INTJ Personality Type Secret

JOEL MARK WITT: Hey, welcome to Personality Hacker. My name is Joel Mark Witt.

ANTONIA DODGE: And I’m Antonia Dodge.

JOEL MARK WITT: Today we’re talking about the personality type in the Myers-Briggs system, INTJ.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, we’re going to do a bit of a riff. We’re just going to talk about this type a little bit. Now we’ve created other content that goes really deep down into the INTJ personality type. But we wanted to do just kind of an overview of this personality type. Which is also the Perspectives/Effectiveness type, in the Genius System.

Now Perspectives/Effectiveness people, or INTJs in the Myers-Briggs system, can be a bit inscrutable. They are a little bit of a mystery to a lot of different people. There are a couple of components that if you understand this about the INTJ personality type?

You’ll be able to access other components to their type, and get to know them a little bit more. And if you are an INTJ personality, then this should ring true for you.

JOEL MARK WITT: Yeah, and some people have nicknamed this the Mastermind person. You know, this person that can really think deeply about things, and really mastermind. Think tank is another word, or words that come up for the INTJ. Someone that can really let things percolate and come up with brilliant ideas. You know, over time, they can really think through things.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, and one of the reasons why they’re called things like the Mastermind and people reference them as being sort of a walking think tank, is because they really do have exceptional abilities to learn information and truly think in long-range terms.

We call them Perspectives/Effectiveness in the Genius System, because of their ability to perspective shift. And to be able to watch their own mind form patterns, and then be able to watch other peoples’ minds form patterns, is incredible. They’re really able to get inside other peoples’ minds and how they think. They’re able to see long-range into the future and really understand long-range implications for actions.

JOEL MARK WITT: Yeah, I have a friend who is an INTJ, and his ability to see the motivation and the perspective of people. Even people who may not have good intention. Or at least how we would define good intention.

ANTONIA DODGE: Mm-hmm.

JOEL MARK WITT: His ability to say, “This is probably what’s going on for them. This is what they’re probably thinking when they’re doing this behavior. Or acting in this way, or making this choice, or saying this thing.” I’m always blown away with the insight he brings into peoples’ perspective. He’s able to shift perspective into their own mind, basically. And give insight that I’m just wowed by when he talks.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, I would say that this type has a lot of intellectual integrity, for the most part. Not obviously every INTJ is going to be at the same level of health or development. But for the most part, I would say that this type feels that intellectual honesty is very important to them.

They have a high level of integrity and honesty with themselves and with other people. I think they try to be, at least when they’re trying to understand other peoples’ motivations, very egalitarian. Right?

JOEL MARK WITT: Fair-minded.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, very fair-minded. Like everything makes sense to everybody that’s doing it. It’s just a matter of trying to figure out how it makes sense to that person. Now on the flip side, they can also be incredibly judgmental. If somebody is behavior in a stupid way over and over and over again? It’s like the INTJ just gets so frustrated with their ineffectual behavior, that they can be pretty cold and distant.

That’s because the other process that they use the most is a process called Effectiveness. Now effectiveness is really important to this type, because they want to see long-range sustainable implementation of action.

If people are behaving in a very short-sighted way. When they don’t think about things, and think long into the distance about all the implications of their actions? That can be incredibly frustrating to this type.

JOEL MARK WITT: I think explaining things to people is sometimes an energy drain for the INTJ?

ANTONIA DODGE: Mm-hmm.

JOEL MARK WITT: They understand things on a fundamental level, that’s pretty sophisticated. If an INTJ is talking to a person that is kind of keeping things on a surface level of understanding, or they’re not wanting to try to really understand what the person is saying. I believe it feels like an energy drain for the INTJ person.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah.

JOEL MARK WITT: They feel like it might not be worth my time to try to explain this. It’s just going to be an energy drain, they’re not going to understand anyway. They probably have a tendency to cut off explanations, or really helping people understand things sometimes, because it’s just such a drain on them. To try to communicate when people aren’t making the effort, in their minds, to meet them halfway.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, and so there can be a tendency to withhold information, if they think that their audience isn’t going to be able to understand it? But I think the number one thing that can screw an INTJ up, is inactivity, or inaction. Because they think so powerfully, and they have such strong concepts and ideas. To stay in the realm of conceptualizing is really pretty attractive for an INTJ.

JOEL MARK WITT: It’s comfortable.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, it’s really comfortable, because that’s their sandbox. What the world really needs, as far as I’m concerned, if you are an INTJ, is the ability to bring these ideas to the rest of everybody else. To be able to bring them out into the world.

We highly recommend that if you want tips and tricks on how to do that, and how to become the best version of yourself? There is a premium version of the Genius Style Assessment. If you need to go figure out if you’re an INTJ. If you’ve already taken the Genius Style Assessment, then strongly consider getting the premium content that comes along with it. It really gives you this sort of zoomed in and zoomed out. This granular perspective on exactly what’s going on with your type. And more of a zoomed out holistic perspective on how all of these parts of who you are kind of interplay with each other?

We recommend it for any INTJ who is really looking for some motivation, to bring their best self forward. We want that to be the case, because there are so many incredible ideas inside an INTJ’s mind? That we would love to be able to see them out in the world, where everybody can benefit from them.

Or at least have them vetted, right? At least have them play out so we can take those concepts, and all create an infrastructure that is long-range and sustainable.

JOEL MARK WITT: I love talking to INTJs, because they always help me refine my ideas.

ANTONIA DODGE: Oh, totally.

JOEL MARK WITT: I love talking to an INTJ, giving them an idea. Saying, “What do you think about this?” And usually I’ll get the feedback, “Well let me think about that.” About three to five days later, they’ll come back and say, “Now I was thinking about what you were saying, and here’s an idea I have for you.” It’s typically brilliant. I’m always like, “How? That’s amazing! How does your brain work like that? That’s incredible.”

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, absolutely.

JOEL MARK WITT: What do you think a secret is that people don’t know about INTJs? What do you think it is that, something about the INTJ personality that most people wouldn’t realize? Or maybe even INTJs themselves wouldn’t realize?

ANTONIA DODGE: Oh, I think INTJs realize this about themselves.

JOEL MARK WITT: OK, what is it?

ANTONIA DODGE: I would say the number one “secret,” is just how sensitive INTJs can be. I mean sensitive in the sense that they have very sensitive instruments. Sort of like an antenna. That I’ve had to explain like a raw nerve, like a raw tooth nerve maybe?

Where they pick up really subtle things, that other people don’t realize they pick up. Because they have the ability to distance themselves from it emotionally? But sometimes they can’t. Sometimes it hits right into the center of who they are. And they are surprisingly sensitive themselves, and then when they’re interacting with another person.

In fact, if they have allowed you in, to the inner sanctum of who they are. If they’ve invited you into their hearts?

JOEL MARK WITT: Yeah.

ANTONIA DODGE: You can do massive damage while you’re there. Because the INTJ is very, very sensitive to the people that they love. And I don’t think they let on about that.

JOEL MARK WITT: Yeah.

ANTONIA DODGE: I don’t think they want people to know that. Joel Mark Witt: It’s dangerous, right? Antonia Dodge: Yeah, exactly.

JOEL MARK WITT: Let down that hard shell, let somebody in. That could be a lot of damage someone could do.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, absolutely. I think that the number one secret, for those of you who are INTJs, you know this about yourself. For those of you who are not INTJs, it’s really important to never exploit this component of who they are. To never be willing to be deliberately hurtful.

Because to an INTJ, you can do some serious damage, and I think they know that. That’s one of the reasons why they naturally have to keep a little bit of distance from people, until they’ve invited them into their inner sanctum. I’d say that’s probably the number one secret.

JOEL MARK WITT: Cool. Well, if you’re an INTJ, let us know what you think. And also, like Antonia said, take the Genius Assessment, either the free or the premium version. And find out a little bit more about your personality.

ANTONIA DODGE: Yeah, and thanks for joining us on this riff on the INTJ personality type.

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13 comments

  • dimpi vaid
    • dimpi vaid
    • August 31, 2020 at 2:17 pm

    Hey,
    I’ve recently got to know about my personality type, that is INTJ, it kind of explains a lot about my personality. All
    i could find is relationship advise, because INTJs are not good at them. However I am a university student even though I have very few close friends they are enough for me for now. However the problem I face is in communicating my ideas to other. I feel that I have abstract idea that I am sure is a solution however I am not able to articulate my idea immediately. Also It would be great to get some advice regarding INTJ students.
    Thank you.

  • Marcia
    • Marcia
    • May 30, 2018 at 10:02 pm

    O…M…G… That is so true. INJT types appear cold, remote and unemotional. They are quite standoffish but deep inside is a soft, chewy center. My husband, an ESTJ, does not believe it when it when I say I am highly sensitive. He has a very loud voice and in 28 years I have not gotten him to realize this upsets me. His total lack of empathy and compassion is very low. I just get so frustrated at times. But at a higher level, he takes care of me and is very protective. He listens to me pontificate but never engages me in the discussion. It’s a true learning experience to be an IN married to an SJ.

  • Kila
    • Kila
    • March 9, 2016 at 2:54 am

    This is so interesting to me. I first learned my personality type about six years ago (my mid 30’s) , and this information would of been so helpful in my understanding and accepting myself at a younger age, also in my marriage and other relationships. I always felt something was wrong with me because I couldn’t cry or make a scene in public when I was upset or hurt like many, I felt like everyone expected it of me in certain circumstances, but it didn’t happen and so I was perceived as cold or unfeeling. I’d usually just walk away, often permanently, usually due to frustrations mentioned in your video above. However, I did my processing (and crying) in private. I’m not big on excuses, due to personality type or other reasons, for negative or hurtful behavior, but the information is so useful as a tool in nurturing strengths and cultivating traits that may be weaknesses.

  • Charis Branson
    • Charis Branson
    • January 18, 2016 at 7:44 am

    Thanks for the comment, Adam. I’m sorry for your recent loss.

  • Adam lay
    • Adam lay
    • January 18, 2016 at 7:15 am

    One of the biggest issues for me as an INTJ is definitely letting anyone in whether it be friends, family, or romantically. For example my husky I have spent all 18 years of my life with died the day after Christmas and I shut down, retreating into my exoskeleton till I was alone, I then proceeded to cry for 4 hrs straight by my self. I don’t know what trigred it if any thing did at all but I have developed a crippling fear of rejection and failure. Another problem is that its not easy always being the smartest person in the room, people often try to exploit my knowledge, I get tired of people acting friendly then diapering when the job is done. I do however live for the moment I get to spout of a random fact that know one else knows. I often get remarks like ( how do you know all this ) after talking about things such as the wormhole theroy, which gives me great personal satisfaction. Thought there are some serious down sides I would not trade the brilliant intellectual abilities I poses for anything in the world. I just hope I can grow and improve my weekneses to become the best I can be.

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