“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness,” said Aristotle.
And really – INTJs are said to be brilliant but quirky.
But as it goes, that quirkiness can bring out their dark side.
In this article, I’ll give you an overview of all the negative qualities INTJs might express when feeling down.
Let’s dig into my complete guide to the INTJ dark side!
The Dark Side of INTJ
There’s no such thing as an ideal personality type. For every asset, there’s a weakness to match. Let’s see what those are for an INTJ personality type.
They can be heavily introverted
Extroverts get energized by spending time around other people. But introverts feel drained after socializing. And among them, that’s especially noticeable with INTJs.
Those with the INTJ personality type are known as lone wolves, not without reason.
INTJs thrive when they’re alone, so it’s not surprising that they can distance themselves from other people for a long time.
Your INTJ friend is avoiding you?
That’s probably true, but not for the reasons you might think.
Don’t take it personally. INTJs simply alienate themselves to recharge and find comfort in their own space.
And yes, that can take a long time sometimes.
Not communicating with someone close to you for some time can be a challenge to some, but not to INTJs. And it’s not that they don’t care just as much about that person. They’re not trying to be lonely, simply left alone.
They’re no strangers to depression
There are several reasons why INTJs might struggle with depression.
People with this personality type will try to rationalize everything, including their feelings. But more often than not, there’s nothing logical in how we feel about certain things.
Now, if there’s one thing that frustrates INTJs is the inability to understand something. This emotion becomes their everyday burden. That certainly doesn’t help in dealing with depressive thoughts.
Another reason why depression can be especially hard on INTJs is the fact that they prefer solitude. While being alone typically allows them to recharge, that isn’t the case when dealing with depression.
During such times, everyone needs a person that will listen and provide support when needed. But INTJs already have a hard time bonding with people, as not everyone understands their need for solitude.
And given how mysterious and reserved INTJs are, it’s typically hard for their friends to pick up the signs that something’s wrong.
They struggle with procrastinating
INTJs are known for their deeply-rooted ambition and drive. But while they’re typically very efficient, they’re also prone to procrastination. Paradoxical, I know.
As you probably know, INTJs can get lost inside their head, forgetting for a while that the outside world exists. They can easily zone out for hours while their tasks pile up.
And you know when this usually happens?
When they’re doing something they find boring.
Let’s take school for example.
INTJs generally love learning and expanding their cognitive functions. Of course, this personality trait drives them to constantly improve their knowledge. And that can sometimes lead to them being ahead of their class in a certain subject.
And if an INTJ finds a subject boring, they’ll find doing homework a waste of time. And, as you may suppose, it typically leads to leaving it until the last minute.
They’re overthinking practically everything
You know another reason why an INTJ might be procrastinating? They’re too busy overthinking other things.
INTJs rely on logic to understand how the universe works. Those with this personality type will try to understand every single bit. Often, they’ll unnecessarily focus on trivialities.
And they’ll apply this method to every situation.
Overthinking is quite noticeable in social communication. INTJs lack finer social skills when communicating, which can often lead to misunderstanding. Now, INTJs react to that by overthinking what went wrong.
They indulge in hedonism
Hedonism and procrastination go hand in hand.
It makes sense. We all tend to delay some important tasks by focusing on something more pleasurable.
And INTJs do this a lot.
You see, this personality type is prone to sensory overindulgence.
Imagine a small cafe packed with people. It’s crowded, flashy, and loud. In a way, that atmosphere is overstimulating the sight, hearing, and sensory systems of an INTJ.
So, what would an INTJ do in such a case?
Probably get away from the place and do something enjoyable.
When stressed, INTJs tend to become hedonistic. And that actually explains their tendency to obsess over certain things. They’ll indulge in pleasures to distract themselves from upsetting situations.
They can be very distrustful
INTJs have issues with trust for many reasons.
First, INTJs like to build knowledge on knowledge. This means they like to double-check and verify anything before accepting it as a fact. They won’t trust blindly, whether it’s a new project, a new idea, or a new person.
You can tell them, for instance, that rhythm is the longest English word without a true vowel. An INTJ will probably check the glossary first before accepting what you said as a true fact.
INTJs can be very distrustful of people around them. They don’t easily let people in out of fear of being hurt. So when they do, that means you’re worthy of their trust.
They can appear quite ruthless
INTJs aren’t the ones to make small talk. They can go on for hours when talking about a subject that deeply interests them. But they also get drained pretty easily by meaningless chatting.
So don’t expect pleasantries from them for no reason. While that can make them appear ruthless, INTJs just don’t like showing unnecessarily strong enthusiasm about a simple chat.
Plus, let’s not forget that INTJs don’t typically express their emotions in casual conversation. A lack of emotional expression can possibly lead them to seem quite rude, especially to more extroverted individuals.
They can be reckless
Remember how I said that INTJs could indulge in hedonism to get away from troubling situations?
Well, they can get carried away quite easily.
A rational planner like INTJ but reckless?
Paradoxical yet possible.
This dark trait is somewhat caused by their overconfidence. An INTJ may think they have everything under control and that they can loosen up and relax. But in some cases, they overestimate their abilities.
They’re very defensive of their opinions
INTJs are loners with a hard shell yet a very soft interior. They’re sensitive and afraid of letting other people in.
Those with this personality type will try hiding their feelings by building walls between themselves and others.
They’ll also defend their beliefs with the same passion.
INTJs base their knowledge on fact-checking and double-proofing, so they’ll make sure you know they’re right. It’s not untypical for them to go above and beyond trying to defend their stance on something, no matter how trivial it might be.
How to Get Out of the Dark Side if You’Re INTJ
If you start experiencing any of these traits, don’t worry. You’re not the only one.
There are a few things that can help any INTJ get out of their unhealthy dark side.
Discover Your Personality Type
Obviously, you know you’re INTJ.
But how much do you actually know about the INTJ character?
Some things may be more obvious – like the fact that you’re introverted. But there might be other things you don’t realize are a reflection of your personality type.
Luckily, we have a lot of articles about this personality type, which should help you learn more about what it is to be an INTJ.
These resources can give you a more in-depth analysis of certain traits, as well as how you can use them better in different situations. That also goes for dealing with these dark traits that can appear when you’re not at your best.
Confide in a Friend
I know. INTJs don’t easily open up. But if you’re dealing with some of these dark traits, a talk with someone you trust can help.
While another INTJ might relate to what you’re going through, you might not get the response you need from them.
If you’re close to an extrovert, it’s better to confide in them. They will give you a different perspective on the subject, which can be of great help.
Try Therapy
Don’t let any prejudice about therapy stop you from trying it.
Everyone could use a conversation with a professional. It’s their job to help you put some things into perspective and help you process them.
To Sum Things Up
Like any other personality type, INTJs have their dark side.
INTJs may be extreme in certain traits, which can sometimes get the best of them.
They enjoy solitude, but too much of it can make them depressed.
They’re blunt and straightforward, but that can make them rude and defensive.
Finally, their strife to be great often leads to them overthinking and procrastinating.
However, these traits aren’t a realistic representation of INTJs. Like any of us, people with this personality type may not always “be themselves.” But when in their element, they’re definitely nothing like this.
Searching for wise words that will describe your INTJ personality? Check out our collection of the best INTJ quotes you will instantly relate to.