INFJ Doodles

Talking out your problems can often help untangle them very quickly. This is a pretty frequent thing when it comes to programming (sometimes to a teddy bear rather than a person).

This is an aspect I’ve seen in most INTJs. The one I adore lots and drew above is an awesome artist. She’s been doing more teaching lately and learning how to explain her process.

Type of INTJ to be most mistaken for an ISTJ. Unlike the ISTJ, this INTJ cared more about the node/connection point than the step by step by step. Though he might seek out all the information about everything, he wouldn’t pull for every detail.

I’ve known an interesting spectrum of INTJs. The emotionally open and settled, to the emotionally suppressed (who would like to pretend to be a robot), to the emotionally indifferent. Of the last kind I now write, the one I knew best was indifferent to people looking for more emotions. It didn’t bother him when people searched for emotions but, exploration and expression of emotions wasn’t something he considered a worthwhile pursuit. Emotions would sometimes be expressed a couple days later with indifference (“X made me uncomfortable, I didn’t realize it at the time.”).

When I last mentioned female INTJs, I was referring to the 3 I’ve known well. There’s a fourth I don’t normally think about through the lens of type (primarily because she’s a Freudian). She was a PM at LargeTechCompany, now in her late 40s she does consulting. She has a rather soft touch, though she uses TJ to solve problems for people. If my boss is an INTJ, he’s definitely this kind. We were in a meeting and he thought everyone was in agreement—he TJs destroyed the idea and then found out there was a disagreement afterwards. He walked out of that meeting very v_v; (he rarely brings TJ out, except when he’s disagreeing with my ISTJ lead dev).

There’s this buoyant other side I’ve seen in more mature INTJs I’ve known. All in their mid-20s or later, comfortable with themselves and their feelings. Compare and contrast with the overly serious younger INTJs (who these guys once were), who do not suffer teasing in good humor. Your playful INTJ will give at least as good as they get. Though they are playing in their shadow (ESFP), you could only confuse them for one for part of a night. There’s a strong INTJ underneath, though they’re being soft with those around them sharp thinking is prepared.

Of the 3 female INTJs I’ve known, two were Machiavellian during their high school years. (When I talked to the third about it she was horrified/very strongly morally opposed.) There’s something about being very intelligent in high school that can be very lonely. I haven’t met a male INTJ that had this level of people-as-a-chess-game knowledge. I think female INTJs are often forced into roles that are uncomfortable and/or alienating to them (“How can you be so heartless?”, “You should be more empathetic!”), gaining a deep knowledge of how to maneuver people is one way of not feeling or being powerless. I’ve seen good and damage done by them. Definitely interesting to talk to them about people their insight is a different one. Type of INTJ to be most likely mistaken for an INFJ.

When things are flowing well, the Extravert gets introvert time. Working in a trio that have shared and complimentary strengths is wonderful. My ENFP named what we bring: My INTJ brings power, ENFP brings acceleration, and INFJ brings navigation. INTJ pointed out that we’re an airship. I think airships are pretty awesome.

When I first met Ben I was a more emotional feeler and he was a less balanced thinker. It’s odd to think how much we’ve both changed in the last several years.

In particular I recall one moment strongly, we hadn’t known each other long or that well: We were working on a project, he had just stepped into the lead designer role. He asked how many of the art assets he could throw away. Of our team of 3 artists only one didn’t fail classes the previous semester in order to dedicate more time to the project.

Intellectually, it was a good thing to know where the boundaries where/how far we could push things. it was a very TJ way of asking. Just about all the INTJs I’ve known have gone through (or mentioned going through) a period where they bulldozed people to some extent. It’s good to find boundaries and important to learn your strength. You’ll see a fair bit of this attitude on forums, archetypically the angry teenage INTJ that want to purge irrationality out of the world. Best type of INTJ to become a super villain. Type of INTJ most likely to be mistaken for an ENTJ. Sadly, many people’s stereotype of an INTJ.

I like how unhurried things feel when hanging out with one of my good friends. Silence comes and go with conversation. Things don’t need to be answered right away. Things can start to go very fast but, there’s always time to take a pause.