What is the INFJ Personality type?

The INFJ personality type is known as the Advocate due to its compassionate, altruistic nature and the tendency to side with those whose voices are rarely heard. People with this personality want to make a difference but often prefer contributing from the shadows instead of seeking the spotlight.

As a rule, INFJs are highly introspective and protective of their space and privacy, yet they are simultaneously people-oriented. That’s because Advocates possess a great deal of empathy and emotional intelligence, striving to both understand and support their loved ones.

However, due to their idealistic view of the world, INFJs frequently hold themselves and those around them to a high standard, which may lead to disappointment. They are perfectionists to the core—hard-working, conscientious, and dedicated—but often push themselves too hard, driving themselves to burnout.

What Is the Meaning of INFJ?

The meaning of the INFJ personality type is:

• Introverted. INFJs need their alone time to recharge and prefer the company of a few close friends to large social events and gatherings.
• iNtuitive. People with the INFJ personality type are big-picture-oriented, with a tendency to focus on patterns and possibilities rather than the real world and its minute details.
• Feeling. INFJs are guided by heart, often prioritizing their emotions over logic when making decisions.
• Judging. Advocates enjoy structure both in their inner and outer worlds and may struggle with change or situations that require them to exhibit spontaneity.

How Rare is the INFJ Personality Type?

The INFJ personality type is the rarest in the world, making up approximately 1.5% of the general population in the US.

Male Advocates are even more uncommon, as the percentage of the INFJ personality type among men is only around 1.2.

On the other hand, women with the INFJ personality type are ever so slightly easier to find, though they are still few and far between. Apparently, they account for approximately 1.6% of the total female population.

5 Key INFJ Personality Characteristics

The key INFJ personality characteristics include the following:

Altruism

INFJs care deeply and genuinely about other people, wanting to be there in their times of need and encouraging them to become the best versions of themselves. They don’t expect anything in return—seeing their loved ones thrive is a sufficient reward.

Their altruism isn’t reserved just for the people close to them, either. INFJs have a strong desire to do good in the world and frequently ponder how they could right society’s wrongs.

However, their selflessness and kindness can sometimes backfire, making them ideal prey for those who don’t mean them well. People often take advantage of Advocates’ willingness to help, leaving INFJs feeling unappreciated and used.

Creativity

Possessing rich inner worlds and vivid imaginations, INFJs are naturally drawn to creative paths and can often be found pursuing careers in the arts, writing, or music. They desire to express their feelings and ideas, and sometimes they can only succeed by creating.

However, even if they aren’t actively involved with the arts, INFJs can show creativity in other ways. For example, they are excellent problem solvers who view the world from a unique lens and come up with unexpected answers even to the most mundane questions.

Passion

Underneath their calm and reserved demeanor, INFJs hide a deeply passionate side that peeks through when their values are challenged. Advocates fiercely fight for what they believe in, never compromising on things they find important.

They are just as passionate about the people they care about, although they show it in quieter, more tender ways. Still, they are loyal to the core and willing to go to great lengths to ensure their loved ones are happy and successful in whatever they do.

Logic

Though logic is often associated with thinking types, INFJs can undoubtedly be described as logical—in fact, they are considered the most rational out of all feeling types. Their decision-making may be guided by feelings, but they are perfectly capable of assessing the situation with a level head.

As a result, INFJs sometimes mistype themselves as thinking types—most commonly, their thinking counterpart, INTJ. However, they still value their own and other people’s feelings above all, which is something thinkers rarely do.

Empathy

People with the INFJ personality type are deeply empathetic, with a natural knack for grasping how those around them feel and what they need. With only a few words, they can make their conversation partners feel comfortable enough to open up about whatever is bothering them and then help them work through it.

As much as INFJs love to use their empathy to help others, this can have a significant downside.

Over time, INFJs can become drained from constantly listening to other people’s problems, especially if there’s little consideration for their feelings. Essentially, they take on the role of an unpaid therapist instead of a friend, which can put a strain on their mental health and relationships.

What Are INFJ Personality Type’s Cognitive Functions?

The INFJ personality type’s cognitive functions determine how Advocates make decisions and process information. All types have a stack of four, ordered from the most developed (dominant) function to the least developed (inferior) one.

In the case of INFJ, the cognitive function stack is made up of the following functions:

Introverted Intuition (Ni)

People often describe INFJs as “prophets” or “psychics” because of the way they seem to have a surprisingly accurate insight into the future. However, this ability is nothing magical or otherworldly—it’s the result of their dominant introverted intuition (Ni), which excels at spotting patterns and trends.

In other words, INFJs constantly scan the world, fitting the new information into already existing networks in their heads. This allows them to quickly notice connections between various concepts and events and make conclusions about the future based on that.

However, none of this happens consciously, so INFJs often find it difficult to explain why they believe the events will play out in a certain way. They might claim to simply know or have a gut feeling, unaware of the complex processes that take place in their minds.

Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

Extraverted feeling (Fe) is the reason INFJs are people-oriented despite being introverts—as an auxiliary function, it is highly developed and instrumental in INFJs’ decision-making process.

All high Fe users, including INFJs, place great importance on social harmony, empathy, and pleasant group dynamics. Typically, they are sensitive to other people’s mood changes and can quickly grasp the atmosphere in a group setting the moment they walk into the room.

Because of their focus on empathy and collaboration, Fe users can be excellent mediators—a role that suits INFJs like a glove. However, they often find conflict too stressful and prefer to steer clear of it whenever possible, even if it means not sharing their own opinions.

As a result, Fe users are sometimes described as “people pleasers,” though this is nothing but their desire for peace, harmony, and understanding.

Introverted Thinking (Ti)

In its tertiary place, introverted thinking (Ti) complements and stabilizes introverted intuition, helping INFJs interpret their flashes of understanding in a more sensible way. After Ni function prompts them to jump to a conclusion with seemingly nothing to back it up, Ti can retrace its steps and figure out its actual thought process.

Though tertiary Ti brings a much-needed balance to dominant Ni and auxiliary Fe, it can also cause trouble due to its underdevelopment. Young INFJs can easily fall into the trap of over-relying on their Ti, causing them to become rigid in thinking, withdrawn, overly critical, and dismissive of other people’s views.

All this occurs because Ti in the tertiary spot should only have a supporting role—nothing more. With time and maturity, this issue usually resolves itself, and INFJs become well-rounded individuals who use their Ti sparingly and wisely.

Extraverted Sensing (Se)

Extraverted sensing (Se) is the fourth function of the INFJ personality type, also known as the inferior function. That means that, out of the four, it’s the least developed one and frequently causes problems for its user.

Se is a function focused on the outer world and the present moment, two concepts INFJs tend to struggle with. Very often, INFJs are stuck in their heads, with their future-oriented Ni operating in the background, so it can be hard to fully focus on their surroundings.

At the same time, INFJs are comfortable in this Ni-dominated space, so they rarely put much effort into developing their Se. After all, they often get overwhelmed and stressed when dealing with the mundane and the concrete, causing them to withdraw from it further.

Yet, embracing Se is necessary for growth—a well-rounded INFJ knows how to balance introverted intuition with extraverted sensing and actually bring their ideas to life instead of just theorizing.

INFJ Personality Types Growth & Development Tips

Here is what INFJ personality types can do to encourage their own growth and development:

#1. Welcome Criticism

Due to their highly sensitive and perfectionistic nature, INFJs often struggle to accept criticism, perceiving it as a testament to their own shortcomings and failures. Even well-meaning remarks can hurt their feelings, especially coming from people they deeply care about.

However, there’s no growth without feedback, and the sooner INFJs understand this, the better. Instead of putting up their walls or reacting emotionally, they should listen to what others have to say, even if it’s negative, and consider how they can use the criticism to grow.

#2. Open Up

INFJs are excellent listeners who feel honored when others decide to confide in them, but they struggle to reciprocate in the same way. In fact, Advocates are notoriously reserved, often hiding their thoughts and feelings even from their close friends and family.

This isn’t necessarily due to distrust but rather because they value their privacy a little too much. They feel that their inner worlds should remain their own and rarely, if ever, give others access to all parts of themselves.

Nevertheless, opening up is incredibly beneficial for people with the INFJ personality type, as it helps them get out of their heads and view their situation from a new angle. Furthermore, their relationships with their loved ones will thrive when both sides feel they have each other’s full trust.

#3. Enjoy the Present Moment

Dominant introverted intuition and inferior extraverted sensing make it difficult for INFJs to leave the confines of their own minds and focus on the here and now. As a result, INFJs can never fully relax, constantly mulling over possibilities, patterns, and potential future outcomes.

Of course, this makes them incredibly insightful and observant, but it can also impact their mental health in the long run, causing them to worry about things that haven’t happened yet.

To avoid mental distress, Advocates must try to ground themselves once in a while and allow themselves to exist in the present moment. Physical activity and meditation can help with this, though each INFJ must find a method that personally suits them best.

#4. Set Boundaries

Since they tend to prioritize other people’s needs and feelings, INFJs have trouble asserting themselves and communicating their own wishes. At the same time, though, they can grow resentful if their needs are constantly ignored, forgetting that others can’t fulfill them if they don’t know about them.

Ultimately, this can lead to strained relationships, stress, and burnout, all of which could be avoided with better communication and firmer boundaries. So, instead of always compromising to make others happy, INFJs need to state out loud when something bothers them and hold people accountable for their actions.

#5. Embrace Imperfections

Perfectionism is by no means a bad thing—it pushes INFJs to strive forward and gives them the necessary drive to grow and improve themselves.

However, extreme perfectionism can also be limiting, causing this personality type to become overly critical of themselves and never satisfied with their accomplishments. This, in turn, can lead to stress and burnout as INFJs try to reach their impossible standards and consistently fail to do so.

So, instead of chasing perfection, INFJs should embrace imperfection and accept that they aren’t always in control, nor should they try to be.

INFJ Personality Type Career Paths

The INFJ personality type can succeed in various career paths, as they are hard-working, conscientious, and highly organized. However, that doesn’t mean all jobs suit them; on the contrary, INFJs have a hard time doing something they aren’t truly passionate about.

In the following sections, we will explore which careers INFJs should pursue, as well as which they should avoid.

Best Career Paths

People with the INFJ personality type gravitate toward jobs that align with their personal values and make them feel like they are making a difference in the world. Furthermore, their ideal careers take advantage of their creativity, empathy, and high emotional intelligence.

Some of the best career paths for INFJs include:

• Artist
• Writer
• Nurse
• Teacher
• Musician
• Psychiatrist
• Ambassador
• Psychologist
• Social Worker
• Graphic Designer
• School Counselor
• General Practitioner

Careers to Avoid

Mundane, monotonous jobs with little to offer in terms of spiritual fulfillment rarely hold any interest for INFJs, especially if they deal with cold data and statistics. INFJs seek more than just financial gain in their work—they need to feel they’ve chosen the path that represents who they are.

Taking that into account, INFJs should steer clear of the following careers:

• Lawyer
• Politician
• Accountant
• Data Analyst
• Entrepreneur
• Police Officer
• Sales Representative
• Customer Service Representative

How INFJ Personality Types Behave at Work

INFJ personality types typically excel at work due to their diligence, perfectionism, and highly developed organizational skills. Like in other spheres of life, they are fiercely independent but can also adapt to collaboration and teamwork.

In many ways, INFJs are ideal employees—focused, driven, and reliable; they require little supervision and never allow themselves to miss a deadline or let a glaring mistake slide. Moreover, they can easily get along with their colleagues and don’t let personal issues get in the way of professionalism.

However, their perfectionism can also be their downfall. Though they are overachievers in every sense of the word, they can quickly burn themselves out and begin making uncharacteristic slip-ups.

INFJs as Leaders

As leaders, INFJs are empathetic, understanding, and encouraging—much like in every other role they find themselves in. They don’t typically enjoy being in a position of power, and instead of micromanaging, they give their employees plenty of freedom to think for themselves.

Similarly, they never try to enforce workplace hierarchy, preferring to treat and be treated as equals. As a result, their employees often feel comfortable approaching them with all their concerns and talking to them earnestly, without fear of repercussions.

Nevertheless, this approach doesn’t always work—some employees only respond to a firmer stance. This can be a struggle for quiet, gentle INFJs, who may need to overcome their people-pleasing tendencies to assert themselves and remind everyone they are in charge.

INFJs in Teams

In teams, INFJs take on the role of a mediator, which comes quite naturally due to their auxiliary Fe function. Although they prefer to work independently, they can quickly adapt to teamwork and become an indispensable part of the group, resolving misunderstandings and ensuring everyone’s voices are heard.

However, this role can exhaust INFJs in the long run and affect their performance. That’s why it’s important for other team members to share their burdens and contribute enough to make collaboration smooth sailing.

INFJ Personality Advantages & Weaknesses in Relationships

Though introverted, INFJ personalities place great importance on relationships and highly value their bonds with others. They still need their alone time to recharge from socializing, but they can be quite engaging, sociable, and charming when interacting with their loved ones.

Now, let’s examine how INFJs behave in different kinds of relationships.

NFJs as Romantic Partners

As romantic partners, INFJs are loyal, passionate, and loving, willing to go to great lengths to support their partner on whichever path they take. INFJs take romance and dating very seriously, and their main goal is to meet their soulmate with whom they can grow old together.

In other words, they aren’t interested in short affairs or casual relationships—those would be more trouble than they are worth. Instead, they look for depth and mutual understanding, as well as someone with whom they can connect on a spiritual level.

Once in a relationship, INFJs expect their partner to be emotionally mature and vulnerable, ready to open up about their hopes, dreams, and fears. Without these conversations, Advocates can be very insecure about the bond, feeling like their partner isn’t as invested as they hoped.

INFJs as Friends

As friends, INFJs are just as committed as they are in romantic relationships—after all, friendship has great significance in Advocates’ lives. They rarely seek them out just for fun and need a deep, meaningful bond with someone to call them their friend.

INFJs don’t typically have wide friend circles, as they tend to be quite picky about who they spend their energy on. Usually, they build close connections with only a few people who understand them on a fundamental level and keep everyone else at arm’s length.

INFJs as Parents

As parents, INFJs take a warm, empathetic, loving approach, like in their other relationships, and strive to raise their children into conscientious, kind, and considerate people.

Aware of their profound influence on their children, INFJs aim to become the best role models and offer guidance as well as enough freedom to grow and explore on their own. They don’t want to be overbearing, but they also know they must sometimes tighten the reins to teach their children responsibility and accountability.

Unfortunately, their perfectionism can come through in their parenting, and they may inadvertently put excessive pressure on their children. However, this is usually tempered by their empathy and gentle, supportive parenting style.

Which Personality Types Are Compatible With INFJs?

INFJs are compatible with many personality types thanks to their kind and empathetic nature, which always prioritizes others’ needs and feelings. Even so, some types naturally click with Advocates, while others can’t seem to see eye to eye with them no matter what.

That being said, let’s explore the compatibility of the INFJ personality type in more detail.

INFJ Best Matches

The best matches for INFJs are the types that hold similar values and approaches to life while simultaneously complementing them in some aspects.

The INFJ personality type gets along well with the following types:

• INTP. Though INTPs may seem too aloof and detached for sensitive, feelings-oriented INFJs, the two complement each other perfectly, earning the nickname “golden pair.” That’s because both types search for depth and meaning, though in different ways, and can learn much from each other.
• ENFJ. ENFJs have much in common with INFJs—they are just as warm, empathetic, and sensitive, sharing the same desire to improve the world. The only difference is that they are far more people-oriented, which can inspire INFJs to also break out of their shells.
• ENTP. Since ENTPs share many characteristics with INTPs, it’s hardly surprising that INFJs are drawn to them. Furthermore, ENTPs are incredibly charming, witty, and unpredictable, which INFJs can find exciting and intellectually stimulating.

INFJ Worst Matches

The worst matches for INFJs are personality types with diametrically opposite values and energy levels from their own. Usually, these types are guided by dominant Se and, therefore, have little interest in immaterial and spiritual.

The INFJ personality type rarely gets along with the following personalities:

• ESTP. Energetic, impulsive, and blunt, ESTPs are everything INFJs are not, but their differences are so stark that they can’t even complement each other. INFJs often find them exhausting, rash, and overbearing, while ESTPs consider INFJs slow and overly sensitive.
• ESFP. ESFPs are just as energetic as ESTPs, though somewhat more feelings-oriented. Still, that doesn’t significantly contribute to their compatibility with INFJs, who often view their constant need for entertainment as shallow and superficial. In a similar vein, ESFPs may find INFJs boring or pretentious.
• ESTJ. While ESTPs and ESFPs are too chaotic, ESTJs have a different problem—they are too rigid. INFJs find it hard to relax in their presence and consider them insensitive, cold, or downright intimidating.

What Interests & Hobbies Are Popular With INFJ Personality Types?

Numerous interests and hobbies are popular among INFJ personality types—after all, they tend to have plenty of alone time on their hands. Of course, some of their hobbies can be shared with others, but they usually prefer to do them by themselves to recharge.

Though they have a range of hobbies, INFJs most frequently gravitate toward creative pursuits, such as:

INFJ Celebrities & Famous People

Famous people with the INFJ personality type are individuals who gained recognition in a creative career path or used their high emotional intelligence to bring positive change to the world.

Some of the most influential INFJ celebrities include:

• Fyodor Dostoevsky. Fyodor Dostoevsky, the author of Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov, is one of the greatest Russian writers of all time. He is known for his unique ability to delve deep into and accurately portray his characters’ personalities and weave complex storylines with incredible skill.
• Martin Luther King. An American minister and activist, Martin Luther King, was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech has inspired millions of black Americans to fight for equality even decades after his death.
• Carl Jung. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung is considered the father of analytical psychology, whose theories contributed to the development of one of the best-known personality tests in the world—the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).