Below is the table showing 8 cognitive functions of an INTJ in the order of their function stack (dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior) and the shadow functions that are less conscious but still play a role. (Generated from ChatGPT )
| Order | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dominant | Introverted Intuition (Ni) | INTJs excel at seeing patterns, future possibilities, and making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. This function drives their vision and foresight. |
| 2. Auxiliary | Extraverted Thinking (Te) | Logical and efficient decision-making, focusing on organizing external systems, achieving goals, and implementing strategies effectively. |
| 3. Tertiary | Introverted Feeling (Fi) | Internal value system that helps INTJs evaluate situations based on personal ethics, values, and authenticity, though it may not always be expressed outwardly. |
| 4. Inferior | Extraverted Sensing (Se) | Awareness of the physical world, details, and sensory experiences. Often underdeveloped, INTJs may struggle with living in the moment or sensory indulgence. |
| 5. Opposing | Extraverted Intuition (Ne) | A shadow function, it explores multiple possibilities but may feel less natural. INTJs may experience it as skepticism about new or divergent ideas. |
| 6. Critical Parent | Introverted Thinking (Ti) | Used in a critical way, this shadow function may cause INTJs to overanalyze or second-guess the logical consistency of their own or others’ systems. |
| 7. Trickster | Extraverted Feeling (Fe) | Often experienced as a blind spot, INTJs may struggle with understanding or expressing social harmony and external emotional dynamics. |
| 8. Demon | Introverted Sensing (Si) | The least conscious function, it can manifest as resistance to routine or over-reliance on past experiences, often leading to stress or frustration. |
More detailed explanation
| Order | Function | Manifestation | Strengths | Weaknesses | Beneficial for Development | Challenges in Development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Dominant | Introverted Intuition (Ni) | Prefers deep thinking, sees patterns, future possibilities, and makes connections between ideas. | Visionary thinking; excels in abstract problem-solving and foresight. | Overlooks immediate details or practical concerns; dismisses alternative perspectives. | Fields requiring strategy, innovation, and abstract thinking (e.g., research, management, entrepreneurship). | Living in the moment or adapting to unanticipated events. |
| 2. Auxiliary | Extraverted Thinking (Te) | Drives goal-oriented actions, organizes systems, and measures success through tangible results. | Strong leadership and execution skills; solves real-world problems efficiently. | Prioritizes efficiency over emotional considerations; can seem blunt or dismissive. | Implementing visionary ideas (Ni) into concrete outcomes. | Emotionally charged situations or collaboration requiring high empathy. |
| 3. Tertiary | Introverted Feeling (Fi) | Guides personal values and authenticity; develops a strong internal moral compass. | Helps INTJs stay true to their values; fosters introspection and emotional understanding. | Struggles to articulate emotions; may seem cold or stubborn when values are challenged. | Encourages emotional growth and deeper self-awareness. | Balancing Fi with Te for values-driven yet practical decisions. |
| 4. Inferior | Extraverted Sensing (Se) | Awareness of sensory details and immediate experiences; source of joy in physical activities or aesthetics. | Grounds INTJs in the present; enhances appreciation for art, beauty, and physical challenges. | Underdeveloped; may lead to overindulgence or ignoring physical environments. | Practicing mindfulness; engaging in hobbies like cooking, gardening, or sports. | Prioritizing abstract thinking over physical awareness; requires deliberate effort. |
| 5. Opposing | Extraverted Intuition (Ne) | Explores alternative possibilities but often critically; can encourage creativity or skepticism. | Promotes adaptability and brainstorming; challenges rigid perspectives. | Leads to overthinking or dismissing new ideas prematurely. | Embracing Ne can make INTJs more flexible and open to unconventional ideas. | Tends to surface under stress, making it harder to consciously develop. |
| 6. Critical Parent | Introverted Thinking (Ti) | Focuses on internal logical consistency; often used to analyze and refine ideas under pressure. | Adds depth to logical analysis and problem-solving; useful for troubleshooting. | Can lead to over-analysis or perfectionism. | Enhances intellectual rigor and precision. | Feels draining and less natural than Te. |
| 7. Trickster | Extraverted Feeling (Fe) | Relates to external emotional harmony but feels unnatural; may manifest as sarcasm or misunderstanding. | Encourages consideration of others’ emotional needs. | Struggles with empathy or group dynamics; prone to misreading social cues. | Improves interpersonal relationships and teamwork. | Triggered when emotions are expected to take precedence over logic. |
| 8. Demon | Introverted Sensing (Si) | Deals with memory, routine, and traditions; often a source of stress or frustration. | Grounds through lessons from past experiences; helps balance innovation with respect for history. | Feels stuck in outdated patterns; may resist repetitive tasks or traditions. | Reflecting on Si helps integrate past experiences into present actions. | Surfaces in extreme stress or frustration; feels unnatural. |
Strengths and Weaknesses for an INTJ to be successful in academia/research-based career path
| Aspect of PhD Program | How INTJ Excels |
|---|---|
| Research and Original Thinking | 1. Ni: Generates innovative research questions and uncovers patterns in complex data. |
| 2. Te: Organizes research into logical, actionable frameworks and pursues goals efficiently. | |
| Independence in Study | Prefers self-directed work and thrives in environments that require autonomy. |
| Theoretical and Conceptual Focus | Enjoys diving into abstract concepts and building models or theories (e.g., organization theory, strategic frameworks). |
| Problem-Solving in Management | Combines Ni and Te to propose practical solutions to real-world management challenges. |
| Quantitative and Analytical Skills | Uses structured thinking to handle empirical analysis and computational simulations, as in agent-based or NK models. |
| Commitment to Long-Term Goals | Demonstrates perseverance and discipline, essential for completing a multi-year program. |
| Focus on Strategic Research Areas | Excels in areas like innovation, technology, and industry evolution, aligning with management and strategy research. |
When INTJ Performs Well
- Developing Research Questions:
- INTJs’ dominant Ni allows them to envision novel and impactful research areas.
- Example: Identifying how emerging technologies reshape creative industries and organizational structures.
- Designing Methodologies:
- Their Te function helps them craft clear, systematic approaches to research.
- Example: Creating computational models or conducting robust empirical studies to test hypotheses.
- Collaborating Strategically:
- While not naturally inclined to seek social interactions, INTJs can excel in purposeful collaborations.
- Example: Partnering with interdisciplinary teams to leverage expertise and achieve shared research goals.
- Balancing Theory and Application:
- INTJs can bridge abstract theoretical concepts with practical applications, an asset in management research.
- Example: Translating findings on industry evolution into actionable insights for entrepreneurs or policymakers.
- Thriving in Rigorous Environments:
- Their natural discipline and intellectual curiosity align with the demands of a PhD program.
- Example: Sustaining motivation through the challenges of academic publishing or complex dissertation work.
Challenges INTJs May Face and Mitigation Strategies
| Challenge | Why It Happens | Mitigation Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Over-Focusing on Vision | Ni can lead to tunnel vision, overlooking details. | Regularly seek feedback from advisors to refine research focus and address practical concerns. |
| Difficulty with Social Dynamics | Fe (trickster function) may hinder networking. | Approach networking as a strategic task; focus on purposeful connections with like-minded peers. |
| Over-Reliance on Logic | Te dominance may downplay emotional aspects. | Incorporate qualitative methods or explore human-centric topics to balance research perspectives. |
| Struggling with Sensory Details | Se (inferior function) may lead to neglect of execution. | Break tasks into actionable steps and use tools to manage data and deadlines effectively. |
| Resistance to Routine Tasks | Si (demon function) may cause frustration with repetitive work. | Automate or delegate repetitive tasks (e.g., data cleaning) where possible. |
Key Developmental Opportunities
- Collaborative Growth: Develop interpersonal skills (Fe) to build strong relationships with advisors and peers.
- Present Moment Awareness: Cultivate mindfulness (Se) to appreciate immediate experiences, such as presenting research or attending conferences.
- Practical Balance: Use tertiary Fi to align research with personal values, enhancing authenticity and passion.
For most of time, INTJs swing between unhappy and not that unhappy. If they look unhappy, it is quite normal and please do NOT take them personally… That is just their daily normal… Actually, they usually think that being unhappy is pretty healthy.
The reasons why they are unhappy are due to, but not limited to, below several occasions:
- They can do nothing but have to see human beings pushing themselves to the brink of self-destruction. What is worse, sometimes they are even forced to join this crazy trend…
- No substantial and visible progress. They are progressing in some way, but they are always not satisfied with themselves.
- Too much networking. It would be even worse if I have to be friendly to someone who keeps talking endlessly in a hypocritical way with hubris.
- Cannot see the meaning of what they are doing.
- to be continued…