10 Things That Excite the INTJ Personality Type
INTJs are one of the rarest Myers-Briggs® personality types. Making up a mere 2.1% of the US population, individuals of this type are often outnumbered and hard to come by. They are highly independent and they tend to be reserved about sharing their feelings. Because of this many people wish to know more about what makes them tick and inspires them. As an MBTI® practitioner I’ve come across many INTJs, and I’ve also spent a lot of time surveying INTJs to get an idea of what activities and experiences excite them and bring them joy.
Let’s take a look!
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10 Things That Excite the INTJ Personality Type
#1 – The Future
INTJs are intensely focused on the future. In fact, according to neuroscience expert Dario Nardi, INTJs enter a flow-state when they envision the distant future. INTJs use a process called Introverted Intuition (or “Ni” for short) as their dominant mental process. This process is all about extrapolating future implications, envisioning how various situations could play out, and predicting the most likely possibility. Using this process invigorates INTJs and helps them to feel alive and energized.
#2 – Strategy
INTJs are skilled in the art of strategic thinking. They get a thrill from foreseeing future goals and moving the pieces around to achieve the desired outcome. The more complex the problem, the more excited they will be to find the solution.
#3 – Solitude
INTJs thrive on independence and uncontrolled time. They enjoy having regular time for themselves where they can let their mind wander, imagine, envision, and analyze. Being in a tranquil, quiet place gives them the mental space to delve into their deeper philosophical thoughts and musings.
#4 – Reading
If you ask INTJs what their favorite activities are, you will almost invariably find them listing off some of their favorite books. As intellectuals and deep thinkers, INTJs enjoy delving into books that broaden their perspective on life, philosophy, psychology, or any other subject that captures their interest.
#5 – Classes
According to the MBTI® Manual, INTJs listed “taking classes” as one of their most preferred leisure activities. INTJs are always trying to improve, learn more, widen their perspective, and activate their analytical thinking powers.
#6 – Technology
Many INTJs have mentioned that they enjoy tinkering with technology and finding ways to improve it. In fact, according to psychologist and typologist David Kiersey, NT types are driven to engineer the technology upon which civilization is based.
#7 – Philosophy
Because of the INTJ’s persistent use of Introverted Intuition, they are constantly trying to take in new perspectives and various points of view. They are especially concerned with conceptual ideas and understanding the underlying meaning of life and the universe. They are often drawn to philosophical writings. In fact, many typologists believe that philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche and G.W.F. Hegel were INTJs.
#8 – Art
INTJs are very sensitive to aesthetic beauty, especially in artwork that is symbolic or conveys deep meaning. In fact, I’ve met dozens of INTJs who were self-proclaimed artists and used painting or drawing to unwind and relax.
#9 – Being Alone in Nature
INTJs have very busy, analytical minds and it can be easy for them to become disconnected from their environment. Sometimes this results in stress because they suppress their inferior function, Extraverted Sensing (Se), for too long. One of the ways INTJs can combat this and still let their minds wander is by spending quiet time in a tranquil, natural environment. Many INTJs find it rejuvenating to hike alone in the forest or go kayaking, canoeing, or fishing.
#10 – Creating Order Out of Chaos
INTJs are driven to create efficient and effective systems. They crave an organized, peaceful environment and are willing to work hard to create it. When other people are feeling flustered or without direction, INTJs get a sense of satisfaction from organizing, delegating, and improving plans and systems so that they are more effective and productive.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Do these things excite you? Do you have any thoughts to add? Let us know in the comments!
Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
Other Articles You Might Enjoy:
The Remarkable Similarities Between INFJs and INTJs
Are You An INTP or an INTJ? 7 Ways to Tell Them Apart
3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets About the INTJ
10 Things You’ll Relate to if You’re an INTJ
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Nailed it. I LOVE. All ten of these things
This is so me! For the first time ever I can identify my own personality type! Movies like “Divergent” sometime came ro my mind when I tried to fit myself into the various personality types. Great article, thanks, Johan
You nailed them all, with one exception. You might have added a number 11 for our pet.
My dog, a Belgian Malinois, whom I think is also an INTJ, also excites me. He is the one living being whom I can have with me at all times, and still be able to think, and/or defrag and clear my head. He goes everywhere I go. And, just as I raised my children, he knows exactly when he can cut loose at home, and that he is to behave perfectly in public. And, thank God, he isn’t needy.
I love all animals, but I can’t tolerate the neediness of smaller breed dogs.
I do have to block out the fact that my future won’t include him, because the idea that he won’t be in life forever is too painful think about.
Other than that one thing, that rest is right on point.
Wow, I can totally relate with the dog companion as well as the breed. My German Shepherd is an older rescue and I worried that he wouldn’t be able to bond with me since Shepherd’s are loyal and usually one person dogs. But the bond was almost immediate and like yours, he goes everywhere with me. Our multiple daily walks in the woods keep my mind from wandering too far into the future. And the reason I got him was I had lost my old and beloved shepherd and I was so depressed I could barely get out of bed. I didn’t want to get a puppy and contribute to the dog overpopulation problem, nor did I have the energy for a puppy at my age. Anyway, my boy has lots of the shepherd attributes but also a very distinctive personality that is different from my first shepherd.
Interesting list, thank you for composing it! I have tested as INFJ but most of these statements suit me just fine. I may have just mistyped myself, or maybe these two types are somewhat simmilar to a degree. Annyhow, thank you for an interesting read.
I’m an INFJ and I can relate to all but the interest in technology. My husband is INTJ and this list fits him perfectly.
I’m an INTJ and this was so accurate! From art to solitude to future planning you hit the nail on the head.
With the exception of enjoying nature (I dont like bugs or birds), this is me to a T!
I’m an INTJ female, and all those things in the post above really excite me, but the detail about me is that I don´t like to delegate at all. That is a hard issue for me because I think nobody will do something better than myself, with efficient use of time and resources, and in the end, I’m always right, unfortunately…
That’s me in a nutshell!
Without any alteration, these relate to me in every significant way, to the degree that I was able to pinpoint an example with every case. Thanks for the insight into me….an INTJ.
Without alteration, these relate to me in every significant way, to the degree that I am able to pinpoint an example with every case. Thanks for the insight into me….an INTJ.
All your views on my INTJ personality are spot on, except one…which is partly correct.
Reading is a huge favourite, but I prefer reading articles, comments and other shorter input, rather than books. I will read a book of literary value now and then, but my inquisitive nature favours a bigger variety of information.
Eerily spooky, how accurate this is to me. The only thing I would add are movies. Like reading, art and philosophy they offer a window into a different perspective of the world and human condition. Very seldom comedies, as most make me uncomfortable.
I can’t deny I’m like everybody else who is afraid to loose someone or something or witnessing unexpected bad events yet my mind can help occasionally thinking of how things can turn out, it’s just surreal that we don’t know how things will turn out tomorrow.
For me solitude is live or death matter, being raised in very old fashioned society i have lived many bad days and forced to change, they barely understand that i need my own time, it drastically affected my mental health i used to have very weak personality, always silent, anxious around people, irregular sleep pattern. I lived in student dormitory for 1 year at 2nd year of college in individual room and my biological hour if i said it was punctual I swear I am not lying i fall asleep at 12 am sharp and wake up at 6 am sharp. Strangely, when you are successfully earning money people start to recognize what you do and tend to be more understanding of your preferences this gradually led me to show myself more and gain confidence.
Generally all the people around me they’re not interested in nature or at least i don’t sense such passion from them, so they look strangely at me and how I’m devoting time and money to make a greenery area at back space at my home, whenever i feel spaced out i go there intentionally and set in front of my plants for sometime and i even speak with them, also whenever i pass around i take a careful look as if I’m greeting them. Such places they’re my safety place.
As for the others they all excite me, but i guess reading is the least one i guess as growing to late 20s i like writing about the random thoughts i acquire from here and there
Most of these are spot on! I was surprised to see “taking classes” listed. I’ve always loved them while most people dread them. It is good to know that its my personality and not just some weird quirk. Thanks for your insights.