Why some INTJs think they are INFJs?

It’s a common phenomenon for people to mistype themselves in personality assessments, and INTJs sometimes think they are INFJs. This often stems from a misunderstanding of the core cognitive functions that differentiate these two types. Here’s a breakdown of why this confusion occurs:

1. Shared “INJ” Letters: Both INTJs and INFJs share the Introverted, Intuitive, and Judging preferences. This means they are both:
   • Introverted (I): They are both inward-focused, needing solitude to recharge and preferring deep connections over large social gatherings.
   • Intuitive (N): They both focus on abstract concepts, future possibilities, and underlying patterns rather than concrete details.
   • Judging (J): They both prefer structure, planning, and decisiveness in their approach to the world.
   These shared traits create a sense of kinship and can lead to confusion if one doesn’t delve deeper.
2. Misunderstanding of Cognitive Functions (The Key Difference): The critical difference lies in their dominant and auxiliary functions, which drive their core motivations and how they interact with the world.
   • INTJ Function Stack: Ni (Dominant) – Te (Auxiliary)
     • Ni (Introverted Intuition – Dominant): Like INFJs, INTJs lead with Ni. This gives them a strong ability to see patterns, predict future outcomes, and form deep insights. They often have a singular vision they are striving to achieve.
     • Te (Extraverted Thinking – Auxiliary): INTJs use Te to organize their external world, make logical decisions, and implement their visions efficiently. They are focused on objective facts, systems, and achieving concrete results.
   • INFJ Function Stack: Ni (Dominant) – Fe (Auxiliary)
     • Ni (Introverted Intuition – Dominant): INFJs also lead with Ni, giving them similar visionary abilities and a focus on underlying meanings.
     • Fe (Extraverted Feeling – Auxiliary): INFJs use Fe to connect with others, understand their emotions, and create harmony in their environment. They are driven by a desire to help people and create a better world.
3. Specific Points of Confusion:
   • “Feeling” vs. “Thinking”: The biggest source of mistyping is often a misunderstanding of Fe (Extraverted Feeling) and Te (Extraverted Thinking). Both types can be intelligent and caring, but their priorities differ.
     • INTJs, with their Te, prioritize logic, efficiency, and achieving their goals. While they can be empathetic, their decisions are primarily driven by objective analysis.
     • INFJs, with their Fe, prioritize harmony, connection, and the well-being of others. They make decisions based on their values and how they will impact people. An INTJ who is empathetic might mistakenly believe they have Fe, especially if they value helping others, without realizing that their primary mode of decision-making is still logic-based.
   • “Visionary” vs. “Strategic”: Both types are visionary, but in different ways.
     • INTJs use their Ni to create strategic plans and systems to achieve their goals. Their vision is often about building something efficient and effective.
     • INFJs use their Ni to envision a better future for humanity and are driven to make that vision a reality through helping people and creating positive change. An INTJ might admire the INFJ’s idealism and mistakenly believe they share the same core motivation.
   • Misinterpreting Social Skills: INTJs can be very socially adept, especially when they see social interaction as necessary to achieve their goals. They can learn to understand and respond to social cues. However, this is often a learned skill, driven by their Te. INFJs, with their Fe, have a more natural and intuitive understanding of social dynamics and are often more focused on creating genuine connections. An INTJ who is good at social interaction might mistake this learned skill for genuine Fe-driven empathy.

In short, while both types are intelligent, insightful, and driven, the core difference lies in their decision-making process and primary motivation. INTJs are driven by logic and achieving their vision efficiently, while INFJs are driven by their values and a desire to help others and create harmony.

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