For decades, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) remained hailed as the self-discovery tool that helped people unleash their personality mechanics.
Of its 16 personality types, the INFJ — also known as the Advocate or Counselor — is the rarest and often the most notoriously mysterious type.
But while these 16 categories provide a good foundation, even the makers of MBTI acknowledged that they don’t go very deep. To explore the granularity of personality, they added subtypes.
INFJ Identity Aspects #
A relatively straightforward introduction to INFJ subtypes is to frame it from the context of Identity Aspects, first introduced by the 16Personalities approach. These two are the Assertive INFJ (INFJ-A) and Turbulent INFJ (INFJ-T).
INFJ-A: The Assertive Advocate #
The Assertive INFJ is one who must self-validate and have faith in themselves. They generally face life’s challenges with calm resolve, rarely second-guessing themselves.
They prioritize their own opinions and are less inclined to seek approval from others. This stability frequently enables them to take risks in their personal and professional lives.
INFJ-T: The Turbulent Advocate #
The Turbulent Advocate is a more reflective and critical version. With these turnings, turbulent INFJs can be very self-critical, constantly looking back at their actions and forward at their choices.
This self-examination can make them extremely understanding but also vulnerable to anxiety and overanalysis. They’re motivated by a need for growth and improvement, which can foster deep personal development.
The two subtypes are differentiated by how they react to internal and external pressures. Understanding if you, or someone you know, is an INFJ-A or INFJ-T, gives you good knowledge about how these types deal with stress, or how confident or motivated they are.
Four INFJ subtypes by Dario Nardi #
If Everybody Knows About the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Why Is It So Unpractical? In the mid-1990s, Dario Nardi, a foremost authority in personality neuroscience, pioneered a totally fresh way of looking at personality subtypes.
He used brain imaging studies to find unique strategies used to distribute mental energy among family types. He classified INFJs into four subtypes depending on where they place their emphasis on cognitive functions and how they spread their energy: Dominant, Creative, Normalizing, and Harmonizing.
These are different aspects of being an INFJ, and the INFJ in each of these sites may lean with varying degrees toward structure, intuition, and emotion, and tend to work on being relational. Here’s a closer look at each.
The Dominant INFJ: Bold Educator #
Dominant INFJ: A Force of Nature They are self-assured and charming people, and typically they end up in management or as instructors. They’re visionaries who take their intuitive insights and build out actionable plans.
Their extroverted feeling (Fe) function enables them to bond with people and rally groups of people, while their introverted intuition (Ni) provides the clarity to develop a vision of long-term goals.
However, the strength of this subtype is also its weakness. Because of this, Dominant INFJs can lose themselves in their vision and neglect relationships, or even their own self-care in favour of achieving it.
They often come across as arrogant simply because their conviction can be austere and often too high-level for any given group to fathom. Yet their capacity to express thoughts and set an example rendered their contributions crucial in education, activism, and community leadership, among others.
The Creative INFJ: Passionate Creator #
The Creative INFJ is an ideal person living in a world of possibilities. They are intuitive and curious and greatly enjoy exploring novel concepts and synthesizing intricate ideas into meaningful wholes.
This subtype usually makes its dwelling in the arts: they are writers, musicians, designers, etc. The work that comes from their Ni and Fe functions working together is profoundly emotional and privately intellectual (whether it’s true or not).
But that same creative impulse can also render everyday tasks and routines challenging. More creative INFJs can have difficulty with everyday tasks since they are often distracted by their empty page-seeking inspiration.
Nardi cites their starburst brain activity pattern, as suggesting their talent for lateral thinking and ability to find connections where none are apparent to others. For the Creative INFJ, beauty, and meaning are never-ending pursuits.
The Normalizing INFJ: Enduring Associate #
The Normalizing INFJ is practical and solid, providing a stabilizing influence. Unlike their more visionary counterparts, they are effective at bringing structure and order into their lives and the lives around them.
They’re good at integrating conventional wisdom with their unique insights and are dependable team players and family pillars.
This is why normalizing INFJs care so much about how much you do in the world. They’re often attracted to a patient, persisting work, like counseling, project management, or healthcare.
Although they may not have the fire of spontaneity found in other subtypes, their dedication to their aims and partners guarantees long-term victory.
This subtype provides a down-to-earth perspective of what it means to be INFJ.
The Harmonizing INFJ: Prophetic Counselor #
The Harmonizing INFJ is the true empath and the archetype that paints the picture of the “perfect” type. Earthily contemplative, they’re masters of holding space for others and sharing insights that are both emotional and intellectual in wisdom.
This subtype has a strong synergy between their Ni functions and Fe functions, allowing them to work with complex social structures and give transformational guidance. Their empathy is what makes them great advisors, but it also leaves them susceptible to emotional overload.
INFJs in harmony can have a difficult time having clear boundaries, allowing them to take on energy and emotions present in their surroundings. They often make great counselors, spiritual guides, or diplomats, as they excel in one-on-one situations in which they can make a difference.
INFJ Subtypes based on Enneagram #
The Enneagram system adds another dimension to INFJ subtypes. This model classifies personalities according to motivation based on core fears and desires, a useful motivational perspective that complements the cognitive perspectives offered by MBTI.
Good enough then — but not widely utilized by the more MBTI-minded folks out there — it shines some light on those who want the fray for underpinnings of INFJs the emotionally and psych internally.
INFJ Type 1: The Reformer #
The INFJ Reformers are principled and justice-seeking. They are fighting for a better world, often through activism or systemic change. Their perfectionism may propel them to great heights, but can also lead to burnout if left unchecked.
This subtype’s concern for integrity dovetails with the INFJ’s inclination toward altruism, making them potent change agents.
INFJ Type 2: The Helper #
Fulfilling, warm, and caring, INFJ Helpers bring others to the top. This is consistent with their Fe function, which helps them construct deeper ties between people in their lives.
Yet, their desire to help can sometimes cause them to overextend themselves or even ignore their own needs in the process.
INFJ type 4: the Individualist #
INFJ Individualists are creative and introspective; they express their feelings through art or philosophy. They are highly in touch with their inner world, relying on it as a source of inspiration.
The increased sensitivity of this subtype can make them vulnerable to feelings of alienation, but it also drives their unique perspective of life.
INFJ Type 5: The Investigator #
The Investigator INFJs are cerebral and inquisitive, exploring topics to the depths of their being. They are often able to synthesize complex ideas and may develop revolutionary breakthroughs in theoretical or academic areas. Still, they have trouble nurturing intimacy due to their withdrawal tendency.
INFJ Type 9: The Peacemaker #
For Peacemaker INFJs, there is a real desire to ensure unity and understanding. They are good at mediation and dealing with conflicts. But their fear of conflict can also mean they fail to face underlying problems in relationships or environments.
Victor Gulenko’s Socionics Subtypes #
The Socionics system of Victor Gulenko presents another lens for examining INFJ subtypes that takes a look at energy dynamics and social dynamics.
Socionics is a fascinating, deep dive into the world of personality, but it isn’t quite as common as other models like Myers-Briggs outside of the niche communities that explore type.
Part of the reason is its complexity and departure from the original MBTI, which makes it much less accessible to the public. The overlap in terminology and concepts can also be confusing for those unfamiliar with personality theory.
However, Socionics is still useful to those who explore it more deeply.
Intuitive Subtype #
The intuitive subtype of this cool intellect seeks the big picture or underlying abstract pattern. They are thoughtful introverts, often in their own heads.
This need to probe the deeper meaning of what is happening gives them an understanding that makes them a great strategist and philosophers. However, their introversion can also make them seem cold or dispassionate.
Ethical Subtype #
In contrast, the Ethical Subtype is oriented outward. These INFJs are social butterflies, as they know how to emotionally connect with others and create harmony.
They are charismatic and warm, often playing the role of mediator or counselor. Although this selflessness is admirable, it can also result in emotional exhaustion when they put others’ compound needs before themselves.
Summary #
The real magic of understanding INFJ personality types comes from looking at their subtypes.
The MBTI’s core framework provides a solid starting base, yet looking into a variety of subtypes — be it by Identity Aspects, Dario Nardi’s neuroscience, the Enneagram, or Socionics — unveils the breadth of your performance as an INFJ.
These subtypes offer a more granular and thorough understanding of the cognitive, emotional and motivational forces that drive INFJs.
Not only does this enable INFJs to gain a deeper understanding of themselves but it can also lead them to be more empathetic towards their gifts and challenges.
From the INFJ who wants to grow, to someone trying to reach out with an INFJ individual, these subtypes are a transformational expedition into complexity.