INFJ Personality Type
Temperament: Advocate
INFJ is speculated to be the rarest of the 16 Myers-Briggs types.
INFJs are highly sensitive and often very insightful.
Many are deep thinkers who spend time pondering the problems of humanity.
They can be uncannily accurate in their ability to read people and are often driven to help others.
Many great leaders in history have been INFJs, such as Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.
Their natural ability to understand other perspectives combined with their emotional sensitivity, can make them very effective orators, poets, musicians and composers. Examples include Rumi, Leonard Cohen and John Williams.
INFJs and iNtuition
INFJs’ minds will often wander into the unconscious realm. When they do this, they’re using their intuition, which operates sort of like a Rubik’s cube. It juxtaposes pieces of information inside their brains to find patterns and insights. Because this process takes place entirely inside the mind, they’ll often show a blank expression on their faces, prompting others to mistakenly assume that they’re upset.
This intuitive process can give them powerful insight, but can also pose a challenge when it comes to connecting with others and getting their ideas across. If someone were to ask them what they’re thinking, they may not always be able to formulate an answer that can be put into words. This drives many INFJs to pursue artistic endeavors where they’re able to compose more satisfying expressions of their inner worlds.
Some INFJs even report psychic abilities, though this is far from being a universal trait amongst the type.
INFJs and Interaction
What does appear to be universal is a sensitivity to emotional tension. Healthy INFJs seek to create harmony in the world they live in and effective ones can be skilled in doing so.
It can take experience and maturity for INFJs to learn how to create boundaries and hold their ground in socially challenging situations. When this ability is developed INFJs can become respected leaders.
INFJs and Perfectionism
Most INFJs report a perfectionist side. They tend to see all things as being connected in some way and can be known to obsess about details in an effort to create harmony and elegance. They can be very good editors, but can get caught up in the details of their own work and struggle to stay on course if they don’t have a good set of either internal or external checks and balances in place.
INFJs and the Physical Realm
Many INFJs identify as being a bit on the clumsy side, due to their tendency to day-dream and to neglect the sensory world. They do, however, tend to enjoy the physical realm, as it can be pleasurable to get out of their minds and into their bodies. Many pursue sports and enjoy dance and other physical activity. Because they need to work through their challenges in the physical realm with conscious struggle, those who are successful in doing so tend to be well-equipped to teach what they’ve learned to others.
INFJ Cognitive Functions
INFJ Celebrities List
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Adrien Brody
- Tori Amos
- Wayne Dyer
- Keanu Reeves
- John Quincy Adams
- Rumi
- Angelina Jolie
- Esther Hicks
- Jared Leto
- Joe Buissink
- Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue)
- Yanni
- Jessie Baylin
- Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)
- Marilyn Manson
- George Harrison (The Beatles)
- Birdy
- Laurence Fishburne
- Mother Teresa
- Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
- Win Butler (Arcade Fire)
- Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine)
- Debbie Harry (Blondie)
- Pete Townshend (The Who)
- Jonna Lee (iamamiwhoami)
- Sufjan Stevens
- Scott Stapp (Creed)
- Kevin Parker (Tame Impala)
- RZA (Wu-Tang Clan)
- will.i.am
- Ethan Hawke
- Princess Diana
- Jimmy Carter
- Katharine Cook Briggs
- Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
- Peter Gabriel
- Leonard Cohen
- Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
- Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears)
- Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
- Ray Lamontagne
- Shawn Colvin
- Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins)
- Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage)
- Layne Staley (Alice In Chains)
- Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
- Tegan Rain Quin (Tegan and Sara)
- Prince Ea
- Annie Lennox (The Eurythmics)
- Shirley Manson (Garbage)
- Taylor Swift
- Larry Mullen, Jr. (U2)
- Matt Bellamy (Muse)
- Alanis Morisette
- Christopher Wolstenholme (Muse)
- Aimee Mann (Till Tuesday)
- John Williams (Composer)
- Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine)
- John Coltrane
- Ali Handal
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Adolf Hitler
- Shawn Stevenson
- Jaylen Brown
Fictional INFJs
- Megan Draper (Mad Men)
- Hannah Baker (13 Reasons Why)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)
- Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
- Todd Anderson (Dead Poets Society)
- Rey Skywalker (Star Wars)