As one of the rarest personality types in the Myers Briggs lineup, INTJs enjoy a special status that often comes with being rare. On top of that, INTJs are also introverts which makes them even harder to find since they spend less time out in the open where most people graze.
They are very private individuals and prefer quiet environments with moderate human interaction. They don’t need much socializing when they can busy themselves with passion projects and making progress toward big-picture plans. Many people may be interested in meeting an INTJ in person or want to determine whether someone they already know is one. From a distance, it can be difficult to distinguish an INTJ from an INFJ or ISTJ. You likely know a few INTJs without realizing it.
–JeoyeyoINTJ 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (1 child) This death stare thing is too stereotypical and in my opinion has been greatly exagerated. Not all INTJs got this stare, and more importantly, INTJs are not having this stare most of the time. I have three INTJ friends, and only one of them got this stare. The INTJ death stare is a look that some individuals observe when they look at an INTJ. In my personal experience, when I catch myself or see other INTJs presenting a look that could be thought to be a death stare style look, the prevailing cause is typically because we are in deep thought or are trying to solve something in our mind.
Here is a helpful list of signs to look for that will show you how to spot an INTJ wherever you encounter them.
1. INTJ at the Market
If you go to the supermarket, you can spot an INTJ by the efficiency with which they shop. They don’t like to tarry or linger. When they go to market they go with a clear purpose in mind. They may carry a listwith them or have thought out in advance with great detail, everything they intend to buy. Because they dislike being in crowded places any longer than necessary, they will waste little time tracking down their target items and completing their errand as quickly and painlessly as possible.
They grab and go, and avoid engaging anyone in chit chat along the way. They carry themselves with a sense of mission and they seem to know exactly what they’re doing and where they’re going. If a salesperson approaches them they will likely be terse in their responses and say whatever they need to encourage them to go away. They avoid eye contact with other shoppers as they briskly make their way to checkout. If it were feasible, they would do all their shopping online. Bookstores are the only stores where they really can take their time and browse.
2. Resting Bitch Face (a.k.a the “Death Stare”)
If you’ve followed the Myers Briggs long enough you will likely have heard of the INTJ “death stare” or their infamous “resting bitch face”. INTJs get asked “why so serious?” in one form or another by concerned or intimidated colleagues and family members. If you see someone who seems to have a perma-scowl as their default facial expression, they are probably an INTJ. In most cases, the INTJ’s appearance of displeasure is nothing more than their “thinking face”. You may spot them staring off in some direction during which they are probably just immersed in deep mental processing. If they are unaware that they are being watched, you may even catch them silently mouthing words as though they were pantomiming a discussion with themselves.
Alternately, the INTJ death stare may also appear as a “deer in headlights” look or “resting bitch face”. Each of these expressions may appear angry or perturbed but generally, there is no emotion behind them. INTJs are often unaware of how intense their expressions appear to others and do it without consideration. They mean nothing by it in most cases, they just get lost in such intense concentration that they become unresponsive to what’s around them. Whatever they are staring at, they are not actually looking at, but looking through. People and objects just happen to be in the line of their gaze. INTJs rarely show their anger so most likely they are not mad.
3. INTJs Like the Sound of Silence
INTJs are quiet and comfortable with saying nothing where others would be compelled to disrupt the serenity with conversation. INTJs have no problem keeping to themselves even while sharing a small space with another person such as on a plane or bus. They’re comfortable with being alone and may not bother to hide themselves in their cell phone or pretend to be doing something.
The INTJ is probably that person sitting by themselves with a resting bitch face. Don’t worry they’re okay. Out in public, INTJs try to blend in and float under the radar. They actually like having friends who enjoy being the center of attention because they would rather observe and learn. The INTJ pairs well with ENFPs who can provide a social lubricant that helps INTJs meet and get on with new people.
4. INTJ Clothing Style
INTJs prefer utility and practicality in their wardrobe. They are something of minimalists and less likely to be found wearing colorful peacock clothing and fancy accessories. Many of them have simple tastes wearing things like cargo pants and turtlenecks. They like to dress in simple modest attire that looks orderly and respectable. They like jeans and dark colors and black and white is probably their most preferred colors. Some may wear light but cold hues such as blue, and in many cases they may wear variations of the same ensemble every day.
Their wardrobe choices tend to follow a consistent theme and is meant to avoid drawing excessive attention. As Judgers, INTJs are more likely to dress properly and may even be somewhat stylish and edgy.But as INTs, they are likely to be disconnected from the physical world and may fail to see any point in “dressing to impress” so to speak.It’s a toss-up for this type, but they do tend to dress better than their gauche NTP cousins.
Zuckerberg. Tesla. Newton. They are your professors, your politicians, your military leaders, your CEOs. They are the all-serious, all-silent, all-awkward masterminds of the world. I’m talking about, you guessed it – the INTJ. You may see them but few get to know them. They hide in plain sight but their work will not go ignored.
INTJs have strong principles and many live spartan lifestyles most people couldn’t handle. They forgo many of the gratuitous comforts most people depend on and instead put their focus on completing tasks to an almost obsessive degree. It should come as no surprise then that they are among the top 4 highest earning personality types in the MBTI.
It is likely there are people out there who want to be an INTJ, or at least emulate the blueprint that makes many of them so successful. But don’t kid yourself – being a mastermind ain’t easy bro. If for some reason you decide that you want to become an INTJ or an honorary member of the INTJ club, here are the 8 unofficial ground rules you need to follow or you will be banished as the abject imposter you are.
INTJs are reliable and can be counted on to follow through on their commitments. They are effective time managers and will plan and prepare ahead of time to ensure that they are ready when deadlines arrive. Even when they agree to things that they are not thrilled about (such as social invitations) they are able to buck up and put on the semblance of sociability long enough to make good on whatever terms they agreed to. This is also partly why they make some of the best employees and professionals in any field.
To an INTJ, there are no sacred cows – everything is subject to questioning, testing and experimentation. This is likely why INTJs are statistically the least religious of all the Myers Briggs types. Even though there are INTJs who do practice some form of religious faith, they are not likely to be orthodoxical hardliners or staunch in the strength of their conviction. INTJs are big proponents of thinking for yourself and they do not subscribe to anything simply because they are told they should. They are resistant to peer pressure and will stick to their guns until presented with cogent evidence and sound reasoning. That said, INTJs are not gullible or easily swayed because they are excellent critical thinkers.
Whatever path they take professionally, INTJs pride themselves on the level of expertise and knowledge they acquire surrounding a subject. INTJs are not comfortable with ignorance and will do whatever necessary to equip themselves with the information and skills they need to perform their jobs exceedingly well and contend with whatever challenges they may encounter along the way.Competence and efficiency is very important to them and it is one of the few things that will earn their respect.
![Stare Stare](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125607507/205795786.jpg)
Keeping up with the Jones’ is not what INTJs do and superficial subject matter, in general, holds little interest for them. They do not want to hear about the banal arbitrary details of other people’s lives. INTJs can hardly understand why people consume vapid tabloid fodder that has no significance in the grand scheme of existence. There are too many substantial, productive and meaningful things in the world to focus on and nobody knows that better than an INTJ.
As stated earlier, competency is very important to the INTJ and they prefer to have as much autonomy as possible. Anything they can do themselves they will do because they are loathe to seek assistance from people. They simply like feeling control over their lives and circumstances and would like to think that they could independently resolve any issue or problem they are confronted with if they absolutely had to. They know that doing everything themselves is not always the most efficient option or best use of their time, but they embrace the challenge as a means of expanding the range of their abilities.
INTJs carry a detached, aloof attitude that may signify to others that they are snobs or arrogant in some way. This may or may not be true, but in any case, this anti-social demeanor is a part of the INTJ persona. INTJs generally have little to no interest in frivolous mingling but how people perceive or interpret this is their business, INTJs, however, are highly judgemental and consequently may be very disapproving of much of what they observe about human behavior. They will naturally distance themselves from this and people will inevitably form all sorts conclusions which contribute to the panoply of misunderstandings INTJs have to contend with.
INTJs have a black belt in sarcasm and they use it to swat away stupid remarks as though they were obnoxious fruit flies. INTJs use a very dry and subtle form of sarcasm that often swims under the radar of other people. They have been known to do this to amuse themselves; seeing how much they can insult someone without their noticing. When the INTJ is really irritated however they may employ a more a scathing version of this meant to inflict damage and make their disdain blatantly obvious.
INTJs have a thinking face that is often mistaken as vaguely menacing. It can appear as a look of sadness, a ‘deer caught in headlights’, or a stone cold killer pondering a sick violent fantasy. It is referred as the ‘death stare’ and they are often unaware of this expression when it adorns their face. The effect it has can unsettle and concern others but INTJs can use this to their advantage against adversaries. No INTJ would be complete without this stern expression and it adds to their mystique as a brooding deep thinking mastermind.