INFJ Personality Type [The Counselor]

The Rarest Personality Type

INFJ — the rarest personality type that makes up only about two percent of the general population.

Caring, nurturing, understanding INFJ men and women often seem to understand us better than we do ourselves.

The rarest type among men and the third least common type among women, we need more INFJs in our lives!

Are you an INFJ? This test will help you find out.

INFJ Meaning

INFJ stands for introverted (I), intuitive (N), feeling (F), and judging (J).

Being introverted means that you are a private person who gets energized by spending time alone or with a small group of close friends.

Being intuitive means you tend to focus on patterns and possibilities rather than facts and details.

Being feeling means you listen to your gut feelings and prioritize relationships with other people.

Being judging means that you like structure and organization and prefer to plan things in advance rather than to act on an impulse.

Other Names for INFJ
The official MBTI site calls this type “Insightful Visionary”.

David Keirsey called it “Counselor” (or “Counsellor”) in his second book “Please Understand Me II”, but in his first book “Please Understand Me”, which he co-authored with Marilyn Bates, he called it “Author”.

Alan Brownsword called this type “Visionary”.

Linda Berens in her “The Sixteen Personality Types” called this type “Foreseer Developer”.

Jonathan P. Niednagel called it “Creative Wordsmith” in his brain typing theory.

Other names include “Adviser”, “Protector”, “The Advocate” and “Confidant”.

In terms of the four classical personality types, the INFJ is similar to a Melancholic-Phlegmatic temperament.

How to Recognize an INFJ

INFJ people usually appear quiet but friendly and caring.

Although they are very private people, it quickly becomes apparent that they have rich and complex internal lives.

Because they are so complicated themselves, they can effortlessly understand others, including very troubled individuals whom everyone avoids.

INFJs aren’t natural leaders but can be very influential.

Unlike some other personality types, they influence others in a very unimposing manner.

It’s as if they are quietly working from behind the scenes exerting their influence over others.

INFJs are concerned about matters of morality and often ponder ethical issues.

When making a decision, they check their internal moral compass first and then choose according to their values.

Interests, Hobbies and Learning Style

INFJ people learn best in an independent environment that gives them the opportunity for reflection and creativity.

They particularly enjoy writing and will often choose liberal arts as a college major.

INFJ writers are masters of the metaphor and are more likely to raise ethical and moral questions in their works than other writers.

For a reserved and secluded INFJs, writing is a way of self-expression and sharing their values with the world.

INFJ’s physical energy isn’t as high as some other types. In their free time, they enjoy reading, writing, photography, museums, art exhibitions, gardening, music, cinema, and theater.

INFJ in Love, Dating, and Relationships

INFJ people yearn for romance, and while they appear reserved with everyone else, with their loved ones they certainly don’t hesitate to express their emotions.

If things are good, their faces light up with joy.

If things are bad, it will be written all over their faces too.

Their friends and partners have to be careful of what they do and say as INFJs get hurt rather easily.

Because of strong emphatic abilities, INFJ men and women can become aware of their partners’ emotions and intentions even before the other person is aware of them.

This INFJ ability makes their partners feel as if their minds are being read, but not everyone likes this feeling!

People with an INFJ personality type like peace and harmony in their homes and will avoid any conflict as much as they possibly can.

They are loyal and committed to their partners, very romantic and physically affectionate.

Some of the INFJ’s most important priorities include physical health of their partners, their emotional well-being, their physical comfort, and overall happiness.

It makes INFJs dream partners for a lot of people.

How to Get an INFJ Like You

• Listen to them: As the rarest personality type, they feel alone and misunderstood. They crave for emotional connection and for someone to understand and appreciate them.
• Be loyal to them: INFJs need to know where they stand and can’t handle uncertainty when it comes to relationships.
• Open up: Share your feelings. When you share your emotions, you speak the INFJ language.
• Allow them to be alone when they need it.
• Fulfill your promises: INFJs need their partners to be reliable.
• Initiate conversations because they don’t always know how to approach you first.

INFJ Strengths

INFJs are warm and friendly people that inspire others with their positive example.

With their inborn tact and altruistic tendencies, they help their friends, families, and colleagues to understand themselves better and feel at peace.

INFJ Weaknesses

Because INFJs are so committed to their vision and ideas, they sometimes may appear stubborn and single-minded.

Also, they tend to skip essential facts and details, and some of their ideas may be unrealistic.

Once they make up their minds about something, they often can’t assess things objectively or see any conflicting information.

Another INFJ weakness is their extreme sensitivity to criticism.

6 Mistakes INFJs Make in Life

INFJ Decision-Making

When INFJs have to make a decision, they consider their values first and foremost. A typical INFJ won’t do anything he or she believes isn’t right.

Because of this INFJ trait, there are many potential points of conflict when making a decision, particularly in a corporate environment.

First, things have to be right according to the INFJ’s moral standards. Second, he or she may struggle when forced to choose between the organization and people.

Moreover, INFJs will typically take time to make their decision because they want to consider all possible implications of their choice.

Because they spend a lot of time reviewing and debating possible options, others might begin to see them as procrastinators.

INFJ as Leaders

As leaders, INFJs are future-oriented. They strive to create an atmosphere of harmony and cooperation where all individual contributions are recognized and appreciated.

INFJ leaders inspire with their creativity, motivate with their positive attitude, and encourage with their trust in people’s abilities.

On the negative side, INFJ men and women can frustrate others with their excessive focus on possibilities and almost complete neglect of reality.

They may overlook important facts and details and set unrealistic standards.

Although they tend to avoid confrontational situations, INFJs still feel very frustrated when things don’t go the way they hoped.

Random Facts About INFJ

1. Although people with the INFJ personality type appear calm, they aren’t weak and don’t want to be told what to do. They will politely listen to your suggestions, then do what they intended to do.

2. INFJs spend a lot of energy making others feel happy and comfortable only to find themselves stressed and drained at the end.

3. INFJ people will sometimes disregard logic and follow their intuition.

4. INFJs are very observant; they can see things other people don’t even notice.

5. INFJ men and women are prone to overthinking and often feel mentally exhausted.

6. Because INFJ is the rarest personality type, people who belong to this type often feel like outsiders — they don’t fit in anywhere.

7. An INFJ person can confuse others by being amiable and introverted at the same time.

8. The INFJ forgives easily, even when treated poorly.

9. The INFJ may act differently with different people, but not because they have no personality. INFJs are highly relational and can adjust to the individual needs of each person they interact with.

10. Even though INFJ people can’t take criticism, they are their own harshest critics.

11. The INFJ may open up to you and talk about their feelings only to apologize afterward.

12. INFJs can see our weaknesses, yet they don’t typically use that to their advantage.

13. Unless the INFJ is comfortable with you, he or she may appear boring.

14. Although INFJs understand other people’s feelings very well, they don’t spend much time sorting out their own emotions and still need our support.

15. The INFJ type is often confused with the ISFJ. Here is the list of their commonalities and differences.

Adjectives to Describe INFJ

• sensitive,
• caring,
• nurturing,
• intense,
• loyal,
• private,
• reserved,
• assertive,
• authentic,
• conscientious,
• committed,
• persistent,
• insistent,
• organized,
• decisive,
• deep,
• insightful,
• determined,
• compassionate,
• holistic,
• creative,
• visionary,
• intuitive,
• introverted,
• quiet,
• warm,
• wise,
• sympathetic,
• complex,
• growth-oriented,
• inspiring,
• understanding.

INFJ Careers

INFJs prefer to work in a peaceful atmosphere where their integrity is respected, their contributions are appreciated, and the work itself is something they believe in.

They will thrive in an environment where they can use their imagination and creativity, especially if they are allowed to organize their own schedules.

INFJs are the happiest when they are given responsibility and control over their projects.

INFJ Job List

• Adult Day Care Coordinator
• Animator
• Artist
• Career Counselor
• Child Welfare Counselor
• Chiropractor
• Clinical Psychologist
• Corporate Trainer
• Corporate Trainer
• Corrective Therapist
• Costume And Wardrobe Specialist
• Counselor
• Crisis Hotline Operator
• Curator
• Customer Relations Manager
• Desktop Publisher Or Editor
• Developmental Psychologist
• Dietitian
• Diversity Manager
• Documentary Filmmaker
• Early Education Teacher
• Editor
• Editor Or Art Director (magazine or web)
• Educational Consultant
• Educational Program Director
• Educational Software Developer
• Elementary Teacher
• Employee Assistance Counselor
• Employee Assistance Program Coordinator
• Environmental Attorney
• Environmental Lawyer
• Environmental Scientist
• Exhibit Designer
• Family Physician
• Film Editor
• Food Scientist
• Freelance Media Planner
• Fund-raising Director
• Genealogist
• Grant Coordinator
• Graphic Designer
• Health Care Administrator
• Holistic Health Practitioner
• Human Resources Manager
• Human Resources Recruiter
• Interior Designer
• Interpreter
• Job Analyst
• Legal Mediator
• Legislative Assistant
• Librarian
• Literary Agent
• Marketer
• Massage Therapist
• Mediator or Conflict Resolver
• Medical Researcher
• Mental Health Counselor
• Merchandise Designer And Displayer
• Merchandise Planner
• Multimedia Producer
• Museum Research Worker
• Novelist
• Nutritionist
• Occupational Therapist
• Organizational Development Consultant
• Outplacement Consultant
• Parenting Instructor
• Philanthropic Consultant
• Physical Therapist
• Physician Assistant
• Poet
• Preferred Customer Sales Representative
• Project Manager
• Psychiatrist
• Public Health Educator
• School Counselor
• Set Designer
• Social Scientist
• Social Worker
• Sociologist
• Special Education Teacher
• Speech Pathologist
• Staff Advocate
• Substance Abuse Counselor
• Teacher (especially art or social sciences)
• Technical Writer
• Technology Consultant
• Translator
• Universal Design Architect
• Writer

Famous INFJ People

We already have an INFJ hall of fame here.

It includes Nicole Kidman, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mel Gibson, Lars von Trier, and their quotes that prove that they belong to the INFJ personality type.

INFJ Characters

Fictional characters that could be INFJ include:

• Dumbledore, Remus Lupin and Lily Potter from Harry Potter
• Anne Elliot from Persuasion
• Magneto and Professor from X-Men
• Dr. Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable from The Cosby Show
• Luke Skywalker from Star Wars
• Gandalf from The Hobbit
• Haku (Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi) from Spirited Away
• Lord Varys from The Game of Thrones

More on the INFJ type: 6 Mistakes INFJs Make in Life

If you are interested in the 16 personality types theory, you may also like this page about top-earning personality types here.

Also check out INTP (The Architect) and INTJ (The Mastermind) profiles.

Some background on the origin of this theory here – Jung Personality Types.

Photo designed by Pressfoto – Freepik.com

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