How to Write an INTJ Character

[@JoyceMeng22]

Preach it. 👏👏 Every time someone refers to Thanos as an INTJ, a part of me dies inside. So I appreciate you calling that out. Great clarifications!

[@justcallmejon22]

I know right?! Some people will fight tooth and nail to justify that Thanos is an INTJ and I'm just wondering why they're so passionate about it 😅

[@dolapokuforiji1701]

I’m INFJ. I find your videos so mentally stimulating. I’m so happy I found your channel.

[@justcallmejon22]

Thank you for the support INFJ ❤

[@ultimatefangirl5718]

Currently writing an INTJ character so this video is perfect timing👌🏻

[@lythd]

:O wher

[@justcallmejon22]

I hope it helped 🙂

[@okay_art]

I enjoyed the video a lot! I am writing a book with an INTJ main character and as an INTJ myself I had figured out a lot of what you mentioned from personal experience but it really helps to have someone say what makes an INTJ in a list! I am a sucker for a good list to follow, it just makes everything easier! Thanks Jon!

[@justcallmejon22]

Happy to hear that it helped ✊

[@ColorfulMixx5318]

9:42 i relate with that somehow.. like unless their is trust that "this person can and will do it" I won't like to group up with them or entrust them with anything important. I really don't like the mental burden that comes with someone's irresponsibility or like.. some people needs to be pushed to get things done... or when we both have same weakness? and I. Simply. Can't. Deal. With. That. 13:09 being an infp I relate too much (many introverts will relate anyways-) I can live in my head for an extended period of time(I always do tho). Although i have not lived totally alone ever but i have lived with little to no substantial interaction, my mum use to say i am always engrossed in my own little cocoon, mostly doing something (I try not to zone out and stare blankly to the point i scare someone). During the pandemic I didn't go out for I think.. one and a half year since schools were online and I had no other reason to go out😂😂 one of my Se dom friend was perplexed because "at least go and fun with your close friends"..... and I was like unless it's Japan, disneyland or a magical land its not as fun as my Ne 🤣

[@HermesGirl]

This was really great. One of my favorites so far I think. You do a really great job of expressing and explaining (in an amusing way too) spot on characteristics and MOTIVES of an INTJ. To elaborate on the "emotions are felt but rarely shown" (#7 - yes I took notes of course I took notes, I love numbered lists and bullet points), I would like to add that when an emotion arises in us that we need to set it aside because we are busy with a goal and acting on a feeling just then isn't going to be effective in meeting our current goal, it doesn't mean that we don't care. We care. We want to solve it. But we can set it aside and know that we will analyze it later, when we have time, and when we are in a good state of being to do so. It might take days or longer. But we are gonna eventually need to figure that out. Because A. either we liked it and want to know how to replicate more of it in the future, or B. we really didn't like and need to figure out how to prevent that unpleasant sensation from ever happening again, or C. it was confusing and we aren't sure what we were feeling because it didn't fit within the parameters of the definitions of the emotions that would be expected in said situation. (An example I have used before of this is when I wondered if I was jealous once and it took me three days and some research to realize that I wasn't feeling jealous. What I was feeling was insulted. - I was quite thrilled to have figured that out - dude that I had felt the emotion over however, much less thrilled than I when I excitedly told him of my eureka moment).

[@justcallmejon22]

The 3 days of research to realize that you're jealous is something I know all too well! I agree with everything you mentioned and I've heard from my ENTJ friend that they do something similar as well. The breath of emotions and how an INTJ deals with it can be a video of its own 😅

[@SumeetExists]

18:18 so true... every once a week there are this time blocks where I'm quetiong everything from my morals to goals...

[@justcallmejon22]

Readjusting your trajectory is how you know you're on the right course my fellow INTJ ✊

[@epyon02alpha42]

First off, just want to say thank you for the content and keep up the amazing work. This was a video that was a joy to watch full of laughs, "THANK YOU!!" being shouted, and even a little, "I hadn't considered that point..." which is what I've come to expect from your vids. I think you did an excellent job of nailing the characteristics as every time you explained what you meant I could think of a time in which I went through an experience that mirrored that perfectly AND a fictional character that embodied it way more than 'Big-T' ever did. Also the seventh and eighth characteristics, if done well can even lead the INTJ character through a growth arc while overcoming some shadows of imposter syndrome. That's PRIME character development if done correctly, so I'm not sure how you can truly have an INTJ character that's got any importance to your story not display those two at least a few times. Otherwise, like you mentioned, you've probably written a psychopath.😆

[@justcallmejon22]

I hope you meant Thanos when you said 'Big-T' instead of referring it to something else 😅. I felt the same way writing this script surprised at a few things that I wasn't conciously of but didn't feel right if the supposed 'INTJ' character didn't have in a show. And yeah...most psychopaths in shows are typed as "INTJ" 😑

[@epyon02alpha42]

@@justcallmejon22 Yeah, absolutely talking about Thanos.👍It's unfortunate how psychopaths are typed as INTJs simply due to not truly understanding MBTI or even the whys behind INTJs keeping their emotions close to the vest. But thanks to channels like yours more education and awareness can get out there.

[@IntrovertedNTJ]

Golden video for those who want to write an INTJ character. Thank you for your examples, explanations and putting stress on priorities.

[@justcallmejon22]

Thank you for the comment 😊

[@Chekuthan0101]

Fantastic Analysis. Accurate to the point. Keep making more videos👌

[@justcallmejon22]

Thank you 🙏

[@kuro_tadori]

Great summary, and the examples really helped to get the point across! I'm writing one character at the moment who is probably an INTJ (still not 100% sure though, since I created the character before deciding on which type matches her best)

[@justcallmejon22]

I love reading INTJ characters! All I ask is to keep the INTJ human and not a psychopath 😅

[@ColorfulMixx5318]

While I watched it i created a list of "characteristics of an intj"... if I ever want to write about an intj character (which i surely will if my novel see an ending, which it will...) It’s very startling yet anticipated that INTJ's Ni goals are fueled by their Fi values- it's like they have emotional logic as in they have emotional, value based reason for the practical stuff they do unlike some mechanical-robot-thing.

[@justcallmejon22]

It always stems from Fi 😁

[@ColorfulMixx5318]

​@@justcallmejon22 Being a Fi dom, I get you guys 👍

[@Revna_Engel]

As a writer, I've found this very useful, thank you.

[@jandeusvult2920]

I really appreciate your intellect Jon. Keep em coming and I will keep up along with you. Behind the curtains of course.

[@justcallmejon22]

Thank you very much ✊

[@yoyojae77]

Good stuff ... 100% nailed it for me

[@justcallmejon22]

Thank you 🙏

[@ElodieN_INTJ_Typology_Insights]

Excellent video !

[@justcallmejon22]

Thank you! Nice rebrand 🙂

[@maxwellgrant7884]

Another great video. I actually thought that Thanos was an INTJ but you raised good points. Thanos wipes out half the universe as he believes it will prevent larger devastation such as famine which happened to his own world. He warned his planet about the overpopulation/ lack of resources, they didn’t listen and his world died as a result. His personal mission therefore is to save other worlds from similar extinction. He doesn’t want the glory for doing it and knows he will be hated in doing so. However, he believes it to be the right thing and is willing to sacrifice everything for that objective. I agree though that him sacrificing his loved ones for that mission is not an INTJ trait and proves your point on him not being an INTJ. Another INTJ character is Franklin Saint from snowfall- phenomenal show and the INTJ is the protagonist in the series. Highly recommend.

[@justcallmejon22]

I haven't seen the show Snowfall but I admire all INTJ characters. It's my own personal opinion but I have an issue with people typing non-INTJ characters as INTJs because it continues stereotypes that are incorrect. However, it's just the MCU version of Thanos, he's probably more INTJ in the comics 😅

[@djhorn1622]

Been enjoying your content on INTJ, as one myself. One critique for your videos, they seem to be recorded at a low volume. Other than that, keep up the good work.

[@justcallmejon22]

Thanks for the feedback! I'll increase my volume moving forward 🙏

[@T7nskie]

Ha, I like pumpkin spice as well.

[@justcallmejon22]

Dude, it's the best! I'm a huge fan of the pumpkin + cinnamon flavor 😅

[@5FeetofRedFury]

I'm an INFP writing an ENTP and INTJ main duo. This made me feel so much better 😂

[@justcallmejon22]

The duo sounds exciting!

[@5FeetofRedFury]

@@justcallmejon22 They're my favorites lol

[@oliviarinaldi5963]

I may have already commented, but I can't remember lol. Too many thoughts in my chaotic INFJ mind. Jon, I think you need to run for the hills and stay out of my head! You always do this to me, lol. I am writing a book. It's fiction, based on surrealism, paranormal, fantasy, blah blah blah I am targeting some of my characters to be specific MBTI ppl. Since my man and my male best friend are both INTJ, it's a given I'm gonna write some of that so when I saw this video, I could have kissed you. You are so good. I have another friend, who is an ISTP and OMG, we butt heads so much. I have a question to ask you and I'm just going to be my blunt self and not beat around the bush. Are specific sexual likes or situations attributed to particular personality types? For example, are most of INTJ into BSDM? I'm not trying to be a smart arse here. I'm honestly asking this question out of curiosity and a need to learn. Maybe there is no set way of doing things for personality types, but I have yet to see this addressed. I watch 3 or 4 INFJ ppl and two INTJ ppl. So I see quite a few. Your thoughts?

[@justcallmejon22]

I think sexual preference is a learned behavior instead of an MBTI thing. If an INTJ was raised super religious and was taught that being sexually active is a negative thing, then it might be an Fi value that they aren't willing to break. However, Ni & Se love experiencing new things so take that as you will 😉

[@oliviarinaldi5963]

@@justcallmejon22 Thank God he wasn't raised overly religious!!! That's all I'll say ;) And thank God for Ni and Se hehehe

[@ColorfulMixx5318]

9:51 on contrary, the question that popped into my mind was, "Won’t they feel burdened?" Like in a utopia where everyone are motivated and passionate and efficient it does not seem to be a problem but where there is more burden than the lot can handle, I wonder how intj would deal with that- they can push themselves but what about others?

[@justcallmejon22]

INTJs will do whatever is necessary to get the job done 😈

[@ColorfulMixx5318]

@@justcallmejon22 🙄 okie

[@santeeatherton3542]

His entire planet starved to death and died and he was exiled because he was willing to do anything to prevent it and his ideas were looked down on. He wants to be the savior of the universe to prevent what he couldn’t on his planet in the only way he knows for certain will work long term.

[@fonteye]

Well today is my birhtday and I just love your videos thanks for that would you consider Dr.Starnge an INTJ and who would you consider INTJ in the MCU

[@justcallmejon22]

Happy birthday brotha! Don't forget to celebrate life, it's a beautiful thing. I can see Dr. Strange as an INxJ. What do you think?

[@fonteye]

@@justcallmejon22 yeah thanks for your best wishes brotha! I dont think he is an INFJ he is more of INTJ I think which character in the MCU you think is an INTJ

[@justcallmejon22]

@@fonteye TBH, I'm not sure. I don't think most characters have enough screen time for us to make an educated guess. The closest to an INTJ as of right now is probably Dr. Strange or Vision. I'm hesitant to label Dr. Strange as an INTJ because I've been around unhealthy INFJs before and he reminds me of that type, but then again, I see a lot of INTJ qualities as well. The thing that makes me most hesitant about Dr. Strange is his interaction with Wong. Wong has high Te, so in most situations, he's fixing the issues that Strange made which I feel like most INTJs would fix the issues ourselves.

[@lavendairea.5219]

Would you consider Fyodor from Bungo Stray Dogs an INTJ?

[@justcallmejon22]

I haven't seen that Anime so I'm not really sure. Do you think that character is an INTJ?

[@lavendairea.5219]

@@justcallmejon22 he is at least typed as an INTJ by many but I’m not sure 🙈

[@Debloper]

Remember, usually you're reading/watching characters that are xNFP interpretations/representations of the types (because they're the overwhelming proportion of character creating authors). You're looking at it through a filter... and it's almost never as-is. This problem further compounds for INTJs, as they'd rarely (if ever... can't even remember a single instance) write up character driven "people" stories, with strong INTJ characters in it (autobiographical). Because that is an immediate red flag as "revealing too much about self, which can be weaponized against". So, unless an INTJ is already 35min past their ultimate goal (ref: Ozymandias speech), they're NEVER revealing themselves to you.

[@justcallmejon22]

I agree that most INTJ characters are written by non-INTJs but there are a few writers that really do us justice (more context of this in my next video). I also agree with your last sentence about INTJs not revealing ourselves until the end for INTJ villians but I'm not sure if the same could be said about an INTJ protagonist. In Anime, we hear their thoughts all the time, which is why I love it so much 😅

[@Debloper]

Tell me what you think, but IMO that exact template of hero vs villain based narrative is what makes writing good INTJs problematic. Cause let's be real, we are not black or white characters, we walk the knife's edge where those two sides merge. Even in our own self-reflection - the heightened self-awareness about needing to consciously sacrifice moral-purism/deontology for utilitarianism, keeps away any false sense of self-righteousness at bay. We look to the light, but not being blind to, or lying to ourselves about the darkness. It does make for a good anti-hero or anti-villain though. Ozymandias being a prime example of it. You may useful three more instances of somewhat better articulated INTJs in your research (or just enjoy watching just for what it is, if you haven't yet... in that case SPOILERS): 1. Galadriel from Rings of Power (YT: SWgzEBQq8gU): Adar interrogation scene where she discovers that just by salient features, she is no different than the enemy she wants to eliminate. This representation is different from Tolkien's portrayal of the mature Galadriel, but a on point for what needed to happen for her to eventually become who she is. 2. Invoker from Dragon's Blood (YT: oHphFW9EBpw, UPdluD2cJVg, tgRlHODmN6o): what does one truly mean by "now I am become death, destroyer of the worlds" in a blank, haunted, deadpan, expression of chilling blunted affect... and how many levels the character development goes... what does an INTJ's final form looks like (to an INTJ)? 3. Ender Wiggins from Ender's Game: Yet another world destroying INTJ's own perspective of who they really are, even as a teenager: "In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. [...] And then, in that very moment when I love them.... I destroy them." Looking forward to the next video... all the best!

[@feicchi]

I feel targeted when you said some INTJs take drugs in order to feel human XD

[@justcallmejon22]

If only i didn't get demonetized if I made a video about that 😅

[@feicchi]

@@justcallmejon22 Only if! Btw, do you have any plans to make a topic about INTJs with ADHD?

[@_Denadre]

Ever look into numerology ? I’m a 9 Life Path and see some similarities, wondering if most INTJ’s are also 9 Life Paths as well 🤨

[@johnnynezha2634]

What is life path 9 about?

[@justcallmejon22]

I haven't kept up with numerology in years but there's always similarities in any type of typology, so I wouldn't be surprised if INTJs are usually 9s 😀

[@lythd]

what would u type thanos as then?

[@justcallmejon22]

ENFJ. He has strong Ni but not to the same level as an INTJ or INFJ. He also ignores inputting a system to prevent issues from happening, which is very Te heavy that an INTJ/ENTJ/ISTJ/ESTJ would naturally consider. He's happy when he 'feels' like things are taken care of instead of making sure the mistake doesn't happen again.

[@billyhilly313]

May i suggest to reconsider what the core issue of Fe is?

[@DanielByers-qf9qi]

I agree that Thanos is not an INTJ. I am one (The Scientist: David Keirsey's original archetype), and I do not relate much to the Mad Titan. He might be an ENTJ (The Field-marshal).

[@justcallmejon22]

Whatever he might be, people need to stop typing any villain with a plan as an INTJ 😅

[@landonschlangen]

I actually think he is an INTP. Think about the similarities with Bill Gates

[@jocelynleung7480]

Why don’t you consider Snape an INTJ?

[@justcallmejon22]

He doesn't show an Ni or Te and is more reactive than pre-emptive. I can't imagine an INTJ staying with a company after being told year after year that they aren't fit to be the teacher of 'Defense against the Dark arts' that level of disrepect will kill an INTJ. Also, he doesn't have an Ni plan that he's working towards.

[@kruggmichaels8958]

@@justcallmejon22 Snape's erstwhile goal is to protect the son of the only woman he ever loved. Lily Potter. He loved Lily so much that he was able to overlook his hatred of James Potter, and the suspicions and rumors about his Death Eater past which prevented him from becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and spend years in an unfulfilling career so that he could be close to Harry Potter. In order to protect him from Voldemort. I personally could definitely see how Snape might be seen as an INTJ. A multi-decade plan in which he suffered a great deal in order to protect the child of the woman he loved.

[@erikanders90]

I would belive if Palpatin, Agent Smith, The Architect from Matrix and Reinhard Heydrich are INTJ's then there is a high chance Thanos is a INTJ too. They all found a good solution for a Problem like Overpopulation. If you Google INTJ Genocide then you will find exactly this. A pragmatic solution like rationalist would find in the first approach. And here is also the "Why explained" it is only the first and easiest approch, there might be better one but the Movie also need a approch who is perceived as evil even if the main goal is a higher goal. The same is true for the real world by the way and I expect the same for the real world. ;) from German Wikipedia translated to english: Poisoned growth refers to a mathematical model for various growth processes in systems in which the increase in a stock (such as the increase in a population ) is slowed down by an inhibiting substance (also called an inhibitor , such as a poison ). Eventually, the size approaches zero (the population dies out). A distinction is made between foreign poisoned growth , which can be used to describe systems in which the inhibitor is added from outside, and self-poisoned growth, which can be used to describe systems in which the production of the inhibitor depends on the size of the population. Some people argument he could double the resources but the problem with exponential growth is, it is getting faster. If I remember right Thanos had to sacrifice something valuable to get the stone. So the less worth daugther or what ever they are, does not count for this rule. And now to the gardening: When I was gardening and pulling the weeds, I thought about this monotonous but rewarding task and which personalities are particularly suited to it. My thoughts went towards Adolf Eichmann and Reinhardt Heydrich. Staying with the weeds, I thought about how to get from manual labor to mass destruction or automation. Also a notable quote is in breaking bad where Walther says he makes high quality meth at 92% purity or so and Jessy remarks "It's still poison though." and that is the heart of the matter. Some INTJ don't care what they're doing, only the idea of performance or optimization. ISTJ the same in a similar form. The gardening scene indicates his inner peace, the work is done. The Universe is saved from poisoned growth for now but everybody is pissed. Here one could ask oneself whether thanos would not rather have closed groups completely wiped out instead of in the middle of friends and families, which then nobody would miss but here too you have to consider it's a film and if nobody cares it's not worth the time.

[@hollistantang9469]

Good thing I never watch movies like MCU or whatsoever... Last time I watched movies were like... 15 years ago? Facts entertain me better anyway

[@justcallmejon22]

Must be a very comfy rock you live under! I love the MCU and I think the payoff was 100% worth it watching all the movies along the way 😁

[@hollistantang9469]

@@justcallmejon22 well... It is very comfy place and never stop giving me problems to work with... Nothing is better than a problem to munch daily, right?

[@BuizelCream]

I too haven't seen the MCU, but only the Spiderman movies attached to it. I'm more of a Into/Across the Spiderverse person. But I do enjoy watching the movie reviews and analysis, and hearing about the movie business surrounding the MCU, and yes I know they're in hot waters right now cause Phase 4 sucks, they said.

[@justcallmejon22]

@@BuizelCream It's not just Marvel, the direction of Disney is just trash right now.