INTJ resource

INFJs believe in their uniqueness through their existence.

In Myers-Briggs “theory” or typology, intuition or sensation are two of the possible modes of perceiving. A cursory understanding of Myers-Briggs would lead many people to come up with very superficial descriptions for either the intuitive or sensory types. 

The four actual perception functions for any given type are defined by their direction, introverted (inward) or extroverted (outward), and their mode, intuition or sensory. Depending on the specific type, people are inclined to follow one of two possible cognitive axes premised on the opposing directions and mode of function.

The chart above contains a quick overview of the four cognitive perception functions and their common characteristics as well as their dominant and auxiliary positions within each of the 16 types. Before elaborating on the specific cognitive functions, intuition and sensation should first be compared, because the stereotypical behaviors associated with the misunderstood S/N can help lay a groundwork for their more nuanced cognitive roles.

Intuitives (n.) are best encapsulated by the phrase “being in their head” while sensors are best described as “being in their body.” Intuition, defined in Jungian psychology, is an unconscious perception, i.e. knowing without knowing. Sensation, defined in Jungian terms, is a subconscious-conscious perception. Because of these differences, intuition functions through “impressions” from the noumenon whereas sensation functions through “feelings” from the phenomena. Although both are functions of interpretation, one works through an underlying mental filter whereas the other occurs with an overlaying physical filter. 

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Although the functions are opposite and each type has either “S” or “N” in the name, it must be emphatically stated that all sixteen types use both sensation and intuition to varying degrees.

The difference among the types is how intuition and sensation manifest and to the level of importance they play in the nature of each personality. INTJs and ENTPs belong in the same Keirsey group (Rationals) and share the same “NT” moniker as well as the same functional stack, but their functions are entirely different: INTJs prefer introverted intuition and extroverted thinking; ENTPs prefer extroverted intuition and introverted thinking. Thus, the cognitive mode of thinking is very different between these two types, despite their presumed similarities. 

Both intuition and sensation can be further broken down into either being introverted or extroverted.

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Introverted intuition (Ni) is future-oriented and telescopic. It makes predictions relying on probability using data from the present. It is introverted in the sense that the impressions all amalgamate to unifying themes and principles or at least a clear trajectory of thought. This function is best associated with hunches and visceral impressions at its base level and strongly associated with foresight and forecasting at its more advanced levels. Unfortunately, this function is prone to tunnel vision if given too much emphasis without input from other functions or is also prone to self-fulfilling prophecies if maladaptively developed.

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Introverted Sensation (Si) is past-oriented and retrospective. This function predicts possibilities based on data from the past. It is introverted in the sense that details and personal experiences or senses are retained in a archive of templates to inform decision-making and expectations. This function amasses a repertoire of experiences, details, and information from which it assigns factual, sensory detail to new data. At its most basic level, this function roots itself in tradition and established protocols and at its most advanced level this function relies on personal experience in assigning information to judgment. Weaknesses associated with this function are its inability to adapt quickly and effectively to rapidly-changing environments and can be too rigid when making decisions.

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Extroverted Intuition (Ne) is future-present-oriented and radioscopic. It is less precise than introverted intuition, but it makes prediction relying on possibilities of data from the past, connecting these data to the future-present. It is extroverted in the sense that it is heavily involved in the external environment, despite being an intuitive function; to elaborate, this function sees many routes and iterations based on the range of all possible options from which it extrapolates using mental filtering of mostly past and some present data. This function is best associated with imaginative spontaneity and expansive creativity at its most basic, and strongly associated with lateral thinking and ideation at its most developed. This function suffers from a lack of clear focus or even being overwhelmed with options (paradox of choice) which can lead to a paralysis of decision-making.

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Extroverted Sensation (Se) is a present-oriented and immediate function. Unlike introverted intuition or sensation, it neither makes impressions nor catalogs details; this function takes in all of the senses then and there first like a radar and lets the transformations happen afterwards. It is extroverted in the sense that it is solely attached to the external world and epitomizes sensation functions in the conventional sense by broadly taking in sensory details as they are. It can be best associated with quick-thinking and engagement at its most basic, while at its most advanced this function can achieve a state of cognitive flow, which is arguably the most productive and fulfilling state of mind possible for completing tasks. Despite the broad range of perceptions and reactionary ability of Se, its weaknesses are apparent in those vary strengths: lack of foresight, can result in improper planning of impulsive reactions. 

To expand further on these ideas, introverted intuition is inherently tied to extroverted sensation and introverted sensation is inherently tied to extroverted intuition. These axes are operationally and functionally opposing. Sensory data feed intuitive interpretation and intuitive impressions direct the attention of the senses. 

Rationals

ENTP: They’re bold rebels with a million causes — most of which I don’t care about. INTP: They have a multitude of great ideas for the world — most of which I can implement better. ENTJ: They’re fearless goal-setters/getters and would make great figureheads in the establishments that I’m actually running. INTJ: I’m one of them. But better.

Sentinels

ESFJ: They are comforting and will shower me with affection and time, so much that I want to annihilate them. ISFJ: They respect my boundaries and comfort levels and do right by me. That’s all. Not much else to say about them. ESTJ: THEY KNOW WHAT’S BEST AND THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT. Except when they aren’t. ISTJ: They follow the righteous and steady path. But sometimes it’s more fun to go at it the wrong way.

Explorers

ESFP: They shine more brilliantly than a hundred stars, though it’s too bad their lights are on but no one is home.  ISFP: Their artistic depth is matched by none. After all, how much worse can you get than painting emo poetry with the songs of a thousand tears? ESTP: They’re rebels without a cause, so it’s easy to dare them into doing my bidding. ISTP: They’re amazing with their hands, but not in the fun way.

Idealists

Sentinels

ESFJ: Self-deceptive (Fe-Si-Ti). ESFJs are know as being loving, attentive, and caring. Like many other extroverted feelers, they are engaged in the social environment and adhere to social conventions ruling interpersonal relationships. ESFJs are often so entrenched in their relationships and, by extension, the social environment. ESFJs who are not fully developed (i.e. weaker) tend to lose their sense of personal identity in the face of an overbearing social environment.

Thus ESFJs have to reconcile their personal identity with the widespread social mores, often manufacturing  a social identity. While it may be easier to suggest that ESFJs (and partly ISFJs) as being insincere with their “caring” as a weakness, they are better characterized as being self-deceptive, for their social identity often takes precedence over their personal identity. This results from an overdeveloped and maybe even misdirected extroverted feeling function, which is too concerned with the external ethos and the dynamics of relationships than it is about the internal homeostasis of the person. Combined with an auxiliary introverted sensing feeling, can result in obsession with social hierarchies and engagement dynamics/structure (strong and misdirected Si) or an obsession with “selfless” acts that are more or less for show or even selfish in nature.

Compounding this is an inferior introverted thinking function. When used improperly, introverted thinking is rationalistic, often fitting logic deductively without proper input of external information. This exacerbates the aforementioned problemsJ by using justifications to substantiate the ESFJ’s self-deception and mentality, locking them in an feedback loop. Remedying this should involve increased engagement of the extroverted intuition function, which challenges the norms solidified and reasoned in the ESFJ’s mind and see their own behavior in a clearer context beyond the noise of other relationships and responsibilities. 

ISFJ: Stratified status quo (Si-Fe-Ne). ISFJs are notable for their ability to maintain social consistency, whereas ESFJs maintain social composure.They are less willing and less likely to surrender themselves tot he whims of others, though they are still very accomodating. The positioning of introverted sensing above extroverted feeling allows for ISFJs to be very familiar with the conventions of how things “should be” and how they apply to social dynamics. Because of this unique positioning however, and because it opposes the ESFJ’s positioning, weak ISFJs lack the ability to engage with the environment in ways that broaden their experiences; alternatively, ISFJs may be able to see alternate perspectives but through a subjective filter of their deeply rooted conceptions.

Whereas ESFJs are fixated on social expression, ISFJs are focused on social structure. For these types, it is uncomfortable to have dynamic and unpredictable changes in their conceptions of interpersonal relationships or of the overarching ethos. For these reasons, ISFJs are stratified to whatever status quo exists, particularly if there is an element of social cohesion. Introverted sensation resists sporadic change so that it can favor stability, and extroverted feeling directs the focus and actions of ISFJs towards maintaining a cohesive environment. In a similar way to the ESFJ, but wholly distinct, ISFJs can also sacrifice parts of themselves to conform to their environment — so long as it maintains the status quo.

The ISFJ’s inferior extroverted intuition can manifest in two unhealthy ways: the refusal to entertain chaotic possibilities that challenge the architecture of the environment or it can allow them to perceive chaotic possibilities that will challenge the integrity of their environment. Depending on the individual temperament, the ISFJ can either be willfully ignorant or antagonistically aggressive to maintain their sense of order. To remedy this, ISFJs that are weak need to consider logical approaches that connect their introverted sensing to extroverted intuition so they can maintain a realistic perspective on how their environment actually is.

ESTJ: Big fish in a small pond (Te-Si-Fi). ESTJs make for sturdy authority figures. Some of their characteristics include resilience, dominance, and orderly. What they have in logistical control, however, they lack in grandeur (unlike their similar ENTJ cousins) and thus can be too self-limiting. This hesitance to move beyond their comfort zones and take significant risks often restrict these big fishes to their little ponds.

Introverted sensing is the function of stability; although it is only auxiliary in their functional stack, it characterizes how ESTJs differ from ENTJs in scope. Introverted sensation is premised on historicity, minutia, and reproducibility; what worked then works now.This mindset is protective and allows the ESTJ to keep order through their dominant extroverted thinking function, by keeping everything contained under their control. Like their intuitive counterparts, ESTJs have an inferior introverted feeling function, which can lead to self doubt or a passionless drive. Unlike the ENTJ, whose introverted intuition fuels them to march forward, the ESTJs’ introverted sensation keeps them locked in place. 

This is due largely to the instability of their extroverted intuition function. It’s especially daunting to move forward when there are so many contingencies that threaten their chances of success. From the possibility of losing good opportunities by moving forward to the catastrophic loss of resources. These burdens become too stressful for ESTJs and without a strong internal guide, in the form of introverted feeling, there is little incentive to leave their small pond.

ISTJ: Rigid (Si-Fi-Ne). The ISTJ is adept of maintaining order and stability through protocols and established evidence. Unlike their ISFJ cousins, ISTJs do not conform to the demands of the external environment — social or otherwise. ISTJs, with a strong internal guide (introverted feeling) will warp a chaotic environment to conform to established norms. Weaker ISTJs are thus very stubborn to change and will adhere rigidly to whatever the external rules are.

Like ESTJs, ISTJs wish to maintain order but do not wish to control it necessarily. In an established environments, ISTJs are obedient enforcers. In contrast to INTJs who wish to wring their ideas into a malleable world, ISTJs align their malleable ideas to a hard and steady world. This is why ISTJs are so rigid: weaker ISTJs follow directions, protocols, and established traditions through and through. Their inferior extroverted intuition will be used sparingly and if at all used, its implications can become catastrophic. 

In this previous post. I detailed the weaknesses of the 16 types. Here, I will clarify why I chose those descriptions and functions in my assessment.

Rationals

ENTP: Shameless (Ne-Ti-Si). ENTPs are infamous for their contrarian ideas and personalities. They are pronounced as “devil’s advocates” or “debaters.” These are the titles I’ve become accustomed with associating to archetypal ENTPs, although other characteristics of them are also known such as inventors and visionaries — descriptions which are weaker in evidence in my opinion.

ENTPs are “shameless” because they lack boundaries. More appropriately, it isn’t so much that they “lack” boundaries, but they discard boundaries in the interest of engagement and ideas. Extroverted intuition, as their dominant function, allows them to explore a vast cornucopia of possibilities, thoughts, and concepts (whether or not they are feasible) which they draw into the outside world having linked together logical leaps in their head through introverted thinking. Introverted sensing being their weakest function, prevents (or frees,rather) them from the accepted conventions and norms. This is why 

ENTPs are willing to break down barriers and established ideas so that they can focus on the infinite alternatives that may exist. Extroverted feeling (tertiary) is also lower on their stack, so they are more likely to engage people with their thought patterns in provocative ways. ENTPs are shameless because they are not bound and burdened by norms and so they are free to explore and challenge what is thought or accepted potentially beyond the comfort of their audiences. With a little bit of restraint and open-mindedness (to others), ENTPs can still challenge whatever dogmatic establishments they see, in an appealing and engaging way.

INTP: Subjective logic (Ti-Si-Fe). INTPs are prestiged at being the theoretical brainiacs of the MB typology. They are often considered to be wholly objective, logical, and automatous. Because of this, they’ve gained a reputation of having some kind of prescience that all other types are lacking. And this is a huge misunderstanding. 

While INTPs are definitely very logical and analytical types, they are also susceptible to a major weakness: subjective logic. This is due to their dominant function being introverted. Introverted thinking is highly deductive, academic, and sequential. At the same time, however, it functions internally and therefore is molded by subjective thought patterns (the opposite, Te is grounded in reality). This isn’t to say that introverted thinking lacks objectivity but its objective nature is severely compromised by its subjective orientation. Interestingly, for INTPs, this can lead to an imbalance of their extroverted feeling function (inferior) because they may not have a grip of the situation on the social ethics/relationships around them, leading them to hypothesize and predict inaccurately. This conflict also disengages INTPs from seeking to understand how to coordinate themselves around their peers.

Similar to an ESFJ in the grip of their inferior function, INTPs who are exhibiting unhealthy introverted thinking are likely to rationalize their actions, behaviors, and circumstances. When stuck in the introverted thinking—introverted sensing loop, INTPs are prone to misgauge what is going on around them. Introverted thinking can be as narrow as introverted intuition on its worst days, and without the balancing effect of extroverted intuition, weaker INTPs will be stuck in detached yet defensive mode because their subjective logic cannot syncretize very contrarian viewpoints to their ivory tower rationality. INTPs can circumvent this by expending some mental effort in exploring alternate options and scrutinizing their logic in a way that introduces new external data. 

ENTJ: Self-destructive (Te-Se-Fi). Unlike the previous two, an ENTJ’s weakness is not directly related to their dominant function but to their inferior function. This is probably why the circumstances ENTJs fall into are very different than the ENTP or INTP. ENTJs are particularly successful in some statistical models of typology — in terms of finances, job stability, and leadership position.

ENTJs are self-destructive because their inferior function, introverted feeling, is so obscured that they often lose sight of their passionates. Many (weak) ENTJs want to be involved with directing people and projects and essentially that becomes their downfall because their lives are ruled by others in more or less a similar way to how ENFJs/ESFJs are ruled by their underlings. Strong ENTJs will have a sense of self and mold it forward using any combination of introverted intuition, extroverted thinking, and extroverted sensing.

Lacking the ability to work through personal values and ethics can be harmful for an ENTJ because they don’t have an internal balance for direction. The axis involving extroverted thinking and extroverted sensing result in a “fight now!” mentality with some direction under introverted thinking, but without the core introverted feeling to hold it together, ENTJs can run off track and destroy themselves in a blaze of anguish and glory (which may or may not sound appealing to said ENTJs). 

INTJ: Ineffectual (Ni-Fi-Se). Unlike the previous three, the INTJ’s core weakness is an underdeveloped auxiliary function (and in some, an underdeveloped tertiary function). Maybe I’m biased in suggesting this, but not using extroverted thinking is the death knell of many INTJs. The ability to visualize and dream of beautiful concepts and ideas mean nothing if the INTJ is unable to actualize them.

This is why their core weakness is being ineffectual. INTJs are great at plotting, planning, and conceptualizing. They often do so with intense fervor. Some INTJs are horrible with executing plans properly and appropriate (a combined effect of inferior extroverted sensing and maybe an underdeveloped extroverted thinking). In order for INTJs to succeed in these matters, they need to be able to engage their environment opportunistically with enough force to make even the smallest ripple. INTJs also need to incorporate execution into their planning and avoid procrastination.