INTJ: The Architect (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging)

INTJ (introverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging) is one of the 16 personality types identified by a personality assessment called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Sometimes referred to as the "Architect" or the "Strategist," people with INTJ personalities are highly analytical, creative, and logical.1 According to psychologist David Keirsey, developer of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, approximately 1 to 4% of the population has an INTJ personality type. The MBTI is one of the most popular psychological assessments, but critics have argued that it lacks both validity and reliability.2 If you take the MBTI, be sure to use caution when considering the meaning of your results. You can learn more about the INTJ personality in this overview. However, this should not be interpreted as health, psychological, or professional career advice.

Key INTJ Characteristics

  • INTJs tend to be introverted and prefer to work alone.

  • INTJs look at the big picture and like to focus on abstract information rather than concrete details.

  • INTJs place greater emphasis on logic and objective information rather than subjective emotions.

  • INTJs like their world to feel controlled and ordered so they prefer to make plans well in advance.

    • Strengths

    Enjoys theoretical and abstract concepts

    High expectations

    Good at listening

    Takes criticism well

    Self-confident and hard-working

    Weaknesses

    Can be overly analytical and judgmental

    Very perfectionistic

    Dislikes talking about emotions

    Sometimes seems callous or insensitive

    Cognitive Functions

    The MBTI identifies preferences in four key dimensions: 1) Extraversion vs. Introversion, 2) Sensing vs. Intuition, 3) Thinking vs. Feeling and 4) Judging vs. Perceiving. As you can tell by the four-letter acronym, INTJ stands for Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging.

    Based upon psychoanalyst Carl Jung's theory of personality, the MBTI also utilizes what is known as a functional stack in order to understand each personality.3

    Each of the four key functions is either inwardly facing (introverted) or outwardly facing (extroverted). For each personality type, these different cognitive functions combine and interact in a variety of ways.

    Each type possesses a dominant function that sets the tone for that specific personality type. In addition to this dominant function, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior functions play supporting roles in making up the characteristics of an individual's personality.

    INTJs rely on four key cognitive functions:

    Dominant: Introverted Intuition

  • INTJs use introverted intuition to look at patterns, meanings, and possibilities. Rather than simply looking

  • at the concrete facts, they are more interested in what these facts mean.

  • People with this personality type enjoy thinking about the future and exploring possibilities.

  • When remembering events, they may recall impressions more than exact details of what occurred.

  • INTJs are good at "reading between the lines" to figure out what things might really mean.

    • Auxiliary: Extraverted Thinking

  • As a secondary function in the INTJ personality, extroverted thinking leads people to seek order, control, and structure in the world around them.

  • For this reason, INTJs can be very deliberate and methodical when approaching problems.

  • People with this personality type tend to make decisions based on logic. They organize their thoughts in order to see cause-and-effect relationships.

    • Tertiary: Introverted Feeling

  • INTJs use introverted feeling but because it is a tertiary function, they do so to a lesser degree than they use the dominant and auxiliary functions.

  • Those who develop this aspect of their personalities more fully pay greater attention to values and feelings when making decisions.

  • As a result, they may also feel more drawn to people and activities that are well-aligned with their values.

    • Inferior: Extraverted Sensing

  • In INTJs, this tends to be the least developed of their cognitive functions, but it does still exert some influence.

  • This function allows people to experience process information through their senses.

  • When this function is in play, people may feel that they are living in the moment and are energized by the world around them.

    • INTJs You Might Know

    Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President

    C.S. Lewis, Author

    Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor & Politician

    Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings

    Lance Armstrong, Cyclist

    Popular INTJ Careers

    Scientist

    Mathematician

    Engineer

    Dentist

    Doctor

    Teacher

    Judge

    Lawyer

    Tips for Interacting With INTJs

    Friendships

    INTJs tend to be solitary and self-sufficient, so establishing friendships can sometimes be difficult. Because people with this personality type tend to think so much of the future, they may avoid getting to know people because they believe that a long-term friendship will not work out.

    The good news is that while INTJs may not have a lot of friends, they do become very close and committed to those who persist. INTJs tend to prefer friends who are also introverted, rational, and low on emotional drama.6

    Parenting

    INTJ parents tend to be thoughtful and attentive, yet they are typically not highly affectionate. They have high expectations for their kids and offer support by helping kids think logically when faced with decisions. Parents with this type of personality encourage their kids to be self-directed critical thinkers who are capable of solving problems on their own.

    If your child is an INTJ, focus on finding ways to encourage your child's intellectual strengths, but try to find a balance that avoids excessive perfectionism.6 You can also help your child develop their emotional strengths and look for ways to express their feelings.

    Relationships

    Because INTJs can be difficult to get to know, romantic relationships can sometimes falter. If your partner has this personality type, it is important to know that loyalty and understanding are important. Don't be afraid to show that you are dedicated to your INTJ partner, but also don't pressure them to spill their emotions.

    Communication is also critical. Rather than expecting your partner to pick up on your subtle cues, focus on being straight-forward or even blunt about what you expect.