INTJ Enneagram Types: Analysis of Fundamental Differences

If you know an INTJ, you’d probably agree that they are one of, if not the most focused and efficient people you’ve ever met. They are very intense, so it is particularly interesting to explore how their traits alter when combined with Enneagram types. For that reason, we’ve analyzed all nine INTJ Enneagram types in detail, and we want to share what we’ve found!

While it is theoretically possible for an INTJ to identify as any Enneagram type, some combinations are particularly hard to imagine. Let’s see exactly why that is so!

A Quick Overview of the INTJ Personality Type

INTJs are passionate, focused, and result-oriented individuals who are rather ambitious and often know exactly what they want to do in life at a very young age. They don’t waste time on things that are not useful to them in some way, so they advance quickly and smoothly in life.

Though passionate, they are emotionally detached in relationships and need quite a lot of time to warm up and show some sincere affection and warmth. Due to this, they often give off the impression of cold, but that’s just a facade—underneath their polished exterior is a sensitive soul who can't take any kind of criticism lightly.

Additionally, they often lack the empathy and emotional intelligence needed for building real, close relationships, so this area of their lives typically develops later. In most cases, their career is their foremost priority.

The Nine Enneagram Types of the INTJ

The focus and drive of INTJs are incomparable, so regardless of how they identify in the Enneagram, they will always remain passionate and dedicated to their goals. Let's see which aspects of their personalities are most likely to change depending on their Enneagram variation.

#1. INTJ Enneagram Type 1

INTJ Enneagram Type One is one of the most common INTJ Enneagram combinations. These individuals focus on developing their intellectual abilities and are highly organized and structured. Therefore, it’s no wonder they are perfectionists who have little to no tolerance for mistakes and are particularly hard on themselves.

Their inner critic is very strong, which is why they find it very hard to relax and enjoy the simple things in life. Their agendas are always full of tasks and plans, and they simply can’t stop working until they've completed everything on their lists.

On the positive side, these individuals often achieve impressive intellectual mastery in some areas and become successful businesspeople who climb steadily to the top.

Their moral compass is strong, and they take care not to harm anyone on their way, but other than that, they don’t have a lot of empathy for other people.

These INTJs also live secluded, private lives. No one knows what their lives look like when they leave the office. They fear that they might be exposed as imperfect, so they strive hard to keep their private lives separate from their professional lives.

Finally, it is safe to conclude that INTJ Enneagram One’s desires will be very intense and that they will aim to achieve mastery in their areas of interest, earning the respect of other people along the way.

#2. INTJ Enneagram Type 2

This is a highly atypical combination, as Twos and INTJs have almost nothing in common. Neither the character of the Two nor the character of the INTJ can be fully developed, so the result is a completely new personality subtype that actually resembles an INFJ.

These INTJs are more aware of the role relationships play in their lives and often even more successful because they show more empathy toward other people. Still, they may tend to show off for the amount of support and help they provide to others and overlook that bragging about doing favors isn’t actually doing favors to anyone but themselves.

However, in general, these INTJs are reliable, trustworthy, and honest people who work hard to achieve their goals and take care of their loved ones. Their intuition is highly developed, and they may use it to advance more easily in their careers.

Finally, INTJ Twos fear that unless they are perfect and please everyone, they will be abandoned. Their biggest desires revolve around being loved and respected for all the efforts they invest in taking care of other people.

#3. INTJ Enneagram Type 3

INTJs and Threes share a similar drive to succeed; they are fiercely ambitious and care a lot about impressing other people and being admired. Competitive and result-oriented, they excel in corporations and enjoy climbing the corporate ladder. When they want something, they can be incredibly persuasive.

These INTJs are more open toward other people and communicate more easily. They are charming and often very seductive, and they use their charisma to get what they want. Since both Threes and INTJs easily lose touch with their feelings, INTJ Enneagram Threes are often tempted to use dishonest means just to impress other people and give off an image of success.

These individuals can never settle for mediocre success or mundane life. They want to achieve something exceptional, often at all costs, because image and social approval mean so much to them. They lack the emotional intelligence necessary for great leaders, but they are exceptional managers, as they are very focused on controlling themselves and other people.

They fear that unless they constantly make great accomplishments, other people will see them as failures. Therefore, their biggest desire is to rise to a position of power so that they can feel worthy and admired.

#4. INTJ Enneagram Type 4

Indeed, INTJ is a rare personality type, and in combination with Type Four, it is even rarer.

INTJs Enneagram Fours use their intuition to delve into their own depths and are more in tune with their feelings. However, they have no desire to communicate how they feel and often perceive themselves as unique. They are highly individualistic, independent, and insightful people who are often moody and undisciplined in their behavior toward other people.

Compared to regular INTJs, these INTJs are usually more creative and often have some kind of artistic gift. Moreover, just like regular Fours, they are surely more pragmatic and realistic. Therefore, an INTJ Enneagram Four will often find both practical and creative ways to express their ideas and feelings.

Personal relationships are complicated for these people, and with all the turbulence Type Four introduces, it can be even more challenging for them to achieve some kind of stability. They are chronically afraid that no one will ever really understand them, and their biggest desire is to live extraordinary lives and be free to express their authenticity.

#5. INTJ Enneagram Type 5

Strategic thinking, inquisitiveness, and brilliant logic are INTJ Enneagram Five’s trademarks. In other words, these people are a more focused version of the Enneagram Type Five or a more curious version of the INTJ. One thing is for sure—they are smart, efficient, and very independent.

For these INTJs, small talk is totally senseless, and having fun in convenient ways sounds exhausting. They love intellectual exchanges, discussions, and people who offer them new insights. After all, regardless of how successful they are, they keep learning throughout their lives.

INTJ Enneagram Fives also have a deep-seated fear of being useless and incompetent. The idea of having to rely on someone other than themselves is obnoxious to them. Therefore, it’s no wonder their biggest desire is to find stability and security in life.

Depending on which stage of life they are in, this desire may take the form of a desire for knowledge, power, or status as their definition of security changes.

#6. INTJ Enneagram Type 6

INTJ Enneagram Sixes are the most insecure version of the INTJ personality type. These people have a deep distrust of life and feel they need to be prepared for anything at any time. They are extremely calculative, and this goes for their relationships with other people too.

They are less independent than typical INTJs, and their sense of security depends largely on the quality of their relationships. They invest a lot of energy into nurturing and protecting their closest circle and carefully choose who they confide in, so social rituals and family gatherings play a large role in their lives.

INTJ Sixes are often pessimistic, despite the fact that they are usually ready for all kinds of unpredictable circumstances. However, the good side of their pessimism is that they are exquisite troubleshooters and problem solvers.

These INTJs also fear being disconnected from their communities and desire a stable, predictable life. The more secure they feel, the more curious they get, so it is not rare for them to show more adventurism in old age because of the stability that usually accompanies aging.

#7. INTJ Enneagram Type 7

INTJ Enneagram Sevens are more open, sociable, and friendly than typical INTJs. They are still ambitious, but they allow themselves to have fun while they pave their way to success. Moreover, the intuitive nature of INTJs fits well with the Seven’s enthusiastic spirit, so these people love starting new projects and are less interested in following through than typical INTJs.

The intellectual curiosity of these people is insatiable. They are also more creative and open-minded than typical INTJs, but despite being more open, they are not more empathetic toward others. On the contrary, they may be egocentric in a childish way, totally careless about how people around them feel.

These INTJs are afraid of facing any kind of unpleasant feeling. They can’t deal with serious issues in relationships and tend to distance themselves and ignore problems, burying their heads into their work and resorting to similar evading tactics. Therefore, nurturing, supporting, and understanding other people isn’t really their thing. To see a humorous take on how INTJ Sevens manage their challenges and quirks, check out our Enneagram 7 memes.

#8. INTJ Enneagram Type 8

INTJ Enneagram Eights are fiercely ambitious, power-driven, silent individuals who always find their way to the top. They are more emotionally intelligent than typical INTJs and use their intuition to advance and rise to positions of authority and power. They simply can’t settle until they reach their ultimate goal, which is absolute control over their lives.

They often assume leadership positions and are not afraid of taking responsibility. This is because they are obsessed with prestige and power and can’t stand the idea of being seen as weak or incompetent. Therefore, clear hierarchy, structure, and rules are the kind of environment they feel the best in.

If they feel something threatens them, INTJ Eights can get extremely aggressive, confrontational, and competitive. The idea of losing is unbearable to them, even when they are just having fun playing cards or football with their friends. And whenever they feel they’re losing control, they think quickly and react promptly.

Bearing all this in mind, it’s safe to say that losing control, failing, and being seen as vulnerable are their deepest fears, while power over their own destiny is their biggest desire.

#9. INTJ Enneagram Type 9

INTJ Enneagram Nines are not typical INTJs—this is a milder, more emotional version of the INTJ personality type. These INTJs are more intuitive, less critical and judgmental, and great at negotiating. They also read people pretty well, which may make them both more manipulative and more compassionate.

Because they have better-developed emotional intelligence, these individuals find it easier to work in teams than typical INTJs, who are very competitive. They are calm and reserved, giving off the impression of people you can rely on to help you in trouble, but they are never as mellow and warm as typical Nines.

These INTJs are also significantly more adaptable and open to change. That’s because harmony is very important to them, so they are more flexible and understanding than regular INTJs. Just like typical Nines, they fear abandonment and dream of finding their inner peace by following their passions.

The Most and Least Common INTJ Enneagram Types

INTJs are fairly rare and a very distinct type, which you can easily distinguish by their intense, focused energy and emotional distance. As such, they are most likely to be typed as introverted and intellectual Enneatypes and least likely to identify as highly emotional ones.

The Most Common INTJ Enneagram Types

Fives and Ones are the most common Enneagram types among INTJs. Both types have strong intellects and tend to think logically. INTJ Enneagram Five is a more cerebral version of the type, while INTJ Enneagram Ones are more passionate and intuitive versions of INTJ.

The Least Common INTJ Enneagram Types

The least common INTJ Enneagram types are Twos, Sevens, and Fours. Twos and Fours are very focused on their emotional lives, which is very different from a typical INTJ’s life strategy. Meanwhile, Sevens have almost nothing but curiosity in common with INTJs, so it does not come as a surprise that INTJ Sevens are extremely rare.

Conclusion

We hope that seeing INTJ through the lenses of the Enneagram theory has allowed you to understand this complex personality type in more depth. Their intensity, sharp minds, and focus are what they always stand out for, regardless of which Enneatype they identify with.

Fives and Ones are the most common among INTJs, which is no surprise as they have so many similarities with typical INTJs. Meanwhile, Twos, Sevens, and Fours take up the smallest proportion of INTJs, as their characters are essentially different.