INFJ
INFJs are insightful, creative, compassionate, and dedicated. INFJs have a unique ability to understand the emotions of those around them, and enjoy using this emotional sensitivity to create warm and supportive environments for growth. INFJs excel at recognizing the possibilities for personal development in others, and often have a plan for how others can achieve their goals.
Deeply intuitive, INFJs process ideas and information internally, always working to improve their understanding of people and relationships. They often have a talent for recognizing patterns and hidden meanings in the people and world around them, and often have learned to trust their insights. INFJs typically only share their innermost thoughts with those they trust, and may appear reserved or mysterious to others.
INFJs have strong personal values and typically have a vision for how to bring out the best in their selves, those they care about, and often humanity itself. They are excited about the future and possibilities, and enjoy using their organizational skills and imagination to create plans to achieve their grand visions. Once they have fully considered a situation, INFJs often act decisively, and are committed to accomplishing a task or fulfilling their responsibilities. Typically, INFJs lead with a quiet persuasion, inspiring others to follow them by their example and with their faith in their vision. At times, however, an INFJ can become pushy or controlling in their drive to guide others along the path they have chosen.
Loyal friends, INFJs value authentic relationships, often sensing insincerity and duplicity. INFJs take time to appreciate others, offering positive feedback and making sure everyone’s needs have been considered. Although INFJs are often more focused on the needs of others, and may neglect their own, they do not hesitate to speak up if they feel their personal values are being disregarded.
INFJ Type Dynamics
The core of the INFJ personality type is Introverted Intuition. This dominant function guides the way Counselors make sense of things and explore information in their own minds. Using Intoverted Intuition, the INFJ contemplates connections and creates meaning. The reflect on their interpretation of patterns and possibilities to develop insight and understanding.
The auxiliary function for INFJs is Extraverted Feeling. This mental function supports their dominant Introverted Intuition to help them evaluate information and options in the world around them. When using Extraverted Feeling, the Counselor works to align the external world with their values. They focus on the needs of other people to support them in realizing their potential.
The tertiary Thinking function is less developed for most INFJs, especially early in life. When this function is not well developed, INFJs may have trouble using objective logic in decision-making.
The inferior function for INFJs, or that function which is least likely to be conscious and well developed, is Extraverted Sensing. When this function is not developed, the Counselor may favor imagination and idealism to a fault, and neglect the realities of the world around them.
Famous INFJs
Famous INFJs include Mohandas Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Emily Bronte, Carl Jung, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Florence Nightingale, Shirley MacLaine, and Jimmy Carter.
INFJ at Work
At work, the INFJ is focused on the task of bettering the human condition. INFJs are dedicated, helpful, and principled workers who can be relied on to envision, plan, and carry out complex projects for humanitarian causes.
Although they are typically driven by lofty ideals, Counselors gain the most satisfaction from their work when they can turn their ideas into reality, creating constructive change for other people.
INFJs are typically organized and prefer work that allows them to complete projects in an orderly manner. They are often independent and tend to prefer a quiet environment that allows them the opportunity to fully develop their own thoughts and ideas.
The ideal work environment for an INFJ is harmonious, industrious, and oriented to a humanitarian mission, with co-workers who are similarly committed to positive change. The ideal job for a Counselor allows them to use their creativity in an independent, organized environment to develop and implement a vision that is consistent with their personal values.
To read more about the INFJ, visit the INFJ page at Truity.com.
Comments
Interesting read. I used to
Interesting read. I used to think introversion and leadership are almost opposite qualities. But on hindsight, I can correlate to it, as I was - for a long time - an introvert, and when I decided to come out of my groove (took up entrepreneurship to bring about a change), most people around me would judge me to be a complete extrovert. Turning ones ideal dreams into reality requires socialization - perhaps that is what drives these introverts to leadership. Mahatma Gandhi himself was a man with many complimentary, and at times seemingly contradictory qualities. For example, on one hand, Mahatma Gandhis quotes on freedom have quotes like "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes and I want freedom for the full expression on my personality" and there were incidents in his life where he punished a girl in his ashram for keeping her hair open because that provoked a man to make a flirty comment on her (no punishment to the man).
My professor told me Mahatma Gandhi and many great men like Newton were infact bipolar (this after I myself was diagonized as having bipolar disorder). In my personal experience, bipolar disorder is closely related to INFJ personality type and often comes because of contradictory feelings of self imposed guilt on one hand and idealistic principles on the other.
No, bipolar comes from a
No, bipolar comes from a chemical imbalance in the brain that creates mania and depression. Empirically, bipolar has nothing whatsoever to do with guilt and idealistic principles. Bipolar isn't about a personality or character flaw.
Correction: it is connected
Correction: it is connected with chemical imbalance.
I'm also INFJ with bipolar
I'm also INFJ with bipolar *order.
I too am INFJ with bi-polar;
I too am INFJ with bi-polar; and have seen many other similar examples - which is wierd considering we are supposed to be the least number of any 'type' in society! I cannot see why the two are not connected, as all things are connected together - bodily chemicals may create personality; after all we are all made of chemicals - and it is a real judgemental statement to say anything is an imbalance; we are who we are. I am not you. Maybe the bi-polar is more of a real person than uni-polars!!
"Chemical imbalance"? That's
"Chemical imbalance"? That's really a BS phrase as the entire body is made up of chemicals, even this laptop I'm using. The chemistry within the brain is always in motion, and neurotransmitters are always in flux. There IS NO "balance", so to speak. No neurologist uses the phrase, "chemical imbalance". It's a metaphor. But you have to understand that "empirically", there has been a sizable amount of evidence collected seeing strong positive correlations with certain personality types and so-called "disorders", which can also be viewed as just characteristics of certain psychological typologies.
If a typology is REALLY against what is the collective typology of any specific culture, then they tend to be viewed as "ill" or "flawed". In the US, it is a VERY extroverted society, but introverts are seen as "weird", and sometimes "creepy" or potentially dangerous... only for the sheer fact that you can't hear their thoughts/feelings like you can easily do with an extrovert. We also used to be VERY sensate oriented, but odly enough, the collective here has been shifting more and more to it's opposite... intuitive. You also see a high correlation with what is called ADD and those who have a high degree of habitual abstract intuitive mentation.
In other cultures, ADD wouldn't be seen as "abnormal".
Reading "The Undiscovered
Reading "The Undiscovered Self" by Jung, the typologist himself. In this book he argues while requirements to statistically categorize people have a degree of practical necessity, the reality is we are each unique individuals and Jung says to seek the truth in the contradiction of both categorizing others and seeing them as unique.
So statistically-- there are such things as "chemical inbalances". Empirically, studies show those with one type of an amount of neurotransmitter that'a anomalous to the "normal" population tend to have a certain type of behavior associated with that difference.
We're talking statistical comparing. We're not talking about individual people. Just as with the whole typology thing itself, as Jung would be the first to point out, it's meant to be a generalized tool with limited use.
Labels like "bipolar" are meant to categorize people with certain types of behavior. This doesn't explain what motivates them to have these behaviors. That's a hugely important distinction to understand. There are as many different motivations for the exact same behavior as there are the people doing the acting out of the behaviors.
We as human beings are behaviors that can be categorized. Based on what we say, do, act out on, we all can be fit into certain categories. Yet, we are also unique individuals who have been motivated to act the way we do by untold, countless influences on us. Thus though all oak trees have recognizable types of leaves of their different genus's, they also have gnarled and twisted limbs coming off their main trunks that are totally unique to the individual tree.
These two ways of understanding the world around us are important to keep in mind as we judge ourselves and our fellow humans.
Rereading what I wrote
Rereading what I wrote earlier I realize I missed making a point I was intending to make.
We may have indentical behavior from one person to the next but without having an understanding of what motivates the behavior, when that behavior is non-adaptive or even harmful to oneself or others, we can't help the person change the behavior or even know whether it needs changing unless we have an idea as to what is motivating it.
Two people, both behaving the same way, both fitting into a category of "bipolar", or "personality disorder" or "schziphrenia"-- or some typology-- can have a total range of differing aspects of why they are behaving the way they do.
So-- chemical inbalance. Yeah, that can explain why someone may demonstrate a certain kind of behavior. However, what can also explain the behavior is how their interior world feels to them regardless of what their neurotransmitter levels are.
We are both unique individuals while at the same time falling into generalized categories of stereotypical behaving creatures.
I think it is a mistake to
I think it is a mistake to equate personality type with bipolar disorder. It is more a matter of neuroscience or genetics, though I can see how specific personality types could complicate - a naturally moody and self-reflective INFJ like myself would not do well with it. A 2000 study showed that there are two areas of the brain which contain over 30% more cells which send signals to other areas of the brain, overloading them with electrical signals. The genetic heritabiity of the disorder is very high - there is a 15 -30% chance that if one parent has the disorder their children will inherit it. If two parents have it the chances increase to 50 - 70%. For twins it's 85%.
My brother is bipolar. As a child they thought he was psychotic as he alternated between uncontrollable rages and grandiosity. I'm sorry, but being unable to hold a job, setting fires, having angry outbursts in public and periodically try to off yourself in dramatic ways IS pretty ill and flawed. It is not a natural or productive state of being. He is an ENTJ, natural tendencies which now serve him well as an entrepreneur. He was finally stabilized and got a shot at a normal life through the use of lithium (which cut down on the suicidal impulses quite a bit) and lamotrigene. I think that the fact that it helped him and so many others gives weight to the idea that it is an illness of both chemical and signal imbalance.
I too have bipolar and am
I too have bipolar and am INFJ. You are the one full of BS. Bipolar is a mood disorder DSM 4.
Look at the history of psychopharmaceuticals. Without these mood stabilizing drugs I'd be in a cold bath or flopping around during ECT, like my grandmother in the early 60's. My serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine chemicals don't play we'll together. I think you need to take some of your intuition and catch up on modern psychiatry. I can't say if having Bipolar has anything to do with being INFJ. Both make you appear a little eccentric. Mental illness is more prevalent than you could guess. I have been stigmatized by my illness which is no more of a chronic illness than diabetes. An apology is due to all of us who live with mental illness. Check your facts.
This is true - it is a
This is true - it is a CHEMICAL imbalance, akin to getting when you stay awake. CHEMICAL imbalance - I have worked in psychiatry for the past 25 years so should know this.
Interesting. I'm INFJ and
Interesting. I'm INFJ and bipolar too.
I am also INFJ and I was just
I am also INFJ and I was just diagnosed with Bipolar II.
My son and I are both INFJ
My son and I are both INFJ and both have Aspergers. Logically, that does not mean that Aspergers = INFJ personality. My brother is bi-polar and is NOT an INFJ so I wouldn't just assume that there is a connection.
I have Maldaptive Daydreaming
I have Maldaptive Daydreaming disorder, and I am an INFJ. It's a form of ADD that shares similarities with Asperger's and schizophrenia. But I can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. That's what the main difference is.
Interesting point! I have
Interesting point! I have this personality type and I am also bipolar.
How exactly do you determine
How exactly do you determine whether Dostoyevsky was an INFJ? Isn't it just a guess and very subjective?
Absolutely. Short of going
Absolutely. Short of going back in time and asking them, there's no way to conclusively find the personality type of a historical figure. We type famous and historical figures by observing their behavior and the way they communicate, their apparent priorities and their style in interacting with others. When the person is a writer, you can look at their work as well. You can never be completely sure of a person's type unless they tell you themselves, but you can get to a certain level of confidence if you study them closely.
WOW. This is remarkable for
WOW. This is remarkable for me... I've always been an INFJ, but most sites don't really "get in my head"... You did a fabulous job! You also helped me see why a past relationship just ended. Hm. Very interesting! Thank you so so much
As an INFJ type and an Aries
As an INFJ type and an Aries I start to fear that I won't have a one-forever relationship (husband and wife). I've never been in any relationship, because I'm Asian. You probably heardstuff about asian parents. those personalities thing said all the same about marriage. Plus, Normal men hardly caught my attention, they have to be a little extra special/unique. And i couldnt find any of them yet.Whatever. But yeah. And I'm just 18 though. Lol
Bang on about "normal
Bang on about "normal men"...they're just plain boring. I'm not looking to be swept off to Paris by surprized, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE say something beyond the clichéd small talk. Some, variety in the conversation? With most "normal" guys if you've dated one, you've dated them all. Yes that even includes ESTPs who think they're all that...they're all the same.
Diamond girl, I am also an
Diamond girl,
I am also an Aries and an INFJ. Interesting combination isnt it. We INFJs have a difficult time seeing our paths, and a big lesson I've learned is that an Aries INFJ should know her path, its definitely whatever your the heart/gut has always told you that you love about life. I wanted to tell you that I feel the same way about men-I've been searching a long time for someone that I can truly love, and occasionally I run in to him. I did recently on a cruise. We both sort of knew-a very rare ocurrence for me. We may or may not meet again, but it will happen for you just make sure to do the things you enjoy and you will meet people with the same passion as your fiery self.
Keep it going soul sister!
Emily
i'm completely agree. me I've
i'm completely agree. me I've always been attracted to the dangerous, mysterious and strong type. the ones you know can take care of you and really sweep you off your feet luckily i found someone like that and i think he is a ENTJ which if you think about it an INFJ and a ENTJ fit completely well together. at least in my opinion.
Ahem, ahem ahem. there is
Ahem, ahem ahem.
there is only *ONE* true, long-term type for the INFJ, and it is the (drumroll please) the inventive, cavorting and always entertaining ENTP. I would know. I dated two before settling on my third ENTP, long-term. (And trust me, it's not your shadow, the ESTP, that ends in disaster).
In my lifetime, I've observed and noted that all the types always hook up long-term with a specific compliment. It's like the pre-ordained ying and yang balance in this MBTI universe. Please see below the ultimate, life-long pairings. I draw this conclusion based on seeing many many MANY friends and couples and co-workers around me locked in these very unions.
INFJ - ENTP
ISFJ - ESFP
ENFP - INFP
INTJ - ENTJ
ISTJ - ESTJ
ESFJ - ISFP
INTP - ENFJ
ISTP - ESTP
And there you have it. All 16 types with their ultimate, life-long compliments. Once I started the 'puzzle' of figuring out if there was a constant, and I found that there was, it all fell into place, based on my careful observations of friends, co-workers, and family. There is no 'mathematical' formula to it, it's just based on seeing again and again, committed couples that turn out to be these exact pairings, over and over and over again. It's really quite fascinating. Enjoy! And I hope this helps you on your journey.
LOL! You make me laugh. Thank
LOL! You make me laugh. Thank you for sharing your insight!
I believe I used to be INFJ,
I believe I used to be INFJ, but a mentally abusing environment in combination with a 3 year long depression and isolation shut down my compassion, slowly destroyed my moral values and the trust I had in humanity until I became INTJ. I wonder if it's possible to ever go back or if I'm changed forever.
I guess it still echoes back to appear as a desire to take on the role of Healer in games rather than Assassin however.
Nyan, can I recommend taking
Nyan, can I recommend taking some time out to be 'gentle on yourself'. Create a world where you can have quiet at the end of the day, do so little that you make yourself bored. See a therapist if you need to (you need to find a good one as anything less will frustrate you!), to help 'untangle' what is going on in your mind. Try yoga!
I'm making these suggestions because it was what I had to do....I bet you have anger brewing within you, which is pure frustration at the world, at life, at yourself. Take in a stray animal and care for it. You will become an INFJ again.
Thanks for the tip, after I
Thanks for the tip, after I read that post I decided to look deeper into the auxiliary functions that make the most defining difference between INTJ and INFJ, and I've come to realise that I am more likely to rely on extraverted feeling rather than extraverted thinking. Something I think may have had an impact on me is the outer world which has punished me for showing extraverted feeling, as it has usually been viewed upon by others as a weakness that they are free to abuse, thus I eventually masked myself as cold and unapproachable. I suppose the surpression of my extraverted feeling may be the source of my depression which masks me as INTJ. I've been considering seeing a therapist, meditation and improving my physical health by mild work out, but I guess I've had a hard time listening to myself as much as I listen to others. The question "How do you feel?" still stuns me a bit even today, I guess I'm more used to extraverted feeling than introverted feeling. Selfishness is a word I've never been able to associate myself with, but acted out to not appear weak and easy to take advantage of.
When I was dealing with
When I was dealing with depression I also was tested as an INTJ. It's good to know that's common among us.
I have also been going
I have also been going through depression because i had a hard time moving to the U.S. and leaving my friends behind and then breaking up with my boyfriend abroad , i took the personality test online when i first learned about it a couple of years ago and got infj, but now that am having a hard time getting over my feelings i get infp ... :S but i know it is the wrong result, i just can't get rid of those feelings probably cuz i can't face them and yes i have been going to therapy for a year now and i am getting better, but still i need that help to entangle myself to be much more deeper and personal and i can't get that very much anywhere except in therapy (?) i don't know how things will go but God willing we will all get back to our peacefulness ;D
I have recently started with
I have recently started with therapy myself, and it feels quite wonderful! I just don't feel I could burden those closer to me, out of fear they either can't accept my problems, or their view of me changes for the worse, due to a lack of understanding. It feels like I could tell my therapist anything without being judged, and he'll still be focused on helping me with my issues rather than questioning things negatively, that so many others I know tend to do when confronted with something foreign to them such as depression. "Why don't you just stop being depressed?" If it only was that easy...
Anyhow, therapy, one of the best things in my life at the moment, it helps me feel that I'm advancing and improving.
I first was tested in high
I first was tested in high school and used to get INTJ as a result every time, but since I've started dealing with abuse and issues from my childhood, I now always get INFJ. I don't think I was naturally/authentically INTJ but just functioning that way as a reaction to trauma.
Nyan, I think i am going
Nyan, I think i am going through the same thing right now, but something in me is trying to resist giving up, but I think I am so close to just to feeling that more tender side of me is being destroyed by the distructive emotions of others, that I feel so intensely even when they dont say a word, I sense it and its very hard on me emotionally. Especially, given I am already feeling very discouraged, and feel life has become overwheleming already. I think you have it in you to recover though, I think as an INFJ, somehow as bad as things get sooner or later we gain find that tiny bit of strength needed to get up again, and heal ourselves, then heal those around us. But I think with me, its the closest people to me, and their negativity and betrayl that makes me want to give up on humanity, but at the same time like I said I am trying to hard to resist it still.
I've been there but you will
I've been there but you will get through it. You are not the problem, and your compassion is not a weakness to be exploited. Don't hide yourself from the world, since that only affirms our belief that it is uncaring and distant. We must continue to reach out but also remember to help ourselves before we can help others. Show yourselves self-compassion, I'm sure you've made a lot of sacrifices and they hurt. We're about the cause not the glory right? Take strength from who you are. I'm glad you all exist, the world is a better place for you.
I believe, and this is from
I believe, and this is from my experience, that the F-T can change on a dime. So, don't worry!! I am usually one or the other, so I consider myself flexible. The only thing I have never changed is the intuition and judging aspects. I like to use the type to see where I need to balance myself, not use it to define me. I hope this helps, and I hope your life lightens up, you've been through a lot. Peace.
Yes, it is definitely
Yes, it is definitely possible. I have been through exactly what you describe. What happens is that you rely on your tertiary Ti in your function list, which makes you look a little like an intj but not quite (also intj's are not uncompassionate, nor do they lack moral values, you are describing an unhealthy infj). This is in response to cutting off identification with your Fe. Because you've expressed the desire to start using your functions the way they were meant for you means that you still have the capability to do so. (A true, healthy intj would not desire to be an infj). With some therapy and hard work, you can resolve your issues related to your abuse and start functioning more healthy for your type. That's the way it worked for me and I find it exciting to be back in touch, and less fearful. Good luck.
I used to score as an intj as
I used to score as an intj as well because of depression but I feel that with enough depression we tend to block out emotions and become impersonal to save ourselves from it. We tend to be intjs on tests because of Ni+Fe. Its a very logical state where we see patterns with our feeling function but analyze everything with our intuition and Ti.
But idk thats just my theory :P
Hi only last Friday when i
Hi only last Friday when i did the temperament test of Keirsey Research did I known I am INFJ COUNSELOR. All my life THE BUDDHA n MHATMA GHANDI inspired n mould the way I live my life. Uprooting my GREED has left me financially broke but the nature that's me, reflecting back on the VIRTUES of these two GREAT TEACHERS has given me enough COURAGE to live my life as it should be lived without any pyschologic problems though time and again being insulted on my way of life. Instead yes I pity them for having wrong views which I could not correct which I now further understand its because of difference in temperament. Thanks for sharing n KEIRSEY RESEARCH for the f.o.c. test link to thistimethisspace that I came across on TWITTER. Thank you all.24v2
Interesting feed, I was
Interesting feed, I was wondering if any INFJ's have tested as INFP, I seem to test as one or the other depending on my mood at the time.
I do quite frequently. I
I do quite frequently. I think its because tests look for hard J but our judging is both forgiving and somewhat buried. We could never rival SJ's level of judging and especially not STJ's!
Depending on my mood, I am
Depending on my mood, I am sometimes an INFP and sometimes I am an INFJ. I read on a different website somewhere that we INFJ's often appear to be a different personality type, so I guess it's not really uncommon.
Interesting discussions
Interesting discussions above. All the INFJs out there, also those interested in INFJs, might find this page about INFJ quotes very interesting. According to the site, all quotes are relevant to INFJs, but one must figure out how and why. That makes it really interesting. Some quotes are by INFJs, some describe INFJs, and some are fortune cookies, meant to draw the readers attention.
I am an INFJ college student
I am an INFJ college student with a strong interest in psychology, however I have been a little discouraged to pursue this as a career having heard many anecdotes of psychologists with poor family lives and major depression. I wonder though if this has more to do with counselors often being INFJ personality types than with the demands of the job. I know that as an INFJ I have a lot of things to work on in order to avoid depression and improve the communication of my needs. I just want to know what I can do as an INFJ to maintain a healthy mental state while pursuing a passion for helping others resolve their issues.
Hi there, this is only a
Hi there, this is only a small advice, but it had a major positive influence on my life (feeling more balanced, being more able to go out of a negative mindset): try a body-mind activity like yoga or tai chi. I myself practice Chi Qong (a form of Tai Chi) almost every day for twenty minutes. We as INFJ have a tendency to be in our minds all the time and feel the feelings of others/ourselves to a sometimes unhealthy degree. Tai Chi relaxes the mind and body, and gives also a nice feeling of focus, what I often lacked in the past. I wish you good luck!
So agree on this...was
So agree on this...was thinking the SMS thing. I do yoga, tang soo do, and just starting tai chi. Yoga in articular is what really changed me and opened me up.
Sage advice.(smile) I've
Sage advice.(smile)
I've found this practice to be exceedingly effective. Relaxing my body and focusing my mind is key to creating the balance that I need.
I am an INFJ with what feels
I am an INFJ with what feels like some degree of constant low-level depression. I strongly agree with Lizzy's comment above. I do Bikram yoga and Pilates, and by working out at least three times a week, I've found that I can keep my darkest feelings at bay. Sometimes I think of exercise as saving my life. For me, the more challenging it is, the better. Intensely difficult exercise takes me out of my mind and forces me to be 100% in my body. It's a relief.
It's also very important to be aware of your needs and to set firm boundaries with others. Learning about assertiveness can help. You need to take care of yourself before you take care of others. This is true for everyone, but especially so for INFJs.
I am also an INFJ and I think
I am also an INFJ and I think you have Dysthymia. I have it and you go through periods of depression and then you get a streak of confidence and then back to depression. That on top of being a 14 year old... That is a lot to deal with. Pilates is great for relieving stress.
Took at least 5 tests and
Took at least 5 tests and have been confirmed as an INFJ in at least 4 of them. The only exception was INTJ but that was when i was in a high pressure situation. Had conflicting feelings about being an INFJ at first (always related more to INFP) until I found that I could articulate my feelings very fluidly whenever I wanted to and also discovered several contradictions in my personality. This website is great for self-discover!
Are you kidding me? So did I.
Are you kidding me? So did I. I might have to say 4 of the 5 tests I took resulted as a INFJ too, although I have taken way beyond that. This article is very ture to me. And May I ask you what kind of career are you pursuing or planning to have? I have a curiosity about this thing. College this fall as a freshman, just want to know if you mind. Thanks :)
Oh and mine is a career in medical/health care field.
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