How to Understand The INFJ Personality Type: Part 2

Continued from How to Understand the INFJ Personality Type: Part 1.

Many people find it difficult to understand the INFJ personality type. Even INFJs can find it hard to understand themselves. Here are six ways to help you understand the INFJ personality type.

1. INFJs hate explaining details.

If you ask your INFJ how to get from point A to point B, don’t expect an exact answer. Since INFJs rely more heavily on Introverted Intuition and Introverted Thinking than their extroverted counterparts, explaining processes, procedures, and other detail-oriented tasks can be difficult.

Imagine the INFJ’s brain as scattered pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We already know what the puzzle is supposed to look like when it’s complete, so we don’t bother putting the pieces together. However, in order to explain how we know what the picture looks like we have to take the time to actually arrange the pieces. We’re not naturally detail-oriented. This is one reason we like things like lists and schedules. They help us structure our scattered minds.

2. It’s difficult to type an INFJ.

I’m an INFJ and I have several INFJ friends (thanks, internet!). I’ve also been studying personality type for years. Yet it still comes as a shock whenever I find out someone else I know is INFJ. INFJs tend to mimic other personality types, and it usually takes getting to know them at a very personal level before their true personalities start to show.

3. INFJs love people.

We really do love people. We are constantly trying to understand and make sense of everyone around us and we try tirelessly to make others understand how important this is. We are also frequently let down by people because we set expectations in our minds that rarely come to fruition. Our warm and friendly nature may make people type more outgoing INFJs as extroverts, but we are very much introverted and need plenty of time alone to recharge.

4. INFJs spend a lot of time in their heads.

Here’s a typical — ok, slightly exaggerated — exchange between a non-INFJ and an INFJ:

Non-INFJ: “Woah, I can’t believe there was a 5-legged purple giraffe outside of the mall!”

INFJ: “Huh? What? Where?”

We are dominant intuitive types and Extroverted Sensing is fourth in our cognitive function stack, so don’t be surprised if the INFJ doesn’t pick up on the same sensory details that you do. It’s not that we aren’t paying attention to our surroundings, it’s just that we do it on a subconscious level. You know how sometimes you go on a long drive and you start getting so lost in thought that you don’t remember passing certain landmarks along the way? That’s basically how INFJs operate most of the time.

5. INFJs are walking contradictions.

We want to be noticed and appreciated, yet we hate attention. We want to make others feel happy and comfortable, yet doing so causes a great deal of stress for us at times. We like to be alone and are very independent, yet we yearn for companionship. We’re able to think logically, yet are willing to disregard logic if our intuition tells us something different. At times, being an INFJ can feel like being two people at once, and we regularly struggle with balancing these different personas.

6. INFJs are extremely passionate about causes they believe in.

Since we are Extroverted Feeling-using introverts, we may not come across as the type to champion causes. Your first impression of an INFJ may be that they are nice and agreeable, and possibly even easy to manipulate. But an INFJ can spot manipulation a mile away and if we feel like someone is attacking our personal morals and beliefs, a much more assertive and passionate side of the INFJ will come out. While we don’t often like to debate, we feel obligated to stand up for what we believe in, especially if the cause also involves standing up for others who aren’t able to stand up for themselves.

Want more info about how to understand the INFJ personality type? Read How to Understand The INFJ Personality Type: Part 1.

About The Author

Megan

Megan is an introvert and INFJ personality type who enjoys reading, researching, and writing about personality psychology and human behavior. As the founder of this blog, Megan wants to help other INFJs better understand their personality to improve their personal and professional lives.

25 COMMENTS

  1. AnonymousINFJ | 31st Jul 14

    super duper like <3

    Thanks for the article! incredibly helpful.

    "INFJs hate explaining details"
    I think this is the main reason why INFJ are the most misunderstood people.
    people tend to jump to conclusion fast when they just hear a fraction of what we say.

    • Megan | 14th Aug 14

      Completely agree! Glad the article was helpful! 🙂

  2. silverfern | 1st Aug 14

    I’m an INFJ, and I love details. Perhaps I am an exception, though.

    • Megan | 14th Aug 14

      I do appreciate details when I’m trying to understand something. Unfortunately, I am just not so great at giving them in all situations. I don’t expect that every INFJ would relate to everything in this blog though (but hopefully most of it) 🙂

      • vj | 8th Apr 15

        same here i love reading details. Unfortunately it is filed away in my head and i wont be sharing them for the sole fact that most don’t care for details but the outcome.

  3. El | 2nd Aug 14

    How are you reading my mind?!?! LOVE!!

    • Megan | 14th Aug 14

      Thanks! <3

  4. Kattie Kate | 12th Aug 14

    Great post! I can relate to all of these. It’s nice to meet another INFJ! 😊

    • Megan | 14th Aug 14

      Thank you! 😀

  5. Amy S | 16th Aug 14

    This is so good, I hope you don’t mind that I pinned it on pinterest. If so, I can remove it. 🙂

    • Megan | 18th Aug 14

      I don’t mind at all! Thank you! 🙂

  6. Amena | 16th Aug 14

    I just wanted to say how incredible your blog is! Thank you!

    • Megan | 18th Aug 14

      Thank you! 🙂 I’m glad you like it!

  7. bekkahsmith | 30th Aug 14

    I had thought I was a weird INFP, but retaking the test a couple of times (see 8) I am INFJ. The two blog posts about understanding INFJ were spot on! Described me perfectly, including the loss of details. My boss can never understand how i get from A – B without any details. Makes perfect sense to me! Ha! 😀

  8. dara40 | 25th Sep 14

    So true. This is a great post and spot on. Fellow INFJ here! Thanks.

  9. dara40 | 25th Sep 14

    Reblogged this on Creations in Poetry & Words and commented:
    I know this isn’t typical to writing but I love typology, so I wanted to reblog this. For all the INFJs out there. Enjoy!

  10. How to Understand Your INFJ: Part 1 | INFJ Blog | 23rd Feb 15

    […] Read: How to Understand Your INFJ: Part 2. […]

  11. Lily | 13th Mar 15

    ” You know how sometimes you go on a long drive and you start getting so lost in your thoughts that you don’t remember passing certain landmarks along the way? That’s basically how INFJs operate most of the time.”

    I feel less lonely after reading I’m not the only one. I always say my default mode is daydreaming.

    My friends have been making fun of it for years :-). They find it quirky but adorable!

  12. iOriginal | 20th Apr 15

    Strange how INFJs don’t like explaining the details but my INFJ makes me (ENTP) explain them, which I hate equally if not more, lol.

    Guess I shouldn’t of said I want to feel appreciated xD

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  14. Abby | 13th Jul 15

    This made me feel so understood, all of it, especially because I hate explaining details, I really hate it! I’m definitely a big picture person – and yes, I know what they picture is supposed to look like, so why bother with all the pieces?! What a great analogy!

  15. Ekva blogger | 5th Aug 15

    I completely agree….amazingly true….wonderful. ..!!
    I have deep,meaningful but scattered thoughts in my mind…
    .but can nvr write them properly. ….
    How amazingly u do it….

  16. INFJ | 3rd Jan 17

    I feel like I just met myself a little more, thank you.
    -INFJ

  17. INFJames | 16th Jan 17

    I feel like I’ve come home and am amongst people who understand me.

  18. Reyna | 4th Feb 17

    Thanks for writing this post! I loved your Part 1 too. As an INFJ I can definetely relate to this post and the others on your site. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in this:)

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