INFJ Definition of Personality Equals “Insight + Idealism”
The definition of personality for the INFJ includes the qualities of insightfulness, idealism, and being possibility-oriented and caring for others.
You may have come here from the MBTI “words to describe personality” page and you know or suspicion that your personality type is Introverted with Intuition, Feeling and Judging, because you have taken the Myers-Briggs personality assessment test. Or you may be here because someone you care about is this type. That being the case you can discover many qualities, traits or characteristics describing this personality type on this page.
BASICS
I’m going to present INFJ qualities in a list format because I have found reading a paragraph when you are digging for some important, quick information, can be difficult, well it can be irritating! So let us take a look at a list of personality traits for INFJs. This type:
- Is a natural idealist, visionary, cause/people oriented person
- Is normally quite symbolic about most things
- Is NOT very good at remembering facts, data, has poor memory for detail
- Is FUTURE oriented, struggles with in-the-moment detailed reality
- Is very general, conceptual with great “idea” sense
- Is usually very trusting about things, if they can understand the concept behind the idea….they are for it!!
- Is usually quite empathic and feeling in approach to EVERYTHING
- Is typically decisive when implementing a vision
- Probably possesses one of the most powerful abilities to see potential/possibility
- Is normally easily distracted
- At times is very philosophical and even mystical in the way their minds work
Now do you see yourself/someone else in the above basic list of personality traits??
What we really begin to see with personality type is emerging patterns of behaving and using our brains. The INFJ way is natural, instinctive, beautiful, created to be this way.
Mottos Are Fun
For the INFJ these mottos or things to put on their battle flag might be:
“Quiet Intensity”, “Vehicle for Positive Change”, to name a few.
Let us make another list of personality traits, INFJs:
- Are reasoning and making decisions with natural/instinctive feeling & emotion
- Are frequently personally warm and can be friendly-minded
- Will have difficulty (sometimes great difficulty) not factoring in other people’s “feelings” in a decision making situation, in fact I don’t think it is naturally possible!
- Usually want decisions to be fair and very harmonious
- Will be more naturally “people” oriented not “thing” oriented when getting things done
- Is not very good at remembering birthdays, ceremonies, anniversaries, holidays, weddings, but does value tradition, institutions
- Win followers, arguments, with magnetism and harmony
Now, my friend, the INFJ not only behaves in the above manner…THEY NATURALLY EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME!!
So, what happens when they see that many others do not behave that way?? (only 2-3% of America’s population is this type, indeed most rare of all 16 types) Answer: Different levels of stress, confusion, irritation, etc.; typically nothing this type can’t handle. So, this is a NATURAL reaction on the part of this type, they are not doing anything wrong.
More Stuff
The INFJ:
- In relationships, are deeply concerned with harmony and fellowship
- In relationships, no such thing as constructive criticism
- In relationships, they will see the “hidden” beauty in people
- In relationships, can be very sensitive to the feelings or others, are sympathetic and considerate
- In relationships, can be exquisitely understanding of others feelings, at times this ability seems almost “psychic”
- In relationships, are very private people, and don’t “open up” with many
- Are good work team/team members, though difficult to “know” at times
Under Stress
The INFJ:
- May become even less Introverted and more Extraverted, and verbally “attack”
- May forget to eat or sleep, etc.
- May become very self-critical, moralistic and perfectionist
- May become compulsive at making the outside world fit their inside view of things
- May become angry, loud, and verbal focusing on non-relevant details
If this type is you, wonderful, perhaps you now have a better understanding of yourself, and perhaps you can use that increased understanding in many positive ways.
If you see someone else as this type but not you, please pay attention to the differences between your personality and the INFJ. Try to see that your way and the INFJ way are natural and just fine! Look for the positive differences, the strengths this type brings to your type. Celebrate that because it cannot be changed and can add wonderful diversity and truth to your life!!
Return from INFJ Basic Personality to MBTI Basic Page

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