All about INTJs
What is a personality type?
By doing a (crude) questionnaire (Long or Short version), you can work out how your personality is made up. This kind of personality type is a Jungian based Myers Briggs type. The four factors represented by the four letters are Introversion/Extraversion, Intuitition/Sensing. Thinking/Feeling and Judging/Perceiving.
Therefore, INTJ is introverted, intuitive, thinking and judging. I am a strong version of this type. I am a system designer, an improver and a thinker. I am also flippant, impatient, rude and mock everything, myself included.
Introverted - This makes me antisocial and I don’t talk much, I certainly don’t enjoy crowds and chitchat. I like quietness and minimal sensory stimulation, as my input comes from inside. I am sensitive to everything, whether it is my emotions or those of others, coffee and other substances and temperature. I am also a winter in colour type, so like white, grey, black and such. Again, low in saturation and easy on the eye. Some people call it bleak, I find it restful.
Intuitive - This means that I am creative. Not necessarily in artistic terms, but in terms of having new ideas. When I encounter something, I see how I want it to be, not necessarily how it currently is. I like new things and get bored of the same old stuff.
Thinking - This means I approach things with logic rather than emotion. It makes dealing with people tricky as I find them irrational and nonsensical. Relationships are difficult for me, as emotional issues don’t respond well to my systemic logic. Neither do my emotions take kindly to being analysed to bits. When I examined my score on this scale, I found I am actually balanced on the middle of thinking and feeling. I’m not sure what that means… I have increased my emotional agility with the help of meditation and the emotional intelligence literature, both scientific, and from those who purchased their pHD from a website 
Judging - This is not meant as “judgemental”, but more that I like things to be one way or another with a minimum of vagueness. I don’t like last minute changes that I don’t have time to think through. I like to plan for a while and then move once rather than trying lots of things that fail. Thought experiments if you like, running through things in my head before I do them. On top of this, I am actually judgemental too. If I don’t like something, you will know it and know why!
A disorder?
This type is called the “male brain” type and INTJs are often engineers, mathematicians, photographers, scientists or computer bods. I am a computer bod statistical scientist that likes photography. Extreme versions of this type can border on Aspergers or Autism, also likened to extreme male brain conditions. Unfortunately, this has become a “disorder” when in fact, it can be a powerful gift if used in the right areas. Romantic relationships are not the right areas, but systemic analysis, computing and science benefit greatly from the kind of thinking that INTJs are capable of. INTJs can make decisions, handle situations and see patterns that others cannot. That is hardly a “disorder”.
Mating
A good companion for an INTJ is an ENFP who tend to be counsellors or an INFP, who tend to be artists. In my opinion, there are two things to watch out for with these matches. A strong extrovert must understand that an introvert cannot handle the social life that the extrovert enjoys and leave them be rather than badgering them into doing things that they don’t enjoy. Secondly, there is always a clash between thinkers and feelers.
John Gray made his millions out of this by popularising it and making the crude assumption that all men are thinkers and that all women are feelers. A thinker needs everything to make sense, people and feelings included. Which they usually don’t. A feeler wants to be validated, listened to and empathised with. Thinkers find this intensely annoying. If someone is whining about their (usually self inflicted) problems, a feeler will listen for ages, empathise and cosset the individual. A thinker will allow them one whining session, analyse their problem and give them the solution. If they then choose to do nothing about it, the thinker will refuse to sit listening to them whining. The thinker has other more productive things to do.
Jobs
Don’t even bother with any jobs that involve large groups of the general public. INTJs talents are with information, not people or objects. Think science, engineering, numbers, systems, computers, data, problem solving etc
Realise that you will probably upset your colleagues and people around you. It helps to explain that you are blunt, and apologise unreservedly if you insult or upset someone. Constantly analysing means you will see their faults and probably point them out. Those people that don’t say much, but cut people to ribbons when they do, guess which type they are?
Close types
INTPs are very similar, and some are on the border between J/P so its a tough call.
INFJs are again very similar, but have more of a way with people, not face to face but through writing.
ENTJs are a good friend for an INTJ as they are much more sociable. The two types make a good team, as they share a lot in common but can help each other out.
Thorns in my side
As far as my experience goes, people who are strong sensory types get on my nerves because they just accept everything the way it is, without questioning it. These tend to be salespeople, religious folk, fashion victims and chavs. Feelers are very difficult for me to deal with, as I constantly upset them, without even trying. You can imagine what happens when I get in an argument with a feeler.
Science or myth?
There is much said about the MBTI and how “unscientific” it is. I have several points to make regarding this. Firstly, it is only meant as a pragmatic guide, bit of fun etc.
Secondly, it helps a lot of people realise that they are not faulty, and that there are a lot of people out there that share their traits. Also, it can give confidence in being who you are instead of trying to be someone else, who is likely to be a different type.
Thirdly, while not based on “science” the MBTI correlates very highly with The “Big Five” personality scale, which is based on lots of “science”. Being “non-scientific” is political for several reasons. Firstly, science does not equal truth, nor does non-science equal non-truth. Secondly, get someone to tell you what “science” actually is, and how it is better than religion, or just making things up off the top of your head. They will struggle. Anyone who is dogmatic about this point should read an introduction to the philosophy of science. Philosophers of science don’t have many kind words for what is considered “scientific” and science does not play by its own rules. Anyone who kicks off about how something is “non-scientific” is asking for trouble, Especially from INTJs 
The people who contantly discredit things usually have a financial or power interest in undermining their opponents. At the end of the day, there are lots of personality tests out there, do them all and see what you think is most accurate.
Essential reading
Keirsey, D., & Bates, M. M. (1984). Please understand me: Character & temperament types. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis.
Myers, I. B., & Myers, P. B. (1980). Gifts differing. Palo Alto, Calif.: Consulting Psychologists Press.
http://www.typelogic.com/intj.html
