MBTI is an abbreviation for Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This is a personality test in which an assessment of personality is made on the basis of completed questionnaires. Based on a 4-letter code, 16 outcomes are possible, one of the outcomes is INFJ. I stands for ‘introvert’, which means a preference for introversion over extroversion. N stands for ‘intuitive’, which means relying more on intuition than on empirical observation. F stands for ‘feeling’, a preference for feeling rather than thinking when making choices. J stands for ‘judging’, which means that you quickly form an opinion about something.
The MBTI Personality Test
When taking the MBTI personality test, you complete questionnaires. Questions are asked such as: ‘Do you like being in groups or do you prefer to be alone?’ and ‘to what extent do you recognize yourself in this statement: ‘I often daydream’.’ Respondents then indicate on a scale of 1 to 5 to what extent they recognize themselves in the statement. A profile is compiled based on the outcome. You can perform the test yourself online, for example on 16 personalities you can complete a free Dutch test with 100 questions. Then you get a profile of four letters, for example INFJ. Discovering your MBTI personality can help you make choices regarding study or work.
MBTI: INFJ personality
The following characteristics are commonly observed in people who have INFJ as a result of the MBTI test. They quickly become exhausted around people while they recharge by being alone. This may contrast with the desire for friendship and closeness. They prefer to focus on the big picture rather than small details. It gives them joy to discover how everything is connected. Feelings are often given priority when making choices. Good feelings are important to them. This also makes them empathetic to others. A pitfall is that one’s own emotions are obscured in this way. They structure and organize their environment, they plan ahead and adhere to agreements and procedures.
Personality summarized
The INFJ personality tends to:
- To work hard to improve the lives of others
- Focus more on the big picture and less on the small details
- Basing decisions more on emotions and intuition than on logic
- Enjoy a structured day where they can follow a schedule
- To commit oneself to certain moral values
INFJ – strengths and weaknesses
Like every person, they have strengths and weaknesses. Strengths include being sensitive to the needs of others. They have an idealistic mindset that inspires others to change. They have the ability to really connect with others. They are committed to their personal values and have a desire to positively impact the lives of others. On the other hand, they can quickly feel attacked. Their ideals can lead to unrealistic expectations of themselves and others. They have difficulty dealing with conflict. This can lead to a very reserved attitude. They are not good at polders: reaching a compromise or a middle ground together.
INFJ – study and work
The INFJs are skilled at working with people. They enjoy helping others solve their problems. They often work in education, religious work, counseling and therapy. In short, all career choices that enable them to guide and support others. They are not necessarily against positions of leadership, but they are also not likely to aspire to it as a goal in themselves. They are willing to take on leadership if it helps them work toward goals that are in line with their ideals. For this reason, they often work in non-profit sectors. There they also move more quickly into a leadership position where they make policy, write proposals, do marketing and human resources. This way they can become a jack of all trades.
Ideal and reality
They want to see their inner ideals become reality. The gap between their idealistic vision on the one hand and the reality that often deviates from this on the other can become a source of frustration. They are sometimes interested in education or politics, but can also feel powerless because these sectors often have deep-rooted structures. Structures and relationships that have emerged over hundreds of years cannot simply be changed. The INFJ is then faced with the choice of fighting or choosing the path of least resistance.
Path of least resistance?
In response to the gap between ideal and reality, they sometimes want to content themselves with producing ideals without being directly involved in their realization. This may be a reason why these types of people are common among academics. The university enables them to form theories without worrying about their application. Writing can also be a way to express ideals without interfering with their application.
Certainty and fear
In general, they are less interested in learning through trial and error and are less likely to change jobs. They like stability and external changes can cause a feeling of discomfort. The fear that their lives will be thrown out of balance can be exacerbated by difficult circumstances. In a bad economy, they often choose to go for a less ideal job because this still provides security.
read more
- Psychology of personality: approaches and assumptions