Guest Post by Marissa Baker at LikeAnAnchor.com

INFJs are only supposed to be 1-3% of the population, but sometimes it seems like half the people who take online tests end up as INFJs. One reason for all the mistypes has to do with a problem in online tests. Copycat Myers-Briggs tests are notoriously inaccurate because most only look at letter dichotomies (whether you’re an I or an E, a T or an F, etc.) instead of using the cognitive function theory that’s at the heart of Myers-Briggs.

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Consciously, each type uses four cognitive functions. An INFJ has the following cognitive function stack:

Dominant function: Introverted Intuition (Ni)

Auxiliary function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

Tertiary function: Introverted Thinking (Ti)

Inferior Function: Extraverted Sensing (Se)

This tells us that INFJs take in information using Introverted Intuition. That’s their dominant or “hero” process – the one they’re most comfortable using. They make decisions using Extroverted Feeling, which is the auxiliary or “co-pilot” process. INFJs also use tertiary Introverted Thinking and inferior Extraverted Sensing, though these functions are not as well developed.

Find out more about cognitive functions in these articles:

Personality Testing – Fact or Farce? Part Two – Understanding the Cognitive Functions

An Introduction to the Cognitive Functions in Myers-Briggs® Theory

Different types use a different combination of functions. The way a type’s function stack fits together describes how they gather information, make decisions, and generally approach the world. By comparing the function stacks for INFJs with the functions used by look-alike types, we can get a better idea of whether or not INFJ is the best-fit type for you. In this article, we’ll take a took at 5 signs that you might not be an INFJ and then use cognitive functions to suggest types you might be instead.

Sign 1: You’re In-Tune With Your Own Emotions

If you always check in with your own emotions before making a decision and it’s easy for you to process your feelings internally, there’s a good chance that you’re not an INFJ.

INFJs often struggle to deal with their own emotions. This type uses Extroverted Feeling (Fe) when making decisions. Fe is better equipped to handle the emotions of other people than what the INFJ is feeling themselves. When making decisions, INFJs will look at questions like, “What will make other people happy?” and “How can I maintain interpersonal harmony?”

In contrast, types that use Introverted Feeling (Fi) need to honor their own experiences before they start meeting other’s needs. They’ll ask questions like, “Does this feel right to me?” or “Is this decision in-line with my values?” While INFJs do care about being true to themselves, it’s not usually their primary goal when making decisions.

What you might be instead …

INFPs have Fi as their dominant function and they’re also the most common mistype for INFJs. If both Sign 1 and Sign 5 are true for you, then INFP is probably a better fit for you than INFJ.

Find out more in this article: Are You An INFP or an INFJ? Clarifying the Most Common Mistype!

There’s also a chance that you might be an ISFP type since they also use Fi as their dominant function. If Sign 2 in this article also fits you, there’s a good chance ISFP is your best-fit type.

Another possibility is that you’re an INTJ. INTJs share a dominant function, Ni, with INFJs and use Fi as their tertiary process. See Sign 3 in this article for more information about the difference between INFJ and INTJ.

Sign 2: You’re Well-Grounded In The Real World

If you’re perfectly at home with sensory details, have a keen interest in the real world, or quickly lose interest in theoretical discussions there’s a good chance you’re actually a Sensing type.

INFJs lead with a process called Introverted Intuition (Ni). That makes Extroverted Sensing (Se) the least-developed function in an INFJ’s stack. INFJs are perfectly at home with things they can’t directly experience. In fact, they may struggle to stay interested in the real world because the perceptions inside their heads are so much more interesting than what’s going on outside.

Mistaking Sensing for Intuitive types is often caused by online profiles that claim Intuitives are the only ones who can daydream, have creative thoughts, and come up with innovative solutions. However, some of the most deep-thinking, creative, and innovative people I know are Sensors. They just express those traits in a way that’s unique to their personality. For example, I might come up with some creative ideas to solve a problem but so can my ISFJ father and he’s the one more likely to 1) put that solution into practice and 2) have it actually work.

Find out more in my article: Challenging Myths About Sensing Types and Inviting A More Balanced Dialogue In The Myers-Briggs Community

What you might be instead …

It’s pretty easy for ISFJs to mistype as INFJ because the two types share Fe as their co-pilot and Ti as their tertiary process. They can look very similar in how they make decisions, but these types learn information very differently.

ESFJ is another possibility. These types have dominant Fe and they also use Extroverted Intuition as their tertiary function, which they might mistake for an INFJ’s dominant Ni. Check out Sign 4 in this article for another hint that you might be an ESFJ.

If both Sign 1 and 2 resonate with you, then you might be an ISFP.

Sign 3: You Make Decisions Based on Impersonal Logic

If you prioritize factual logic over making sure the people around you stay in harmony, there’s a good chance you’re not an INFJ.

While INFJs can use their tertiary Introverted Thinking (Ti) to make decisions, they’re usually much more comfortable using Fe. INFJs care more about people than about knowledge. That doesn’t mean knowledge, accuracy, and logic aren’t important to INFJs. It just means that those things are less important than considering the human factor.

If that part of an INFJ’s personality doesn’t resonate with you, you might be a type that primarily uses Thinking to make decisions. In this case, you probably identify with aspects of an INFJ’s personality that seem more logical. You might be a type that also uses Ti or you could be an Intuitive that has a good balance between your thinking and feeling sides.

What you might be instead …

INFJ and INTJ share Introverted Intuition as their dominant function. A well-balanced INTJ might not identify with stereotypes that describe them as unfeeling or hyper-logical. Even so, INTJs are more likely than INFJs to share their criticisms with other people, organize their lives for maximum efficiency, and thoroughly plan for the future. See Sign 1 for another trait that might mark you as an INTJ.

There’s also a chance you could be an INTP or ISTP. These types both use Ti (which is an INFJ’s tertiary function) as their dominant function. An INTP will identify with the strongly Intuitive aspects of INFJ descriptions (see Sign 5). ISTPs share all the same functions as INFJs, but use them in a different order: Ti, Se, Ni, Fe (see Sign 2).

Sign 4: You Can’t Go Very Long Without People

If you thrive in groups of people and need to spend quite a bit of time in the “outer world,” there’s a good chance you’re an extroverted type.

INFJs with a strong Fe side might look extroverted at times. And INFJs are social enough that they often start to feel depressed and upset if they don’t see people on a fairly regular basis. But make no mistake – they’re still introverts. INFJs need their alone time and they prefer to interact with people one-on-one or in small groups.

An INFJ might get lonely if they don’t see people for a day or so and want to reach out to a good friend. A similar, but extroverted type, might need some alone time in between socializing but overall they’re happier when surrounded by positive social interactions. Extroverts are also more likely to enjoy public speaking, be comfortable in crowds, and plan on spending time with multiple people at once.

What you might be instead …

ENFJs are the extroverted type most likely to be mistaken for INFJs. These two types share the same functions, but ENFJs lead with Fe and have Ni as their co-pilot.

You should also read-up on ESFJ types, since they also use the Fe function when interacting with the outer world. Take a look at Sign 2 and 5 for other hints that you might be an ESFJ.

Sign 5: You Love To Explore In The Outer World

If you like to take your “what if?” questions into the real world to experiment and explore, then you might find that one of the types using Extroverted Intuition is a better fit for you than INFJ.

There are two different versions of the Intuitive mental process: Introverted Intuition (Ni) and Extroverted Intuition (Ne). INFJs use the introverted one, which loves to speculate and ruminate on things. It’s a very subjective, personal way of perceiving the world that spends a lot of time looking inside your own mind.

Extroverted Intuition, on the other hand, goes to the outer world in order to explore patterns and find inspiration. It’s going to be asking similar types of questions as Ni, but Ne is more focused on going out and experiment with their ideas. Someone with this type as their hero or co-pilot process can’t resist the urge to open closed doors, push buttons, and say things just to see how people will respond.

What you might be instead …

INFP is the type most commonly mistaken for INFJ, and they use Ne as their co-pilot process. If Signs 1 and 5 are both sound true for you there’s a very good chance you’re an INFP.

ENFPs lead with Ne and have Fi as their co-pilot. If Signs 1, 4 and 5 are true for you there’s a good chance you’re an ENFP.

ENTP and INTP types also use Ne. In addition, they have Ti and Fe in their function stack, which might make them relate to certain aspects of INFJ type descriptions.

In Conclusion…

I hope this article helps you understand the differences between INFJ and the different look-alike personality types. I also hope it helps you to figure out which type is the best-fit for your personality. Let me know what you think of this article and if you have any other suggestions for finding your best-fit Myers-Briggs. See you in the comments!

Marissa Baker is the author of The INFJ Handbook (available in the Amazon Kindle Store). You can find her online at LikeAnAnchor.com where she blogs about personal growth and development from a Christian perspective.