How to Know Youāre an INFJ
Or not.
First thing:
Do the letters match up with your personality? It seems basic but there are a decent amount of āINFJsā Iāve come across that seem very ISFJ or even INTJ to me. Are you introverted? Are you intuitive? Are you a feeler? Are you a judger?
So weāve established that you think the letters match up. Are you SURE?
Introverted Intuition is supposed to be your dominant function. Now check and see. Does the following criteria match?
You see interconnected patterns and without even trying, intuit the implications behind those patterns.
For example: Shae says she thinks that every interview she has could be a potential audition. This means that her life must revolve around acting in every way; everything she does could be noticed and picked up on by casting directors or agents. That explains her ever-changing behavior and why I am certain that she will have to marry some sort of average-minded, big-hearted guy; sheās so smart and deceptive that itād take a pure-hearted man who really loves her to tolerate her. But I know sheāll never be happy. How could she be?
In centuries past, INFJs served as oracles or fortune-tellers because they were so incredibly gifted with the ability to read people and predict how their lives would turn out. The pattern to them was evident; they werenāt able to explain the pattern, per se; itās intuitive to them. However, they could explain the result, and thatās what got them their positions.
INFJs are serious, mysterious, focused, and driven.
Next is extroverted feeling. This means that introverted intuition is like a ālensā for it. This is what differentiates INFJs from INTJs, primarily. Does the following criteria match?
You understand the emotions and feelings of others and empathize with them. You are a shoulder to cry on. You believe that individuality can be seconded for greater harmony, for a greater cause, or a greater goal.
For example: Zach has been through a lot lately. I wonder if heās okay? Something tells me heās not. ā¦I knew it, it looks like heās been doing risky things lately. I ought to help him or offer advice since he matters a lot to me.
Another example: I really donāt like socializing for this long, but everyone else in the group seems to be having a great time. If I left now, I might ruin the atmosphere. Iāll wait a bit longer and see if anyone else leaves.
INFJs are nurturers who believe in long-term success in terms of emotions and healthy-standing; in other words, when they help you, they give you advice because they believe it will help you not only now, but down the road. Their lessons are meaningful and have been thought-through and felt-through. They are saying what is best for you and your future when they help you.
INFJs are compassionate, will lend a helping-hand, understand human emotions, and see into the hearts of others.
Third is introverted thinking. This function serves the INFJ in that all of their thoughts and feelings about their lives are sorted into an internal database to categorize and sort their findings and experiences.
You have found objective truths about humans and human nature (and other topics) and have certain ways of understanding the different types of them in your mind. While you might not be able to explain it all that well, it helps you when helping others or even on individual projects, and thatās what matters.
For example: All of my family members act in the ways Iāve realized because of one factor. This factor goes along with another that I have seen before. The only explanation is that they produce the same outcome. I will have to remember this for future situations. This observation will be to my advantage in times to come.
INFJs, despite being feelers, have a strong logical side that can, at times, override their emotional side. Since this function is not dominant or auxiliary, it can really surface in times of stress or sadness or anger in the form of biting criticism, cold truths, and a belief that their observations are always correct because āthereās evidence!ā
INFJs are thoughtful, intricate, mentally organized, and logical.
At the tail-end of the function stack of the INFJ is extroverted sensing. This function is not apparent in the everyday INFJ personality; it surfaces only when ātriggeredā (lmao) by external stimuli, and tends to be most prevalent when the INFJ is distressed.
You are attracted to aesthetics, nature, and observing the patterns of everyday life. While you are not the type to go out and engage yourself in strenuous physical activity, you have a respect for those who do, and those who put themselves āout thereā without second thought.
For example: Nature is wonderful. Iād like to sit by the window with hot cocoa and watch as the snow falls down. Maybe take a few pictures. I get so cooped up within my own mind, itās nice to see the wonders of the outside world at times.
INFJs, despite primarily thinking and feeling all inside their minds, do have an underlying desire to see the world and appreciate the present moment. It is usually suppressed by their dominant and auxiliary functions, but, when relaxed and content, this inferior function may surface and the INFJ may decide to go out and enjoy the world from time to time.
INFJs are inspired by nature, appreciate those who are immersed in the present, and wish to see what the world has to offer.
INFP vs INFJ
INFJs are focused more on other peopleās emotions than their own.
INFPs are focused more on their own emotions than other peopleās.
INFJs are drawn to analysis, production, and underlying beauty.
INFPs are drawn to understanding their emotions, Ā abstract ideas, and concepts.
INFJs do not fall in love easily. They are capable of sizing someone up in an instant and deeming them worthy or unworthy of their time in a matter of seconds. In addition, on the rare occasion that they do find someone worthy, it takes effort, time, and patience to win over the heart of an INFJ. Even then, in a flash, an INFJ will cut someone out of their life if they do something the INFJ does not approve of. Prone to overthinking and even āstalker-ishā behavior when it comes to love.
INFPs do fall in love easily. They are not as quick to judge as their INFJ counterparts, and may find themselves enchanted with someone within the first few encounters. It takes time for them to act on their feelings, but they may have them for a significant amount of time after only a few interactions with someone. Prone to obsessive behavior/idealization/romanticization when it comes to love.
INFPs are drawn to fantasy things that are unrealistic, that would never exist in the actual world.
INFJs are drawn to mystical things that could exist in the world, but may be āunseenā by the majority of people.
ENFJ vs INFJ
ENFJs exhibit more self-confidence and individuality than INFJs, who, at times, doubt their purpose or who they are.
ENFJs are more sensitive and will be more open about how they are feeling.
INFJs are more quiet and withdrawn, so that no one really knows how they are feeling.
ENFJs are more focused on motivating others, inspiring others, and bringing peace to social situations.
INFJs are more focused on self-reflection, analyzing feelings of others, and will have more logical tendencies.
ENFJs have wide circles of friends.
INFJs have a VERY FEW close friends.
ENFJs encourage outward warmth and participation among themselves and others.
INFJs encourage depth of relationships and intimacy with few loved ones.
In short, ENFJs are, on the surface, closer to ESFJs, and INFJs are, on the surface, closer to INTJs or sometimes INFPs
INTJ vs INFJ
INTJs are focused on factual information, studying, and objective analysis of problems.
INFJs are focused on understanding the underlying meaning of life, understanding and observing people, and working their way through problems with their heart and head.
When analyzing people, INTJ will know exactly how that person thinks and feels and be able to explain why very quickly and with solid logical evidence, whereas the INFJ will just know and wonāt be able to explain it quite so well. However, the INFJ is far more likely to act based on their observations of how people are thinking or feeling (Fe), whereas INTJs will end their actions at their analysis and keep on doing their thing (Fi).
Both INFJs and INTJs are capable of being sarcastic, but INTJ will be far more sardonic, where are the INFJ is more likely to sugarcoat harsh words.
Even when they donāt want to talk to you, INFJs will be more approachable than their INTJ counterparts, who will blatantly ignore you if they do not wish to speak with you.
INTJs will make jokes about how stupid people are to their face on a regular basis.
INFJs, even when extremely irritated, are not likely to do this (though they may make the joke within the personās earshot when remarkably pissed off)
INFJs will spend more time considering the consequences of and observing a problem.
INTJs will spend more time solving and fixing the problem.
INFJs are more likely to store helpful information within their minds for later use.
INTJs are more likely to use that information as quickly as possible to their advantage.
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PLEASE let me know if Iām missing any key information! As an ENTP, Iām not an expert on INFJs and Iād be totally open to taking suggestions on this. Thanks for reading, I hope it helps some of you!
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