One does not write about personality typing without referring to the INFJ. If you go to YouTube, you are sure to find a plethora of INFJ videos. Some are by INFJ’s and some are about them. The main reason for this is that it is the rarest personality type in the MBTI system. Everyone thinks they are rare. Everyone wants to be the INFJ. Simply put, no you don’t.

This type has a nickname, the Counselor. This is pretty cool. In the stereotypes, which is not a bad thing in the MBTI community, the INFJ is the go to person. They are the ones you always feel comfortable talking to and even telling them your whole life story. They are the people who can give you excellent advice, and even when you don’t follow it, their predictions almost always come true. They know people. They know you.

If you think you’re an INFJ, you’re probably wrong. They are exceedingly rare in the population, like around 5% rare. These unicorns of the MBTI community are marked by their lead cognitive function, introverted intuition. This function is often used subconsciously and is always going. It picks up patterns and possibilities. It produces strong hunches and gut feelings. You may be thinking that this sounds like you. You have intuition, hunches, and you like to go with your gut. Well, half the population has introverted intuition, but it’s not their lead function. It’s further down the stack. It’s properly pushed down into that dark place where childhood traumas go (stole that line from Modern Family). But for the INFJ this function is the main driver of their personality, and they can’t turn it off. They can’t not know about you. They can even literally feel the feelings of a complete stranger when she walks into the room!

I’m definitely not an INFJ, and glad of it. I’m perfectly happy to be a little more commonplace. It seems a fair trade to me. So why am I so fascinated by this personality type, you may ask? Well, I’m not an INFJ, but I happen to be married to one. So to my wife I say I love you and you’re definitely one of a kind.