INFJs, INFPs, and Survival Archetypes

Many INFJ personality types and INFP personality types grow up with trauma due to being raised in a situation where the entire family has narcissistic dynamics at play, or dealing with just one caregiver or sibling who is narcissistic, codependent, or consistently violates boundaries. The ongoing trauma that INFJ personality types and INFP personality types suffer in their household as they are growing up often pushes them to live primarily from the role of a survival archetype.

Two of the most common survival archetypes for INFJ personality types and INFP personality types are the prostitute and the wounded child. When an INFJ personality type or an INFP personality type lives through the prostitute archetype this means that they regularly “sell” some part of themselves in exchange for security. So, the INFJ personality type and INFP personality type may go through a series of jobs where they are exploited, or be used by a partner for money, or they may feel like they have to stay with a partner for money.

When the wounded child survival archetype is strong in an INFJ personality type or an INFP personality type, the person feels they cannot express their needs in relationships and they consistently silence their needs in order not to inconvenience others or demand too much from them. They may also tolerate abuse in exchange for “love,” and so those with a strong wounded child within them may experience a series of abusive relationships, or engage in mental or physical self-harm.

In midlife, INFJ personality types and INFP personality types tend to go through huge identity shifts and the main survival archetype falls away. Then INFJ personality types and INFP personality types feel confused, exposed, and very alone, as they ask: What’s next? Where do I go from here? However, many other INFJ personality types and INFP personality types are going through this same midlife awakening journey, and so INFJ personality types and INFP personality types do not have to be alone as they navigate this challenging new ear of their lives.

Subscribe to Lauren’s newsletter!
https://laurensapala.com/newsletter/