INTJ Personality (7 Interesting Facts About The INTJ)

In this article we will look at the INTJ personality. This article also explores the INTJ function stack, the INTJ Ni Fi Loop, and 7 interesting facts about the INTJ personality type.

The INTJ Personality

The Architect (INTJ) personality type possesses the Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging personality traits. These astute strategists like refining the finer details of life, combining creativity and logic in all they do. Their inner life is usually solitary and complex.

The INTJ Function Stack

Here is a breakdown of the INTJ Function Stack:

Function
DominantIntroverted Intuition (Ni)
AuxiliaryExtraverted Thinking (Te)
TertiaryIntroverted Feeling (Fi)
InferiorExtraverted Sensing (Se)

A Closer Look At The INTJ Functions 

Dominant Function: Introverted Intuition (Ni)

Intuition is known as being the most conscious function of dominant Intuitives like INTJs. While it is possible that INTJs are more aware of their intuition than most other personality types, we must keep in mind that Ni is a Perceiving function. 

While INTJs might well have easier access to the inner processes and workings, they still don’t have complete leverage. Ni can seem magical or divine at times due to its foresight and level of understanding. 

Extraverted Sensing (Se), the inferior function of INTJs, unwittingly receives large amounts of sensory input from the outside environment. This information is then redirected to Ni, which attempts to create an understanding of it.

Introverted intuition is the potential to use mental analysis observation, logical reasoning, and intuition to explain how the universe works. 

Ni users will quickly identify trends and patterns that will give rise to a certain result in the future. They have powerful hunches and “gut” instincts that are linked to an implicit perceptual data synthesis.

Auxiliary Function: Extraverted Thinking (Te)

Although Ni is a holistic and analysing function, Te, the auxiliary function of INTJs, is a left-brain feature. The left hemisphere is empirical, theoretical, scientific, and formal by nature. 

It deconstructs objects into their component elements, labels them, explains their roles, and establishes their connections with other parts.

Quantitative analysis and the setting of concrete targets and expectations are both important aspects of a Te-based strategy. It uses straightforward meanings, rules, strategies, and processes that are neither unclear or confusing. 

Te’s main purpose is to make it scientifically understandable, allowing for easier control, analysis, and regulation by humans.

Tertiary Function: Introverted Feeling (Fi)

It would be an error to believe that INTJs are unfeeling and expressionless bots, given their inclination toward Te over Fi. 

The main issue with INTJs is that their feelings and beliefs always get lost in translation, irrespective of how powerful they are. Since their favourite Feeling function (Fi) is introverted, we assume that INTJs’ feelings are difficult to interpret.

The capacity to comprehend one’s own thoughts and feelings in depth. Fi users have a solid moral conscience and are committed to being faithful to themselves and their identities. 

Fi is linked to intense emotional commitments with a small number of people. When it comes to expending emotional energy, Fi is more narrowly focused and selective.

Inferior Function: Extraverted Sensing (Se)

In the MBTI type community, the value of the inferior function has always been overlooked. It is the most unconscious of all the four functions, often referred to as “stifled,” “restricted,” or “restrained.” It’s also the hardest to get to, grasp, and incorporate.

INTJs are less attentive to the facts or aspects of life due to Se (their inferior function). Although Se brings in a lot of sensory information from the outside environment, INTJs are more likely to provide a Ni synthesis of that information. 

As a result, they see the world through the filter of Ni experiences rather than registering specific environmental information (Se). As a result, they can appear to be indifferent to their surroundings.

7 Interesting Facts About The INTJ Personality

  • The INTJ personality type is the third most rare in the population, and the most rare personality type among women. INTJs account for 2% of the total population.
  • Because INTJs are known for being diligent, meticulous, persistent, and principle-driven, they “naturally” meet a good amount of the official DSM symptoms for OCPD (Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder).
  • In your thoughts, there’s always a “correct way” to do things, whether it’s how to make a sandwich or how to put groceries into your cart. As a consequence, you’re irritated when somebody doesn’t stick to the “plan.”
  • When they’re around close friends, you’re an entirely different person than when they’re with strangers. They may be silly, charming, and wildly humorous with those in their “close circle,” but they are restrained with those who aren’t in their “inner circle.”
  • They never feel like they’ve done enough, no matter what they accomplish. This is what drives them to achieve greatness, but it also makes them constantly critical of themselves and their accomplishments. They constantly feel like they ought to be on top of something greater.
  • When faced with a personal crisis, their natural instinct is to seek answers and remedies rather than just sympathise with the individual. This inclination is shared by both male and female INTJs, and INTJs of all genders are infamously unhuggable – even when they might use some cheering up.
  • It’s physically exhausting to talk about trivial issues, and it’s difficult to avoid daydreaming during casual conversation or small talk for them. They’re more likely to be thinking about new technology, space exploration, humanity’s evolution, the origins of the universe, or conflicting theories about the universe. When they meet someone who can talk about these things with them, they keep them close like a prized possession.

The INTJ Ni Fi Loop

The Ni Fi Loop is a loop in which INTJs get stuck in when they decrease the use of their auxiliary thinking function and get stuck into a loop of their introverted intuition (Ni)  and introverted feeling (Fi) functions. When stuck in the Ni Fi Loop an INTJ might seem like an imbalanced recluse.

When INTJs are in the Ni Fi Loop, they lose grasp on reasoning and logic and instead focus on feelings and inner emotions. 

This can trigger INTJs to act in ways that are out of the ordinary. INTJs rely on their innate principles and inner emotions, rather than using statistics and reasoning to evaluate anything and sometimes everything when in the Ni Fi Loop.

INTJs who are caught in a Ni-Fi loop will get trapped in a realm of abstract visions masked by irrational, emotional responses. When this occurs, they are commonly referred to as “conspiracy nuts.” They begin to mistrust other people and the world in general. 

The INTJ Stare

The INTJs have a facial expression that is often called the INTJ Death Stare. 

People sometimes misunderstand the INTJ Stare, which is also known as the INTJ Death Stare. The INTJ can be seen staring at someone or gazing into space.

Their faces may be very serious, as if they are enraged by something. When they get this stare, people are usually asking them if they’re alright. When anyone poses this question, the INTJ is always baffled because they normally have this powerful expression.

Their expression gets a lot of attention, and may threaten anyone if they don’t realise where it stems from. This is a common expression which most see as intense, with a peculiar mixture of seriousness and emotionlessness. For some INTJs, it may manifest as a deer frozen by headlights, while for others, it is a penetrating glare.

Much of the time, the death stare isn’t just a form of intimidation. It is a special means to reach their utmost level of awareness and can be described as a state of being. It’s much more than just a plain expression on the face.

Quotes From Famous INTJs

“I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.”

-Isaac Newton

“Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.”

-Karl Marx

“Active, successful natures shun the dictum ‘know thyself’ and follow the commandment: ‘Will thyself.'”

-Friedrich Nietzsche

“The world was not prepared for [my work]. It was too far ahead of time, but … in the end [it will be] a triumphal success.”

-Nikola Tesla

“My career has been focused on finding practical, effective solutions to real-world problems.”

-Elon Musk

“[I’m] going to change the world.”

-Mark Zuckerberg

“For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then [we] unleashed the power of our imagination.”

-Stephen Hawking

“[People think] a scientist is cold … and uses only his reason; he argues carefully step by step, and needs no imagination. That is all wrong. … The true scientist is quite imaginative as well as rational, and sometimes leaps to solutions where reason can follow only slowly.”

-Isaac Asimov

“You are nothing else but what you live. … A man is no more than a series of undertakings [and] the sum of the organization that constitutes these undertakings.”

-Jean-Paul Sartre

“Most men have sated themselves like cattle. … Greater men are allotted greater destinies.”

-Heraclitus

“People accuse me of being arrogant all the time. I’m not arrogant, I’m focused.”

-Russel Crowe

“Normal people can be happy with a regular life. I was different. I felt there was more to life than just plodding through an average existence.”

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

“People call me a perfectionist, but I’m not. I’m a rightist. I do something until it’s right.”

-James Cameron

“Your best idea … is going to be attacked the most. You have to really be courageous about your instincts and your ideas. Otherwise you’ll just knuckle under.”

-Francis Ford Coppola

“I tend to gravitate toward the more powerful roles. As opposed to the doe-eyed girl who bats her eyelashes … because that makes me want to vomit.”

-Julia Stiles

“I always play strong [characters]. … I’m not sure I know how to play weak. I really don’t know how.”

-Jodie Foster

“[I am a] perfectionist. … If [I] step away, it stops working. I know it sounds controlling, but that’s how it has to be.”

-Ashley Olsen

“When you’re forced to deal with something big … you try to find ways to interpret the universe … that can make you feel safer or alleviate that crazy.”

-Annie Clark

“I know I can be an oppressive personality because I bubble with … schemes, and in a way it [is] easier for [others] simply to go along with me.”

-Roger Waters

“I haven’t actually played very many nice characters. … It’s not a quality that attracts me.”

-Patrick Stewart

Conclusion

In this article we looked at the INTJ personality. This article also explored the INTJ function stack, the INTJ Ni Fi Loop, and 7 interesting facts about the INTJ personality type.

Frequently Asked Questions: The INTJ Personality

Do INTJ like hugs?

Since INTJs aren’t very expressive or vulnerable, hugging their loved ones can be a great way for them to prove they care. It is believed that INTJs are not fond of physical touch, although this is not necessarily the case.

What makes an INTJ happy?

When granted the right to do whatever they want, INTJs are happiest. When it comes to intimate partners, they need someone who is similarly self-sufficient to make things work.

What is Ni in INTJ?

Introverted intuition (Ni) is the INTJ’s primary dominant function, and extraverted thinking is their secondary or auxiliary function (Te). Ni (introverted intuition) is what makes INTJs filter knowledge subconsciously, and it is always at work.

How do INTJ react to stress?

Signs of INTJ Stress:
Losing concentration, being disorganised and distracted. Reacting inappropriately about what others say or do. Accusing others of slight errors or logical inaccuracies. Developing a complicated hypothesis to describe a single or two separate facts.

References

INTJ Stare

Ni Fi Loop (The INTJ Ni Fi Loop)

24 Signs That You’re an INTJ Personality Type