Do you ever wish you had superpowers? Well, Wallflower, you do! Introverted personality types all come with superpowers.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has 16 personality types. Eight of those are introvert personality types. Getting more curious?
This article will tell you all you need to know about introvert personality types and the strengths – or superpowers 😉 – that come with each of them.
Understanding Introverted Personality Types
What is the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator?
The MBTI was created in the 1940s by Isabel Myers and her mother, Katherine Briggs. They were both very interested in Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types and saw the potential for people to apply this theory in real life.
They developed an assessment, or personality test, which assigns four categories to each person. Two of these define a person’s primary personality type, and the other two play off of them.
The MBTI became very popular, with about 2 million adults in the US completing it each year. It’s worth noting that it’s also had its fair share of criticism. As with any personality-focused testing, you should apply the results in a way that is most meaningful for you.
Many people use this assessment for personal and career development. Some people use it for team building and to strengthen relationships. For introverts, it helps you realize there are a lot of people like you in the world.
How Does MBTI Define an Introvert Personality Type?
Remember, there are four categories. The category that includes introvert personality types is extroversion(E) – introversion(I). This is a scale of how extroverted or introverted a person is.
According to Myers-Briggs, introverts are people who are inward-facing, who think more rather than talk more, enjoy deep and meaningful social interactions, and feel recharged after spending time alone.
They also noted that all people exhibit some degree of extroversion and introversion, but most will have one or the other as their overall preference.
The other categories include sensing(S) – intuition(N), thinking(T) – feeling(F), and judging(J) – perceiving(P).
Each person is given one letter from each representing their general preferences for each category based on their assessment results. This produces a four-letter acronym, which is their Myers-Briggs personality type.
Common Characteristics of Introverted Personality Types
The most common characteristics of introverted personality types are:
- We live in our heads.
Quiet types like to process our own thoughts before sharing them with the outside world. We think a lot more than we talk.
And when we do talk, you better believe we’ve given a lot of thought to the words we use. I like to think of it as being verbally efficient. 😂 - We prefer low-stimulus environments.
Introverts tend to avoid crowds or a lot of noise. Particularly, we avoid crowds and large groups because this creates a high social energy demand.
That doesn’t mean that we never find ourselves in highly social situations. There are even social introverts who have a bit more tolerance for social events. However, when we socialize, we will need some quiet, alone time to recharge our energy afterward.
Misconceptions About Introverted Personality Types
Introverts are some of the most misunderstood people in the world. Common misconceptions about introverted personality types are:
- We don’t like people.
It’s easy to believe that an introverted person doesn’t like people because of the aforementioned point about avoiding crowds and large groups. However, this is not true.
A lot of introverts enjoy meeting all kinds of new people. We just have to do so in a limited fashion or in small groups. We quite enjoy deep and meaningful conversations that allow us to learn more about people in smaller social settings.
For example, we’d much prefer to have coffee with one new friend and really get to know them rather than go to a party with a bunch of people trying to create small talk. - We are unintelligent.
This one couldn’t be further from the truth. Introverts are some of the most intelligent, creative, and innovative people in the world.
Unfortunately, because we don’t exhibit outward expressions of our thoughts like extroverts, people assume there’s not a lot going on inside.
On the contrary, quiet people have an entire inner world of thought happening inside their minds that the outer world may only catch a glimpse of. We just won’t tell you about our thoughts until we’re good and ready!
The 8 Myers-Briggs Introverted Personality Types
Here is a brief description of the eight different types of introverts and a key personality trait, or superpower, for each.
1. ISTJ Personality Type
ISTJs are known to be responsible, decisive, extremely logical, and traditional. If there’s a job to be done, they will get it done and make sure it’s done the right way.
The ISTJ superpower is their ability to learn from the past. They like to make informed decisions, and they remember what worked and what didn’t. This is what makes them so successful. It also equips them to assist others they care about with finding success.
2. ISTP Personality Type
ISTPs are also logical. They enjoy learning and reaching mastery of a skill or craft. They remain calm in most situations and are mostly reserved around people.
The ISTP superpower is rising to any occasion. They are very adaptable and will find the best solution to almost any problem. They also work hard to make things easier for others while doing so.
3. ISFJ Personality Type
ISFJs are patient and loyal, and they apply common sense and experience to situations. They particularly enjoy learning about other people so they can be better at helping them in different ways.
The ISFJ superpower is being a personal problem solver. They are fiercely loyal and enjoy helping people. Their flexibility and common-sense approach to life make them effective at helping people sort through their challenges.
4. ISFP Personality Type
ISFPs are great facilitators. They love learning about people and connecting the differences and commonalities between them. They look for opportunities to bring people together and are very supportive of others.
The ISFP superpower is being a supportive friend. They love connecting like-minded people and those with differing opinions. ISFPs are kind, loyal friends who are versatile and accepting of different types of people. They are always willing to support others without seeking the spotlight.
5. INFJ Personality Type
INFJs are the rarest introvert personality type. They are idealists who have strongly held opinions about how the world should be. Prioritizing people first and harmony between their lives and personal values is important to them. They typically look for deeper meaning in life and in anything else they do.
The INFJ superpower is being a world changer. They see the world’s potential to be a great and harmonious place and will actively work to make it so. They look for the greater good in people and help others to find that in themselves and the world around them.
6. INFP Personality Type
INFPs are innovative people and creative thinkers. They have strong morals and values that impact their life choices and how they spend their time. They are thoughtful, committed people who don’t mind helping others reach their full potential.
The INFP superpower is being a deep thinker. Their ability to dive deep into a particular topic or issue often leads to the most creative solutions and ideas. They are also more than willing to do this for people and causes they care about.
7. INTJ Personality Type
INTJs are planners and forward thinkers. They like to identify systems and see how they can best fix or enhance them. They are very logical and analytical and great at helping others solve problems.
The INTJ superpower is making dreams happen. They are conceptual planners who take big ideas, break them down into goals, and create a plan that will bring them to life. INTJs enjoy doing this for themselves and their loved ones.
8. INTP Personality Type
INTPs are highly analytical people. They are great at detaching themselves from a problem so they can find a way to solve it. They can seem quiet and withdrawn; however, they are also kind and considerate with those with whom they have personal relationships.
The INTP superpower is laser focus. When they have a problem before them, they can focus until they find a thoughtful yet complex solution. Their focus often helps them see things in a way others may not.
Introvert Petal
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Closing Thoughts
Introverts are amazing people. Many people might think having an introverted personality type is a limitation, but not so! It is absolutely a strength. One, as you can see by these superpowers, we can use for ourselves, our loved ones, and the world.
No matter what type of introvert you are, there’s something special about you. So wave your introvert flag proudly, Wallflower! But also quietly and without making yourself the center of attention. 😳
Use your superpowers to your advantage for your own personal growth and for others around you. After all, it’s the quiet types who really save run the world!
