Ok, so I promise that I won’t constantly talk about Myers Briggs, it is only because I wrote that first post, and then found this blog by Mandy Wallace, about traditional ‘evil’ characters and that they are often INTJ’s, but that writers often mistake what an INTJ is really like. I strongly advise you go read the whole blog – it is fascinating.
The blogger names a lot of typical evil INTJ characters such as: Professor Moriarty, Lex Luther, Emperor Palpatine and Khan, INTJs are the personality type that people love to hate. Which concerns me greatly, because as an ENTJ, I share a lot of similar characteristics! *worried*
The blog also goes into detail about why they are perfect as villains, from their arrogance, to their social awkwardness, and subsequent withdrawal. However, the blogger also notes the following points which are very poignant for any writer of villains:
- “INTJs are extremely unconventional by most other type’s standards.
- The INTJ doesn’t care about social rules or the standard way of doing things. He cares only if something works.
- INTJs abhor going along with inefficient or ineffective tasks just because they’ve always been done that way. And the social conventions that keep the outdated in place have zero effect on the INTJ.
- The INTJ will work tirelessly to change flawed methods, moving quickly and without “permission.”
- Since INTJs aren’t always great at explaining their methods, nor do they understand that other people can’t see the patterns and problems that seem obvious to them, their actions can sometimes appear unpredictable and lacking good cause to outsiders.“
Finally, I think the paragraphs that really sums up why INTJs are perfect super villains is:
“All of this analysis, coupled with an inability to explain these processes to others, plus their ultimate need to create systems that work means that the INTJ takes confident action while ignoring complainers, naysayers, and doubters. So what you have is a man who knows what he is doing and doesn’t care what other people think about it. “Smart” doesn’t really explain the INTJ’s thinking, though. Because they don’t just memorize data. They break it down to its principles to understand how it all works together and what it implies about every other fact. This makes them incredibly insightful by other people’s standards. Objectively, INTJs have the highest collective IQ of any other type.
This magic elixir: perceived arrogance + perceived lack of emotion + perceived unpredictability + intelligence = prime fictional villain. “
Here are several links to useful information about INTJs
I’m actually an INTJ. I thought this was a really interesting post. I think the reason most fictional INTJs are villains is that “perceived lack of emotion.”
I know a few other INTJs, and we all feel emotion very strongly, but it doesn’t translate to other people. We just live in our heads more than others, which makes it hard to connect.
I think it’s also hard for most people to relate to INTJ’s as protagonists, so that’s probably why there aren’t many. Our traits do make us out to be villains, though!
Very good points. I’m and ENTJ with my T being my most prounounced and my I the least pronounced so i related to a lot of what your saying particularly around the lack of emotion or the emotion not translating to others. I find myers so usedul though, especially with charactwr development, even if i dont necessarily know a character type I will know one or two bits of the type which will help define features. What genre are you writing about for NaNo?
I’m going to be doing historical fiction with a tone that’s vaguely fantasy. My goal is something that feels like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. How about you?
It’s a young adult fantasy/dystopian piece, very excited as it’s been in the pipeline for a while :). What’s your username I shall add you as a buddy on the website 🙂
Pegs88. I’m always looking for more writing buddies. 🙂
Im nicadek will add you later 🙂
Done and Done!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing my INTJ article, Sacha. It’s great to know other writers care about MBTI character design as much as I do. And it’s always nice to find out that an article I wrote actually helped out another writer. It’s a huge reason why I blog about writing, instead of just writing 🙂
I’ll add my name to your email list so I can keep up with you.
Mandy
Thanks for taking the time to come and look and sign up. I loved your post, I thought it was so insightful and had such brilliant links too that I really wanted to reblog about it. Looking forward to reading lots more of your posts. 🙂
Mandy – just to alleviate confusion – I’m Nica who just followed you on pinterest. Cheers
That’s great to know. Thank you 🙂
randomly stumbled across this and im evil-laughing because i’m an intj… 😀 seriously tho i’ve been stalking your qriting tips cause they’re awesome. ^_^
Haha, my partner is an INTJ too! so it made me giggle too. LOL thank you for stalking me… heheheheh I am glad it helped.