Does Enneagram Type Change How An INFJ Will Behave?

Listen To The "10 Minute Type Advice" Episode: Does Enneagram Type Change How An INFJ Will Behave?

Have you ever met another INFJ and thought, “We’re supposed to think the same way, but why don’t we seem to connect?” You may both identify as INFJs, share the same cognitive functions, and even see the world through a similar lens—yet something feels… off.

For many INFJs, this disconnect leads to a deeper question: Does my Enneagram type influence my behavior and personal development more than my INFJ wiring? If so, how can I use this insight to better understand myself and others?

This blog post will unpack how Enneagram type impacts the behavior and expression of INFJs, explain why two INFJs can feel so different, and offer actionable tools to integrate both personality frameworks into your personal development journey.

INFJ Personality & Personal Development: A Quick Refresher

As an INFJ, your personal development is shaped by your cognitive functions, which Personality Hacker explains through the Car Model framework:

• Driver (Dominant Function): Introverted Intuition (Perspectives)
  Your strongest function focuses on seeing patterns, future possibilities, and deeper meanings. It’s what fuels your personal development by uncovering insights about yourself and the world.

• Copilot (Auxiliary Function): Extraverted Feeling (Harmony)
  This function prioritizes understanding the emotional needs of others and creating harmony. It’s key to developing emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.

• 10-Year-Old (Tertiary Function): Introverted Thinking (Accuracy)
  While less developed, this function helps you analyze situations logically, adding clarity to your self-growth process and enhancing your personal development.

• 3-Year-Old (Inferior Function): Extraverted Sensing (Sensation)
  Your weakest function draws you into the present moment and sensory world. Strengthening this function brings balance to your personality and fosters personal development through mindfulness.

This cognitive framework explains how INFJs process information and make decisions. But it doesn’t fully explain why some INFJs are more assertive, reserved, emotionally intense, or conflict-avoidant.

The Enneagram & Personal Development: Why INFJs Behave Differently

The Enneagram is a personality system that identifies nine core types based on motivations, fears, and desires. While Myers-Briggs explains how you think, the Enneagram reveals why you behave the way you do.

Take two INFJs:

• An INFJ with Enneagram Type 9 (The Peacemaker) likely uses Extraverted Feeling (Harmony) to avoid conflict and maintain peace. They may struggle with assertiveness and prioritizing their own needs in their personal development.

• An INFJ with Enneagram Type 4 (The Individualist) may use Harmony to create deep, authentic connections but struggle with emotional intensity and self-doubt on their growth journey.

In both cases, the cognitive functions remain the same, but Enneagram motivations add unique layers to an INFJ’s behavior.

Why Two INFJs Can Behave So Differently in Their Personal Development

1. The Enneagram Colors Your Core Motivations

While all INFJs share the same cognitive wiring, the Enneagram adds an emotional lens that shapes your behavior.

For example:

• A Type 9 INFJ may use Harmony to prioritize others over themselves, often at the expense of their own needs.

• A Type 8 INFJ (The Challenger) may use Harmony to stand up for themselves and others, even if it leads to conflict.

2. Life Experiences Shape Cognitive Function Development

How your cognitive functions express themselves depends on life experiences. Two INFJs with similar wiring might approach personal development differently based on their upbringing, culture, and key life events.

3. Personal Growth & Development Journey

Your level of personal development also determines how your personality unfolds.

For example:

• A Type 9 INFJ early in their self-growth journey might struggle with assertiveness.

• A Type 9 INFJ further along in their personal development may have learned to set boundaries and advocate for themselves.

Does Enneagram Have More Influence Than Cognitive Functions?

In the podcast, Antonia Dodge and Joel Mark Witt tackle this question: Is Enneagram more influential than cognitive functions?

Their answer? Yes—and no.

Antonia likens personality to a system with multiple layers. Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, life experiences, and even cultural influences all play a role in your personal development.

Depending on where you are in your growth journey, one system may feel more dominant:

• If you’re working on an Enneagram challenge (e.g., learning to assert yourself as a Type 9), Enneagram may feel more relevant.

• However, your cognitive functions remain the foundation of how you process information and navigate the world.

Rather than viewing these frameworks as competing systems, the best approach is to integrate both for a more complete understanding of yourself.

Personal Development Tips for INFJs Exploring the Enneagram

1. Identify Your Core Motivations

Reflect on your Enneagram type and how it influences your INFJ tendencies. Ask yourself:

• What drives my decisions and actions?

• Are there fears or desires that shape how I use Extraverted Feeling (Harmony) or Introverted Intuition (Perspectives)?

2. Balance Cognitive Functions & Enneagram Growth

• If you’re a Type 9 INFJ, lean into your Copilot (Extraverted Feeling) to assert your needs and create harmony that includes you.

• If you’re a Type 4 INFJ, use your Driver (Introverted Intuition) to channel emotional depth into meaningful insights instead of self-doubt.

3. Embrace the Diversity Within INFJs

Recognize that INFJs are not a monolith. Your personal development is shaped by more than just your Myers-Briggs type—it’s an evolving journey influenced by Enneagram, life experiences, and growth efforts.

Final Thoughts: The INFJ Personal Development Journey

It’s easy to assume that sharing a personality type means you’ll relate deeply to someone. But INFJs, like all types, are more than their cognitive functions. Your Enneagram type, experiences, and self-growth path create a unique version of INFJ that is entirely your own.

So, does your Enneagram type change how you behave as an INFJ? Absolutely. But rather than seeing it as a conflict, embrace it as a tool for deeper self-awareness and personal development.

Reflective Question:

How has your Enneagram type influenced your personal development as an INFJ? Have you found ways to integrate both frameworks in your growth journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

For more resources on personal development and personality frameworks, visit Personality Hacker. Explore our programs designed to help you understand your mind, improve relationships, and create a fulfilling life!