VH
Variable Hybrid
- MBTI
- NFJedi
I've noticed that more than a few people here are uncertain about whether or not they're INFJs. Even I was uncertain at more than one point. So, I thought I'd post some tips that I've learned to help those of you who are in the same situation.
INFJs have a strange need to split hairs with respect to defining things. If you're having trouble deciding between INFJ and another type because they are both close, you're likely an INFJ. Here are some tips for the types INFJs most commonly consider.
INFPs would prefer not to be labeled, and would not put so much effort into deciding which it is.
ENFJs tend to make decisions and stick with them, as well as not being especially concerned with the details.
INTJs tend to think in terms of the big picture and seldom get so engrossed into something like the results of a self assessment test.
ENFPs tend to share the INFP resistance to labels to some degree, but tend to just give up on trying to pin down a type.
INFJs are J types. We like to label things with our Fe (which is a very accepting function), but tend to label ourselves with Ti (which is a very exacting function). INFJs dominant function is Ni, a perception process that focuses primarily on finding the one most applicable answer. If figuring out an answer or solution often becomes a quest in self discovery, you're likely driven by your dominant function (Ni) to find your social role with your secondary function (Fe), but have to use your tertiary function to make self inventory (Ti) because it is our introverted reasoning function. Our primary reasoning function (Fe) is extroverted and not as well suited to make internal assessments as our tertiary function (Ti).
INFJs have Ni as a dominant function and Se as an inferior function, with Fe and Ti as the middle pair, according to the model. For INFJs, the range between N and S will be much greater than the range between F and T. What this means is INFJs will almost always have a higher N score than their F score on MBTI type tests because there is a greater difference between our N and S than there is between F and T in our preference model. If you have a higher N than F, but scored ENFJ or INFP, you're likely an INFJ or an ENFP, and if you feel driven to figure out which it is you're much more likely an INFJ.
INFJs dominant function is actually a P function. Some of us have ambiguous J and P axis results. INFJs tend to have rather low J preferences. If you have slightly P results, but a clear introverted score, with a higher N than F, this is likely your Ni being clearly dominant, and you are an INFJ, not an INFP.
When we are in our shadow mode preferences, INFJs are prone to testing as ENFPs. When we do this, our E preference is usually still close to the middle, as is our P preference. We still usually retain our N over F preference. If you sometimes get an ENFP result, especially when you're in your adaptive mode, you're likely an INFJ.
Sometimes INFJs test as INTJs because they're in an emotionally subdued phase in their lives, such as being immersed in an intensive academic program. This is not uncommon because our T and F preferences are usually very close to begin with. It doesn't take more than a few questions to switch the two in our preferences. When INFJs test as INTJs, the T preference is usually not especially strong, and almost never stronger than the N preference. However, if the cause of the T preference switch is especially stressful, it might also cause a slight E preference, which is how some INFJs test as ENTJs in rare moments. Again, these preferences are usually slight when they appear.
When INFJs test as INTPs, it is usually because they're deep into an introverted mode, amplifying their Ni and Ti. The Ni dominance causes the I and P preferences. The I preference will tend to be strong, while the P preference will tend to be slight. The T preference will tend to be less than the N preference, even if it is somewhat strong.
When INFJs test as ENFJs, it is usually because we're in an extroverted phase. We usually retain our N over F preferences, while our E stays slight, but our J can become more elevated. We may actually switch our preferences around a little, and our N and F start to become much closer, and F can even overtake our N. Our N may even start to scale down from our normal averages.
If you're an INFJ and you're experiencing any of these issues in your quest to correctly identify your type, this is perfectly normal.
If you go back and take a look at any test results where you've gotten one of the types mentioned above, take a look and see if the other factors also appear, such as when you test ENFJ, is your E slight, while your F and J are higher than normal? If you're falling into these patterns when mistyping, then you're very likely an INFJ, and you're simply following the normal pattern for the dymanic adaptive capacity of the human mind to move through preference ranges. Everything I've mentioned above is perfectly normal and no cause for alarm, nor cause for doubting that you're an INFJ.
INFJs have a strange need to split hairs with respect to defining things. If you're having trouble deciding between INFJ and another type because they are both close, you're likely an INFJ. Here are some tips for the types INFJs most commonly consider.
INFPs would prefer not to be labeled, and would not put so much effort into deciding which it is.
ENFJs tend to make decisions and stick with them, as well as not being especially concerned with the details.
INTJs tend to think in terms of the big picture and seldom get so engrossed into something like the results of a self assessment test.
ENFPs tend to share the INFP resistance to labels to some degree, but tend to just give up on trying to pin down a type.
INFJs are J types. We like to label things with our Fe (which is a very accepting function), but tend to label ourselves with Ti (which is a very exacting function). INFJs dominant function is Ni, a perception process that focuses primarily on finding the one most applicable answer. If figuring out an answer or solution often becomes a quest in self discovery, you're likely driven by your dominant function (Ni) to find your social role with your secondary function (Fe), but have to use your tertiary function to make self inventory (Ti) because it is our introverted reasoning function. Our primary reasoning function (Fe) is extroverted and not as well suited to make internal assessments as our tertiary function (Ti).
INFJs have Ni as a dominant function and Se as an inferior function, with Fe and Ti as the middle pair, according to the model. For INFJs, the range between N and S will be much greater than the range between F and T. What this means is INFJs will almost always have a higher N score than their F score on MBTI type tests because there is a greater difference between our N and S than there is between F and T in our preference model. If you have a higher N than F, but scored ENFJ or INFP, you're likely an INFJ or an ENFP, and if you feel driven to figure out which it is you're much more likely an INFJ.
INFJs dominant function is actually a P function. Some of us have ambiguous J and P axis results. INFJs tend to have rather low J preferences. If you have slightly P results, but a clear introverted score, with a higher N than F, this is likely your Ni being clearly dominant, and you are an INFJ, not an INFP.
When we are in our shadow mode preferences, INFJs are prone to testing as ENFPs. When we do this, our E preference is usually still close to the middle, as is our P preference. We still usually retain our N over F preference. If you sometimes get an ENFP result, especially when you're in your adaptive mode, you're likely an INFJ.
Sometimes INFJs test as INTJs because they're in an emotionally subdued phase in their lives, such as being immersed in an intensive academic program. This is not uncommon because our T and F preferences are usually very close to begin with. It doesn't take more than a few questions to switch the two in our preferences. When INFJs test as INTJs, the T preference is usually not especially strong, and almost never stronger than the N preference. However, if the cause of the T preference switch is especially stressful, it might also cause a slight E preference, which is how some INFJs test as ENTJs in rare moments. Again, these preferences are usually slight when they appear.
When INFJs test as INTPs, it is usually because they're deep into an introverted mode, amplifying their Ni and Ti. The Ni dominance causes the I and P preferences. The I preference will tend to be strong, while the P preference will tend to be slight. The T preference will tend to be less than the N preference, even if it is somewhat strong.
When INFJs test as ENFJs, it is usually because we're in an extroverted phase. We usually retain our N over F preferences, while our E stays slight, but our J can become more elevated. We may actually switch our preferences around a little, and our N and F start to become much closer, and F can even overtake our N. Our N may even start to scale down from our normal averages.
If you're an INFJ and you're experiencing any of these issues in your quest to correctly identify your type, this is perfectly normal.
If you go back and take a look at any test results where you've gotten one of the types mentioned above, take a look and see if the other factors also appear, such as when you test ENFJ, is your E slight, while your F and J are higher than normal? If you're falling into these patterns when mistyping, then you're very likely an INFJ, and you're simply following the normal pattern for the dymanic adaptive capacity of the human mind to move through preference ranges. Everything I've mentioned above is perfectly normal and no cause for alarm, nor cause for doubting that you're an INFJ.
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