What is Fi in Jung's Eight Psychological Functions?

An in-depth exploration of Fi in Jung's Eight Psychological Functions, including its characteristics and significance in MBTI types.

What is Fi in Jung's Eight Psychological Functions?

The concept of Jung's Eight Psychological Functions originates from Carl Jung's book 'Psychological Types'. He classified people into eight types based on attitude types and function types, namely Fi, Fe; Si, Se; Ni, Ne; Ti, Te.

Fi is essentially introverted feeling. It focuses on one's own values and listens to the call of the heart. In traditional Chinese philosophy, Fi can be regarded as the 'Tao' that people pursue.

As a feeling function, Fi doesn't have a strong tendency to care about others. Most of the time, Fi is immersed in one's own inner world.

Like Fe, Fi also depends on the external world, but Fi is more independent. When facing the external world, Fe pays more attention to social moral requirements and puts its own emotions after social morality and values. They often quickly obtain external values to ensure they can fit in.

However, different from Fe, Fi also pays attention to social morality and values. But when this morality and value conflict with its own heart, Fi will stick to its own heart.

At the same time, Fi may not be very concerned about whether others are happy or harmonious. They are very self-centered and only follow their own hearts. Different from Fe, Fi often appears powerless in social interactions.

Although both are feeling functions, Fi obviously has strict conditions for interpersonal relationships. At first, Fi gives people a cold and distant feeling. After a long time of interaction, Fi will give people a warm and approachable temperament. But in the heart of an IFP, they may not fully accept others.

For IFPs, different from the traditional cultural etiquette standards of Fe such as 'benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith' - that is, assimilating themselves under the background of the socially required 'benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith', Fi more depends on its own unique values to assimilate itself. Their role is reflected in 'abiding by', that is, they will follow their own hearts. When the external environment conflicts with their hearts, they will stick to themselves without much thought. This may be the reason why Fi thinks Fe is insincere.

The 'Tao' pursued by ancient Chinese philosophers refers to a spiritual framework constructed by inner morality and values. Zhuangzi once said, 'Wandering freely between heaven and earth and feeling content in one's heart'. Laozi also said, 'See simplicity, embrace plainness, have few desires and be free from selfishness'. The Fi of IFPs allows them to hold on to their own hearts, freedom, and keep their inner purity most of the time.

FPs use Fi's personal values as a compass to navigate life. Although Fi values may overlap with the outside world, when something doesn't meet their requirements, FPs will protest against this cultural pattern.

Recognizing the importance of having the freedom to follow one's own values, FPs are usually willing to extend the same freedom to other aspects. They also tend to appreciate the diverse expressions and lifestyles that emerge when individuals (and cultures) move at their own pace.

In conclusion, Fi is more focused on its own inner values and won't be influenced by objective values. But they themselves will absorb external values to build a structured and systematic value system. At the same time, Fi also cares about itself. When facing things, people, or objects, they focus on themselves (although they have strong empathy, when they perceive others' emotions, they more integrate their own values, make a judgment about themselves, and express understanding for others).