Most type guides only present nice, vague, boring facts...

But they won't tell you that INTJs plan their lives further into the future than any other type.

Or that INTJs have the least satisfying friendships of all types.

Or that INTJs rated "taking classes" as a leisure activity.

Or that INTJs tend to get the best grades of all types.

I love those warm fuzzy affirmations as much as the next guy, but if we don't know our true strengths and weaknesses, how can we chart our lives? I'd kind of like to know if my type was prone to depression, wouldn't you? Forewarned is forearmed. I'd also feel a lot more confident in my decision-making if I had actual numbers and statistics rather than just vague generalizations, i.e., "INTJs like science..."

Which is why I've compiled some of the fascinating research that other webpages either don't know about, don't care about, or just choose not to mention. Some of it will be great news, some of it will be disheartening news, and some of it will be just plain old weird. :) I hope this website will be useful to you. There's a table of contents at left.

A Few Small But Significant Caveats

As you read on, please bear in mind that none of this has to be a stereotype that rules your life. You're a unique individual with a unique background, and this description is simply a generalization based on statistics and averages. Don't take what you read here as limitations, but as an invitation to grow outside your core strengths. And especially don't be the annoying guy who uses this description as an excuse. You're better than that! :) Besides, why box yourself in? Type is a starting point, not an ending place. Enjoy it and then grow from it.

General

INTJ Masterminds are estimated at:

2.62% of the American population (sample size 9,320; Myers & McCaulley, 1985)

1.4% of the UK population* (sample size 1,634; Kendall & McHenry, 1998)

2.05% of the Australian population (sample size 3,373; Macdaid, McCaulley, & Kainz, 1986)

1.8% of the New Zealand population (sample size 993; Bathurst, 1995)

4.3% of the Singapore population (sample size 1,733; Lim, 1994)

*Be chary about comparing the UK estimate with the others. There's a long explanation.

A reserved, logical type, INTJs are driven by the need to understand the principles behind the world so that they can apply these principles to their projects, which they pursue with single-minded zeal. Like all Rationals, INTJs set high standards for themselves. Achievement is extremely important to them.

The communication style of INTJs is terse and precise--but alas, other types all often too find it complicated and hard to understand.

INTJs spend a lot of time "in their head," thinking of ideas and plans. This naturally leads to an appearance of absentmindedness.