What, exactly, is the difference between a Standard INFJ and the subtype Objective Personality has chosen to call a "Jumper"? In what way will respecting Introverted Thinking over Extraverted Feeling affect the traits and behaviors of the INFJ?
This article will unravel the hazy intricacies of the INFJ Jump. It will take you all the way from take-off to landing. You say "Jump" and we say "where to?" and "where from?" and possibly also "how far?"...
Where did we Land?
Ok, so we've made the Jump. We've packed our bags and waved goodbye to the woods, the fields and the little rivers of our beloved NF-homeland. And now... yes, now what? Where we at, exactly? Well, not in Kansas, as someone famously put it...
Nope, this is NT-country. Nerd-country. Or, in somewhat more flattering terms, Analyst-country.
Here we will find ourselves roaming the witswept highlands of exploratory logic in the inventive company of the INTPs (Logicians/Architects), the INTJs (Architects/Masterminds), the ENTPs (Debaters/Visionaries) and the ENTJs (Commanders) of this world.
And perhaps we won't feel entirely out of place amongst the herds of ENTPs tirelessly arguing for things they don't actually believe, the charismatic and confident ENTJs believing in the backs of the weak as the best foundation for their empires, the crazy-haired INTPs riding around on light-waves in their minds and the all-dressed-in-black INTJs controlling them all from their bat caves in the cobalt mountain ranges rising like ginormous throngs of molars in the distance.
At the very least, we should feel a certain kinship with the Introverted citizens of this logical, rational and imaginative nation.
But then again, perhaps not. Jumping doesn't turn us into an INTJ or an INTP, it just nudges us in that direction, possibly giving us some INTJ-like and/or INTP-like qualities.
INTJ-like
The INTJ comparison is probably the most justified. The INFJ share the Observer axis with the INTJ and the "only" post-Jump differences between the types are the switched orientation and Savior stack positions of the Decider functions (F & T: E <--> I, 2nd <--> 3rd).
INTP-like
The INTP comparison is, perhaps, a tad more far fetched, but, provided your Introverted Thinking function is strong enough we should be able to catch glimpses of INTP-like behavior. After all, Introverted Thinking is the dominant function of the INTP. It is, simultaneously, the "core" of the INTP and the INFJ Jumper "Green Card" to NT-land.
How Far did we Jump?
Ok, so we've managed to put this merry circus on the map, but how far into NT-territory have we come, exactly? We'll have to do some introspection and go over a few concepts in order to determine our precise location and find out exactly how the Jump has changed* us...
*Jumping is most probably not a "change", but an aspect of type that we're either born with or not.
What's the same?
Often, the very first thing we spot in a type is whether he/she is an (Single) Observer or a (Single) Decider. Is their top function an Observer function (Oi or Oe - Si/Ni or Se/Ne) or a Decider function (Di or De - Ti/Fi or Te/Fe)? Is their major beef in life with Things and Fear (Observer) or with People and Pain (Decider)? INFJs, with their Intuition driver, are Observers. Jumping doesn't change this.
The Single Observers (IxxJs and ExxPs) are divided into Gatherers (Extraverted - ExxPs) and Organizers (Introverted - IxxJs) - this is part of a concept called "The Human Needs". The INFJ is an Introverted Observer (Introverted Intuition driver): a chaos-fearing, "chapter-talking" Organizer, responsible for organizing and narrowing down abstract information. Jumping doesn't change this.
What's changed?
Ok, so we're entering a grey area here. Both the INFJ Standard and the INFJ Jumper are Introverts. Introverted Intuition still reigns supreme on top of the INFJ function stack. But the INFJ Jumper is more Introverted than the "vanilla version". We're not going to go over the details just yet, but we'll get there. Stay tuned.
Now. The real change, of course, is that the 2nd Savior function of the INFJ Jumper is now Introverted Thinking instead of Extraverted Feeling. You could actually, depending on how you look at it, make a case for the INFJ Jumper actually being a kind of INTJ. An I Ni Ti J (compare to the regular INTJ: I Ni Te J). But, like I said, that depends. Feeling is still higher in the stack - a more "powerful muscle" if you will - but less respected, and less exercised.
So... this is where things gets complicated. Because we're not just switching Feeling for Thinking here. We can't just jot down the specs of our "new tool" and be on our way. These are the middle functions we're talking about and whatever happens we're still going to be relatively balanced here. The descriptions of Introverted Thinking and Extraverted Feeling represent the extremes of a spectrum and we're not really approaching any one of them. It's going to be a mixed bag.
Side note: As we've mentioned, the INFJ Jumper can be said to show signs of INTJ- and INTP-like behaviors. A similar "leaning" towards another type can be seen in the INFJ Standard, but towards the more Extraverted ENFJ. The more Extraverted the INFJ Standard, the more leaning towards the ENFJ.
Ok. So... Mixed bag. Fine. But before we continue, and before we hone in on our actual position on the T/F spectrum, let's take a detour! Let's study the Trans-Decider-Land Railway in its entirety, all the way from Feeling to Thinking - and every little station in between!*
*Mid-axis, that is. We'll be covering the extremes, but the longest journey available to the INFJ will, of course, be second to third function.
Ok, so Introverted Thinking is the new tool, but what exactly is Introverted Thinking? And what is it to the INFJ Jumper? Well, at its core...
...it's Thinking...
Sort of self-explanatory this one? Thinking tries to make logical decisions without the interference of Feeling (quite the challenge actually). It's a Decider function. Where Feeling makes its decisions based off of Values, Thinking makes its decisions based off of Reasons.
...and it's Introverted...
Yes. Functions, not people are Introverted: War of the Worlds: The Real Difference between Introversion & Extraversion.
Compared to the Extraverted functions, the Introverted functions are more personal and subjective. They're not really present in the moment or in physical reality for that matter. They create and inhabit our "inner worlds". They prefer known information. They narrow down. They already have their own way of doing things. They don't pile (like those sloppy Extraverts thank you very much), they stack. Whatever they happen to deal in - be it reasons (Ti), values (Fi) - Introverted Deciders (Di), data (Si) or patterns (Ni) - Introverted Observers (Oi) - they stack and systematize and usually come to respect the internal world view that they've built more than our shared and objective, external reality.
Let's indulge in a quick birds eye view of the Introverted Deciders before locking down on our Ti-target here...
Di
We've already established that the primary Human Need of the INFJ was, and still is, Organizing. But we should recognise that what actually has changed with our Jump is our secondary Human Need. Switching the orientation of our Savior Decider from Extraverted (De) to Introverted (Di) has switched our secondary Human Need from Tribe to Self: Di is what OPS calls "Self above Tribe".
If a Lead-De needs the opinion of 10 people before they can make up their mind, it takes 10 people to pry an idea from the dead body of a Lead-Di.
Di is identity. It's depth. It's uncompromising. Perfectionistic. It's about earning respect, about recognition. Acknowledgement for Self. It's about avoiding what it considers to be "group think/vibe" or "herd mentality".
It's putting your own oxygen-mask on before helping others.
Di's are built to challenge the Tribe with their firmly held ideas/values. Often to the point of breaking away and starting a new "Tribe". Often their firmly held beliefs and unwavering confidence is inspiring to others. People get on board.
In the process of acquiring power, Di is often your friend (in the wild, Savior Di's are often found in CEO-positions, running companies). But when taken too far (failing to balance your inner Di-dictator with some Tribe perspective: De), the Tribe will eventually rebel (examples of which are readily available: Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, Tesla etc.).
Anyway... do we have a lock yet? I think we do.
Ti
Introverted Thinking (aka "Accuracy") focuses on the subjective reasons and thoughts of the individual. It's all about personal truth, about identity and that carefully built and re-built rationale, that card-house of logic to which it compares every fact/claim/"truth" that happens to cross its path.
Ti goes deep. Ti latches on to a problem and doesn't let go until it makes sense. To us. Screw everyone else. Screw if it works. Ti will keep at it until the new cog of truth has been built into our inner system of truths or - someone forbid - until we realize that the system itself is flawed and needs to be updated.
Which can be painful...
Depends on where the new piece fits...
The further into the core of our world view, the more we need to rebuild. And the more unpleasant the experience.
Going all in on Ti is risky (but potentially extremely rewarding) business. If you're going to put all your money on one horse (idea), you'd better pick the right idea (horse). Checking the spectrum of ideas, using let's say... Extraverted Thinking, might be a safer choice if you want the Tribe to get on board. But then again, Einstein probably wasn't paying much attention to the Tribe when working on his theory of general relativity. Spending years and years of his life working on an idea so complicated a genius like himself needed help proving it mathematically is quite a bold move. What if it turned out to be wrong? This is not the Te way. But this time - as we all know - Ti (and Ne, and a very high Intelligence Quotient) turned out to be the tool for the job.
When making a decision, Introverted Thinking, being Di, will consult Self first and consider the reasons of the Tribe second. Ti is asking the question "does this make sense to me?".
"What works for me?"
Ok... so that's Ti... but this was a duet, right? We're getting more of this stuff, and less of... Fe, right?
Good old Extraverted Feeling. Whatever happened to us? Was it me? No? You? Glad we can still be friends... 😉
But how well do we actually know each other? What exactly is Extraverted Feeling? Well...
...it's Feeling...
In the MBTI world, Feeling isn't feelings. It's not emotion. Feeling can use feelings as a dataset, but Feeling, like Thinking, is a rational decision maker. It's a Decider function. Where Thinking makes its decisions based off of Reasons, Feeling makes its decisions based off of Values.
...and it's Extraverted...
Compared to the Introverted functions, the Extraverted functions are less personal and more objective. They're anchored to the present moment and to the physical reality we all share. They prefer new. They want to keep things open. They want to explore new ways of doing things. They don't stack (like those boring Introverts thank you very much), they pile. Whatever they happen to deal in - be it reasons (Te), values (Fe) - Extraverted Deciders (De), data (Se) or patterns (Ne) - Extraverted Observers (Oe) - they gather all onto an ever growing, refreshing pile of assorted information and experiences.
Let's indulge in a quick birds eye view of the Extraverted Deciders before locking down on our Te-target here...
De
De is Tribe above Self.
If it takes 10 people to pry an idea from a Lead-Di, a Lead-De gets the opinions of 10 people before making up their mind.
De is Tribe perspective. It's breadth. It's about compromising and being open to the external spectrum of ideas or values, and to the new perspectives and experiences of the Tribe and the external world. It's about getting stuff done to the objective standards of physical reality.
It's putting everyone else's oxygen-masks on before your own (don't try this at home... or in an airplane for that matter).
Right...
Fe! 💪
Fe
Extraverted Feeling (aka "Harmony") focuses on the the vibe of the group, the feelings of others and the external value-spectrum of the Tribe .
If you want to make your life easier, get yourself some Fe. We're all emotional beings at heart. Pun intended. And being able to calibrate your words and actions to the emotions of those around us is bound to make us likeable. And being liked is paramount to survival in a Tribe.
Objections could be raised of course. Even though a positive emotional state is oftentimes key to get the job done, sometimes getting the thing working is the only thing that will make everyone happy. If all you ever do (ask Dave of OPS) is send people fruit baskets instead of doing the tasks that needs doing then perhaps you're not as likeable as you hope to be.
Another accusation that might be thrown the Fe way is that it's not genuine. That it lacks integrity. Because Extraverted Feeling is very much about adapting and managing our own values and emotions in relation to others to keep the harmony of the Tribe. Very unlike, and sometimes to the objection of Fi.
But let's move on shall we...
When making a decision, Extraverted Feeling will consult the feelings of the Tribe first and consider personal feelings second. Fe is asking the question "is this valued by everyone?"
"Do People actually Like This?"
Ok, we've studied the most ambitious itinerary there is, but we know we won't be making that trip. We won't go all the way from Feeling to Thinking, because we started somewhere in between. And since we know we won't go as far as the end destination of pure ("1st function") Thinking anyway, we will have to look at all the stops linking the most "Feely"- to the most "Thinky" INFJ.
Alright... so... what stops are those exactly? What exactly is it that decides how much more we're going to use Introverted Thinking and how much less we're going to use Extraverted Feeling?
That would be the Animals. Because all INFJ Jumpers are Sleep first and all INFJ Standards are Blast first. That's the connection between the Animals and Jumping. And that affects the rest of the Animal-stack. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Read on.
The Animals
In order for the upcoming discussion to make sense we have to be familiar with the Objective Personality concept of Animals: "Sleep", "Play", "Blast" and "Consume".
An Animal is a combination of two cognitive functions that together create a behavior.
From Extraverted to Introverted the OPS Animals arrange as such:
Play
(Extraverted Decider + Extraverted Observer)
Expending energy, Working, Doing, Showing off
Blast
(Extraverted Decider + Introverted Observer)
Teaching, Controlling, Starting, Bragging
----------
Consume
(Introverted Decider + Extraverted Observer)
Learning, Taking in more, Respecting info, Filling
Sleep
(Introverted Decider + Introverted Observer)
Preserving energy, Processing, Introspecting
The "flavors" of the Animals are stipulated by the Cognitive Functions inherent to each type and the flavors specific to the INFJ (to the all of the xNFJs and xSTPs actually) are as follows:
SF Play – Se + Fe
Exploring the data in terms of tribe values
NF Blast – Ni + Fe
Communicating organized patterns in terms of Tribe values
----------
ST Consume – Se + Ti
Gathering data of personal logical significance
NT Sleep – Ni + Ti
Organizing the patterns in terms of personal logical significance
Not unlike the four Cognitive Functions, the four Animals create a stack, the order of which dictates our behavioral preferences and our position on the Introversion/Extraversion-spectrum:
So, now we can see, that what's commonly known as one type (the Myers-Briggs INFJ) and what we now know as two types (the INFJ Standard and the INFJ Jumper) can effectively be divided into eight distinct subtypes, each with their own unique behavioral profile. Quite the range to something most know as only one type! Quite the difference between the most Extraverted of the INFJ Standard-subtypes and the most Introverted of the INFJ Jumper-subtypes!
So... in order for us to determine which of these four INFJ Jumper subtypes is our "stop" on the INFJ Jumper-journey, we need to figure out the order of our Animal stack. In what order are we expressing the behaviors of Play, Blast, Consume and Sleep? Are we the more balanced, less Introverted SB/P(C) - having a readier access to our Blast and Play Animals, making interaction with the Tribe somewhat smoother? Or are we perhaps on the other extreme - are we one of the "Double Introverts", the INFJ Jumpers having two Introverted Savior Animals (Sleep and Consume): the SC/B(P) or the SC/P(B)?
Or perhaps the SB/C(P) in between?
The order of the Animals dictate the activation (extent of use - and with time, hopefully strength/skill) of our cognitive functions. For the Double Introverted SC/B(P), for example, Sleep (Ni + Ti), Consume (Ti + Se) and Blast (Ti + Fe) together activate Ni and Ti twice, making these functions "Double Activated" (resulting in more exercised and most probably stronger "muscles" here).
A Sample
Since the descriptions of each and every one of these subtypes must be a result of a comparison to another one of the subtypes we're not going to be able to describe them all. Too many permutations. So we will have to make due with a sample....
We'll take a look at the extremes again. Probably the most rewarding approach given the circumstances...
SC/B(P) vs. BP/C(S)
Ok, here we go! In one corner we have the most Introverted of the INFJ Jumpers, the self-absorbed and self-aware arch-mumbler of Subjective-town: SC/B(P)! In the other, the most Extraverted of the INFJ Standards, the still-won't-go-to-bed-after-four-heart-attacks vibe-machine of Helpless-inner-child-ville: BP/C(S)!
DING!!
Err... ok, so... what's changed? Obviously, we've gone from Savior Fe to Savior Ti, but that's true for all INFJ Jumper vs. INFJ Standard comparisons. In all of them we're going to see an increase in individualistic behavior, prioritizing Self (Ti) above Tribe (Fe). We're going to see more decisions based on the reasons-/logic dataset, the INFJ Jumper will, to a greater extent, do what works for them, rather than what the Tribe likes.
But let's take a look at the Animals here. Individual functions are quite hard to spot in the wild anyways. All INFJ Jumpers lead with "Sleep" (Preserving energy, Processing, Introspecting). INFJ Sleep is NT-Sleep. It is made up of Introverted Intuition (Ni) and Introverted Thinking (Ti). This means that the behavior we will spot first and/or most frequently from the INFJ Jumper is organizing the abstract patterns in terms of personal logical significance.
Compare this to the lead NF-Blast (Ni + Fe) of the INFJ Standard: communicating organized patterns in terms of Tribe values. The state of choice for the INFJ Jumper is introvertedly processing logical, known abstract patterns, while the equivalent for the INFJ Standard would be to extravertedly mediate abstract patterns that would promote harmony in the Tribe.
But we want to get into the specifics of these particular subtypes here. The Sleep/Blast-ratio is the same across all INFJ Jumper/Standard comparisons. The differences lie with the last three Animals. The second Animal of our INFJ Jumper is ST-Consume (Se + Ti): gathering data of personal logical significance. This means that whenever this Jumper is done processing he/she is going to start taking in concrete information relating to whatever problem he/she is trying to solve. So, if it's important for him/her to know how cheese works (and he/she doesn't quite), perhaps he/she would watch a documentary on cheese? It's a thought...
Compare this to the second Animal of this particular INFJ Standard, SF-Play (Se + Fe): exploring the data in terms of Tribe values. So, when the INFJ Standard is done lecturing his family on why they should like cheese, instead of laying about on the sofa watching Wallace and Gromit, he/she would probably make an excursion to Cheese World (where your cheesiest dreams come true) to find out, first hand, what all the fuss is about.
So... what time is it by now? Most of the day spent I would say. This is where these two types would probably meet at the front door, the Jumper on his/her way out to Blast the insights from the documentary to his/her friends, the Standard on his/her way in to watch the documentary.
And that's probably how their days end, because the Jumper probably wouldn't make it past the lecture to an actual back-and-forth (past monologue to dialogue) with the Tribe (Play). And the INFJ Standard probably wouldn't make bedtime. There'd be precious little processing (Sleep) between documentary watching and falling asleep in front of the television.
Ok, so we have the details, we know that the reason for that big Ti-bubble on the SC/B(P) is double activated Ti (Sleep (Ni + Ti) + Consume (Se + Ti)) and for that big Fe-bubble on the BP/C(S) is double activated Fe (Blast (Ni + Fe) + Play (Se + Fe)). Looking at the other 6 types there aren't really any comparison we could make that would mean a greater leap when it comes to Feeling/Thinking use.
The only thing that could add to the F/T-gap between these two subtypes at this point would be the coin of masculine vs. feminine. But that doesn't really have anything to do with Jumping.
Ok. Long post. Let's round off with something stupid.
SC/B(P) FF
Wakes up at noon. Ponders meaning of life in hermit cave. Reads up on beards and human nature. Ponders some more. Has breakfast and sends carrier pigeon with advice for disciples. Goes over important life principles again. Does 200 push-ups because strong body strong mind. Perfects stone tablet commandments. Strolls down mountain side. Trips over beard and breaks tablet.
I'm not the offspring of a Deity and people know it!
(Perception of self and perception of others' perceptions of self align pretty well with reality).
SC/P(B) FF
Wakes up at noon. Ponders meaning of life in hermit cave. Reads up on beards and human nature. Ponders some more. Goes to last supper for deep conversation with disciples. Answers "follow your inner wisdom" when asked for teachings. Contemplates meaning of life again. Does 200 push-ups because strong body strong mind. Perfects stone tablet commandments. Stays on top of mountain.
I'm not the offspring of a Deity and people know it!
(Perception of self and perception of others' perceptions of self align pretty well with reality).
SB/C(P) FF
Sleeps in. Ponders meaning of life in hermit cave. Sends carrier pigeon with advice for disciples before breakfast. Strolls down mountain side. Trips over beard and breaks tablet. Returns to cave and reads a small tablet on beard grooming. Ponders some more. Does 100 push-ups because strong body strong mind.
I'm not the offspring of a Deity, but they don't know that, do they?
(Perception of self align pretty well with reality. Perception of others' perceptions of self - not so much.)
SB/P(C) FF
Sleeps in. Ponders meaning of life in hermit cave. Sends carrier pigeon with advice for disciples before breakfast. Goes to last supper for deep conversation with the disciples. Strolls down mountain side with stone tablet. Is greeted by the cast of "Life of Brian", chiming "He is the Messiah, he is the Messiah" at the top of their lungs. Goes back to cave and does 100 push-ups because strong body strong mind. Wrinkles nose at grooming-tablet.
I'm not the offspring of a Deity, but I am to them!
(Perception of self align pretty well with reality. Perception of others' perceptions of self - not at all.)
BS/C(P) MM
Wakes up at sunrise. Rags up and sends carrier pigeon with instructions for disciples before breakfast. Ponders meaning of life in hermit cave. Strolls down mountain side, but trips over beard when distracted by a stone tablet on spiritual awakening that someone forgot by the poop-hole. Returns to cave, but sends for the disciples to give them a lecture on proper disciple conduct. Does 50 push-ups because strong body strong mind.
Not sure if Divine offspring, but they don't know that, do they?
(Perception of self might align with reality. Perception of others' perceptions of self - not so much.)
BS/P(C) MM
Wakes up at sunrise. Rags up and sends carrier pigeon with instructions for disciples before breakfast. Ponders meaning of life in hermit cave. Goes to last supper for deep conversation with disciples. Gives lecture on proper disciple conduct. Strolls down mountain side with stone tablet. Is greeted by the cast of "Life of Brian", chiming "He is the Messiah, he is the Messiah" at the top of their lungs. Does 50 push-ups because strong body strong mind. Wrinkles nose at grooming-tablet.
Not sure if Divine offspring, but I am to them!
(Perception of self might align with reality. Perception of others' perceptions of self - not at all.)
BP/S(C) MM
Hardly slept. Rags up, goes to last supper for deep conversation with disciples before breakfast. Starts speaking in tongues, topples disciples over left and right and demands atonement from Judas. Turns water into wine. Drinks it and stumbles down mountain side with stone tablet and is greeted by the entire Hebrew people, all holding hands singing rude songs about Egypt. Returns to cave but does no push-ups because intoxicated mind weak body and why should I do the push-ups anyway, I've got disciples for that. Tries to wrinkle nose at grooming-tablet.
I'm fairly certain I'm the offspring of a Deity and they all believe it!
(Perception of self loosely tied to reality. Perception of others' perceptions of self not tied to reality at all.)
BP/C(S) MM
Didn't go to sleep. Rags up, goes to last supper for deep conversation with disciples before breakfast. Starts speaking in tongues, topples disciples over left and right and demands atonement from Judas. Turns water into a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and surfs down the mountain side on stone tablet, splitting the Israelites like Moses and the Red Sea and almost everyone was impressed and some even came back to the cave for confessions and more drinks. Does no push-ups because intoxicated mind weak body and why should I do the push-ups anyway, everyone's asleep. Tries to read grooming-tablet but is distracted by all the other grooming-tablets that seem to be hanging about and by the three little words that's rudely chosen to form a sentence at this very inconvenient moment: "Who am I?"
I'm the offspring of a Deity and they all believe it! ...Right?
(Perception of others' perceptions of self loosely tied to reality. Perceptions of self not at all tied to reality.)
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