INFJ (Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging) is the rarest MBTI personality type, which explains why they so often feel misunderstood. This is especially true because the INFJ is a personality defined by contradictions.
Advocates or Protectors, as INFJs are often called, are both perfectionists and relaxed, creative and analytical, logical and emotional. They are also good leaders without intending to be and good at influencing without wanting to. Most impressively, they are people-oriented introverts.
Out of all the MBTI personality types, the INFJ is the most unique as it is the result of a combination of preferences that generally exclude one another.
For starters, there is the judging preference. Judgers prefer things that are well organized, structured, and established and enjoy working with schedules and plans. Nevertheless, INFJs also prefer intuition, which appeals to their creative side and is more focused on abstract possibilities. Then there is the feeling preference which is linked to a personality that makes decisions based on their own system of values, without necessarily having a logical reason behind them.
The primary personality trait of INFJs, however, is introversion which is generally defined by a preference for solitude as social interactions tend to drain their energy. Yet, the combination of introversion with the other three personality traits creates a curious case of introverts who are also people-driven.
Advocates' predominant call is to help others. They are idealists who will stop at nothing to try to improve the world and help other people, whether they are in need or require support to simply fulfill their potential. INFJs are altruists who focus on the future and their goal is to create a better physical and mental environment for everyone, not only for themselves.
They tend to forge deep relationships and be emotionally invested in them, albeit they also need their personal space to recharge their energies.
Their strong will to help others and promote positive changes also qualifies them as potential good leaders, but their introverted nature often makes them reluctant to accept such a role. Instead, they are content with working in the shadows by positively influencing others they deem more suitable to take the spotlight.
INFJs are creative in their problem-solving approach and very strong-willed, which gives them the tendency to become perfectionists although that is not their ultimate goal.
Advocates understand that not everything is black or white. There are several shades in between and unless they are taken into account one can never understand a situation completely.
INFJs assess any situation or decision from a rational point of view but they also reflect on the emotions they might generate for others.
The reason why INFJs feel such an urge to help others might lie in how strongly empathetic they are. Comprehending what other individuals are feeling comes naturally to them. They can forge an empathic connection at first sight or simply through learning someone’s story.
This ability allows them to adjust and adapt their behavior to conform with their audience and to better understand what the situation requires from them. Moreover, their empathy also ensures that they do not meddle more than necessary. They know where the limit stands, both not to drain themselves since they are introverts, and to avoid becoming a burden for others.
Advocates have a clear preference for judging. In other words, they enjoy schedules, plans, structure, and having everything well established.
It is not only a matter of passive preference either. They work actively and are good at planning ahead and at keeping everything well organized.
INFJs are helpers. They are very empathetic and feel the need to support and help others in whichever way they can.
This help can come in the form of supporting a person to achieve their potential, working together with someone who is overwhelmed with tasks, or even engaging in organizations set to improve living conditions. Advocates do not discriminate against any type of problem. Whichever it is, they are ready to help and they put their hearts and soul into it.
Advocates have the ability to read between the lines and to generate abstract possibilities from a given set of data. Since they can go beyond what meets the eye, they tend to be very creative in their problem-solving approach.
People with this personality type often come up with original and unconventional, but rational, solutions to help others.
INFJs are helpers and, as such, they avoid becoming a source of problems for others. This includes steering clear of confrontation as much as possible.
Even if they truly believe that their solution is more efficient and can result in a better outcome or if they perceive that the suggestions of others might give rise to other problems, they tend to comply. Arguing their point could lead to a confrontation, so they much rather accept and brace themselves for possible negative consequences that they will then have to work to fix.
INFJs tend to be carried away in their attempts to help others as much as possible. Their creative side might also be counterproductive on these occasions.
One of the main flaws of Advocates is that they can very easily become idealists to a fault. They set the bar too high and settle for nothing less than the ideal situation they devised. In the end, this idealism might prevent them from achieving important goals and helping someone effectively.
Advocates tend to put others first to the point that they might mold themselves to fit people’s needs and expectations. They remain faithful to their personality inside, but other people might find it hard to get to know their true nature.
This combined with the fact that they avoid confrontation at all costs makes them submissive to the will of others.
People with an INFJ personality type prioritize the needs of others and often forgets about their own. In certain cases, this can lead them to be more in tune with other people’s emotions than their own.
This is also a consequence of their nurturing nature. Their sole goal is to help others. Focusing on their own emotions and problems forces them to channel their energy inwards and go against their nature. Likewise, expressing and accepting their own needs could potentially burden others who might worry.