leaking ever so slightly and when he asked the woman for a contact number for the repair team to get in touch she wouldn't give him one. He said 'Mad woman she wouldn't give me her phone number and her gas was leaking, and said she wouldn't be in etc'.. But I could see this woman refused to give him her telephone number because he was a creap and she probably didn't like the idea of him having her contact details. (That can't be right, why am I thinking like that? - but I'm probably right)

I wonder if you understand what my problem is.
Is my insight into the behaviour of others a personality disorder or is it something recognised as part of my personality profile..?
 As I'm never wrong about people I don't see how it can be a disorder. But it feels like a disorder. And obviously when I have shared my insight it often looks like I'm the crazy one, paranoid or weird etc. But when they realise I'm right that's not good either because they feel I have this insight into them and therefore they feel exposed and uncomfortable. So I have to keep it to myself. And it's hard having to observe manipulators and such operate and not being able to do anything about it.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Full INFJ profile http://typelogic.com/infj.html

[NataEames]

I really don't see what the problem is. You definitely dont have any personality disorder.

What you do have is something beautiful. Some people would kill to have instincts as finely tuned as yours. You also have a lot of compassion for people.

Most of all, you are a Hypersensitive like me and a couple others i keep around me. About 1% of humans are like that. Other people don't feel things like we do, you have noticed that.

My instincts were always very good but for a while i would be sarcastic to some people for it seemed like no reason. Then i understood that those people had very bad intentions and were dishonest and harmful. I didn't know those things but i felt something negative coming from them and responded negatively to everything they said to me (even though they never said anything openly rude)

Please add to the thread if you have any more questions

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Many thanks Nata for your reply, I read a the time and I'm gratful, I haven't returned as I don't open up very often I'm really a private person and find talk about myself embarrassing.
Today I believe all humans have a disorder or another, it's part of being human. They are so common these disorders I think it's just a difference that distinguises one personality from another. But they are differences that distress people. And I wrote the above on my 'insight' out of distress.

You see it's like people are transparent and I can see straight through them. Today my sister wrote somewhere (actually I'll copy & paste the conversation)

Sister - Is counting all the bruises from having seen the Manipulation Therapist yesterday

Me -  Manipulation is a good word for these people. First they manipulate people to believe gaining bruises is therapy? Then they manipulate money for the experience. My therapy is CST 'Common Sense Therapy' I charge £10 to punch sense into people! Complete with bruise!

Sister - Actually, this morning my back and legs were much better this morning and the pain and stiffness I experience all over my body all night was much better too, and there's time still for other problems to improve, he also told me of something that was causing some of the other problems which I need to follow up and he gave me advice on boosting my low immune system also. He normally charges about £90 per hour but I got it cheaper as a favour of a friend of a friend and he worked on me for over 2hrs and only charged me £40....so that doesn't seem as if I've been 'manipulated' or duped me in any way. Maybe you could get yourself a punchbag!

Me - "Still time for other problems to improve" this is worrying manipulation & how they get pple to return time and again & part with more money. Healthy immune system is a healthy diet. Wonder if you'd explore the psychological as well as the physical. For example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatization_disorder is interesting. no offense intended but sharing of knowledge only.

That was the interaction and I've never mentioned it before to her (although I've known for many years - all the family think her a hypochondriac but I don't think anyone's ever said anything) I usually just listen to her, but when people start to part with money they can't afford for 'alternative' therapies it really riles me up. Anyway it's pretty obvious to me my sister suffers from this SOMATIZATION DISORDER but if she does read up on it, I doubt she'll understand it and if she does understand it she will deny it & get defensive and the whole thing puts a strain on my relationship with her.

THIS IS WHY HAVING INSIGHT IS A DISORDER. I can't keep quiet when I recognise something in someone, but saying something isn't wise wither so I'm always at conflict with myself.. God damn it.. That why it troubles me.

[voodoo scientist]

Having insight is not a disorder. Rapidly improving insight can be a problem if you don't know what to do with it, because it can allow you to see problems you can't yet fix, accept or cope with.

However, I don't think you have that much insight (I don't mean this as a personal slight). If you really had as much insight into people as you think you do, you would have realized by now that any 'readable' personality only accounts for about 20-25% of behavior, which means even with perfect "people-insight," your net insight would still be quite limited. So in a situation where you really had the kind of insight you think you do, you would have realized you don't have that much insight - kind of Socratic, but there you go.

When you're going around giving people mental health advice based on your supposed insight, you really need to stop and do a serious double take to ask yourself "Am I really that comfortable with what I know?" and more importantly, "Should I be this comfortable with what I know?" You're quoting Wikipedia to explain your position, which is a huge red flag any time you're dabbling in academics - Wikipedia is not a valid reference. It's fine for enlightening yourself and getting a taste of a field, but it's not actionable or disseminable knowledge, at least not without disclaimers in big letters.

Additionally, while Jung was an influential pioneer in the personality psychology field and others, his models have largely been refined or supplanted today. And even aside from that and the limited effect of personality on behavior, don't base your life on an internet test. You're an individual whose behavior can't be boiled down to a four-letter abbreviation with a flowery explanation - human behavior is one of the, if not the most random phenomena known to man, and to think you can read a person's behavior patterns that easily can only be ascribed to arrogance or naïvety.

Maybe you would do well to focus your insight inward for a while before you seriously mess up someone who respects you's life.

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Voodoo Scientist.. bloodyhell :-) you suggest I'm 'deluded' 'arrogant, naive'..
I wrote this in part to vent, I find writing therapy. I also wrote it because it's about psychology and may be interesting to anyone researching behaviour.

The Myers Brigg test I know that only other INFJ's value it. For example any E type relate to the world externally and so really don't understand the results. They are meaninless because the results are 'I' as introvered.. So E's can't identify with them. Also E types aren't as complex, they are lucky to get a paragraph or two.. Because they really are that (uncomplicated, simple). So I know other types don't appreciated the test like we INFJ's do.. Although partners of INFJ's have gained a lot of understanding of their partner through associated text.. Therefore if you are not an INFJ and I know you are not because of your closed minded encyclapeadic text then my 'insight' tells me you won't get it either. (That will be my arrogant, naive insight)..

If I am arrogant in my insight it is because time and again it proves me right.

I used wikipeadea only to reinforce my perceptions and communicate what I've observed. Of course I know people will react with hostility to being directed to person specifications of themselves. Again because they don't understand psychology on a level like I do, they for one. Don't get it.. And two.. Are resistant because telling people something about themself will usually and naturally be met with oppostion. Tell someone to pic something up that you dropped and do you think they will? If people don't understand or like something they will oppose it.

I keep quiet unless it's important and I've only expressed my insight;
1. because someone I suspected was a peadaphile worked with children
2. oppositional defiant disorder - because it was causing social, schooling & family problems
3. aspergers syndrome - because people condemned him a weirdo
4. somatization disorder - because she pays a lot of money and has got into debt with alternative & self health therapies.

I have kept quite in other instances for example - a control freak, there was no point expressing that. Or Irration Fear of Rejection Disorder - I did consider because these people copy everything you do and loose their identiy in emulating others in order to be accepted. But this is very reason people reject them, ironically, it's a catch 22.. (This was someone I'd known for 20+ years and rejected her finally - so I considered bringing her attention to her Irrational Fear of Rejection http://www.livestrong.com/article/14686-handling-fear-of-rejection/ disorder but again because she's an E type, extremely superficial & doesn't understand anything that's not obvious or visual.. ie: they are sneaky and habitual liars she cheated on her husband for a 'tiffany' bracelt (she already had one off her husband but thought 2 made her special) with a fat revolting bloke because he showed her attention and bought her things.. I guessed my bringing her attention to her Fear of Rejection behaviour would go over her head, she's only interested in what glitters. She couldn't understand psychology because it's not something that's seen.. So I didn't bother.. Do you understand. Can you see things that aren't visual? The hidden. Kryptic, Krypton, Krypt etc... the hidden and not so obvious.. If I meet a person I don't see what they're wearing or what they look like, I see how they interact with people and how they talk etc..

Anyway this is why I do battle with myself because I know that it causes conflict but yet I can't see people hurt, manipulated or put in danger so it's distressing for me, like disorders are.. which is why I questioned if it could be a 'disorder'...

And you giving me advice, nice.. :-) I find your attitude highly entertaining if not very humourous. You are funny.

[SWM]

he is obviously flirting with you, can you not tell?

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You mean I've pulled?
I missed that, maybe my insight is failing me. I'll get my coat. On my way Voodoo!

[NataEames]

Lol guys

BTW from my observation: anyone who claims to be completely sane is either lying or very very stupid!

And the world is too messed up for anyone to grow up normal in the first place