[Nexus6]

INTJs sometimes present themselves as extroverts, when in fact they are merely asserting themselves. INTJs share many traits with ENTJs and in particular, the trait of Te: Extroverted Thinking, which is defined as:

“Te organizes and schedules ideas and the environment to ensure the efficient, productive pursuit of objectives. Te seeks logical explanations for actions, events, and conclusions, looking for faulty reasoning and lapses in sequence”

INTJs have a dominant (most developed) trait of Introverted Intuition (Ni) and an Auxiliary trait of Extroverted Thinking (Te). In ENTJs this “Te” is actually their dominant trait and the Ni is the auxiliary.

There are many contexts in which INTJs may seem extroverted:

- In a crisis – An INTJs demeanor and slowness to react emotionally in a crisis makes them seem extroverted. INTJs may tend to be assertive under pressure.

- On the job – INTJs can be assertive in their professions, when necessary. They can be effective public speakers in their areas of expertise and take on positions of leadership in the absence of an effective alternative.

- In the presence of trusted friends – if you are a friend or confidant to an INTJ, you will see another more assertive side to them.

- When they are being humorous.

- When speaking/arguing in favor of their convictions/beliefs.

This assertiveness is often mistaken for Extroversion, to the degree that even INTJs themselves may wonder if they are in fact extroverted at times. I have had these thoughts, about myself and other INTJs, which compelled me to learn more about the functions of Introversion and Extroversion. I realized that the traits are not interchangeable, in much the same way that one does not become a Sensing type just by using a sensing function at times.

Extroversion is not merely occasional or even frequent assertiveness or an element of social interaction. It is a function of how the mind incorporates data and stimuli. In the MBTI portion of the forum is an excellent post detailing the conceptual nuances of the the MBTI functions. It describes the difference between all of the functions and data/environmental stimuli are processed by the mind.

http://personalitycafe.com/myers-briggs-forum/9813-mbti-functions-explained.html

Extroversion and Introversion are most likely not able to be interchanged/developed as they are psychologically different approaches to interacting with the environment and where energy is focused. For an extrovert energy is focused externally. For us introverts there are entire universes of energy within.

[PseudoSenator]

We can act pretty well. It's not as if I don't have an extroverted dimension to me, but using it requires a lot of energy. Also, of course it is an lower or higher "extroversion threshold" depending on the person.

[InvisibleJim]

INTJs can seem extroverted when engaging in something we find consequential; but are still ultimately intraverted.

[HannibalLecter]

Yes! On here, for one; and on other sites.
When I am with my family, I am often 'in the center of attention' as I interact with, and teach, the youngsters (i.e. What their name would be if they were Russian, Icelandic, Dutch, etc; or their relations each other, or details about their great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather;etc.) or when I debate with the rest of the family.

[tooboku]

INTJs can seem extroverted when engaging in something we find consequential; but are still ultimately intraverted.

Both spellings for "extraverted" are correct actually. The other word only has one spelling. I really hate English sometimes.

That's exactly it though. We're very adaptable people. We look at a situation, determine what it requires, and adjust accordingly.

[InvisibleJim]

Both spellings for "extraverted" are correct actually. The other word only has one spelling. I really hate English sometimes.

That's exactly it though. We're very adaptable people. We look at a situation, determine what it requires, and adjust accordingly.

Ah, my point was a matter of distinction, not a spelling complaint. The use of introvert and intravert should have a subtle distinction as introvert now has an alternate meaning from which Jung intended. Jung intended introvert to be one who gains energy from their inner world; in effect this is now termed Intravert.

Now introvert is a label for disengaging from a discussion; potentially antisocially.

The crux was that an INTJ is always intravert, regardless of whether they appear introvert or extrovert.

[Jerick]

Now introvert is a label for disengaging from a discussion; potentially antisocially.

The crux was that an INTJ is always intravert, regardless of whether they appear introvert or extrovert.

What's your basis?

[pinkrasputin]

I mistake an INTJ as an extrovert because they always open up to me and talk to me quite a bit. I don't realize that it is rare for them and that they aren't doing that with the rest of the world. I have had to realize that I have a type a personality that makes people want to open up whether they are Introverted or Extroverted.

But what introverts present to me are not how they are with everyone else. So INTJs seem like chatty fun budies with a sense of humor. Wonderful at parties too! We both kind of hang around the outside and judge everyone. What is so introverted about that?

[InvisibleJim]

What's your basis?

Ah, my point was a matter of distinction, not a spelling complaint. The use of introvert and intravert should have a subtle distinction as introvert now has an alternate meaning from which Jung intended. Jung intended introvert to be one who gains energy from their inner world; in effect this is now termed Intravert.

Now introvert is a label for disengaging from a discussion; potentially antisocially.

The crux was that an INTJ is always intravert, regardless of whether they appear introvert or extrovert.

10 characters.

[Iggy Hazard]

What's your basis?

All your basis are belong to us.