Are you an ISTJ or an INTJ? With three of the four type preferences in common, they might seem very similar. In reality, these two types have some commonalities, but they also have differences. If reading about personality functions bores you, you can go ahead and skip to more concrete examples by clicking here.
First, their similarities: The ISTJ and the INTJ share their auxiliary and tertiary functions — Extraverted Thinking (Te) and Introverted Feeling (Fi) respectively.
What does it mean? It means that people with extraverted thinking are into planning and organization. They don’t leave things to chance and want to stay on top of things.
In addition, extraverted thinkers tend to be very logical. If they have to make a decision, they rely on facts rather than feelings and emotions.
Their mental energy is directed outwards — they do not overanalyze themselves. Instead, their brains are busy solving world’s problems or figuring out how to make things more favorable for themselves.
Their tertiary function — introverted feeling — is less developed, but it matures over time and may be more noticeable in older ISTJs and INTJs. Some younger types who are very self-aware and well-developed may also display their preference for introverted feeling in a more obvious way.
Introverted feelers have their own moral compass. Being true to their own values, they constantly check their compass to decide whether something is positive or negative. Once they make up their mind about who they are, they tend to stay in their comfort zone and close themselves off from new experiences. This particular trait is more pronounced in the ISTJ type.
However, ISTJ’s and INTJ’s dominant functions are different. The ISTJ’s dominant function is introverted sensing (Si). When processing new information, introverted sensors fall back on their past. They compare real time events to what happened in the past in order to make a judgement.
The INTJ’s dominant function is introverted intuition (Ni). People whose dominant function is introverted intuition live in the world of thoughts, ideas and concepts. They do a lot of reading and analyzing and are great at spotting trends and patterns. They think in abstract terms, and their thinking is future-oriented. Because they consume so much information, they often experiences hunches and aha moments — intuition at work.
Here are some more random commonalities and differences:
- Both INTJs and ISTJs enjoy their time alone. They want to live a private life where they can focus on their own priorities.
- Neither of the two types is particularly flexible.
- They aren’t particularly romantic either.
- ISTJs are into following rules and traditions while INTJs couldn’t care less for such things.
- Both INTJs and ISTJs want to have neat and organized homes.
- Both types are rational and don’t allow emotions get in the way.
- Both rely on logic and facts when they have to make a decision.
- Both INTJs and ISTJs appear very serious.
- INTJs are more independent than ISTJs.
- Other people’s opinions are extremely important to ISTJs. INTJs, on the other hand, are more concerned about their own opinions of others.
- ISTJs want to work within a structure while INTJs want to be free.
- ISTJs follow the hierarchy while INTJs think they are above such things.
- ISTJs respect authority while INTJs constantly challenge it.
- ISTJs trust other people’s expertise while INTJs always think they know better than others.
- INTJs are more comfortable with risk taking while ISTJs prefer to stick to tried-and-true methods.
- INTJs are big picture thinkers while ISTJs are more focused on details.
- INTJs are future-oriented while ISTJs focus on the here and now.
- INTJs live in the world of possibilities while ISTJs tend to limit themselves to what they already know.
- ISTJs resist change while INTJs get excited thinking of what could be.
- ISTJs prioritize what needs to be done while INTJs do whatever they want to do.
- ISTJs will stay in unhappy relationships out of duty or because they don’t want their struggles become obvious to others. INTJs, on the other hand, have little tolerance for what they dislike.
- ISTJs may stay with a job they don’t like for the sake of their financial well-being. INTJs, on the other hand, don’t worry about such things and will seek jobs that fulfill their desire for self-realization.
- When they learn, ISTJs are only able to appreciate something that is very practical and applicable while INTJs enjoy abstract ideas and concepts.
If you aren’t sure about your personality type, try taking this test.
You can read more about the ISTJ personality type here. And about the INTJ personality type here.
All updates on the ISTJ here. All updates on the INTJ here.
The 16 Personalities home here.
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