What is an INFJ?
Out of the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types, INFJ type is most rare. These unique snowflakes of the personality spectrum make up less than 1% of the population. This leads many INFJs to feel misunderstood.
Common INFJ traits:
- Feel the need to make a difference in the world
- Very good at reading between the lines
- Friendly and personable, but also introverted
- Intensely introspective, INFJs tend to overthink
- Prone to burnout and overwhelm because they put others first
- Empathetic and compassionate
A New Place For INFJs
It can be lonely being the rarest personality type in the world – but it doesn’t have to be. Join our community, and feel connected to other INFJs who get you.
If you’re interested in connecting with other INFJs from around the world, join Introvert Spring’s private INFJ forum. We are truly a buzzing community! You’ll gain access to unique and 100% private discussions, INFJ blog posts, member events, and videos.
Hi Micheala,
I read a few of your articles, and I’ve noticed you seem to imply that innies are solely INFJs (advocate), as if that specific archetype was the only one capable of wearing the introvert mantle. I know I’m an introvert, I feel everything you’ve described. Having done the personality test a few times throughout the years, I can tell you that although I’ve scored as an advocate archtype once or twice, more often I’ve been identified as an INTJ (architect) which is equally rare. So I’d like to know why you only focus on the advocate archtype (besides the obvious fact that you must be an INFJ)?
I can connect with everyone but no one connects with me and I would connect through feeling I can feel what there are saying and say what there feeling , but I would think why am I the only one that doesn’t think it’s cool to be cruel , no matter how hard I try I just don’t fit in , it must be so true about rarest type because in all the pubs house party’s groups of friends I have found no one like me , only people I found like me are fictional characters in books and films and I feel closer to them than anyone else ha , I think there comes a time though when you just have to stop tryin or Caring and just go your own way .
Yeah.. i know your feelings..
Social skills don’t come natural for INFJ, it has to be developed. I spent countless years in that same frame of mind until I realized that people didn’t like me because I wasn’t making myself likable. I had to learn better verbal skills to have the ability to express all of the brilliant ideas I have in a way that it gets me what I want out of life…the down-side that I found out after developing these skills is that now I’m more intimidating to people, yet like by just about everyone…and now I see that I don’t like most people. But it’s still good to have those skills, they put you ahead of everyone else by a long shot.
Is this why I feel like an alien on this earth? I heard a song a while back and the lyrics were “ i don’t belong on this world anymore” and I thought that’s me!
If anyone talks to me about someone being cruel, especially to animals and children, I have to ask them to stop. If they don’t I walk away.
I don’t have many friends and they want to tell me all their lives & troubles etc but no-one asks me about my life. I prefer animals to people.
I can’t not help anyone in need, although I could never ask fot help for myself. I dread social gatherings and will back out at the slightest excuse. If I ring anyone the 1st thing I say is “am I disturbing you?” So they have a chance to get out of a talk. Bloody hell, I sound awful don’t I but I can only be honest.
so, my type INFJ is the rarest…? wow
Don’t buy into that. I am an INFJ too. There isn’t any substantial evidence to support this theory. At the end of the day does it matter?
Agree, and the last survey based on it was created decades ago so it could be more common nowadays but either way, it doesn’t matter whether its rare or not.
Actually it does matter because knowing the rarity of your personality type give you validation of all weird feelings and thoughts that you weren’t like everyone else because of the way we process information and perceive things. It also validates why we feel so alien…now we know.
This could just be part of Autism. I have Aspergers, and all the traits this INFJ have are just traits of Autism.
It probably does matter (self knowledge) if you repeatedly find yourself in jobs that do not fit with “who you are” – knowing oneself is very powerful, and gives you tools to navigate through life a bit easier.
Does it matter? Depends on if you think it matters – Well let me tell you that it has allowed me to teach others how to love themselves and I think that, on a global scale, does matter. Loving oneself (finding happiness internally rather than externally) and teaching peace in this world has no pricetag.
Finding out what you are good at, and how you make a difference in the world is paramount since that is why we are here.
I completely agree! In fact, the whole reason why I took the personality type test in the first place, was to try to find out what I should be when I grow up (I’m mid thirties and still do not know what I want to be). I have numerous certifications, credentials, diplomas, and endorsements, as well as two trades, in just as many fields, yet I still do not feel satisfied career-wise :/
I think it did help me to learn that my type feels that it doesn’t fit in and is rare, even though people don’t have a clue about it and they think we are like them because we completely get them and understand them.
Surrounding by friends and family, sometimes I do feel they don’t get me, but I choose God as my best friend and he is the only one that truly knows me.
It’s good to know that I’m not the only one thinking in abstract questions and that we don’t have the small talking gene, but we pretend we have it when is necessary, haha.
Also knowing for what I’m good is been vital in my writer career.
Hi my names Anthony I recently found out, I am this personality type by the personality test, I’m a bit how can I say it sceptical by nature,and I want to be sure I really fit before overtalking so I will ask if other INFJ’s have a common traits to mine.
1)You hate the fact people suffer in the world, It’s just not just helping people, you wish there weren’t directly all the problems humanity has to face, and has been facing unsucessfuly for the past century, I don’t really care if I resolve theese type of problems or someone else does but really wish on having and applying the solutions, and pass a lot of time on thinking about solutions, you know you can’t apply just by yourself, you just wish there weren’t any problems to begin with, the solutions you search for are permanent. To better explain myself you teach people to fish and not just give them a fish to eat, you know thats only a partial solution, you will of course help even in that way, but you just know it’s irrelevant
2) Have trouble socializing, it’s hard for you to trust people because you,
because you feel people will just trick you, don’t understand you at all, or just not be on the same frequence, it’s almost like a sixth sense stuff, you can tell peoples intentions and emotions quite easily, and once people lose trust from you it’s gone, you might even try t forgive but trust lost stays lost. I feel like no one can literaly undertand me, specially how I think and tend to resolve stuff, sometimes i just feel stuff, like if a road is right ot wrong, How to do something or even how people behaviors will evolve and rarely theese perceptions miss.
3) even on a game war-based as chess, you don’t think just about wining but about how to get there saving most pieces possibile, if sun tsu should describe a INFJS commander weakness it would be overcaring, If I had to command a military unit, thank god i don’t worries would make me go nuts, probably would avoid making my team mates fight in the first place, maybe even risking geting killed since my main option would be capture of the opponent rather than lethal soultions
4) tend to have up and down, but mostly downs, low energy moral to piecies, confidence going up and down, never to sure, but never in total panic, always with a back up plan, that you hope will get the job done with out trouble for you or others, I am rarely happy or sadisfied of myself or others, and tend to continously try to grow my personal skills, and seek my weakness to reduce them, if I have a team I try to apply the same principle helping others grow more than I would do for my ownself, and giving all I can to the team and for the team, If I have to lead I would lead by example, guys follow me, although If I see someone more fit for the job, have no problem giving him my spot, hate conflict but that doesn’t mean I don’t prepare for it, and to get out with the least damage for me and others least possibile. Having always more than one answer for the same problem, is part of my way of dealing with things
have more will continue later gotta run to work I know is little but I think people can get an idea if I really fit or not
Oh Anthony, if you need confirmation that the traits you describe are strong INFJ traits, please let me second your emotions wholeheartedly! I am 61 and just recently found out I rate very strong as an INFJ. I don’t like being a leader but will quickly assert myself if the group and situation are at risk of failure. Now, with my new knowledge of myself, I think it’s kind of funny that people don’t get me no matter how well I get them. It used to really scare me. All my life I have suffered from existential depression and social anxiety. One psychologist calls it a condition, not a mental illness! I that think that’s funny too! I just try to be grateful for the lessons and thankful for the struggle! Savor every secret. We can’t always choose our media, but sometimes it’s the toolkit that really matters!
That’s me!