INTJ (Functional Stack: Ni-Te-Fi-Se)

• Core Values: knowledge, truth, independence

• Strengths: quickly see obscure connections and create solutions to complex problems

• Weaknesses: stubbornly dismissive of other people』s ideas, interpersonal insensitivity

• Shadow Conflicts: Ne seen as draining, overwhelming, illogical, wasting time; Se seen as meaningless, thrill-seeking, irresponsible, short-sighted; Si seen as narrow-minded, persnickety, self-limiting

INTJ Process of Ego Development

Level 1: Power and Control

• distorted Ni: single-minded, intolerant, impractical, dogmatic, stubbornly independent, secretive (to avoid interference), condescending, isolative, idiosyncratic, pessimistic, dismissive, aloof, detached, impersonal, easily overwhelmed by chaotic or disorganized situations, overcautious (resist any action until they are 100% sure); difficult to manage (dislike being told what to do)

• distorted Te: use logical justifications for their ideas, selectively use information to confirm their ideas, force logic to fit what they want to do (detached from reality), criticize without hearing all the facts

• under intense stress or in the grip of Se: shutting out emotions, cut off from their own emotions, use (extreme) 「logical」 rationalizations, avoid situations where they do not feel competent, impatient, task-focused to the point of poor listening, brusque/rude; obsessively focus on certain details, overindulge in sensory pleasures, feel the world is hostile and against them

Level 2: Social Identification

• Ni: need to maintain ego image as 「nonconformist」; enjoy being an influential member of a group (but not necessarily the leader)

• ego defense: guarded, pursue secret interests/hobbies, seek out people who are like-minded

Level 3: Personal Identity

• Ni: generate ideas, look for ways to improve existing thinking, see connections not obvious to others and convert them into tangible actions, logical, organized, decisive, independent; can be cynical, challenging, intense, impatient, blunt, stubborn, obstinate, hard to know, dismissive of ideas that do not 「fit」 with their vision, quick to give harsh advice and overlook opportunities to show appreciation

• ego defense: do not share ideas and plans, cannot delegate (cannot relinquish control), pursue plans in secret without consulting others, become obsessive with people who are like-minded

• see F preference as overinvolved, weak, subjective; see P preference as frustratingly indecisive and lazy

Level 4: Determined Action

• Ni: creative, organized, objective, analytical, long-range thinking, use mental models to make sense of the world, confident in their own judgment, fair with others, appropriately challenging, rational; can still be overly critical, impatient, blunt

• start to notice blind spots like: poor attention to practical details, trouble with routine or repetitive tasks, interpersonal insensitivity

• ego defense: still prefer working alone; tend to overlook important details; undervalue personal connectedness

• start to see some value in F and S preferences as long as they do not go too far against their own preferences; interested in self-improvement; accept 「valuable」 negative feedback

Level 5: Considerate Individualism

• Ni: global vision and innovation, conceptual, strategic, consider actions more carefully, revolutionary, connect ideas that seem unrelated, more selective when choosing challenges to take on, less perfectionistic

• Te: less critical and impatient, more tactfully honest, more accepting of ambiguity

• start to see more value in F and S preferences; take more time to enjoy simple pleasures in life; start to think about benefiting others; more supportive and encouraging

• access to Fi: more in touch with themselves, more mindful of internal processes, more tolerant and accepting of others; but can start to feel a bit insecure about their own competence (lose their blind confidence)

Level 6: Integration and Authenticity

• Balanced Ni+Te: visionary insight, wisdom, originality, broad-minded, uncanny awareness, synthesize complex issues; can appear 「spiritual」 to others; recognize that people are responsible for their own development

• less need to defend their ego image of being intelligently insightful and independent and feel less need to relentlessly pursue knowledge

• can start to use F and S preferences appropriately; more in tune with the present moment and physical body; able to just 「be」 with people without always seeking some form of perfection; more empathetic

• access to Se: better at adapting to concrete details, find pleasure in physical activities/skills, set more realistic goals

Level 7: Transpersonal Perspective

• realize that the need for accumulating knowledge and visionary thinking is driven by ego

• accepting of differences; value other perspectives, especially recognizing that not everybody wants to be original and know everything

• can integrate S, N, T, F preferences; freed from black and white thinking and able to see a 「third」 viable perspective to work from

adapted from: The Shadows of Type. Bennet, A. 2010. & Was that Really Me? Quenk, N. 2002.