INFJ

Prince Caspian: INFJ

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Guest Post by E.J., INTJ

The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis

Dominant Introverted Intuition (Ni): Caspian is a dreamer. As a little boy, his nurse’s stories of Old Narnia capture his imagination, and Caspian’s view of the world is shaped by the stories. Rather than basing his value system on what he sees his uncle Miraz doing, Caspian’s ideals are formed by the heroic legends his nurse repeats to him. Caspian has no strong reason to believe that the old days could return until after he wakes up in the dugout of Trufflehunter, Trumpkin, and Nikabrik. Regardless, he prefers the Narnian moral code, even if he never meets a full-blooded Old Narnian. From a relatively young age, Caspian is driven to accomplish things that other people consider impossible. He successfully defeats Miraz and reawakens Old Narnia—despite the initial superiority of the Telmarine forces—and, as king, he goes on a difficult voyage to find seven Telmarine lords who disappeared when he was a small child. Near the world’s end, Caspian’s imagination almost gets the better of him. He is so fascinated by the thought of traveling to Aslan’s country that he wants to abandon his kingship and continue eastward. Aslan must directly intervene to prevent Caspian from abandoning his responsibilities to follow his imagination.

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Si users – How to talk to INxJs

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Itae asked: In your latest posts, and comments beneath them, the problem of Si vs Se communication has been brought up. As an INxJ-surrounded INFP (dancing on the edge of Fi-Si loop for most of my life) I want to ask you for some sort of advice. How do I effectively talk about past with INxJs? Somewhere in the comments it’s been mentioned that Ni users always have to adapt their communication style to Si users, not vice versa, and that’s pretty unfair. ;)

I now feel properly guilty for having never expected to get a question like this. I compliment your open-mindedness.

First, I do think it worth mentioning that because INxJs are Ni I dominant, we tend to think about the past in relation to the future and present. Experience can influence how accurate intuition can be, meaning that the more we’ve seen a pattern of events play out repeatedly in life, the more likely our Ni is going to pick up on and predict outcomes in the present and future.

This can mean that INxJs who have Anxiety or PTSD get caught in cycles of being afraid that negative events of the past are also going to happen in the future. However—under actually dangerous circumstances, that same trait can save our lives (it certainly has for me).

All that said, there are a couple ways you could approach talking to us about the past. You could engage us in a conversation about patterns of human behavior. Get me talking about the way history repeats itself and you’ve got a conversation that I’ll be hooked on for (sometimes for hours). This could also be a conversation about how we think people today will behave based on what we know about the past.

I also recommend allowing INxJs to share their (sometimes socially deviant) opinions about the past without judging them. One thing that always puts me off talking to some (not all) Si users is when they correct me on the socially traditional or generally accepted way of viewing things. What they often fail to realize is that I’m perfectly aware of what most people think about X topic and have thought through why I think what I do. Hear us out before you shut us down. Let us be outliers and we’re more likely to actually share our opinions with you.

Lord Palpatine: INFJ

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Guest post by Occam’s Chainsaw, INTJ

Star Wars

Lord Palpatine INFJ | Star Wars #MBTI #INFJ

Introverted Intuition (Ni): Palpatine plans for the long haul like no one else.  He becomes emperor in a series of plots to gradually enhance his power; as the senator from Naboo, he becomes elected chancellor, then accumulates emergency powers one after the other, and finally becomes emperor, in a process that takes many years.  His schemes are generally successful, as he has not only supreme patience, but also the ability to predict the actions and reactions of all the relevant people (and he even fools Yoda and Obi-Wan, two fellow INFJs, on his true intentions until it is too late for anyone to stop him).  Palpatine reacts with caution when faced with unexpected aggression; when Queen Amidala returns to Naboo to liberate her occupied home planet, he tells Darth Maul to let his enemies act first.  As emperor, Palpatine rarely gets involved in the day-to-day business of running the Empire; he focuses on the most important things, leaving the nuts and bolts to others. Continue reading →

The INFJ Male Stereotype

Arvid Walton 4 Comments

Kathryn asked: I definitely would type myself as an INFJ, and I relate the best to that type. My problem is, almost all INFJs, as portrayed by movies, are male, and none of them ever get married. Why are INFJs always portrayed as single guys when really INFJs are mostly female and extremely relational? – also, What movies portray an INFJ female?

Men who are feeling, are frequently associated with femininity, and our modern societies look down on femininity. As a result, boys get taught at a young age that they should not express their feelings and that it’s shameful to do so (I think this problem is actually bigger in America than it is in the UK because a lot of Americans have commented to me that they think British men are more in touch with their “feminine sides,” however that’s another issue for another day). Continue reading →

Let’s be Real: One INFJ to the Rest of Mankind

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Guest post by Heather, INFJ

I’d like not only to dispel some of the myth and mist surrounding the INFJ legend today, but to cast some light and provide some entertainment as well. There are some frequently repeated assumptions (aka stereotypes) regarding INFJs that have been circulating internet-land for years. These legends affect non-INFJs, it’s true, but they also have a tendency to inform INFJs’ opinions of themselves. It’s the power of suggestion. Particularly when there is a grain of truth to a stereotype, it is both easy and agreeable to say, “oh yes, that’s me,” so long as the stereotype is positive or comical or gives us an excuse for our bad habits.

One of these assumptions that INFJs love to claim for their own is being psychic, otherworldly narwhalicorns. It’s kind of an attractive idea to have about oneself. Particularly when one has felt like something of an alien amongst other humans for most of one’s life, and when one is actually quite clever at reading people. So, let’s be real: INFJs very often know a substantial amount of information about you that they don’t let on to, because first and foremost, they want you to be comfortable with them. No one feels very comfortable if they think you’re aware of their motivations and inner life. So then, where did this mysterious cache of information come from, you may ask. First, INFJs are simply very attuned to people in general. Se is our inferior function, but it is still a function. Because we are sort of ‘set’ to the people wavelength, that is the information we tend to pick up a lot of. This information is fed into our Ni (dominant function), which recognizes patterns and themes and can extrapolate accurate readings based on very little data. Add to this that I at least (sorry guys, I don’t know any INFJs in real life besides myself) amuse myself by studying personality theory, graphology, and Chinese face reading so that I can know even more about every specimen that crosses my path unsuspectingly. Continue reading →

Can INFJs use Ti more than Fe?

Arvid Walton 5 Comments

Kerissa asked: Is this situation possible, or am I misreading myself? I think that I’m an INFJ, but that I rely on my Ti more than my Fe. I’m still fairly young and I read somewhere that Fe develops later than some other functions. All the tests type me as an INTJ, but I’m almost positive I use Ti and Fe. According to function stacks, I can’t use Ni as my dominant function and Ti as my second one, but that’s how I would think I think.

Always trust your self knowledge before you trust the test.

What you’re describing is a function loop, where you get stuck using either your two introverted functions or your two extraverted functions and neglect the other two. Stop doing that. It’s not good for you.

The best way to get out of it is to focus on using the two functions that you’re not using as much more often. This will help bring you into a more balanced state.

INFJ: How I Write

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Guest post by annesophie, INFJ

writer-waiting-for-ideas-inspiration-writing-animated-gif

As a budding novelist, I spend a lot of time thinking about my characters’ minds and how they work. It seems fitting that I also take the time to look at my own mind and ask myself, with regard to the cognitive functions, how it goes about creating stories. This is my take on how being an INFJ influences my writing.

Being an INFJ, I find that my preferred method of communication (for my sake and for everyone else’s) is of the written sort. Give me a pencil, paper, and some time and I can organize my thoughts in an eloquent fashion, and even perhaps at a rapid pace. Ask me to speak in front of more than two people and…well, results may vary.

Mix this with a preference for fictional friends Continue reading →

J.K. Rowling: INFJ

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Guest post by Danielle, INTJ

Factors to Keep in Mind: Clinical Depression

J.K. Rowling INFJ | Harry Potter #MBTI #INFJ

Ni: With a passion for folklore and imagination, Rowling aspired to be a writer since she was 5 or 6 years old. She has scores of stories in mind, willing to wait years to write all of them. She mentions that once an idea pops into her head it floods her mind. In her account of creating Harry Potter while on a train, she described it as “an explosion of color, and… could see lots of detail about the world.” She hates small talk, preferring to learn about others’ differing opinions and fee Continue reading →

Canonical INxJ Friendships

Arvid Walton 13 Comments

Anonymouslemer asked: “Are there any canonical examples of an INTJ/INFJ friendship?”

Look no further than House M.D. House and Wilson are a perfect example of a relationship between unhealthy INxJs. Let’s just say they’re the type of friend-pair that will feel perfectly comfortable sitting and problem solving in a room with a random comatose grandpa that they’ve never met. They both toss around Ni, understanding each other’s deepest motivations and secrets without having to ask. Both of them are gifted at figuring out other people’s deepest secrets, but House does i Continue reading →

Charles Xavier: INFJ

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Guest Post by Shubham, ENTP

X-Men

Charles Xavier INFJ | X-Men #MBTI #INFJ

Introverted Intuition (Ni): Charles is a mutant who has the power of telepathy (and to some extent telekinesis), but can also recognize what is going on in the minds of others very easily without having to read their minds. Thus many times when he is asked, “so did you read my mind,” he responds, “I didn’t have to.” Charles is extremely focused towards a long term goal (to make the society accept the mutants) and all of his actions are directed towards achieving it. Towards this goal, he has a very visionary, idealistic approach. His being the most powerful brain on the planet also gives him the a fair idea of ‘what comes next’ as that kind of thought requires a calm and detailed analysis (Ni) than a quick and some-what impractical response (Ne). This gives him a bit of a mystic charm. Like Magneto, he has a very specific approach to problem solving, a fact which is often the root stressor of their disagreements. Continue reading →

Ritchie – Pokemon: INFJ

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Guest Post by Andrew, ENTJ

Pokemon

Ritchie INFJ| Pokemon #MBTI #INFJ

Introverted Intuition (Ni): Ritchie always contemplates his next move instead of jumping straight into anything.  When he decided to search for the legendary Pokemon Lugia, he did extensive research on the Whirl Islands (where Lugia was rumored to be found) before even traveling to the area to look.  On arrival, he concentrated his search on the most likely areas to find Lugia.  He anticipates that his Pokeballs might get mixed up with those of other trainers, so he marks his own with stars as a precaution.  When Team Rocket tricks all Pokemon League participants into giving them their Pokeballs, Ritchie discovers their ploy with a very small sliver of information. Continue reading →

Yoda: INFJ

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Guest Post by Andrew, ENTJ

Star Wars

Yoda INFJ | Star Wars #MBTI #INFJ

Introverted Intuition (Ni): Yoda is future-focused, and encourages everyone else to be the same way.  He understands the consequences of failure in every circumstance (if Count Dooku is not apprehended, the Clone Wars will only be bloodier than they otherwise would, and his inability to kill Palpatine means that he has to go into hiding).  Yoda is very wary of the Dark Side, and teaches his pupils to banish all fear (“the path to the Dark Side”) to avoid any anger and hatred (full-fledged Dark Side emotions) down the line.  Since Anakin has already experienced a great deal of fear before the beginning of his training, Yoda is exceedingly cautious about granting him any status in the Jedi Order; he votes not to allow Anakin to be trained at all, and he seeks to mitigate any damage that Anakin could cause when Palpatine appoints him to the Jedi Council.  Yoda is patient about making up his mind, but he doesn’t necessarily need much information to do so, and he can infer a lot of facts from limited evidence; he figures out the Sith practice of the Rule of Two from a couple of skirmishes between Qui-Gon and Darth Maul.  After the sudden collapse of the Jedi Order, Yoda is content to rebuild it slowly, starting with Anakin’s children, who were born just after the Jedi were slaughtered en masse. Continue reading →

Obi-Wan Kenobi: INFJ

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Guest post by Andrew, ENTJ

Star Wars

Obi Wan Kenobi INFJ | Star Wars #MBTI #INFJ

Introverted Intuition (Ni): Obi-Wan is an admirer of Yoda, and he takes the older Jedi’s advice about being mindful of the future seriously.  While training the young Anakin, he is always aware of the danger he poses to the Jedi Order, and he randomly gets flashes of future visions of things to come.  When assigned to watch over Luke on Tattooine, he has the patience to wait for the right moment (a whole 19 years!) to start training him as a Jedi.  When dueling with Vader aboard the Death Star, Obi-Wan sees further ahead than anyone else, sacrificing his life to allow Luke and the others to escape, and to guarantee that he can still guide Luke (in spirit form) without have to run or hide from the Empire.  Obi-Wan’s chosen lightsaber style is a defensive one; he defeats his enemies using patience.  Obi-Wan is able to guess, with suspicions but no real evidence, that Padme is pregnant with Anakin’s child. Continue reading →

Sam Winchester: INFJ

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Guest Post by Occam’s Chainsaw, INTJ

Supernatural

Sam Winchester INFJ | Supernatural #MBTI #INFJ

Ni: Sam is the one to do all the researches, and it’s partially because his Ni makes him patient to dig deeply enough to get the desired amount of information and to also distinguish the needed details. He has premonitions/impressions which help him foresee the future. For instance, he sensed something was off in Home, when he insisted they stayed there in front of their childhood house to see if something would happen even after purging (and he was right about the premonition). Sam also struggled throughout his childhood, especially when he hit his teens, due to his strong aim to which he stuck strictly. It was also the reason why he didn’t get on well with the rest of his family. Sam is the one to tell which information is important for the case, and which is the one they can discard. Continue reading →

Why Tolkien was an ISTJ

Arvid Walton 68 Comments

The first thing I’d like to make clear is that Tolkien does not write like an INFP. Though he was known for not finishing projects he started on and for working in “idea bursts,” his writing does not express an Ne-style creativity. If you want a better example of very INFP writing, look to Neil Gaiman as your (exaggerated) example.

Having studied medieval literature at the university level, it is clear to me that Tolkien did not come up with most of his “ideas” himself. Almost all of the cultures and concepts found in Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and the Silmarilion are literally borrowed aspects of the medieval era literature he was obsessed with. If you need evidence of this, here you go:

the-hobbit-pic04

  • Wergild: the individual naming of weapons and treasure found in Anglo Saxon culture, wherein each treasure was unique and one of a kind. Where do you think Sting, the Arkenstone and Mithril came from?

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