Confessions of an INTP
First off, we like you. We might not have the gregariousness of those SP's or the people friendly know-how of those NF's, but we do really like you. And you don't have to be older, or have a title, or have written a book, but if you're idea is clear and thought-out, we'll take it into serious consideration.
But before we get too carried away, let's start with what those letters mean for us:
I : introverted
That means we need time to recharge after being around people. He like talking and listening and understanding others. But don't expect us to be the life of the party. We like to interact with others.
But especially a thought-provoking comment, we need some time to be quiet and let it soak in. To let the gears churn and let the thoughts marinade. That doesn't mean we have to be by ourselves. No, it means we have to have some time in our heads without needing to apologize to others for it. That means if you're an SP, we're going to be quiet next to you some times. Please don't require us to interact terribly at that time.
N : Intuitive
This is the way information / thoughts are received and processed. More on this later. Personally this is my most extreme difference.
T : Thinking
This is the way that feelings are processed. It does not mean feelings are lacking or less intense. It means that if feelings conflict, we examine them like we would a math problem, in as orderly and logical a fashion. Sometimes the feelings can be overwhelming, so they are shut down by our T, especially in a crisis. You want a T personality to be the ER doc on when you come in.
P : Perceiving
We like options, and need them available. If there is a stronger T than us in the room, we need to be able to contribute some emotion, as long as that emotion makes some sense, especially in balancing out the room. We want to come to our own conclusions, and we can be very self-sufficient. If that is too much, we can be coaxed to be more dependent if the option is presented in a reasonable fashion.
This letters actually are each on a continuum. Here they are:
I (introvert) vs. E (extrovert)
N (intuitive) vs. S (sensory)
T (thinking) vs. F (feeling)
P (perceiving) vs. J (judging)
Everyone has each of those in the way they relate to others, gather information, evaluate their feelings, and negotiate duties. For the INTP, this means they have more I than E, more N than S, more T than F, and more P than J. For each trait, there is a ration between the two.
Mine are pretty evenly balanced. I have been mistaken for an Extrovert, almost mistaken for a Feeler (not quite) and have been noted to be quite decided on things. This is because I am almost (not quite) balanced. My ratios on a scale between 1 to 20 are the following:
I:E - 11:9
N:S - 17:3
T:F - 11:9
P:J - 12:8
Or something very similar to that. Notice that I'm terribly intuitive (I forget that sensory has a high importance), but I'm learning, this one has been the one thing I have to keep working on the hardest, since I (whether good or bad) really rely on intuition.
If we see something in your actions that contradict each other or something you're saying, you better have a good explanation, or else it will be hard for us to take you seriously. We even have a difficult time dealing with inconsistencies in our own lives.
This page is an on-going project and will be updated as new insights or better way of explaining things surface (this idea is such an INTP thing, by the way), just like our opinion will change as new information is shed on the given subject.
Last update: Sept 6, 2010, 12:21
