Comparing the Fe/Ti with Fi/Te

NTPs and NFJs both champion reason over instinct. I mean this in a very peculiar way. The NPT and NFJ types all possess an extroverted feeling/ introverted thinking axis. Extroverted feeling sees feeling and sentiment as common and seeks to harmonize with its surrounding, while introverted thinking is deductive and develops logical principles that are meant to be universally valid. Thus NFJs and NTPs both naturally assume one should sacrifice of oneself, whether to harmonize with their surroundings or to hold onto universal logical principles, in order to be happy. In other words, one’s logical reasoning and accommodating others should win over personal interests and feelings or, as they are often thought of by these types, instincts. These four types believe in giving up the base instincts and personal desires in favor of a greater standard.

This is in diametric opposition to the NFP and NTJ types, which have an introverted feeling/ extroverted thinking axis, meaning they do not want to sacrifice of their personal treasure-hold of values, to string up their feelings like stripped and skinned animals for all to see. Or, as Friedrich Nietzsche said, to presume that because something is essential for my survival, then it must actually exist as a universal truth common to all men. Thus, the introverted feeling/ extroverted thinking axis naturally believes one should harmonize with their own values and not submit to a greater standard. Or, if one does follow a greater standard, it should only be because it happens to harmonize with their standard already and not the other way around.

The upshot of this is that the NFJ and NTP types have a better understanding and comfort level with each other, and the same goes for the NFP and NTJ types together. This is not to say that NFJ/ NTP relations are destined for greatness or that NFP/ NFJ relations are doomed for failure. There are many, many other factors involved in a pair of types becoming good friends. But, on the level of typology, NFJ and NTP types have an advantage because they’re coming from the same place, and the same goes for NFP with NTJ types. The extroverted feeling and introverted thinking axis sees the opposite axis selfish, petty, egocentric, and hierarchical; while the extroverted thinking/ introverted feeling axis sees the opposite axis as conformist, unthinking, fruitless, and weak. Not in the sense that they think this of each other as people, but this is how they view the raw concept on its own; when they glimpse these tendencies in the other person it can be a source of confusion.

This idea can be broken into the third and fourth points of connection for NTPs and NFJs: that they value, to some degree or other, displays of warmth; and that they seek for universal truth. Even the INTP, which represses extroverted feeling, has a predisposition to see sentiment and feeling as a common affair, something on the surface; expressive and not personal or burning deep within. NTP and NFJ types expect and appreciate expressive love, love that makes it your business that you are loved. Extroverted feeling has no problem, for a lack of a better metaphor, for prancing naked before the world and letting people know it’s there. Introverted feeling is the opposite, wanting to keep love close and personal and not commercialized or prostituted before the world (as they might think of it). In this way the NTP and NFJ types both speak a similar language of love and sentiment in that they feel it should be expressed, clearly and openly, even conventionally, or at least tastefully. Not only that, but these types are particularly appreciative of sacrifice on their behalf. In other words, of two people becoming in tune with each other at their own expenses, purifying themselves of selfish contaminants and returning to the original source of sentiment from which they were all supposedly derived.

Such modification of behavior in favor of another’s standard is rather detestable to the introverted feeling type for the following reason: if the person is not doing it purely because they themselves like acting that way, then they are not harmonizing with their own values, walking to the beat of their own drummer, but are conforming, and what’s worse they are making the NFP or NTJ their greater standard. The NFP or NTJ doesn’t want that, they want to meet the real you. The problem here, though, is that the NTP and NFJ types don’t have a real them, in the sense that the NFP and NTJ want or expect. An NFP type trying to get an NFJ to become more themselves – to become in tune with themselves – is bound to become somewhat frustrated because NFJ types don’t have a sentimental core but a cold, logical one. But NPTs and NFJs understand this about each other, and do not risk the same frustration and confusion they may have met in other relationships.

This leads into the next point, which is that the NTP and NFJ types seek for universal truth. This is the attitude of their introverted thinking. Even the ENFJ, who tends to drift to the right or left of their logical principles in favor of extroverted feeling’s warmth, is still drifting to the right or left of something. This is the logical principles of introverted thinking, and because of their deductive, mathematical, absolute nature they are meant to be universally valid. If they are contradicted in some situations then the logic is unsound and the law must be altered. Note that with extroverted thinking this is not so, because extroverted thinking is inductive and bases its conclusions on masses of data. It cannot be mathematically contradicted, only statistically improbable under certain circumstances. This lends itself to the subjective, personal nature of introverted feeling which wants to be true to itself and not anyone else. Meanwhile, introverted thinking is very conducive to extroverted feeling as both want to be true to a metaphysical greater standard that applies in all situations: a categorical imperative. In the same way as with extroverted feeling, the NTP and NFJ types are coming from the same place. They are all, to some degree or other, living according to mathematical principles and imperatives rather than subjective passions, and can thus reason as such and feel they understand each other’s motivations much more.

This sharing of the introverted thinking/ extroverted feeling axis can be very relaxing for the NTP and NFJ types, if they are placed in circumstances to be friends. Their communication is that much smoother and, while their opinions may differ, it is like two Americans having differing opinions but being perfectly able to communicate them. But with, say, an NTP and an NTJ it is more like an American and a Mongolian trying to communicate. They come from completely different cultures and speak different languages, and thus they are difference of opinion becomes alienated from each other; difficult to really understand, mysterious, or even repelling. It’s never so dramatic as I’ve made it sound but the principle and the metaphor is true, from my experience.

- Michael Pierce, "NFJ vs. NTP: Type Interaction and Comparison: Part I"