| |
| |
| Administrative
Note: It should be noted that the Myers-Briggs and Kiersey ratings
do not measure a definite or concrete limit on personality
characteristics, but rather existing tendencies. An individual's
personality rating can change over time or be changed by conscious
personal decisions. |
INFJs are
distinguished by both their complexity of character and the
unusual range and depth of their talents. Strongly
humanitarian in outlook, INFJs tend to be idealists, and
because of their J preference for closure and completion, they
are generally "doers" as well as dreamers. This rare
combination of vision and practicality often results in INFJs
taking a disproportionate amount of responsibility in the
various causes to which so many of them seem to be drawn.
INFJs are deeply concerned about their relations with
individuals as well as the state of humanity at large. They
are, in fact, sometimes mistaken for extroverts because they
appear so outgoing and are so genuinely interested in people
-- a product of the Feeling function they most readily show to
the world. On the contrary, INFJs are true introverts, who can
only be emotionally intimate and fulfilled with a chosen few
from among their long-term friends, family, or obvious "soul
mates." While instinctively courting the personal and
organizational demands continually made upon them by others,
at intervals INFJs will suddenly withdraw into themselves,
sometimes shutting out even their intimates. This apparent
paradox is a necessary escape valve for them, providing both
time to rebuild their depleted resources and a filter to
prevent the emotional overload to which they are so
susceptible as inherent "givers." As a pattern of behavior, it
is perhaps the most confusing aspect of the enigmatic INFJ
character to outsiders, and hence the most often misunderstood
-- particularly by those who have little experience with this
rare type.
Due in part to the unique perspective produced by this
alternation between detachment and involvement in the lives of
the people around them, INFJs may well have the clearest
insights of all the types into the motivations of others, for
good and for evil. The most important contributing factor to
this uncanny gift, however, are the empathic abilities often
found in Fs, which seem to be especially heightened in the
INFJ type (possibly by the dominance of the introverted N
function).
This empathy can serve as a classic example of the two-edged
nature of certain INFJ talents, as it can be strong enough to
cause discomfort or pain in negative or stressful situations.
More explicit inner conflicts are also not uncommon in INFJs;
it is possible to speculate that the causes for some of these
may lie in the specific combinations of preferences which
define this complex type. For instance, there can sometimes be
a "tug-of-war" between NF vision and idealism and the J
practicality that urges compromise for the sake of achieving
the highest priority goals. And the I and J combination, while
perhaps enhancing self-awareness, may make it difficult for
INFJs to articulate their deepest and most convoluted
feelings.
Usually self-expression comes more easily to INFJs on paper,
as they tend to have strong writing skills. Since in addition
they often possess a strong personal charisma, INFJs are
generally well-suited to the "inspirational" professions such
as teaching (especially in higher education) and religious
leadership. Psychology and counseling are other obvious
choices, but overall, INFJs can be exceptionally difficult to
pigeonhole by their career paths. Perhaps the best example of
this occurs in the technical fields. Many INFJs perceive
themselves at a disadvantage when dealing with the mystique
and formality of "hard logic", and in academic terms this may
cause a tendency to gravitate towards the liberal arts rather
than the sciences. However, the significant minority of INFJs
who do pursue studies and careers in the latter areas tend to
be as successful as their T counterparts, as it is *iNtuition*
-- the dominant function for the INFJ type -- which governs
the ability to understand abstract theory and implement it
creatively.
In their own way, INFJs are just as much "systems builders" as
are INTJs; the difference lies in that most INFJ "systems" are
founded on human beings and human values, rather than
information and technology. Their systems may for these
reasons be conceptually "blurrier" than analogous NT ones,
harder to measure in strict numerical terms, and easier to
take for granted -- yet it is these same underlying reasons
which make the resulting contributions to society so vital and
profound. |
| |
| Famous INFJ's |
Fictional INFJ's |
| |
|
Nathan, prophet of Israel
Aristophanes
Chaucer
Goethe
Robert Burns, Scottish poet
Nathaniel Hawthorne, author, poet
Fanny Crosby, (blind) hymnist
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Fred McMurray (My Three Sons, various movies)
Shirley Temple Black, child actor, ambassador
Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, martyr
James Reston, newspaper reporter
Shirley McClain, actor (Sweet Charity)
Piers Anthony, author ("Xanth" series)
Michael Landon, actor (Highway to Heaven, Little
House on the Prairie)
Tom Selleck, actor (Magnum, P. I., Mr. Baseball)
Oprah Winfrey, talk show host
John Katz, critic, author
Paul Stookey, folk singer (Peter, Paul and Mary)
Angela Lansbury, actor (Murder, She Wrote)
U. S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL)
Richard Gere, actor (Pretty Woman, Sommersby)
Billy Crystal, actor, comedian
Carrie Fisher, actor (Star Wars)
| |
U.S. Presidents:
- Martin Van Buren
- James Earl "Jimmy"
Carter
|
|
Joe
Hackett, Wings |
|
|
| |
|
|
