INFJ

INFJ (Introverted iNtuiting Feeling Judging) is one of the sixteen personality types from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter.

The MBTI tool consists of multiple choice questions that sort respondents on the basis of four "dichotomies" (pairs of psychological opposites). Sixteen different outcomes are possible, each of which is identified by its own four-letter "code," referred to by initial letters. The MBTI is approximately 70% accurate per its own manual.

According to Keirsey, INFJs belong to the temperament of the idealists and are called Counselors.
 * I - Introversion preferred to Extraversion
 * N - iNtuition preferred to Sensing
 * F - Feeling preferred to Thinking
 * J - Judging preferred to Perceiving

Myers-Briggs characteristics
According to Myers-Briggs, INFJs are conscientious and value-driven. They seek meaning in relationships, ideas, and events, with an eye toward better understanding themselves and others. Using their intuitive skills, they develop a clear vision, which they then execute decisively to better the lives of others. Like their INTJ counterparts, INFJs regard problems as opportunities for them to design and implement creative solutions.

Keirsey characteristics
According to Keirsey, INFJ Counselors are quiet, private individuals who prefer to exercise their influence behind the scenes. Intensely interested in the well-being of others, Counselors prefer one-on-one relationships to large groups. Sensitive and complex, they are adept at understanding complicated issues and driven to resolve differences in a cooperative and creative manner.

Accounting for about one percent of the population, Counselors have a vivid inner life that they may be reluctant to share with those around them. Perceptive of the emotions of others, Counselors are themselves easily hurt, though they may not reveal this except to their closest companions.

INFJs are affable people. They are generally well-liked by their peers and are thought of as close friends and confidants by most other types. It is difficult for INFJs to let their guard down, which in turn makes it difficult for them to establish close relationships with strangers and new people. According to Keirsey, INFJs are magnetically drawn to the ESTP and especially to the ENTP personality types because they see their complement in these types. The INFJ and ENTP might not get along as friends because of the INFJ's more pronounced sensitivity, but they may be a good match for intimate relationships because of the ENTP's willingness to be sensitive and concede their stubborn ways to the INFJ in relationships. As with other personality types, INFJs can be compatible with a number of different types.

Characteristics described in other sources
A list of basic characteristics
 * sensitive
 * quiet leaders
 * great depth of personality - intricately and deeply woven, mysterious, and highly complex, sometimes puzzling even to themselves
 * introverted
 * abstract in communicating
 * live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities - part of an unusually rich inner life
 * artistic (and natural affinity for art), creative, and easily inspired
 * very independent
 * orderly view towards the world but within themself arranged in a chaotic, complex way only they could understand

MBTI cognitive functions
The attributes of each personality type form a hierarchy representing the person's "default" pattern of behavior in their day to day life. The Dominant function is the personality type's preferred role, the task they feel most comfortable with. The Auxiliary function is the role they feel the next most comfortable with. It serves to support and expand on the Dominant function. One of these first two will always be an information gathering function (Sensing or, in the INFJ case, Intuiting) and the other will be a decision making function (Thinking or, in the INFJ case, Feeling). The Tertiary function is less developed than the Dominant and Auxiliary functions, but tends to develop in mid-life; it provides roundness of ability (in the INFJ case, development of Thinking as a decision making function). The Inferior function (Sensing) is the personality type's Achilles' heel and may be most evident under stress. This is the function they are least comfortable with. Like the Tertiary function, the Inferior function usually becomes more stable with maturity.


 * Dominant Introverted Intuition (Ni)
 * Auxiliary Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
 * Tertiary Introverted Thinking (Ti)
 * Inferior Extraverted Sensing (Se)

Famous INFJs: Nathan, prophet of Israel Aristophanes Chaucer Goethe Robert Burns, Scottish poet

U.S. Presidents: Martin Van Buren James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Nathaniel Hawthorne Fanny Crosby, (blind) hymnist Mother Teresa of Calcutta Fred McMurray (My Three Sons) Shirley Temple Black, child actor, ambassador Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, martyr James Reston, newspaper reporter Shirley McClain (Sweet Charity, ...) Piers Anthony, author ("Xanth" series) Michael Landon (Little House on the Prairie) Tom Selleck John Katz, critic, author Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul and Mary) U. S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) Billy Crystal Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury) Nelson Mandela Mel Gibson Carrie Fisher Nicole Kidman Jerry Seinfeld Jamie Foxx Sela Ward Mark Harmon Gary Dourdan Marg Helgaberger Evangeline Lilly Tori May