It may have been INTPs who discovered various scientific laws and contributed the most to the advancement of civilization.
On the other hand, however, INTPs, in general, seem to live with the deepest troubles of all personality types.
Understanding their personality traits is the first step to freeing them from their troubles.
If they can do that, half of their troubles are as good as gone.
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“What Is Your Personality Type?”
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Focus on the Essence of Things
INTP, interpreted according to Jungian theory, probably refers to the following psychological types.
Introverted intuitive type
The superior function is intuition.
The auxiliary functions are thinking and feeling,
but thinking is stronger than feeling.
Below is a figure that illustrates the above.
In this type, the sensation is the inferior function.
Incidentally, Jungian theory explains that the other three functions are introverted when the superior function is extroverted.
And conversely, when the superior function is introverted, the other three are extroverted.
(In the MBTI, only the interpretation of introversion follows this rule.)
However, the MBTI interprets it differently from the above Jungian theory, shown in the table below.
| INTP in MBTI | |
| Dominant | Introverted Thinking |
| Auxiliary | Extroverted Intuition |
| Tertiary | Extroverted Sensing |
| Inferior | Extroverted Feeling |
I describe personality types on this site with four letters, “just like the MBTI.
However, I follow Jungian theory as much as possible when explaining personality theories.
This is because those who have studied the MBTI can broaden (or change?) their thinking by learning the original and correct Jungian theory.
But it deviates considerably from Jungian theory in the case of introverts.
INTPs tend to think in terms of the essence or truth of things.
Suppose there is a theoretical physicist who sees an apple fall from a tree.
Then this person might think:
“Why does the apple fall from the tree?
There must be a reason…”
If you are the type of person who thinks in this way, you are most likely an INTP.
(They don’t do any experiments to confirm the truth at this time).
When people around you see this type of person, they will probably think:
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”
However, this type of person is earnest.
INTPs can’t help but think deeply about anything.
Also, the INTPs are thorough and logical thinkers.
There is no room for mood or emotionalism in their thinking.
They think everything through logically and deeply.
Another characteristic of this type of person is that they value consistency in everything.
When talking with this type of person, if you say something that doesn’t make sense or is different from the last time you spoke with them, they will always check you with something like this:
“That idea doesn’t make sense!”
“That’s not what you said the other day!”
“I don’t like it when you keep changing your mind…”
By the way, for other types of people, it is pretty hard to keep thinking without resting their heads.
For INTPs, however, it’s more difficult not to think about anything!
So when they are told, “don’t think about unnecessary things” or “you are overthinking,” they feel they are being denied, making them feel bad.
And naturally, INTPs like to think alone and without anyone interrupting them.
Therefore they hate conferences or discussions.
They also don’t talk to others about what they are still thinking about.
This is because they hate to be criticized by others while they are still in the process of thinking.
In addition, INTPs also tend to be uncomfortable with small talk.
They also don’t smile or offer meaningless flattery.
In that sense, they can be socially awkward.
However, it seems that INTPs are just too pure and honest with themselves, and few are devious enough to try to cheat others.
notes
After reading the INTP description on this page, you may feel it does not apply to you.
In that case, the result of the test can be wrong.
If so, please read the following article.
Here is the most important thing to know about personality tests.
Intuition is the most important!
INTPs will only move if they are convinced in their heads.
But if they are convinced of something, they don’t move immediately.
They think, “There must be a better idea…” and don’t take action.
But then, all of a sudden, their intuition switches on.
With that intuition, they finally end their very long thinking and begin to act.
That is, they don’t act on the results of their thinking.
Rather, despite long hours of thought, they eventually act on intuition.
Separate Job and Philosophy of Life!
Let’s consider a little more about the INTP’s thinking function.
Being introverted and having a strong thinking function means they don’t let out what they are thinking.
Therefore, INTPs think profoundly but don’t think about applying their thoughts to social life.
Of course, thinking about how to make money is outside the scope of INTPs.
INTPs aren’t interested in worldly things such as power, status, or promotion, not just money.
They are only interested in abstract concepts such as “truth” or “justice.”
In this sense, they are people with pure hearts.
Indeed, some INTPs are eccentric, but it is a fact that INTPs who are motivated by self-interest are rare.
It is OK to be uninterested in power and money.
Still, being too uninterested in the material world is also a problem.
This is because this type of person is often indifferent to the latest trends in the world.
For example, they don’t even know that a new product has been released or wear slightly outdated clothes (without realizing it).
To begin with, for INTPs, it is not essential to think about food, clothing, and housing.
Some of them don’t care if their rooms are messy or not.
As mentioned earlier, many INTPs are indifferent to earning money.
Some may choose a job they like but do not make enough money to survive.
Also, many INTPs find it difficult to find a job that suits them, or they don’t know what job they are fit for in the first place.
Because when they look for a job, they prioritize that job’s social value or justice.
And they tend not to think about the salary of the job or their suitability for it.
As a result, they fail to choose the right job, leave it, and look for another one…
And so they are always in need of money…
This type of person tends to fall into this kind of repetition.
In the case of INTPs, it is important to have a realistic viewpoint that “income is the first thing to consider” when looking for a job.
For everyone, it is necessary to separate one’s philosophy from one’s occupation as an act of earning money.
By choosing a job with this perspective, most of the “difficulties in life” that INTPs tend to feel will be resolved.
Indifference to Others Makes Love Difficult
INTPs who are indifferent to worldly affairs are at the same time indifferent to relationships and other people’s feelings.
However, this “indifference to others” doesn’t mean they are selfish.
They merely don’t have the habit of thinking about how others are feeling.
(No offense intended at all)
Also, INTPs don’t think about telling others what they believe or trying to get them to understand.
If they want to have their partner, they need to find someone who understands their personality.
Summary of INTP type
INTPs tend to go too deep into their thinking and forget about the outside world.
As a result, the following personality tendencies are likely to appear.
●Thinking about meaning and reason about everything.
●Curious about the essence of things.
●Emphasizes consistency in everything.
●Slightly lacking in sociability.
●Ultimately relies on intuition than on thought.
●Not interested in money, power, or promotion.
●Difficulty with relationships and love.
However, suppose they find an environment to demonstrate their curiosity and thinking ability.
In that case, they can build a reasonably fulfilling life.
To do so, they will need to develop a more pragmatic mindset.
