Because they are often reserved, high-achieving individuals with high expectations of both themselves and others, INFJs can be intimidating to other personality types. Since INFJs are also the rarest personality type, many people misunderstand them.
INFJs tend to be focused on the deeper side of things.
We might try to find a deeper meaning in something that just plainly hasn't any. That's why the INFJ can be seen as intense, because they seek deeper meaning in everything. An example might be coworkers who talk to an INFJ and say that they feel a bit sad today.
At their best, INFJs make modest, reliable teammates, and allow others to take the lead. INFJs may undervalue their own needs, ideas, and contributions, acting overly shy and not taking credit when due. At their worst, INFJs can be excessively submissive, ineffectual, and too dependent on direction from others.
However, they're not straightforwardly strong. The truth is that people with INFJ personalities are very strong-willed and determined, but often they use this strength to help people around them instead of investing in self-development. As a result, people often think that they're wasting their talent.
If INFJs are in a state of grip stress they can be more harsh, reactive, blunt, and critical than usual. They might tear down relationships, plans, or even physical objects around them in a state of self-destructive fury.
When INFJs are continually hurt or hurt bad enough, they slam the door on that toxic relationship. The well-known INFJ door slam isn't about punishing the other person. It's about protecting ourselves from more hurt. Even though many INFJs can seem to have a cold exterior, our hearts are soft.
INFJs will spend a lot of time reflecting on the situation alone, and they'll decide whether it is worth addressing or forgetting. An INFJ will often choose to push the issue aside and leave it, releasing their anger through art, creative hobbies, or exercise.
They tend to dislike last-minute changes and repeated mistakes, which they see as thoughtless or uncaring. At work, INFJs may find it difficult to keep their personal feelings out of their interactions with others. They'll likely become stressed if they feel unappreciated, dismissed, or ignored.
For an INFJ, sometimes being brave means testing your creative ideas in the real world, even if they might fail. It means putting action to your insights instead of overanalyzing them to death. Sometimes it simply means speaking your mind, even if you fear that you'll be misunderstood.
Kindness. As sensitive personalities, INFJs feel attracted to people who show kindness towards others.
INFJs are no exception to this rule, and when they become overly stressed they may display a dark side that includes angry outbursts, obsessive worrying, perfectionism, or even depression. When INFJs first encounter stress, they start to behave very true-to-type.
In the world of personality theory, the INTP and INFJ pairing has been nicknamed “The Golden Pair” because these two types can be highly compatible.
Being the rarest Myers-Briggs type of all certainly makes for a unique person. INFJs are far from ordinary, with a special combination of qualities that gives them a distinct versatility in different situations.
As unusual as that might sound, INFJs love to delve into niche interests — and it isn't because they're trying to be cool. They simply like what they like, and their interests can be as surprising and quirky as they are. It's one of the many reasons why they often feel like odd ducks out.
As sensitive, intuitive people, INFJs have a sixth sense about others. Our finely tuned empathy means we can feel others' feelings and we know when they're not telling the truth. We have this ability to see through people's outward persona to the real person underneath.
INFJs Are Empathic
They are highly empathic individuals who are attuned to the emotions and needs of others. This can make them vulnerable to being taken advantage of, as they may be too quick to trust others and too willing to overlook red flags.
Their introverted nature allows them to be excellent listeners. Careers for INFJs in counseling, therapy, or psychology are good choices to consider because of this natural trait. They tend towards introversion, so career paths involving writing and research can suit this personality type particularly well.
The INFJ type result is one of the most common mistypes I come across; I've found that usually, about 80% of the people who type as INFJs online are actually ISFJs, INFPs, or ISFPs.
Basic Fear: Of being worthless, unloved, or unwanted. Basic Desire: To know they are loved. These INFJs tend to appear more jovial and extroverted than some other INFJs. They are very people-oriented and lean heavily on their secondary function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe).
Love And The INFJ Personality Type
They can often come across as intimidating or aloof, and it may sometimes feel difficult to relate to an INFJ. Many people will never see the loving side of INFJs because many INFJs reserve true displays of intimacy and affection for close friends and long-term, loving relationships.
It can be very difficult for an INFJ to open up and be vulnerable with other people. Because INFJs are very careful about who they let into their life, not many people get the opportunity to be a part of an INFJ's life. INFJs are resistant to making friends because they often struggle with trust issues.
INFJs are easily overwhelmed by bright lights, strong smells, scratchy fabric or loud noise. This is not simply overreacting. For them, it feels like the volume is always turned up too high, sometimes bringing them to tears or making them avoid people.
Unsurprisingly, they can get stressed out by uncertainty and a lack of organization, and they're the most likely personality type to say they feel really anxious in unpredictable situations. This feeling is especially common among Turbulent Advocates, given their sensitivity to stress.
INFJ INFJs actually do become very upset if their loved ones ignore them for a long time.