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Kim: 'I was Borg.' That's what you always say but what does it mean? You've got the
knowledge of ten thousand species in your head?
Seven: Not exactly. Each drone's experiences are processed by the Collective. Only useful
information is retained.
Kim: Still, that probably makes you the most intelligent human being alive.
Seven: Probably.
The fact that Seven is portrayed as the intelligent human alive is explained not as a function of her
INTJ personality, but as the result of her Borg background.
Then too, there was Seven's straightforwardness. We've already noted in Captain Picard's case how
he was quite frank and open with his opponents and allies alike. This is an INTJ trait that Seven
shared. She noted, "I am unaccustomed to deception. Among the Borg it was impossible. There
were no lies, no secrets..." Again, her Borg background is used as a proxy to explain her type-based
behavior.
Of course, as with the extraversion/introversion dilemma, there were occasionally points at which
her Borg background differed from her personality type. At one point, she observes, "I am
unaccustomed to working in a hierarchy. In the Collective there was no need to ask permission."
INTJs are okay with working in a hierarchy; they can tolerate working in institutions like the
military and large, bureaucratic corporations at length, whereas other types, such as their INTP
cousins, cannot. Interestingly, while Seven often disagreed with orders or disregarded the
hierarchy, she came to like the idea of rank. At one point she was given command over a group of
Voyager crew members for a project. She assigned them numerical designations and organized
them into a collective. However, one crew member, Ensign Kim, protested and tried to assert his
individuality. Seven swiftly quelled the insurrection:
Seven: You're compromising our productivity. I'm reassigning you to chamber maintenance.
Your new designation is Two of Ten.
Kim: Wait a minute, you're demoting me? Since when do the Borg pull rank?
Seven: A Starfleet protocol I adapted. It's most useful.
The Borg may see little need for rank and protocol, but Seven quickly discovered the benefits of
top-down hierarchical arrangements—particularly when she could be at the top.
Rehumanization or Pygmalion Project?
After Seven was introduced to Star Trek: Voyager in season 4, she became a key part of the show.
In children's television shows, the main character learns a lesson in each episode about sharing,
being truthful, obeying parents, etc. After Seven was introduced to the cast, many episodes were
themed around her learning another aspect of being human, i.e. creativity, spirituality, minding the
social graces, etc. Even if the plotline itself had little to do with her, it was an irresistible way for
the writers to comment on the human condition.
The ongoing attempts to humanize Seven are amusing in light of the fact that Seven is basically a
caricature of an extremely unsocialized INTJ. For instance, all NTs struggle with the issue of small
talk. When Seven was first learning to make small talk with two crewmembers, Torres and Kim,
her first attempt went like this:
Torres: Have some dinner. The potato salad isn't half bad.
Seven: I do not require nutrition at this time. I would like to talk with you.
Kim: Okay.
Seven: Ensign Kim, what is your place of origin?