INFJs are loyal, caring friends but are often disconnected in social situations. Despite their loyalty to their loved ones, INFJs sometimes pull away for days, ignoring all attempts at communication. It can be confusing or even alarming for someone who isn't used to this behavior.
Because they are reserved and private, INFJs can be difficult to get to know. They place a high value on close, deep relationships and can be hurt easily—although they often hide these feelings from others. Interacting with an INFJ friend involves understanding and supporting their need to retreat and recharge.
People with the ISTP personality type are often described as hard to read. On the one hand, they are quiet, reserved, and introspective. But when a problem or crisis arises, they spring into action and will often take the lead in troubleshooting to find a quick, effective resolution.
They also are extremely aware of people's emotions and moods. This combination of skills means that an INFJ can easily pick up on even the slightest mood changes and inconsistencies in behavior and then intuitively grasp what may be bothering a person.
There's being reserved and then there's INFJ levels of secrecy. It's no surprise that as Introverts—who recharge by spending time alone—INFJs can be tough to get to know. In fact, INFJ personalities are talkative and bubbly, but only around people they trust and know well.
Intuition (N), Talkativeness & Talk Therapy
Because both INFJs and INTJs employ intuition, or more specifically, Introverted Intuition (Ni), as their dominant function, they can be quite loquacious, especially when discussing topics that interest them.
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.
The inferior cognitive function of INFJs (the weakest part of their personality) is Extraverted Sensing; this helps them live in the present moment and be aware of the world around them.
Intuitive Weirdness
INFJs have an abstract, futuristic approach to the world around them. Rather than seeing things for what they are, they see things for what they “mean.” When forced to focus all their attention outside the intuitive plane, they can come across as stressed, unsteady, or overwhelmed.
The short answer: INFJ (Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judgment) is the most complex Myers-Briggs Personality Type. Let's examine INFJs and why this personality type is so complicated.
The Most Common Mistype – The INFJ
INFJs tend to test as perceivers because their dominant function, intuition, is a perceiving function. Unlike many articles (or online memes) would imply, INFJs are not deeply in touch with their feelings and emotions.
ISFPs are quiet, reserved types who like to focus their attention on people and the experiences they enjoy. They aren't typically big talkers unless someone they're talking about something deeply important to them or they're trying to empathize verbally with someone.
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.
Other people think they're too sensitive.
Since they're sensitive, they're more likely to share their emotions with people close to them. Unfortunately, some people read their sensitivity as weakness instead of caring. This leaves INFJs feeling alienated for having feelings beyond their control.
INFJs are capable of mechanical memorization, but the amount retained this way is less than from memory based on understanding. INFJs are capable of accurately reproducing received information, especially if they associate it with any feelings.
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.
Introverted Intuition is the strongest and most accessible function of the INFJ. In a way, this is the function they live and breathe. It's not hard for INFJs to tap into Ni because it's the most relied upon part of their psyche.
INFJs are easily rattled, anxious and stressed when they have too much to do in a short space of time, when they aren't given time to reflect on problems or when someone is watching them.
INFJs are, in many ways, an emotional sponge. Wired to think about feelings, relationships, and what's best for people, we tend to absorb the emotions of others even in the best of times. Unsurprisingly, that can leave us pretty exhausted — and that's true even if the feelings we're picking up are mostly positive ones.
Many people see INFJs as being quiet, supportive, and empathetic. Because they tend to take on others' emotional burdens, they are often used as a source of emotional unloading. People vent all their feelings and emotional traumas onto the INFJ because they know they will be emotionally supportive and understanding.
INFJs search for meaning and purpose in their lives and in the outer world. They tend to have an immense interest in deeply understanding culture, society, and the universe as a whole. INFJs naturally see how every thought or action could potentially have important consequences, either positive or negative.
INFJs also feel embarrassed when they cry in front of others or react emotionally to criticism. They also experience “second-hand embarrassment”. This occurs when they empathize too strongly with someone who has done something awkward or is embarrassing themselves.
INFJs are enigmas to other types, and sometimes the way they think, speak, or function can look outwardly awkward. Most of these behaviors are easy to explain when they're analyzed. So if you or someone you know is an INFJ, remember not to dismiss these habits as awkward, but as evidence of how you tick.
INFJs are unique not only because they are the rarest type, but because many people liken them to having a sixth sense, of sorts, because they often seem to leap intuitively to the correct answer, without having to know all of the facts beforehand.