INTJ

INTJ (Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging) is one of the sixteen personality types from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Referring to Keirsey, INTJs belong to the temperament of the rationals and are called Masterminds. The INTJ may also be referred to as "the scientist."

INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake... INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play... Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel... This happens in part because many INTJs do not readily grasp the social rituals... Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense. - Marina Margaret Heiss, University of Virginia

Myers-Briggs characteristics
According to Myers-Briggs, INTJs are very analytical individuals. Like INTPs, they are more comfortable working alone than with other people, and are not usually as sociable as others, although they are prepared to take the lead if nobody else is up to the task, or they see a major weakness in the current leadership. They tend to be very pragmatic and logical individuals, often with an individualistic bent and a low tolerance for spin or rampant emotionalism. They are also commonly not succeptible to catchphrase and commonly do not recognize authority based on tradition, rank or title.

INTJs are strong individualists who seek new angles or novel ways of looking at things. They enjoy coming to new understandings. They are insightful and mentally quick; however, this mental quickness may not always be outwardly apparent to others since they keep a great deal to themselves. They are very determined people who trust their vision of the possibilities, regardless of what others think. They may even be considered the most independent of all of the sixteen personality types. INTJs are at their best in quietly and firmly developing their ideas, theories, and principles. - Sandra Krebs Hirsch and Jean Kummerow

Hallmark features of the INTJ personality type include independence of thought, strong individualism and creativity. Persons with this personality type work best given large amounts of autonomy and creative freedom. They harbor an innate desire to express themselves; that is to be creative by conceptualizing their own intellectual designs. Analyzing and formulating complex theories are among their greatest strengths. INTJs tend to be well-suited for occupations within academia, research, management, engineering and law. Differentiating the INTJ personality type from the related INTP type is their confidence. They tend to be acutely aware of their knowledge and abilities. Thus, they develop a strong confidence in their ability and talents, making them "natural leaders." It is this confidence that makes this personality type extremely rare. According to David Keirsey it is found in no more than 1% of the population.

In forming relationships, INTJs tend to seek out others with similar character traits and ideologies. Agreement on theoretical concept is an important aspect of a relationship. By nature INTJs tend to be demanding in their expectations and approach relationships in a very rational manner. As a result, an INTJ may not always respond to a naturally occurring infatuation but wait for a mate who better fits his or her set criteria. Persons with this personality type are very stable, reliable and dedicated. Harmony in relationships and home life tends to be extremely important to the INTJ. He or she tends to withhold strong emotion and does not like to "waste" time with irrational social rituals. This, however, may cause non-INTJs to perceive him or her as distant and reserved.

Keirsey characteristics
According to Keirsey, INTJs, or "Mastermind Rationals", are natural strategists, better than any other type at brainstorming approaches to situations. They are natural, but not eager, leaders, only stepping forward when it becomes obvious to them that they are the best for the job. Strong-willed and very self-assured, they may make this decision quickly, as they tend to make all decisions. But though they are decisive, they are always open-minded to new evidence and new ideas, flexible in their planning to accommodate changing situations. They are excellent at judging the usefulness of ideas and will apply whatever seems most efficient to them in accomplishing their clearly envisioned goals. To INTJs, what matters is getting it done, and they have a tendency to give little thought to personal cost in getting there.

Distinguished INTJs
According to Marina Margaret Heiss at the University of Virginia, the following distinguished individuals have or had INTJ personalities:
 * Friedrich Nietzsche
 * Caesar Augustus (Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus)
 * Hannibal (Carthaginian Military Leader)
 * Stephen Hawking
 * Niels Bohr
 * Peter the Great
 * John Maynard Keynes
 * Lise Meitner
 * Ayn Rand
 * Isaac Newton
 * Osama Bin Laden
 * Rudy Giuliani, ex-New York City mayor
 * Donald Rumsfeld, ex-U.S. Secretary of Defense
 * General Colin Powell, ex-U.S. Secretary of State
 * Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California
 * Michael Dukakis, ex-Governor of Massachusetts, 1988 U.S. Democratic presidential candidate
 * Susan B. Anthony, civil rights pioneer

Presidents:
 * Thomas Jefferson
 * James K. Polk
 * Ulysses S. Grant
 * Chester A. Arthur
 * Woodrow Wilson
 * Calvin Coolidge
 * Dwight D. Eisenhower
 * John F. Kennedy

Fictional:
 * Cassius
 * Mr. Darcy
 * Batman
 * Gandalf the Grey
 * Hannibal Lecter
 * Professor Moriarty
 * Ensign Ro
 * Rosencrantz
 * George Smiley
 * Clarice Starling

MBTI cognitive functions
The attributes of each personality form a hierarchy. This represents the person's "default" pattern of behavior in their day to day life. The Dominant is the personality type's preferred role, the task they feel most comfortable with. The auxiliary function is the role they feel the next most comfortable with. It serves to support and expand on the dominant function. One of these first two will always be an information gathering function (sensing or intuition) and the other will be a decision making function(thinking or feeling) in some order. The tertiary function is less developed than the Dominant and Auxiliary functions, but develops as the person matures and provides roundness of ability. The inferior function is the personality type's Achilles' heel. This is the function they are least comfortable with. Like the tertiary function, this function strengthens with maturity.


 * Dominant Introverted Intuition
 * Auxiliary Extroverted Thinking
 * Tertiary Introverted Feeling
 * inferior Extroverted Sensing

Resources

 * Mastermind Rational
 * http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/
 * http://typelogic.com/intj.html
 * Keirsey Temperament and Character The Web Site for the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and Keirsey Temperament Theory.
 * http://www.mypersonality.info/personality-types/intj/