The INFJ Personality: Are You One of the Rarest Types?
The INFJ Myers-Briggs personality type is one of the rarest on the planet. So, are you an INFJ? Here are 50 signs that you might indeed be an INFJ.
1. Feeling Different and Misunderstood
You’ve always felt different and misunderstood. You understand everyone, but no one seems to understand you. As both a Feeler and a Thinker, you have an innate ability to understand human behavior that most others lack. While this is a strength, it also means you often fulfill others’ needs well, but sadly, very few people can meet your own needs.
2. Preference for Intimate Conversations
You prefer one-on-one conversations or small groups over big crowds. If you’re an INFJ, you likely thrive on deep conversations with one person or, at most, a few people.
3. Dislike for Phone Calls and Texts
You hate phone calls, texts, and let’s be honest sometimes emails, too.
4. Dark Sense of Humor
Your sense of humor is pretty dark. Did you hear the one about the mortician who always ate lunch in the back? Oh, I shouldn’t tell that one? Okay.
5. Feeling Like an Old Soul
You sometimes feel like an old soul. When someone asks how old an INFJ is, their typical answer might be, “37 going on 84.” INFJs often feel much older and dare I say, wiser than their peer group.
Bonus Sign: If you’re constantly doubting whether you’re really an INFJ, that’s a strong sign you probably are.
6. Creative and Unconventional
You’re creative and unconventional. Whether through writing, art, or another outlet, you likely have a history of being highly creative. You’ve probably felt like an outsider many times, but you refuse to compromise your values to fit in with the herd.
7. Truth-Teller
You tell the truth, and you tell it accurately. This can ruffle the feathers of the herd, who often prefer to live a lie. Most people don’t want to see behind the curtain that society constructs, but INFJs pull back that curtain to reveal the real truths many don’t want to hear.
8. A Double-Edged Sword
You’ve always known your personality is an awesome gift, but it comes at a major price. Truly, being an INFJ is a double-edged sword a blessing and a curse.
9. Drained by Social Gatherings
You feel drained after large social gatherings. We already mentioned not liking them, but did I mention they also sap your energy? Nothing exhausts an INFJ more than large social events with lots of talking.
10. Always Asking “Why”
You’ve always asked, “Why?” INFJs want to know why something is the way it is. They never lose that childlike curiosity, which allows them to continue learning at a rapid pace, similar to children, well into adulthood.
11. Seeing Multiple Perspectives
You’re able to see multiple perspectives on an issue. You might hear an INFJ say, “I disagree with your view, but I’m absolutely willing to explore why you hold it.” While it’s hard to change an INFJ’s mind, they’re open to examining all sides of a situation.
12. Lone Wolf
You’re a lone wolf. You recharge alone, read alone, and feel comfortable sitting with your own thoughts. As Mr. T might say, “I live alone, I train alone, I win the title alone.” Was Mr. T an INFJ? Probably not, but you get the idea.
13. Visionary
You’re a visionary. You see possibilities for people and society that could truly make the world a better place. Sadly, most others don’t see the potential of your visions and prefer things to stay the same.
14. Caring Deeply for Others
You deeply care about others’ well-being. In a world where most people prioritize their own feelings, INFJs often care more about others’ feelings than their own.
15. Valuing Deep Relationships
You value deep, meaningful relationships over shallow ones. An INFJ would rather be alone than with someone who is shallow and uninterested in deeper topics.
16. Highly Intuitive
You’re highly intuitive and can often sense things beyond the surface. As an INFJ, you can discern the reasons and motives behind people’s actions not just what they’re doing, but why.
17. Introspective
You tend to be introspective and spend a lot of time in your head. This is self-explanatory.
18. Valuing Authenticity
You value authenticity and can’t stand superficiality. INFJs can easily spot fake people and yes, we know when you’re not being genuine.
19. Giving the Benefit of the Doubt
You tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, seeing their potential. INFJs offer many chances and always try to see the best in others. But cross us too many times, and we’ll cut you out forever.
20. The INFJ Door Slam
You’ve probably performed an “INFJ door slam.” This is when an INFJ has been mistreated or abused so badly that they completely end a relationship, slamming the door shut.
21. The Listener
You’re often the listener in your friendships and relationships. In fact, you probably listen to others far more than they listen to you.
22. Helping Others at Your Own Expense
You feel a strong desire to help others, sometimes at the expense of your own needs. If you’re an INFJ, you know what it’s like to exhaust yourself helping someone in need.
23. Respecting Privacy
You’re good at keeping secrets and respecting privacy. INFJs are not prone to gossip, talking behind others’ backs, or backstabbing.
24. Overwhelmed by Emotions
You may feel overwhelmed by emotions both your own and others’. As an INFJ, you absorb others’ emotions, which can get intense and overwhelming at times.
25. Valuing Inner Peace
You value inner peace and seek to avoid conflict. INFJs prioritize peace and harmony with those around them above almost everything else.
26. Living in Two Worlds
You have a rich inner world and often feel like you’re living in two worlds. Most INFJs prefer the world in their head.
27. Perfectionist Tendencies
You’re often a perfectionist in areas that matter to you. As an INFJ, you might finish a project that’s twice as good as anyone else’s, yet think it’s twice as bad. INFJs sometimes struggle to see their own skills and accomplishments.
28. Private Nature
You don’t often share your feelings or thoughts until you feel comfortable. INFJs are very private and need to feel secure before opening up, as people have rejected their thoughts too many times before.
29. Idealistic Disappointment
You’re idealistic and sometimes disappointed by how things really are. The world can be, well, disappointing for INFJs except for pizza and puppies, of course.
30. Unconventional Thinking
You tend to have a unique or unconventional way of thinking. As an INFJ, you may feel like an alien because you think about the big picture, using both logic and emotion. Most people can’t do this, so yeah alien.
31. Helping Others Grow
You enjoy helping others realize their potential. INFJs are natural coaches and teachers who love seeing people maximize their potential a rare trait in a world that often revels in others’ failures.
32. Highly Empathetic
You’re highly empathetic and can pick up on others’ emotions easily. Does anybody know how to turn that off?
33. The Go-To Advisor
You’re often the person people turn to for guidance or advice. Unfortunately, we’re also the ones whose advice nobody seems to take.
34. Desire to Make a Difference
You feel a strong need to make a difference in the world. As an INFJ, you likely have great ideas to improve the world.
35. Love for Creative Arts
You have a deep love for books, art, or other creative forms. INFJs are drawn to moving art or stories with deep meaning.
36. Enjoying Solitary Activities
You enjoy solitary activities like writing, painting, or reading. While most people go stir-crazy alone, INFJs have a plethora of solo activities they love. (Plethora means a lot, by the way.)
37. Difficulty Expressing Feelings
You often find it hard to express what you’re feeling verbally. INFJs tend to think in images, and putting deep thoughts into words can be challenging. Writing often works better for many INFJs.
38. Fascination with Human Behavior
You may have an intense inner drive to understand human behavior. INFJs are often interested in philosophy, psychology, and human behavior.
39. Reading People Easily
You sometimes feel like you read people too easily. As an INFJ, you can get an accurate read on someone in just a few minutes are they good, bad, or something else?
40. Loyalty and Protectiveness
You’re loyal to those you care about and can be fiercely protective. While INFJs avoid conflict, they’ll fight to the death for those they love.
41. Strong Intuition
You have a strong sense of intuition when making decisions. While INFJs are great thinkers with a grasp of logic, they ultimately rely on intuition.
42. Walking a Unique Path
You often feel like you’re walking a path others don’t understand because you are.
43. Overwhelmed by Suffering
You can become overwhelmed when you see too much suffering and injustice. Since INFJs absorb others’ emotions, exposure to suffering or injustice can be overwhelming.
44. Deep-Diving into Topics
You deep-dive into certain topics. INFJs tend to get obsessed with a subject and learn everything there is to know about it a research binge.
45. Motivated by Fulfillment
You’re not motivated by money or status but by personal fulfillment. While INFJs want enough resources for a comfortable life, they’re driven by helping others and contributing to the world.
46. Sensing More to Life
You often feel like there’s more to life than meets the eye. Well, isn’t there?
47. Quality Over Quantity
You prefer quality over quantity in your experiences. For example, a great vacation for an INFJ has meaning and significance, is spent with loved ones, and avoids large crowds or tourist traps.
48. Love for Philosophical Conversations
You enjoy abstract or philosophical conversations. Have you heard of the “brain in a vat” thought experiment? You should look it up.
49. Attracted to Quiet Environments
You’re attracted to quiet, introspective environments. Hey, I’m bored—want to hang out at the library?
50. Emotional Burnout
You may experience emotional burnout from caring too much. Scratch that if you’re an INFJ, you will experience emotional burnout. It’s like a package deal.
Bonus Sign #51: You’re probably an INFJ if you made it this far in the list! Congrats on reaching number 50. As INFJs, many signs point to our unique personality. One of the most interesting is our drug-like effect on people. Want to learn more? Keep exploring!
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