INTP Personality

Are you interested in INTP Personality? Then this guide is for you!

Often referred to as “The Thinker,” the INTP personality type tends to place a lot of focus on logic. Someone with this personality type will likely remain objective when analyzing facts, solving problems, and making decisions.

An individual of this type is great at solving large-scale problems because he or she can see patterns and meanings to connect ideas when looking at the big picture. Comprising less than 3 percent of the population, INTPs enjoy exploring new ideas.

  • I – Introverted: Independent, detached, self-sufficient, quiet
  • N – Intuitive: Abstract, easy-going, creative, unconventional
  • T – Thinking: Logical, objective, analytical, straightforward
  • P – Perceiving: Loyal, spontaneous, flexible, adaptable

INTP - Architect

Not one to back down from a challenge, the INTP loves to take the time to explore options, often theorizing over what could be in any situation. Because this type sees patterns in larger concepts, this individual can readily find discrepancies in words or events.

Highly creative, someone of this type is likely to forge his or her own path through life, often seeking out unconventional ways of living that allow him or her to experiment.

Because someone with the INTP personality type is so focused on logic much more than feelings, this individual can handle criticism when it is laid out objectively and with a clear focus. Seen as easygoing and laid back, the Thinker isn’t demanding of others.

Not one to be big on social engagements, this person can spend hours at a time thinking about concepts and ideas while forgetting about the world around him or her. However, the INTP does enjoy spending time with those who share similar interest.

Curious by nature, someone with this personality type will want to know how things work, but this is geared more toward systems rather than human connections.

Rather than follow tradition, the Thinker is likely to follow his or her own drummer. This makes it difficult for someone of this type to handle strict hierarchies or to follow rules set by the establishment.

A Closer Look at INTP

Tending to make decisions with their heads rather than their hearts, INTPs truly value the use of intellect over emotion. Sometimes seeming to be uncaring, those with this personality type frequently have trouble expressing their emotions and may be blunt and insensitive to the feelings of others.

Thinkers like nothing more than analyzing issues. While INTPs may seem like they’re zoning out a lot, they’re actually deep in their own minds at almost any time of day. They can become so lost in thought that they neglect daily duties, including some basic hygiene.

Although Thinkers can be warm and friendly around a few people that they’re close to who share their interests, they can become extremely shy in new environments or around people that they don’t know. Being this reserved can come across as detached or uninterested.

Some words that might be used to describe INTP personality types include the following:

  • Individualistic
  • Intellectual
  • Theoretical
  • Complex
  • Inventive
  • Curious
  • Private
  • Carefree
  • Impersonal
  • Distrusting
  • Unemotional
  • Imaginative

INTP Strength Thinking

INTP Strengths

The INTP can be enthusiastic. When something excites the Thinker, this person can become very talkative, especially if someone else is truly interested in what this person is discussing. In fact, it can be difficult for others to keep up with this individual’s line of thought.

Someone with this personality type is honest. Not one to beat around the bush, the Thinker will express the truth even if it hurts someone’s feelings. This person also expects the same truthfulness and genuineness from others.

A Thinker is imaginative. Creativity is a strong point for someone with this personality type. This individual has a keen eye for possibilities and is always looking toward the future, seeing connections where others don’t.

This person is very open minded. Often being viewed as extremely liberal, this person has a live and let live attitude and doesn’t force his or her views on others. As long as ideas are backed up by facts, someone of this type is open to new experiences and ways of looking at life.

INTP Weaknesses

The Thinker is prone to uncertainty. Because the INTP personality type is so open to possibilities, he or she may constantly second guess himself or herself to the point that this person may doubt his or her own abilities. The thought that this individual may overlook an important factor imparts a fear of failure that can lead to anxiety.

The INTP personality is insensitive. Placing reason and logic over feelings, this individual may offend those around him or her. Additionally, since this person can get so easily caught up in his or her own thoughts, the Thinker may overlook the people who are close to him or her.

This person may be absent minded in some ways The intense focus that the INTP places on his or her thoughts can make this person forget important events or the basic points of everyday life. It’s not unusual for someone of this type to forget to eat or even sleep or forget to pick up dinner or pay the bills if he or she is not reminded in some way.

The Thinker has a strong dislike for rules. When it comes to set structures or regulations, the INTP has no respect. This person doesn’t want to lead or follow even when it comes to employment situations. This individual may also have a lack of respect for the ideas of others, especially if they don’t make sense or aren’t logically presented.

Cognitive Functions of the INTP

There are four cognitive functions that determine how each personality type understands the world. For INTPs, these are as follows:

  • Dominant Function: Introverted Thinking
  • Auxiliary Function: Extraverted Intuition
  • Tertiary Function: Introverted Sensing
  • Inferior Function: Extraverted Feeling

Introverted Thinking

The dominant function is the strongest and is used most frequently. This is how INTPs make decisions. Information that is gathered is processed internally by Thinkers breaking down and analyzing smaller components that make the whole to see just how things work.

Extraverted Intuition

Intuition allows INTPs to see possibilities and connections. Because this function is extraverted, this allows Thinkers to see and connect abstract patterns in the world around them. They gather the information from the external environment and use this to find and correct inconsistencies.

Introverted Sensing

Although INTP personality types may not see to the physical details of daily existence, the tertiary function of introverted sensing allows them to take larger thoughts and break them down into minute details for more thorough examination.

Extraverted Feeling

The inferior function is the least developed of the four. This is why INTPs typically prefer logic over feelings. They may shut down their emotions and have difficulty in making human connections.

Relationships and INTPs

Although the INTP personality may not feel that he or she has an emotional need for a relationship, this person is happy to work for a partnership with a person who shares similar intellectual values. This individual will take the relationship very seriously, being very open and honest from the beginning.

Ever creative, the Thinker will come up with ways to keep the relationship interesting. As long as the partner gives this individual his or her much-needed space, the INTP will be willing to work to try to meet the emotional needs of his or her partner as well.

However, someone with this personality type might not think about the little details that go into a relationship, such as date nights and gifts. It would help if the Thinker’s partner is straightforward with his or her own needs for these things as the INTP won’t be able to pick up on emotional cues.

The INTP personality type wishes to avoid conflict. Even though this individual may not be able to detect emotional nuances, he or she can use logic to know when compromise must be made. As long as this person makes an effort at emotional expression, no matter how awkward it might feel, the partner may be more willing to use logic and reasoning a bit more so that the two can meet halfway.

It can be difficult for the Thinker to make sustainable friendships because of their lack of or need for social understanding. If there is some type of common ground, a connection can be made, especially if there is an intellectual connection as well.

The INTP has no time or energy for mundane conversations and prefer discussing theories and ideas. Although someone of this type may seem like he or she lacks feelings, it’s just that this individual doesn’t have much control over emotions, which may make this person seem rude.

As a parent, the Thinker may not be the sensitive type, but this individual will encourage his or her children to learn and be independent thinkers who are not afraid to express their opinions. Taking a more relaxed approach, the INTP personality may overlook minor infractions of the rules since this individual doesn’t really like to have control over anyone. The INTP parent may have difficulty with the emotional side of parenting, but this person will have no problem teaching kids to be tolerant and independent.

The INTP at Work

In the workplace, INTPs need a lot of freedom to work at their own pace and to use their thought processes to come up with original ideas and solutions. Because they may have some difficulty with implementation, it can help to have a supervisor that offers constructive criticism or a coworker to bounce ideas off of to make things happen.

Preferring not to socialize with coworkers, the INTP personality types really prefer to interact with those they work with when they’re needed for advice on ideas or how to handle new scenarios as they occur.

While INTPs prefer to work alone, it can help to have them work with another person or on a small team of equally intelligent and creative individuals who can help them remain grounded and focused on the job at hand.

Although Thinkers don’t typically like bossing other people around, they can make good managers or supervisors when their subordinates are the ones who are to put the INTP’s ideas into actual practice. Highly perfectionistic, these types can become easily frustrated and may unduly criticize those who don’t keep up.

As those with this personality type have a strong dislike for bureaucracy, tradition, and rules, they do best in jobs that are flexible and allow them to utilize their creative solutions in new and unique ways. The best careers will allow them to analyze and think long and hard about situations for possible solutions.

Some careers that are generally a good fit for thinkers include the following:

  • Mathematician
  • Computer programmer
  • Engineer
  • Chemist
  • Geologist
  • Forensic scientist
  • Microbiologist
  • Accountant
  • Graphic designer

Hobbies and Interests of the INTP

The INTP personality type enjoys playing intellectual and strategy games, such as word games and chess. This individual tends to love technology, so someone of this type might like manipulating photographs for fun or profit. Reading and writing are great solitary activities that keep the Thinker’s brain working.

Famous INTP

Some famous INTPs include Albert Einstein, Carl Jung, Abraham Lincoln, Socrates, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, Meryl Streep, Brent Spiner, Tina Fey, Rick Moranis, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Summary

Highly flexible and adaptable, the perfectionist INTP is rational and logical almost to a fault. Seemingly unemotional, the Thinker may come across as aloof and disconnected. A keen ability to see patterns and think outside of the box allows someone with this personality type to solve complex issues.

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