Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals.
Quickly patterns in external events and develop long-term explanatory perspectives.
When committed, organise a job and carry it through.
Sceptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance - for themselves and others.
Myers Briggs INTJ - Characteristics
Myers Briggs INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to
everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social
norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing
them from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its
own sake.
INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part
because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and
reliability. Whatever system they happen to be working on is for them
the equivalent of a moral cause; both perfectionism and disregard for
authority may come into play.
Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the their
Achilles heel. This happens in part because many do not readily grasp
the social rituals.
Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense.
They are analytical. Like INTPs, they are most comfortable working alone and tend to be less sociable than other types.
Nevertheless, they are prepared to lead if no one else seems up to the
task, or if they see a major weakness in the current leadership.
They tend to be pragmatic, logical, and creative. They have a low
tolerance for spin or rampant emotionalism. They are not generally
susceptible to catchphrases and do not recognize authority based on
tradition, rank, or title.
INTJs are strong individualists who seek new angles or novel ways of
looking at things. They enjoy coming to new understandings.
They tend to be insightful and mentally quick; however, this mental
quickness may not always be outwardly apparent to others since they keep
a great deal to themselves.
They are very determined people who trust their vision of the
possibilities, regardless of what others think. They may even be
considered the most independent of all of the sixteen personality types.
They are at their best in quietly and firmly developing their ideas,
theories, and principles.
Hallmarks of the INTJ include independence of thought and a desire for
efficiency. They work best when given autonomy and creative freedom.
They harbour an innate desire to express themselves by conceptualising
their own intellectual designs.
They have a talent for analysing and formulating complex theories. They
are generally well-suited for occupations within academia, research,
management, engineering, and law. They are often acutely aware of their
own knowledge and abilities—as well as their limitations and what they
don't know (a quality that tends to distinguish them from INTPs). They
thus develop a strong confidence in their ability and talents, making
them natural leaders.
In forming relationships INTJs tend to seek out others with similar
character traits and ideologies. Agreement on theoretical concepts is an
important aspect of their relationships.
By nature they can be demanding in their expectations, and they approach
relationships in a rational manner. As a result they may not always
respond to a spontaneous infatuation but wait for a mate who better fits
their set criteria. They tend to be stable, reliable, and dedicated.
Harmony in relationships and home life tends to be extremely important
to them.
They generally withhold strong emotion and do not like to waste time
with what they consider irrational social rituals. This may cause
non-INTJs to perceive them as distant and reserved. Nevertheless, they
are usually very loyal partners who are prepared to commit substantial
energy and time into a relationship to make it work.
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