Snapshot

The INFJ theme is foresight.  They use their insights to deal with complexity in issues and people, often with a strong sense of "knowing" before others know themselves.  Their talents lie in developing and guiding people.  They trust their inspirations and visions, using them to help others.  They thrive on helping others resolve deep personal and ethical dilemmas.  Private and complex, they bring a quiet enthusiasm and industry to projects that are part of their vision.

Foreseer Developer - INFJ

The quest for more knowledge, the meaning of life, the philosophical questions—my mind is always occupied, and what’s exciting is when I get to follow through with an insight and do something.  I am an abstract future thinker, looking at things from different perspectives.  I’m about the relationships and possibilities and enjoy anything with deeper meaning that leaves me wondering, with more questions to ask and things to untangle.  Connecting for me means being able to intuitively ask questions of people to get them to go deeper into the things they are talking about.

Inspiring others, helping them find their purpose or meaning, being a different kind of leader from what’s traditional—that’s really gratifying.  I just do that naturally.  The challenge is opening up people’s minds to have their own original thoughts.  I’m a listener and guide.  

I think I am a mystery to people.  They never really understand me and part of me enjoys that.  More often though, I long to be understood.

I tend to approach my day with a structured way of getting things accomplished.  People see me as organized, thorough, and easy to get along with, pulling my own weight and eager to help out when called upon.  But I’m not as outgoing or as critical as I may sometimes appear.  I need a balance between people contact and working on creative projects and will break away from interactions when I get tired out.  If I don’t have some long-term goals, then what’s the point?

I tend to intuitively read people very quickly, but I have to be cautious not to make assumptions.  I’m an observer.  I get a feeling when people are interesting, and I watch from a distance, make some assessments about the situation, and then approach them and engage in conversation.  I put a little bit out and a little more and see how that goes.  Do I trust and like them, are they who they say?  I have a few deep friendships.  A friendship comes best when it is worked to develop that investment.  I quickly pick up on sincerity and withdraw if the person is superficial or obviously doesn’t care.  When I see people who abuse their power or won’t stand behind what they say, that ticks me off.  It’s about integrity.  I feel other people’s feelings, and taking on that burden can make me too intense and serious, where I can’t be spontaneous and fun loving.

.....Read more....

Reprinted with permission. (Copyright© 1999) Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi. The 16 Personality Types: Descriptions for Self-Discovery (Telos Publications. Huntington Beach, Calif., 1999). Reproduction.

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The Sandra Hirsh Description

Last time I looked, the Hirsh description was posted here.

The Charles Martin Description

For INFJs the dominant quality in their lives is their attention to the inner world of possibilities, ideas, and symbols. Knowing by way of insight is paramount for them, and they often manifest a deep concern for people and relationships as well. INFJs often have deep interests in creative expressions as well as issues of spirituality and human development. While their energy and attention are naturally drawn to the inner world of ideas and insights, what people often first encounter with INFJs is their drive for closure and for the application of their ideas to people’s concerns.

The Roger Pearman Description

INFJs seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships, and material possessions.  Want to understand what motivates people and are insightful about others.  Conscientious and committed to their firm values.  Develop a clear vision about how best to serve the common good.  Organized and decisive in implementing their vision.

From the Guardians of the MBTI

Their brief description is here.

From CAPT

Their brief description is here.

The "Live Your Calling" description

For INFJs... the dominant quality in their lives is their attention to the inner world of possibilities, ideas, and symbols. Knowing by way of insight is paramount for them, and they often manifest a deep concern for people and relationships as well. INFJs often have deep interests in creative expression as well as issues of spirituality and human development. Although their energy and attention are naturally drawn to the inner world of ideas and insights, what people first encounter with INFJs is likely to be their drive for closure and for application of their ideas to people's concerns.

INFJs are most likely to find interesting and satisfying those careers that make use of their depth of concentration, grasp of abilities, warmth and empathy, and ability to organize. INFJs are often found in careers where creativity and facilitating human development are primary activities. Their orientation to people, confidence in their insights into the nature of things and people, and fertile imagination often attract them to careers where they can draw out the possibilities in others. These same qualities can also lead to exceptional empathic abilities.

The Keirsey Description

Last time I looked, it was posted here.  (My problem with this description is that Dr. Keirsey's wife's preferences are for INFJ, so this is a particularly "loving" description.  I dislike his emphasis on rarity and ESP, because these mentions attract people for all the wrong reasons, as does the part about feeling misunderstood.  With its vagueness, this description tends to be a magnet for INFPs, and it doesn't emphasize the directing/informing distinction found elsewhere in Keirsey's work.)

16Types University "Short Version":

FORESEER DEVELOPER - INFJ
Personal growth. Sustain the vision. Honoring the gifts of others. Taking a creative approach to life. Talent for foreseeing. Exploring issues. Bridge differences and connect people. Practical problem solving. Live with a sense of purpose. Living an idealistic life often presents them with a great deal of stress and a need to withdraw.

From Understanding Your MBTI Step II Results:

INFJs tend to

• be quietly forceful, intense and conscientious

• be concerned for others

• work with perseverance and originality

• be motivated by a larger purpose or mission they want to accomplish

• be respected for their clear convictions regarding how to serve the common good
  

Note: All descriptions are not created equal!  I have not included descriptions I find fault with or that I feel have serious drawbacks.

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