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Meyers Briggs Type Indicator
INTJ
Introverted INtuitive Thinking Judging

The Meyers Briggs Type Indicator is the most widely used instrument for understanding normal personality differences. Knowledge of one's own MBTI and other MBTIs helps one deal with people. One can find an appropriate job, be more effective in work teams, in relationships (another type of team, I guess) and be more successful in life in general. The MBTI is based on the writings of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung and describes personalities along four preference axes:

Extraverted I draw energy from others	<----->	Intraverted I draw energy from within
Sensing I like reality, facts	<----->	INtuitive I like patterns, connections
Feeling I decide with personal values	<----->	Thinking I decide with logical analysis
Perceiving I am flexible, adaptable	<----->	Judging I prefer structure, schedules

Determining MBTI Type

One's MBTI type is determined by taking a short questionnaire about how one would feel about or react to a number of hypothetical situations. Scores are generated from the answers, placing one at some point along the spectrum of each of the four preference axes. The closer pole on a given axis is one's preferred style for that axis. The four preferences together are one's MBTI type.

Take an online MBTI type assessment

The MBTI Types

ISTJ	ISFJ	INFJ	INTJ
ISTP	ISFP	INFP	INTP
ESTP	ESFP	ENFP	ENTP
ESTJ	ESFJ	ENFJ	ENTJ

There are 16 possible combinations of the MBTI preferences, corresponding to 16 different personality patterns.

On an assessment done in February 1999*, my profile was "INTJ". (More about INTJ)
* I mention the date because although one's true MBTI is innate, cultural overlays and life situations at the time of assessment can alter one's profile.

The MTBI types can be grouped according to shared qualities:

The Temperaments

xSxJ	xNFx	xNTx
xSxP
xSxJ

NT people are "Rationals"
Want competence and thorough knowledge from themselves and others (More about NT Rationals)
NF are "Idealists" - empathy and meaning;
SP are "Artisans" - action and spontaneity;
SJ are "Guardians" - responsibility and predictability.

Leading / Following Styles

xxTJ	xxFJ	xxTJ
xxTP	xxFP	xxTP
xxTJ	xxFJ	xxTJ

TJ people are "Logical Decision Makers"
As leaders: Analytical, decisive. Make decisions based on principles and systems. This rational assessment can seem tough-minded.
As followers: Effective implementers of policies IF they respect the leader.
TP are "Adaptable Problem Solvers" - lead by example, objective and skeptical.
FP are "Supportive Coaches" - warm, flexible leaders and energetic followers;
FJ are "Values-based Decision Makers" - warm, decisive leaders and loyal followers.

Uses of Information

ISxx	INxx
ESxx	ENxx

IN people are "Thoughtful Innovators"
To us, knowledge is important for its own sake.
IS are "Thoughtful Realists" - knowledge is important to establish the truth;
ES are "Action-oriented Realists" - knowledge is important for its practical uses;
EN are "Action-oriented Innovators" - knowledge is important for changing reality.

Career Interests

xSTx

xSFx

xNFx

xNTx

NT people are "Rationals"
We focus on the possibilities of the application of theoretical and technical frameworks.
We are well suited for work in research, computers, engineering, physical science, and management.
(More about NT Rationals)
NF want to understand and encourage people (teaching, psychology, health care);
SF want to provide practical help for people (health care, teaching, support service);
ST want to use technical skills, objects and facts (business, banking, production).

Dealing with Change

IxxJ

IxxP

ExxP

ExxJ

IJ people are "Decisive Introverts"
When changes are proposed, we check them against our internal perceptions. If the changes "fit" we move quickly to implement them.
IP are "Adaptable Introverts" - are curious, seek information to justify change;
EP are "Adaptable Extraverts" - want to find out what everybody else thinks;
EJ are "Decisive Extraverts" - question change out loud, move quickly if they get the right answers.

The Rational Analysts

INTJ is one of the four Rational NT (Analyst) MBTIs:

This is the "Knowledge Seeking Personality" -- trusting in reason and hungering for achievement. They are usually pragmatic about the present, skeptical about the future, solipsistic about the past, and their preferred time and place are the interval and the intersection.

Educationally they go for the sciences, avocationally for technology, and vocationally for systems work. Rationals tend to be individualizing as parents, mindmates as spouses, and learning oriented as children.

Rationals are very infrequent, comprising as few as 5% and no more than 7% of the population.

--Keirsey Temperament and Character Web Site

To the ANALYST, life is about architecture and invention: "building the better mousetrap." They view life as an intellectual pilgrimage.

ANALYSTs love change, and continually question how and why things are done a particular way. They are revisers, critics, planners, boat-rockers, changers, idea-people, innovators. Analysis, analysis!

ANALYSTs are anti-authoritarian sceptics, rarely awed by title or rank, money or magnitude, and often tend to get into trouble for "bucking the system".

The ANALYST pastimes include serious reading, music listening, film watching, concert going, museum browsing and the like. Some might think they don't want to live life, just learn about it!

ANALYSTs select friends for their intelligence, competence and knowledge

Who is Mr./Ms. INTJ ?

INTJ = Introverted INtuitive Thinking Judging

"Coordinator: Mastermind"

"I"
I am quiet, reserved and a little hard to know, though I do have a social side. I need more peace and privacy than most people. I tend to think without speaking.
I am an INTROVERT "N"
I am imaginative, creative and idealistic. I always look toward future possibilities, asking what things mean on a larger scale.
I am an INTUITIVE "T"
I am logical and I tend to make decisions on a rational, impersonal basis. Reason runs my life.
I am a THINKER "J"
I like to be organized. I like to get to the bottom line, make decisions, know where I'm going, where I stand, rather than wandering around aimlessly.
I am JUDGING

This NT subtype is rather rare, comprising no more than 1% of the population.

INTJs and Learning

Learn best by categorizing, analyzing and applying logic
Need time, quiet and space for internal processing
Want structure, an orderly schedule, a timeframe and closure on one topic before moving on to the next.
INTJs are among the most likely types to be interested in pursuing education beyond the minimum. And they tend to be successful by the standards of the education system.

INTJs and Work

Dull routine smothers an INTJ's creativity.
INTJs apply high standards of knowledge, competence and performance to themselves and others.
INTJs love problem solving, love to look at the long-term, big picture and find meaningful patterns.
INTJs trust their own insight over the observations and opinions of others.
In fields that interest them, INTJs have a fine power to organize a project and carry it through.
INTJs are happy to take a back seat until something goes wrong/needs help at which time they are comfortable stepping in to fix things.

INTJs and Relationships

Usually self-confident, not threatened by conflict or criticism
Take their relationships and commitments seriously
Generally extremely intelligent and capable
Constantly interested in "optimizing" their relationships
Good listeners
Not naturally in tune with others feelings; may be insensitive at times
May tend to respond to conflict with logic and reason, rather than the desired emotional support
Not naturally good at expressing feelings and affections
Tend to hold back part of themselves
Tend to believe that they're always right

INTJs as Parents/Teachers

Goal: To raise intelligent, autonomous and independent children
Not naturally likely to be overtly supportive or loving
There will be a distance between the INTJ parent and a Feeling child, who needs expressions of love and affirmation

How Others View INTJs

"Private, Reserved, Aloof"
"Conceptual, Skeptical, Critical, Original, Independent"
"Intractable" - INTJs internally translate creative insights into logical decisions, opinions and plans, which are only then expressed -- clearly. This may seem set in stone, but INTJs are very willing to change an opinion when new evidence emerges.

Potential Areas for Growth for an INTJ

Underdeveloped preferences
Sometimes an INTJ has underdeveloped preferred styles:
- INTJs who have not developed their Thinking may not have ways to translate their insights into achievable realities.
- INTJs who have not developed their Intuition may not take in enough information, or take in only information that fits their insights. Their decisions are then based on limited or idiosyncratic information.
INTJ in a Bad Fit
If INTJs find themselves in a frustrating work situation where their contributions and talents are not used or not appreciated, they may:
- Become aloof and abrupt, processing internally
- Be critical of those who do not see their vision

Neglected non-preferred styles
If an INTJ's non-preferred Sensing and Feeling are overly ignored, they may:

Filter - Overlook details and facts that do not fit their Intuitive patterns
Overintellectualize - Argue abstract issues and terms that have little meaning or relevance to others
Run emotional roughshod - Fail to consider the impact of their decisions on others
Be remote - Fail to give others praise or connection

Complexity of Personality: Key to Creativity In researching his book Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention, Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi found that complexity of personality is important for creativity. Creative people commonly have the ability to unite traits or styles that are normally polar opposites on personality preference axes, and can use the full range of these separate dimensions.

INTJ Under Stress
Under great stress, people tend to "snap" and "flip" over to their non-preferred style. For INTJs this means:
- Overindulges in Sensing activities -- eating, watching TV, surfing Internet
- Becomes overly focused on their environment -- housecleaning, organizing cupboards

INTJ corresponds to The Enneagram Institute's Personality Type 5: The Investigator

Maybe the MBTI is just quasi-scientific astrology, but it goes further than anything else so far -- Zodiac sign, Chinese calendar year, or blood type -- to explain my life.

Meyers Briggs Type Indicator INTJIntroverted INtuitive Thinking Judging