Idealists are Intuitive Feeling types. They are the rare breed who believes in justice & a higher power beyond themselves, in order to bring hope & change into the world. Their name Idealists is exactly how they believe, in bringing hopeful ideals to society. With their ideals & convictions, they can be dogmatic; but, not dogmatic toward bigotry or narrow-mindedness. Dogmatism meaning that they are devoted to a way of living, or intention of inviting others to join their way of life. It’s also important to note that “dogma” & “doctrine” & “doctor” have the same root word, which is to “teach” or “cause to accept.”
On Using Tools & Words
Idealists Word Usage: They communicate using abstract ideas, love & hate, heaven & hell, heart & soul, beliefs, fantasies, symbols. They opt for imagination over what is observable. They are inductive in their speech, which means they can move very quickly from a few particulars to sweeping generalizations. With their ability to see the unseen or not yet, they can extract an intuitive sense of what will be. They have an inkling of a mere suggestion of something, which is known as an “intuitive leap,” which astonishes others.
I know as an Idealist myself, I can sense what will be, or see the missing pieces within relationships, or have this “feeling” that something is just not right. Ben can be a bit freaked by it, but he’s gotten use to it. I find many Idealists (myself included) will ponder all of life. They want to find life’s great significance & ponder on those hidden wonders. It’s easy for the SP & SJ to get a little lost in communicating with these rather imaginative, all pondering, abstract Idealists.
They also tend to over exaggerate in their speech, using metaphors & hyperbole. Tend to be a bit dramatic. However, it’s not drama for drama sake, but because Idealists truly feel deeply & the expressive Idealists communicate this “big” feeling towards others.
Idealists Tool Usage: Idealists are like the Guardians (SJ) in using tools cooperatively. However, Guardians use tools, in order to make society to function properly. Idealists cooperative tool usage is more about creating harmony within society. So when they abide by the laws of the land, they do so, in order to find commonality among the wider community. How can we use tools to help bring people together is the question posed by these diplomatic Idealists?
They would never put tools above how someone feels, or how it would make them feel; whereas, the NTs & SPs utilitarian usage of tools can easily override people for the sake of creating or inventing. It’s not that NFs are opposed to finding the best means/efficiency to get a job done; as long as human relationships are kept in tact & working to foster care.
More on these Idealists:
They value harmonious relationships. They don’t life conflict as a result. However, they have a deep seated need for right & good to overcome wrong & evil. They will break in & voice this, even if it means conflict will arise, because it’s as if their gut is burning with goodness that won’t shut up. It’s the saying, “the truth shall set you free.” I’m reminded of the prophet Elijah who needed to speak against injustice when he saw it, because it was anti-God & anti-Kingdom. Yet, I’m certain he didn’t always want to follow through.
They have a Diplomatic Intellect. Their intellect is being able to communicate & help others with a diplomacy unlike that of the other three types. They are skillful & tactful when dealing with people. Their intuitive feeling allows them to feel the situation & proceed. They can understand without words necessarily being spoken & how to proceed. We look at Ghandi & his great diplomatic skills of winning a war with the British by using his harmonious & diplomatic intellect. Idealists are most likely drawn towards diplomacy, because disturbances in relational matters truly “disturbs” them.
The Diplomatic Role Variants are:
- Mentors: The Teacher (ENFJ) & The Counselor (INFJ)
- Advocates: The Champion (ENFP) & The Healer (INFP)
Other Notes on the Idealists:
- They have a strong morale compass.
- Interpersonal communication & personnel is of strong importance in the workfield.
- They pair well with NTs the best, because they both communicate abstractly.
- They pair secondly well with SJs, because they both hold morals so high.
- They are opposites of the SPs.
- Their self-image is based on being 1. Empathetic 2. Benevolent 3. Authentic
- Empathy is different from sympathy & with Idealists there is a huge difference.
- They are the most sensitive of all the types.
- They feel very deeply with an intensity unlike most.
- They believe in being authentic & dislike pretenses or facades in relationships. Small talk doesn’t suit them well.
- Idealist Values: 1. Being Enthusiastic 2. Trusting Intuition 3. Yearning Romance 4. Seeking Identity 5. Prizing Recognition 6. Aspiring Sage
- With seeking identity, it is the Idealists who might be most interested in Myers-Briggs & personality tests, because they want to know themselves.
I am almost half way done. Here’s the agenda for the next nine days:
Sunday: ENFJ & INFJ
Monday: ENFP & INFP
Tuesday: The Rationals (NTs)
Wednesday: ENTJ & INTJ
Thursday: ENTP & INTP
Friday: SP Children & Parenting them
Saturday: SJ Children & Parenting them
Monday: NF Children & Parenting them
Tuesday: NT Children & Parenting them
Backdoor Hospitality 
This is me attempting to refrain from bouncing up and down in my seat over excitement regarding Thursday.-_- o.OAhem.I noticed in one of your recent posts that you weren't sure if anyone was following all of this. I am! It's just that without internet access at our apartment, my blog reading is restricted to the Google Reader app on my cell phone, which isn't incredibly conducive to commenting on posts, unfortunately. I just wanted to hop on here while I was at my parents' farm and on their wireless, to commend you for what you are doing and encourage you to finish strong. I really do appreciate that you are doing this. I believe it was you who commented in an earlier post to review who you were as a child, and as a teenager, and events that have happened since, when considering whether or not your type has "changed," as I have been wrestling with whether or not I am an INTP or an INFP. Certain things about the INFP truly resonate with me – your mention of their avoidance of conflict and seeking harmony really hits home – but when I consider how strongly I tested as an INTP initially (as a high school junior) and the events that has transpired since, I can't help but be reassured that yes, I am an INTP. Regardless, I am looking forward to your commentary on both the INFP and the INTP, as I do now test closer to the border of T/F (52/48, if I recall correctly, the last time I tested), and I find the whole thing fascinating. Also looking forward to your commentary on the INFJ, as this is supposedly what my husband tested as a couple of years ago. I am not entirely sure that it's accurate, so I've been studying the different types you have been posting, in the hopes of figuring out exactly what he is. The one thing I am sure about is that he -is- an I, not an E. ;)Heaven help us if our son is an E… perhaps I should be looking forward to your "parenting the…" part of the series!
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I was just re-reading this post and noticed that you said NFs work best with NTs. Hm. Maybe my husband is an NF after all. 😉
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And of course NFs work well with other NFs too. Not to throw a monkey wrench in the equation:). Thanks for your feedback & I look forward to hearing what conclusion you end up with.
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Okay, so I am an obsessive commenter today. I have spent my weekend catching up on blogs, so I wanted to comment on the types that "connect" with me, and now we are at Idealists! Yay!The things I really connect with:-I do the "intuitive leap" OFTEN!-My imagination is KEY to feeling like "myself". During our house hunt recently, I fell in love with this house that my NT hubby, with semi-disdain, calls "The Hobbit House". It only made it more endearing to me, and the backyard forest looks like a "fairy" {think Anne of Green Gables} forest. {sigh} It may not be the "best investment" of all of the houses, but it FEELS like a friend to me. And I like that!-I hate when people over exaggerate facts/details/numbers/etc, but I love to tell a story with dramatic flair or take an ordinary feeling and describe it in a way that is impossible for my "audience" not to FEEL like they experienced it right along with me.- "They don't life conflict as a result. However, they have a deep seated need for right & good to overcome wrong & evil. They will break in & voice this, even if it means conflict will arise, because it's as if their gut is burning with goodness that won't shut up. It's the saying, "the truth shall set you free." — I am an INTENSE lover of the truth, and I just seem to NOT BE ABLE to back down from it, even when I don't want the hassle of potential conflict. However, when I am close to someone, and I am always speaking this "truth" I think it can come off harsher than I intend in my heart.-Being called REAL or AUTHENTIC is my favorite compliment BY FAR!My sis is an ENFP – Advocate – Champion and she is a special ed teacher, whom others always go to with the "hard" cases and she will advocate for ANY child with her last breath, if need be.I am an ENFJ{as you know} and I have worked for 10 years in pastoral ministry in discipleship-based ministry where I am constantly "teaching". I realized the other day, that in spite of my fear of speaking as a child/teenager, after studying psych and comm in college, I now MISS public speaking during this sabbatical period.Okay…man…this is a ridiculously long comment….SORRY!
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Oh Lindsey–we are so much alike. I feel the same about looking for homes or something similar that isn't always practical, but it feels so fanciful & idyllic. I'm so glad you wrote this comment as it gives me more opportunities to know YOU. And I really like YOU:)
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Ok, I THINK I totally commented earlier, but I can't find it.Thank you for doing this post. I am pretty much an INFP, at least that is what I tested strongly as when I did the WHOLE test when I was 13. I have since done it, during and after law school. Much more TJ about the whole thing. In fact, I feel like I flip bt TJ andFP though the rest are more solid. I am married to an ISTJ. Pretty sure about that. He is a lawyer, too, but does regulatory law, and not advocacy.Love this whole series.
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I am such a typical NF, it's not even funny. I love learning more about the ins and outs of Myers-Briggs.
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I've resisted the "idealist" label just because it sounds synonymous with "willfully unrealistic." A designation I came across this year that I find helpful is "catalyst" instead. Makes it easier for me to consider that I could be wired this way 😉
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