INFJ
Profile
INFJs are creative nurturers with a strong sense of personal integrity and a drive to help others realize their potential. Creative and dedicated, they have a talent for helping others with original solutions to their personal challenges.
INFJs are guided by firm principles and closely held values, and often have a vision of a happier and more ideal future. However, they are not content to just have ideas: they are motivated and persistent in making their vision into reality.
INFJs want a meaningful life and deep connections with other people. They do not tend to share themselves freely but appreciate emotional intimacy with a select, committed few. Although their rich inner life can sometimes make them seem mysterious or private to others, they enjoy making authentic connections with people they trust.
The Counselor has a unique ability to intuit others' emotions and motivations, and will often know how someone else is feeling before that person knows it himself. They trust their insights about others and have strong faith in their ability to read people.
Recognizing an INFJ
INFJs often appear quiet, caring and sensitive, and may be found listening attentively to someone else’s ideas or concerns. They are highly perceptive about people and want to help others achieve understanding. INFJs are not afraid of complex personal problems; in fact, they are quite complex themselves, and have a rich inner life that few are privy to. They reflect at length on issues of ethics, and feel things deeply. Because Counselors initially appear so gentle and reserved, they may surprise others with their intensity when one of their values is threatened or called into question. Their calm exterior belies the complexity of their inner worlds.
Because INFJs are such complex people, they may be reluctant to engage with others who might not understand or appreciate them, and can thus be hard to get to know. Although they want to get along with others and support them in their goals, they are fiercely loyal to their own system of values and will not follow others down a path that does not feel authentic to them. When they sense that their values are not being respected, or when their intuition tells them that someone’s intentions are not pure, they are likely to withdraw.
Popular Hobbies
Popular hobbies for the INFJ include writing, art appreciation, cultural events, reading, socializing in small, intimate settings, and playing or listening to music.
Famous INFJs
Famous INFJs include Mohandas Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Emily Bronte, Carl Jung, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Florence Nightingale, Shirley MacLaine, and Jimmy Carter.
Research on INFJ
Interesting facts about the INFJ:
- Least common type in the population
- On personality trait scales, scored as Sincere, Sympathetic, Unassuming, Submissive, Easygoing, Reserved and Patient
- Among highest of all types in college GPA
- Among most likely to stay in college
- Most likely of all types to cope with stress by seeing a therapist
- Highest of all types in marital dissatisfaction
- Personal values include Spirituality, Learning, and Community Service
- Commonly found in careers in religion, counseling, teaching, and the arts
Work & Careers
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.
INFJs as Leaders
In leadership positions, INFJs motivate others by sharing a positive vision. Counselor leaders are often quiet and unassuming, but win other's dedication through their own hard work, strong principles, and inspiring ideas. They are at their best when guiding a team to commit to a common vision, and when creating organizational goals to benefit people. They are insightful and creative, and bring a sense of confidence and commitment to projects they believe in.
Because INFJ leaders are often motivated by personal values, they do best in organizations with a mission consistent with these values. Their challenge is to keep their ideas and initiatives realistic, and to consider practicalities as they plan for change.
INFJs on a Team
INFJs are creative solvers of people problems, and bring innovative ideas for fostering human potential. They are usually perceptive in observing the talents of others, and good at encouraging teammates to contribute their skills. They are mindful of group process, listening attentively to the opinions of others and synthesizing varied priorities to create a unified vision. Because they prefer to accommodate all points of view, Counselors may have trouble on very competitive or conflictual teams.
On a team, the INFJ acts as a source of quiet inspiration and vision, and provides clarity of purpose to the group. INFJs seek meaning and truth, and will reflect on ideas to create a deeper understanding. Although they don’t often call attention to themselves, they can provide insight into the ethical and humanitarian issues at hand, and can often elegantly articulate the group’s mission. Counselors work best on a supportive team where they can consider issues of ethics and values and act with integrity. Teams which move to act quickly without taking time to reflect may alienate the INFJ.
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Least Popular Careers for INFJs
It is important to note that any personality type can be successful in any occupation. However, some occupations are well suited to the natural talents and preferred work style of the INFJ, while other occupations demand modes of thinking and behavior that do not come as naturally to this type. Occupations that require the INFJ to operate outside their natural preferences may prove stressful or draining, and often sound unappealing to Counselors who are choosing a career.
The following occupations have been found to be unpopular among INFJs, based on data gathered from surveys of the general population.
Relationships
INFJ Communication Style
INFJs are reserved about communication, and often keep their most treasured ideas and insights private. They are oriented to values and connection, and will search for meaning in the information they take in. They think deeply and often need time to process and evaluate before they are ready to share their ideas. They seek validation and will take the time to appreciate others and their ideas. They are often talented at making connections to bring people together and integrate ideas, values, and human potential.
INFJs as Partners
In relationships, the INFJ is supportive and guided by a sense of integrity. The INFJ's interest in human development applies to their mates as well, and they are encouraging of their partner's dreams, aspirations, and achievements.
INFJs want to maintain harmony in their relationships and are highly motivated to resolve conflicts. They tend to be creative problem-solvers and look for the emotional core of an issue to create a meeting of the minds. Although they desire cooperation, they are not willing to go along with an idea that does not feel authentic to them. When it comes to their core values and ethics, they are unwilling to compromise.
INFJs want a high degree of intimacy and emotional engagement, and are happiest when they feel they are sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings with their mates. INFJs value a partner who respects their deeply held values and ethics, and one who appreciates their creativity and inspiration.
INFJs as Parents
As parents, INFJs are devoted and loving. They tend to form strong bonds with their children and are very closely tuned in to their emotional states. Counselor parents naturally see the possibilities in their children and encourage them to develop their potential.
Although they support their children in their individual interests, INFJ parents are firm disciplinarians, particularly when it comes to moral or ethical concerns. They are concerned with their children's emotional health and spiritual development, and want to create a nurturing atmosphere that promotes growth and well-being.
Dynamics
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.
INFJ Under Stress
INFJs often become stressed when working with large amounts of detailed information. Detail-oriented activities such as paying bills or preparing tax returns often bring on a stress response in INFJs. They also need plenty of private time and space to reflect and process thoughts. Being constantly surrounded by people, especially those they don’t connect with, can cause the Counselor stress. INFJs may also be stressed by situations that restrict their creativity. They want to have freedom to express their vision, and being limited by rigid structure often brings stress.
A stress response in the INFJ often manifests as an uncomfortable focus on the external environment. Because the INFJ’s inferior function is Sensing, they are unaccustomed to attending to the details in the world around them. When their focus turns to external sensory experience, this attention often feels stressful and frightening. The INFJ may worry that the physical environment will fail them: that belongings will break or go missing, or that resources will be inadequate. They may obsessively organize in an attempt to control their environments. Stress can also show itself through a tendency to overindulge in sensual pleasures: eating, drinking, or watching television.
INFJs and Change
INFJs tend to be fairly comfortable with change, to the extent that they see the change as moving people toward a higher goal or vision. Dedicated to self-improvement and reflection, the Counselor is open to making changes that will help them and others live in a manner more consistent with their values. However, they may balk at changes that they perceive as arbitrary or insensitive to the needs of people. Changes that are sold only on the basis of their logic—“it’s just what makes sense”—are unlikely to capture the enthusiasm of the INFJ.
The INFJ will be most effective in an environment of change is they feel personally committed to the vision of the plan. If this commitment doesn’t come readily, the INFJ may benefit from spending some time thinking through the implications of the change and how the plan might be of benefit to other people. Having an authentic understanding of the larger goal will keep the Counselor engaged in the change process. In addition to a feeling of personal commitment, INFJs benefit from an organized approach to change. Knowing the plan ahead of time, along with relevant schedules, deadlines, and procedures, will help the Counselor feel prepared.
Comments
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.
How exactly do you determine whether Dostoyevsky was an INFJ? Isn't it just a guess and very subjective?
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 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
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