INFJ Logic: How INFJ Thinking Function Displays Itself
While some personality types favor their thinking functions, for others they will be displayed in unexpected ways. Each person possesses the thinking functions, they just use them in different placements in their function stacks, which will cause them to exhibit differently. It is important to dive deeper into each type and understand how they use these thinking functions in order to understand them better. Some people can peg certain types as solely feeling, simply because they don’t understand the ways in which they utilize logic and reason in their lives. Making these assumptions can cause us to misunderstand people and really miss out on the unique behaviors connected to their personality type.
When it comes to logical thinking the INFJ is often pegged are more focused on emotions, but this is a misconception. While INFJs might not use their thinking function high up in their function stack, it is still an important part of who they are and how they respond to the world. The INFJ uses introverted thinking as their tertiary (third) function, and so it often displays itself in unexpected ways. This is why understanding how the INFJ really responds to logic and uses all of their functions is truly important in understanding them. They can often be viewed as contradictions, and the way they think and use logic is often just another part of this.
INFJ and Introvert Thinking
What many people don’t realize about the INFJ is that they are often very focused on logic and internal thinking, more than most feeling personality types. When the INFJ is around other people they do focus on tending to their needs and their emotions, since they are so naturally in touch with the feelings of others. Being that the INFJ spends time focusing on caring for others, causes people to see them as only emotionally based people when this isn’t true to who they are inside. INFJs care about others, but the way they behave when they are alone is often much different than how they are around other people. This is part of what makes the INFJ so difficult for people to fully understand, since they behave differently around others than they do when they are by themselves or around someone they completely trust. INFJs might care about the emotions of others, but they are actually one of the least emotional feeling types. The INFJ uses critical thinking skills to make most of their decisions, especially when those choices won’t affect anyone else.
INFJs use their introverted thinking in connection to their introverted intuition, which can sometimes create a loop and this is often what causes the INFJ to go into their own little world for long periods of time. Their dominant function is actually their introverted intuition, which is how the INFJ absorbs and understands the world around them. This intuition is what guides their choices and helps the INFJ come to useful conclusions about future outcomes. While this intuition is a big part of them, it also works quite a bit in connected to their introverted thinking function. The INFJ analyzes information and ideas for long periods of time, and actually enjoys absorbing information and facts. INFJs spend a lot of time researching and reading about new ideas and this is what makes them very intellectual people. Many people don’t realize just how much the INFJ craves knowledge and information, and why they enjoy spending so much time alone often reading and researching different things. INFJs actually aren’t all that connected to their own inner emotions, instead they spend more time focusing on their inner minds and all of the information and ideas floating around in there.
How it is Displayed
The INFJs introverted thinking is often more displayed in school or work settings, where they can express their knowledge base clearly. These settings are meant to focus more on information and facts, rather than the emotions of others. When the pressure is off the INFJ to tend to the needs of others, their introverted thinking skills can come into play in much more obvious ways. They might enjoy debating the information and expressing just how knowledgeable they are about something. The INFJ also has a tendency to do very well in school and in work settings which allow them to showcase their knowledge, and this is often an obvious way in which their thinking function expresses itself. The INFJ can be rather factual and actually enjoys using logic as a means of making decisions. The INFJ just doesn’t do this because they favor the needs of others over their own desires and wants in life. INFJs are definitely capable of using a sense of logic and they do enjoy utilizing their introverted thinking function alongside of their strong introverted intuition.
Thinking Weaknesses
While INFJs might utilize introverted thinking in many ways, they still favor intuition as well as tending to the needs of others. When the INFJ tries to use logic more dominantly, they find themselves experiencing guilt over this. They care about their loved ones and want to make them happy, and this is often the most important thing for the INFJ. The battle between the heart and the head becomes a real struggle for the INFJ, especially when they feel a sense of guilt from the people closest to them. While they might want use their minds and sense of logic to make choices, the INFJ is driven by a desire to care for others. This feeling of wanting to end the pain of those around them, is something which often dominates their decision making even when they don’t entirely want it to. INFJs might be logical minded people, but this doesn’t always come to the forefront in ways that people recognize or understand.
Read More About the INFJ:
Complete INFJ Article Collection
This Post is Brought To You By BetterHelp
It is true, I have come to realise my greatest ambition is to take care of my family & loved ones. It is my life’s goal to fulfill the expectations of myself before my time is done here on Earth. I feel I can let go of my ambition to complete what I feel is my destiny to my satisfaction when I have completed my goals. I will feel I have lived up to my Lord’s expectation of me. Thank you for this insight. Jesus is a difficult example to live up to but then again all things are possible with God.
I learned to use my heart with people and my head with things a year and a half ago (I’m 57 — male INFJ.) In the past, I used mostly my head (Ni-Ti) for everything, though that’s not entirely true. My unconscious “motto” had always been,
“What can I do, to make life better for you?”
My capacity to love others is infinite, precious, and powerful, thanks to God.
Depth typology helps me to understand how and why.
Thank you for your article.
With love and appreciation,
Gilbert
Thank you for giving me more insight and understanding of truly how I think as an INFJ
Thank you for this. It perfectly describes how I experience life as an INFJ. All week I teach at university, taking about my subject area while also interacting with students and others all day. I enjoy helping them problem- solve. But by the weekend I am thrilled to have time all to myself with no set plans! Other people may think that sounds sad but it is perfect, and needed, by me and my INTJ husband. He is happily doing his own thing too. I appreciate your thoughtful post that is so reaffirming for me to read.
Might be the most accurate thing I’ve ever read, lol.
INFJ to the core thanks.
Daniel
You described me very well. Yet, the more we know the better we are able to predict events around our favorite topics or social concerns. For the mature INFJ, our predictions are 99.9%accurate, right along with our scientificts discoveries. It takes time, patience and rest to reach this level. Many will discourage an INFJ, but this is not meant for the INFJ, but more for other types as they know they cannot stand side by side with an INFJ. We are not or do not interpersonalize with others. This is due to minimize the confusion that the INFJ is and encompass all other 15 personality. For the less mature INFJ, this could cause serious mental health issues. Therefore, we interpersonalize with our own self. It helps us to recenter back into our individuality.