Are you an INTJ or an ENTJ?

For us psychology masters of the universe, we've all most likely some point come to experience confusion as to whether we're one type or another. In this post, I'm going to point out major factors that place a fool-proof difference between the two types.

Clothing and style

Mark Zuckerberg actually dresses like a normal person

On the other hand, have you ever seen George
Clooney dress up like he doesn't work for the CIA?

INTJs tend to be consistent in the way they dress. Every INTJ I've ever met pretty much has a set, defined style. One of them ALWAYS wears shirts with sleeves long enough to cover his wrists--whether it's a freezing winter day, Santa Claus out sledding in the slow, or a scorching summer day hot enough to raise concerns about climate change in the hearts of conservative politicians. Another always wears jeans, a t-shirt, and running shoes. Another one always wears a hat, shorts, and polos--a golf player-like look. Another one always wears cute outfits consisting of a dress and a knit top, with soft color schemes. When I say always, I mean ALWAYS--these people dress like this ALL THE TIME.

ENTJs on the other hand aren't as consistent in the way they dress. Instead, they almost characteristically dress extremely well. I'm the biggest example I can use. I always dress up to the T, but one day I might be wearing a suit and the other I might be dressed like a Latino singer in white clothes with an open button-up. One ENTJ I know very well is the same exact way--she'll dress simple, but elegantly, with a luxurious t-shirt, awesome jeans, and stunning shoes; she'll dress like a rock-star, with leather jackets and dark colors; she'll dress like a princess from the United Kingdom, with a white linen dress, cute shoes, and curled up hair. Otherwise, they just generally have excellent aesthetics.

I consistently dress really fucking awesome

This may be due to the fact that the INTJs positioning of Extroverted Sensing as their least developed function causes them to have a much more refined taste for aesthetics in that it is more specific and narrowed down than for the ENTJ. As for the ENTJ, this may be due to their positioning of Extroverted Thinking as their dominant function, allowing them to organize colors and styles with a magic touch (organization of external elements), and to their positioning of Extroverted Sensing as their third function (or their "relief" function) which makes their taste in things less selective and actually quite diversified, but I won't dive into how all of that works.

Conversations

INTJs can have some of the deepest, most content-filled conversations ever, but they generally aren't the ones starting the conversations. They can be incredible listeners, taking in every single word you're saying, understanding it with quantum mechanical insight, barely responding to anything you're saying--which pretty much keeps the conversation on a straight-arrow track. They don't generally talk for the mere sake of talking.

ENTJs on the other hand are pretty conversational individuals. They do sometimes talk for the sake of talking, albeit usually with the intention to get to a pre-plannified point. Because of the simple fact that they think out-loud a lot, you'll have a lot of conversation coming out from an ENTJ's mouth. 

There is a substantial difference between the amount of conversation from an ENTJ and an INTJ. You'll know if you've met the two.

Projects

INTJs approach projects from a more theoretical standpoint whereas ENTJs approach them from a more application-based standpoint. Both take into account the perfection and the integrity of the project, but the difference lies in that the INTJ is going to be more focused on ensuring that he or she has a polished, perfect, and masterful work of art whereas the ENTJ is going to be more focused on ensuring that the project just plain gets done. 

ENTJ work philosophy in one sentence.

For example, if both types were to create a business plan with the final goal of making $1,000,000 in profit, the INTJ is going to be more focused on the integral and systematic components of the plan (basically, how perfect the plan is) and the ENTJ is going to be more focused on the exact, specific components of the plan (cutting to the chase) that he or she will need to work with to achieve the final goal.

"A straight line may be the quickest path to point B, but it isn't necessarily the most interesting one."

-Someone

It can be boiled down to:

INTJ--the best path to B

ENTJ--the quickest path to B

Impulsiveness

If you have ever thought of yourself as being impulsive, you are most likely not an INTJ. With Extroverted Thinking as their dominant function, ENTJs are quintessential Doers. An ENTJ will begin to work on a idea as soon as they get it. With Introverted Intuition as their dominant function, INTJs are just plain wired to give stuff thought before they decide to make it happen--they're Thinkers rather than Doers.

Plus, with Extroverted Sensing as their "relief" function, ENTJs, when bored, may frequently flock to sensory stimulating activities, which is characteristic of impulsive behavior. And think about this now: if a bored ENTJ thinks it might be fun to go out for a walk, would you think they haven't left the door by the time you got finished reading this? I don't spend a lot of time in my own house either.

"ENTJs can be said to live outside their houses, using their houses only to fulfill basic necessities such as eating, sleeping, and sitting on the toilet."

-Me

Extroversion

INTJs are inside their heads, which, with Extroverted Sensing as their least developed function, leads them to being clumsy, not being generally aware of their surroundings, and hating environments that overwhelm their senses. ENTJs, with Extroverted Thinking as their dominant function and Extroverted Sensing as their third function, live more in their environments than they do in their heads.

Extroverted Thinking causes them to very well in tune with elements of their environment, as it is constantly organizing, judging, analyzing, and labeling external elements in their mind. Extroverted Sensing as their third function causes a need for stimulation in the ENTJ that the INTJ does not have. 

If you've done enough research, you'll know that the third, or "relief," function is the one that causes problems for individuals--for ENTJs, the problem caused by this is boredom and needing to be constantly stimulated. Back to the Extroverted Thinking, INTJs don't put as much energy into analyzing elements of their environment as the ENTJ due to the simple fact that Introverted Intuition dominates their cognitive functions, making Extroverted Thinking an assistant function that aids the dominant. However, to the ENTJ, Introverted Intuition carries an assistant role in aiding Extroverted Thinking.

Let's boil it down to this:

You're an ENTJ if you pay more attention to your environment. You are constantly analyzing and organizing the environment. What goes on in your mind is mostly an analysis of your external environment, although you may get wrapped up in your own independent thoughts frequently, discovering new principles and making quantum leaps in logic.

If consistently analyzing what people are up to is your definition of being in touch with them, I guess it floats your boat...

Anyways, you're an INTJ if you pay more attention to your thoughts. You are constantly imagining and creating in your mind. What goes on in your mind is mostly processes that are independent of what is going on in your environment, although you may get wrapped up in external events frequently, seeing patterns and coming to quick conclusions on the information gathered by your senses.

Feelings and convictions

INTJs introspect a lot more than ENTJs, causing them to have a much more developed sense of self as they are more attuned to their feelings and convictions about things. ENTJs don't care much to think of feelings and convictions, with Introverted Feeling as their least developed function. With Introverted Feeling as their "relief" function, INTJs can at times become very wrapped up in their emotions, convictions about things, and what they want for themselves. 

Has anyone described you as bossy?

This one is obvious. ENTJs are the leaders of the pack. They are the Bosses of their worlds, magically swaying people to follow their agenda and get whatever needs to get done done. They are aggressive, confrontational, and really decisive, and they will make sure everybody knows who's in charge. If you prefer to work behind the curtains and maybe even prefer that nobody knows you're the mastermind controlling the puppets, chances are you're an INTJ.

The difference in their bossiness is even seen in their stance.

And him? What's he gonna do? Throw you the dog?

Doesn't he look like he's gonna jump you?

How pissed off are you?

When an ENTJ flips out, everybody in the room--in fact, in the entire vicinity--will know. I know this both from my own experience flipping desks--literally--and having hour-long shouting matches with people and from my experience witnessing the wrath of other pissed off ENTJs. If shouting matches and destructi-ugh, creative house re-decoration doesn't sound like you when you're pissed, chances are you're an INTJ. 

Yes. He is an ENTJ.

Power

If you've ever asked an ENTJ whether they prefer happiness or power, chances are they looked at you like you're an insect devoid of any intelligence. To an ENTJ--a real ENTJ--power is happiness. At least to an extent. 

As an ENTJ, my career goal is to be my own boss, have my own company, and set my own rules. An INTJ's career goal is going to be more centered on having the ability to work on what they're interested in (usually something scientific, academic, or intellectual) without being micro-managed or having to deal with other people--in fact, avoiding people is so important to them that I may as well say that their career goal is to work without having to deal with other people. If an INTJ has power, they prefer to work strictly behind the scenes, taking on a secret mastermind role rather than an authoritative boss role. 

As for goals, they usually have an intellectual undertone to it. One INTJ's career goal that I know is to open their own pharmaceutical company so that they can conduct research and design their own drugs. Another INTJ's is to study quantum mechanics and astrophysics and to work for NASA. Another INTJ I know already earned their Ph.D in social studies and has been working in multiple teaching positions in colleges and high schools.

Inspirational speeches

If you've ever given an inspirational speech, chances are you're an ENTJ. If you can move a crowd, chances are you've an ENTJ. If you can give pumped, energetic, and energizing speeches without much effort or thought, chances are you're an ENTJ. However, if the mere idea of standing in front of a crowd and talking to them causes you to cringe, chances are you're an INTJ.

Yeah, let's be real.

At this point, it should be crystal-clear obvious to you whether you're an ENTJ or an INTJ. And, I mean, let's be real. Just look at who you admire and who you look up to. If you particularly look up to extremely cunning, powerful, charming, and persuasive individuals, then that might as well be a reflection of your ENTJ personality. If you particularly look up to extremely intelligent, direct, blunt, and intuitive intellectuals then that might as well be a reflection of your INTJ personality.

If you know of anything that may make the differentiation clearer or better, or simply have any suggestions, please send me an email or leave a comment.

Here's some more flip-out humor...