INTJ Personality Type [The Mastermind]

INTJ — one of the rarest personality types and, perhaps, the most misunderstood type of all.

According to different sources, INTJs account for anywhere between 1 to 4 percent of the population (are you one of them?).

But what makes this enigmatic personality type so unique?

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CONTENTS
What INTJ stands for?
Other Names for INTJ Personality Type
INTJ’s Interests and Hobbies
How to Get an INTJ to Like You
INTJs as Leaders
INTJ’s Decision-Making Style
INTJ Personality Type in the Workplace
INTJ in Love, Dating and Personal Relationships
INTJ Strengths
INTJ Weaknesses
Random Facts About INTJ
Adjectives That Describe INTJ Personality
INTJ Personality Careers: The Ultimate Job List (135 Jobs)
INTJ Characters
Famous INTJ

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INTJ Meaning

INTJ stands for “introverted” (I), “intuitive” (N), “thinking” (T), and “judging” (J).

Being introverted means that people with this personality type tend to focus on their thoughts and prefer quiet surroundings.

Being intuitive in this context means that INTJ people focus on ideas, concepts, patterns, and possibilities.

Thinking function in terms of the 16 personality types means that a person with an INTJ personality values logic and reason and tends to make decisions based on facts rather than emotions.

Being judging means that this person likes structure and organization and prefers to plan things in advance because they want to know what to expect.

It’s important to note that letters in your personality type reflect your natural preferences, but this preference is not absolute.

Any personality type may act out of character at times; even somebody with an INTJ personality may become overwhelmed with emotions and make an irrational choice based on that situation.

Or they may force themselves to act like an extrovert and be successful at that.

However, that would feel inconvenient and unnatural to them just like it feels inconvenient and unnatural to write with your left hand when you’re right-handed.
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Other Names for INTJ Personality Type

Myers-Briggs named this personality type “The Architect” or “Conceptual Planner”.

David Keirsey called it “The Mastermind” or “The Scientist”.

Others called it “The Visionary”, “The Director” or “The Strategist”.

Intelligent, innovative, intense, and private INTJs are superb planners.

They enjoy devising elaborate plans and will never begin a project without defining all its steps first.

INTJs are likely to test as choleric-melancholics on the four temperaments test.

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INTJ’s Interests and Hobbies

INTJs are highly rational and pragmatic, and it comes as no surprise that people with “The Mastermind” personality type are fascinated by science and technology.

They possess a high learning capacity; not only can they efficiently process difficult material, but they can also accurately reproduce the information received.

INTJs enjoy intellectual games such as puzzles, word games, Sudoku, etc.

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How to Get an INTJ to Like You

Clever and sophisticated, INTJs have little tolerance for stupidity and incompetence.

Maintaining their high standards, they expect from others just as much as they expect from themselves.

Only savvy and competent people can appeal to INTJs, and even then, it may take a while until they let you into their private circle.

If you want to strike up a conversation with an INTJ, avoid the small talk as they find it silly and annoying.

Instead, find a way to engage them on a deeper intellectual level.

INTJs can’t be impressed by fancy degrees, titles or catchphrases.

To get their attention, show them your real worth in terms of what you are capable of; present actionable well-defined ideas that can accomplish the INTJ’s goals.

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INTJs as Leaders

INTJs are naturally introverted and need a lot of time alone.

This natural preference also means that despite their high capacity as leaders, they prefer to stay in the background and won’t lead unless it’s necessary.

It has been said that ENTJs are natural leaders while INTJs are masterminds that help ENTJs achieve their ambitious goals, hence the name “Mastermind”.

The only difference between these two personality types is their introversion/extroversion preference (also spelled as “extraversion”).

The ENTJ’s extroversion helps them lead, while the INTJ’s introversion helps them plan and strategize more effectively.

Although INTJs don’t strive to lead and command, they may take the place of a leader if there isn’t anyone else willing or capable to do that.

INTJs make calm, collected, and pragmatic leaders who see reality as a playground for working out and refining their theories and strategies.

Not only do they always have a good plan in place, but they also have several other alternatives in case the original plan doesn’t work out.

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INTJ’s Decision-Making Style

INTJs are highly self-confident and take decisions quickly and easily.

Even more so, they are unable to relax and rest until they take a definite decision regarding whatever they have in mind at the moment.

Unlike many other types, INTJs love challenging problems as it allows them to apply their creativity and decision-making skills.

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INTJ Personality Type in the Workplace

INTJs are one of the most successful types in school and on the job.

However, their single-mindedness and competitive drive may earn them more enemies than friends.

Other people may feel incompetent in their presence, which may result in the psychological distance at best and hostility at worst.

Even those who acknowledge their superiority and aren’t bothered by it do not typically enjoy being around INTJs as they tend to be too demanding and critical.

Fortunately, this lack of understanding from the side of fellow co-workers doesn’t particularly bother INTJs as long as they believe they are right.

Thanks to their introverted nature, they are concerned with their projects and ideas first, people second.

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INTJ in Love, Dating and Personal Relationships

INTJ’s high standards apply to their personal lives as well.

They look for intellectually stimulating mates they could respect; they aren’t interested in a relationship with weak, unimpressive people with no opinion of their own.

Just like with about anything else, INTJs know very quickly whether or not a relationship has any future, usually on the first date.

Once they decide you aren’t for them, they won’t be very sensitive about it or try to make things easy on you.

To cut their losses, they will dump you as quick as possible and move on with their life.

In doing so, they believe they do a huge favor not just for themselves but for you as well.

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Although INTJs may appear cold and calculating, they are capable of love and passionate romance once they find a person they really like.

The object of their admiration will usually have huge power over them as love-struck INTJs fear rejection and may even act a little needy at times.

The bottom line is that despite their appearances, INTJs are passionate and romantic lovers and make for stable and loyal partners you can rely on and raise a family with.

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INTJ Strengths

Ability to work independently,
being persistent,
strategic thinking,
efficiency,
problem-solving skills.

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INTJ Weaknesses

Often unable to communicate their feelings in an appropriate manner;
May exaggerate problems when under stress;
Lack of tolerance;
Tendency to overthink;
Lack of patience;
May appear too cold and impersonal.

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Random Facts About INTJs

1. Even though people with INTJ personality type want to be left alone, they still can feel very lonely at times.

2. Seemingly stiff and aloof INTJs are, in fact, great lovers who are not only passionate and romantic but also loyal and reliable.

3. “First of all”, “I saw that coming”, “I told you”, “To be honest” and “Where are your references?” are some of the favorite INTJ phrases.

4. Although generally, INTJs don’t care about the opinions of others, they are hypersensitive to the views of those they care about and absolutely can’t stand being rejected by them.

5. When an INTJ person feels jealous or upset about something, they will retreat to sort their feelings. The process may involve writing diaries and analyzing the situation until they know exactly what’s going on. Then they can make a good plan to fix the problem.

6. Don’t even try to manipulate or play games with an INTJ — they are probably better than you at it, and you won’t like how the game ends.

7. People with INTJ personality don’t recognize authority based on tradition or inheritance.

8. INTJs often break the rules; they will make sure to read them first, though.

9. It may seem like INTJ people are good at anything they do, but the reality is that their skills are a result of careful preparation and practice. Moreover, they won’t let you see them doing something they aren’t good at in the first place.

10. INTJs often fall for those who argue with them because of their ability to engage their intellect and emotion at the same time.

11. People with an INTJ personality type often find themselves in positions with a lot of responsibility but little authority.

12. INTJs feel like they don’t fit in anywhere, at least not entirely.

13. Sometimes INTJs may be confused with ENTJs — here is how to tell the difference.

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Adjectives That Describe INTJ Personality