Are you an ISTJ or an INTJ?
With three of the four type preferences in common, these two types may seem very similar. In reality, they have some things in common, but they also have major differences.
If reading about personality functions bores you, you can skip this part and go straight to the examples by clicking here.
First, the similarities: the ISTJ and INTJ share their auxiliary and tertiary functions — Extraverted Thinking (Te) and Introverted Feeling (Fi), respectively.
What does that mean? It means that people who use Extraverted Thinking are usually interested in planning and organization. They do not like leaving things to chance and want to stay on top of everything.
Extraverted thinkers also tend to be very logical. When they have to make a decision, they rely on facts rather than feelings and emotions.
Their mental energy is directed outward. They do not usually overanalyze themselves. Instead, their minds are busy solving real-world problems or figuring out how to make things work better for themselves.
Their tertiary function, Introverted Feeling, is less developed, but it matures over time and may become more noticeable in older ISTJs and INTJs. Some younger people who are very self-aware and well-developed may also display Introverted Feeling in a more obvious way.
Introverted feelers have their own moral compass. They check this inner compass to decide whether something feels right or wrong according to their values.
Once they make up their mind about who they are and what they believe, they tend to stay in their comfort zone and may close themselves off from new experiences. This particular trait is more pronounced in the ISTJ type.
However, the ISTJ’s and INTJ’s dominant functions are different.
The ISTJ’s dominant function is Introverted Sensing (Si). When processing new information, Introverted Sensors refer back to the past. They compare current events to what happened before in order to make a judgment.
The INTJ’s dominant function is Introverted Intuition (Ni). People whose dominant function is Introverted Intuition live in a 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 take in so much information, they often experience hunches and aha moments — intuition at work.
Here are some more commonalities and differences:
1. Both INTJs and ISTJs enjoy time alone. They want to live a private life where they can focus on their priorities.
2. Neither of the two types is especially flexible.
3. They are not especially romantic either.
4. ISTJs are more interested in following rules and traditions, while INTJs could not care less about such things.
5. Both INTJs and ISTJs want neat and organized homes.
6. Both types are rational and do not like emotions getting in the way.
7. Both rely on logic and facts when they have to make a decision.
8. Both INTJs and ISTJs appear very serious.
9. INTJs are more independent than ISTJs.
10. Other people’s opinions are extremely important to ISTJs. INTJs, on the other hand, are more concerned with their own views of other people.
11. ISTJs want to work within a structure, while INTJs want to be free.
12. ISTJs follow the hierarchy, while INTJs tend to think they are above such things.
13. ISTJs respect authority, while INTJs constantly challenge it.
14. ISTJs trust other people’s expertise, while INTJs often think they know better than others.
15. INTJs are more comfortable with risk-taking, while ISTJs prefer to stick to tried-and-true methods.
16. INTJs are big-picture thinkers, while ISTJs are more focused on details.
17. INTJs are future-oriented, while ISTJs focus on the here and now.
18. INTJs live in a world of possibilities, while ISTJs tend to limit themselves to what they already know.
19. ISTJs resist change, while INTJs get excited thinking about what could be.
20. ISTJs prioritize what needs to be done, while INTJs are more likely to do what they want to do.
21. ISTJs may stay in unhappy relationships out of duty or because they do not want their struggles to become obvious to others. INTJs, on the other hand, have little tolerance for what they dislike.
22. ISTJs may stay in a job they do not like for the sake of financial security. INTJs, on the other hand, are more likely to seek positions or projects that satisfy their desire for self-realization.
23. When they learn, ISTJs are usually able to appreciate only material that is practical and applicable, while INTJs enjoy abstract ideas and concepts.
If you are not sure about your personality type, try taking this test.
You can read more about the ISTJ personality type here.
You can read more about the INTJ personality type here.
All updates on the ISTJ type can be found here, and all updates on the INTJ type can be found here.
The 16 Personalities main page is here.
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