(Continued from Greymatter.)

My Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (my "personality type") is INTJ (Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging - amusingly called the "Scientist" or "Mastermind"), which is fun for getting to know someone and not really important for anything else (its scientific validity is questionable). I recently found a description of my typology that was scarily accurate, though. Those of you who know me well will laugh. Those of you who don't can take it as a warning:

To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know.

Arrogant? Me?

INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms.

That would explain why I spent 5 years rebuilding and trying to "fix" an online game that I originally encountered as a player (when I resigned I was the only player to have advanced to the highest level of the game's staff and I held the record for most "additions" to the game).

INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability.

Yay for imagination and reliability! I may be a daydreamer, but I can still be on time, dammit.

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, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be "slacking," including superiors, will lose their respect -- and will generally be made aware of this; INTJs have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers.

This would explain certain disagreements I've had at work. I'm not so good at "playing the game," especially if I think I'm right.

In the broadest terms, what INTJs "do" tends to be what they "know". Typical INTJ career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be found wherever a combination of intellect and incisiveness are required (e.g., law, some areas of academia). Whether for the sake of ambition or the desire for privacy, many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality.

"Inherent unconventionality." I like that phrase.

Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel.

< sarcasm > Oh, imagine that. < /sarcasm>

While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations. This happens in part because many INTJs do not readily grasp the social rituals; for instance, they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk and flirtation (which most types consider half the fun of a relationship). To complicate matters, INTJs are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand.

Seriously, I need a "Social Rituals for Dummies" book. Quantum mechanics is easy compared to dating.

Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense.

The first time I read this, I immediately said "Duh. Of course people should make sense." Then I had an epiphany: other personality types don't try to make people make sense, at least not to the same extent. Wow. This has been a constant source of frustration to me my entire life. Why can't people make sense, dammit?!

This sometimes results in a peculiar naivete': instead of expecting inexhaustible affection and empathy from a romantic relationship, the INTJ will expect inexhaustible reasonability and directness.

For future reference, if you're mad at me or I did something wrong, just frelling tell me. I don't pick up on signals. I'm not being a jerk, I'm just confused.

Probably the strongest INTJ assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to "work at" a relationship. Although as Ts they do not always have the kind of natural empathy that many Fs do, the Intuitive function can often act as a good substitute by synthesizing the probable meanings behind such things as tone of voice, turn of phrase, and facial expression. This ability can then be honed and directed by consistent, repeated efforts to understand and support those they care about, and those relationships which ultimately do become established with an INTJ tend to be characterized by their robustness, stability, and good communications.

So, in other words, I can "write a program" to help me figure out logically what other people automatically understand. If you're patient with me to start . . .

INTJs are idea people. Anything is possible; everything is negotiable. Others may see what is and wonder why; INTJs see what might be and say "Why not?" INTJs enjoy developing unique solutions to complex problems.

I have the "unique solutions to complex problems" thing down. Yay for thinking outside the box.

Famous INTJs:
Thomas Jefferson
Lance Armstong
Katie Couric
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Colin Powell
Richard Gere
Mr. Darcy (from Pride & Prejudice)
Gandalf (from The Lord of the Rings)
Clarice Starling (from Silence of the Lambs)

Ahnold I wouldn't have guessed (and some of those people really don't seem like introverts), but this would explain why Thomas Jefferson is my favorite president (yes, Lane, he's cooler than George Washington). And I cracked up when I read "Mr. Darcy." I'd never considered it before, but he does embody the entire "people should make sense, dammit" philosophy.

If you're interested in taking the test, there are many available online. Feel free to post yours in the comments

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