INTP-mania?

[Sackanaka]

I have been accused of being obsessive over the personality typology, which I guess I can't deny. I do find the correlations absolutely amazing! It's become one of my greatest sources of contentment with how life is. Yet, it seems to be such a turn off for others. I told my girlfriend, if I am obsessive over this, then the same could be said about psychologists being obsessive over psychology, historians over history, etc. And she said I was obsessive.
I wonder if any of you have been accused of this, or do feel the same way I do, or perhaps better yet- tell me to stfu and not get so worked up over it. and how :blink:

[CeSoirNoir]

I am quite obsessed as well. But I have gotten a bit better...

[synchronous]

Yes, I relate very well. My husband has not outrightly accused me of being obsessive, but, he has made remarks here and there to suggest my interest in typology is not 'normal'. Of course my 'obsessive' quest for knowledge in any area seems never normal until such time as he needs to understand something and asks for help. I had a similar obsession learning technical analysis of the stock market a few years back. He thought TA was all nonsense and I was wasting my time. Now, he comes and asks for technical guidance before he makes a trade in the currency market. I try to give him information about technical analysis to help himself, but, he can't visualize it.

[INTrPosr]

Count me in. I am almost to a point of calling it an addiction.

[franzgold]

I don't think interest in the MBTI and other typing systems would be very unusual, it's a very good fit for the Ti and Ne functions. There's nothing wrong with studying it and attempting to type people you come across unless you start to see it as some sort of grand unified theory of personality. It is just a theory after all, and I know that I certainly am not defined entirely by my type.

[cloakable]

Yeah, of course I'm interested, it's something hat can challange my mind, to find new links, and to dream up new theories. And like franzgold said, it would be a good fit for the Ti Ne functions, and would probably help develop the inferior Fe function.

[SheepDog]

Being of such a rare type, and having been labeled as "odd" for so long, knowing about type is extremely useful for developing a sense of identity. If one wants to call that obsession, so be it. There's an equal obsession in the world to be "normal", which since we're of such a minority type, we are not.

I like to think that type helps me find my place in the world. If someone wants to call that an obsession, then I can't say that I care one way or the other. That opinion really means nothing to me.

[cloakable]

I like to think that type helps me find my place in the world. If someone wants to call that an obsession, then I can't say that I care one way or the other. That opinion really means nothing to me.

:lol: Spoken like a true Introvert!

[tragula]

To people who have been baffled by others and been baffling to others a personality system that suddenly explains a lot can be quite an event. As someone who has read Jung, I believe that his tremendous insights were often right on the money, and as such MBTI has very solid footing, and is a worthy obsession. Not that it should take over anyones life! And I certainly don't expect other types to "get it", so personally I don't talk about it with people. Nobody likes to be analyzed.... I've learned that much! Even if I can't spell.

[indie]

Obsessed? Of course we're (speaking generally for the INTP type) obsessed . . . we're obsessed until we learn everything there is to know on a certain topic (or at least until we learn all we want to learn). And if that topic just happens to be psychology? The human mind is such a complex ever-changing phenomenon, that we never get to the "end" of it all. . . that's why we join mailing lists and/or message board sites, because we like to discuss and analyze our tendency to analyze. It's not an obsession, it's fun. happppy

[SensEye]

I've become somewhat obsessed with trying to type everybody I know and anticpate their behaviour. I try to hide it though as I can already anticipate anyone who is not NT won't want to hear about MBTI.

Unfortunately, I have let some terms creep into my everyday vernacular. I've started using the phrase "typical SJ stupidity" when commenting on the short sighted rigid minded thinking I see at the office or in politics and nobody knows what the hell I am talking about.

[Jezebel]

I don't consider myself obsessed. This forum fulfills the need to discuss it with other people. I don't really like extending this interest to my "real life" though. It's taken so seriously and talked about so much here, and I just don't desire the same from everyone in my life. Although I have mentioned it to a couple of friends and some have even taken the test, it's not something that I talk about on a regular basis.

[Nighthawk]

I drive some people nuts with what they perceive as my obsession with MBTI, particularly my wife. I don't view it as much an obsession, as finally finding the key to why things work the way they do with respect to human interaction. It colors pretty much everything I do in the world that involves other people. It helps me, as a minority type, navigate though a world run by majority types. It has also confirmed that there is nothing "wrong" with me for not wanting to be a "team player" or "more visible and outgoing."

I've found that the people most annoyed by my MBTI enthusiasm are usually the SJ's and SP's ... or "Concretes" as I like to call them. The SJ's, in particular, seem to hate the idea that anybody might be born a certain way and not subject to their shaping and molding into good little rule-abiding, team players. Very few SJ's and SP's seem capable of the abstract thought needed to grasp the concept of MBTI and personalities. That might sound arrogant, but it is the way I see it. I use talking about MBTI as a guide to determining who might be a fellow NT or NF "Abstract." NT's and NF's usually grasp the concept and even embrace it with some enthusiasm. I rarely waste my time discussing it with people who I know are SJ or SP, unless they ask me about it.

Which leads to a question. Any Guardian or Artisan forums out there? ;-) Probably under different names, like the Project Management Institute of America, or Marketing Executives Association.


Of course my 'obsessive' quest for knowledge in any area seems never normal until such time as he needs to understand something and asks for help.

That sounds exactly like my wife/mother/step-daughter (SJ/SJ/SP). All my abstract thoughts are nonsense to them ... until they need help understanding something complicated. My wife, in particular, has made heavy use of me throughout her grad school.

[Arctic Skunk]

I've had the addiction for over a year now... This is Typologist's Anonymous, right?

[Sackanaka]

This is Typologist's Anonymous, right?
To all:
:cheers:

[anarchist]

I've found that the people most annoyed by my MBTI enthusiasm are usually the SJ's and SP's ... or "Concretes" as I like to call them. The SJ's, in particular, seem to hate the idea that anybody might be born a certain way and not subject to their shaping and molding into good little rule-abiding, team players. Very few SJ's and SP's seem capable of the abstract thought needed to grasp the concept of MBTI and personalities. That might sound arrogant, but it is the way I see it. I use talking about MBTI as a guide to determining who might be a fellow NT or NF "Abstract." NT's and NF's usually grasp the concept and even embrace it with some enthusiasm. I rarely waste my time discussing it with people who I know are SJ or SP, unless they ask me about it.

I fully agree with this....

[Edmond Zedo]

Don't feel bad, I have dozens of manias.

Nighthawk, you're right. In my experience, SJs are simply opposed to Type. They don't think it's valid or worthwhile. This is because they are all morons. SPs may be skeptical, but it doesn't really matter, because they just don't give a crap about studying anything. This position is better than the SJ position, slightly.

I'm always reading that NFs are prone to like Type, but I haven't seen it. Those I know don't give it much credit, in my analysis because they think people are too "special" to be classified. Typical NF bunk.

[Durroch]

Two past male interest have told to me to stop the analyzing... And here I am! I am obsessive... Yes. I am obsessive over my obsessiveness, until I figure out why, then I move on. It doesn't stop me from fairly normal functioning, so why worry?

Obsessiveness is good.

Is obsessiveness a word?

[Clara]

... one of my greatest sources of contentment with how life is...

Sackanaka, that's wonderful.

About talking with friends - do you know the fable (one of Aesop's) about the fox and the stork (a large, long-billed bird, anyway)... one was thoughtlessly unkind, and the other countered with similar, but intentional, ungraciousness - in serving food in a vessel that made it impossible for the other to eat...

I think relationships are like this: they require creativity in how we say things. I think that we *can* share the fruits of insight with anyone, regardless of their type preference... just as we can "borrow" from others' strengths...

What do you think?

[Sackanaka]

Sackanaka, that's wonderful.

About talking with friends - do you know the fable (one of Aesop's) about the fox and the stork (a large, long-billed bird, anyway)... one was thoughtlessly unkind, and the other countered with similar, but intentional, ungraciousness - in serving food in a vessel that made it impossible for the other to eat...

I think relationships are like this: they require creativity in how we say things. I think that we *can* share the fruits of insight with anyone, regardless of their type preference... just as we can "borrow" from others' strengths...

What do you think?

At 3:30 in the morning and ready to awaken at 7:40, all I can say is, "I agree"
that, and thanks :D

[ohnoaninfp]

You are not as obssesive as the guy I know. He wants to go out only with his own type. He even goes as far as to give people the test. No offense but it would be nice if you gave other types a try. You know who you are.

[Nighthawk]

Nighthawk, you're right. In my experience, SJs are simply opposed to Type. They don't think it's valid or worthwhile.

I run into this with my SJ wife all the time. She's firmly convinced that environment has everything to do with personality. I point out our two kids ... one a broke ESTP with a criminal recored, the other a self-sufficient INTP doing well in college... both raised in the same environment. The logic does little to sway her beliefs. Then again, she is an S"F"J.


SPs may be skeptical, but it doesn't really matter, because they just don't give a crap about studying anything.

So true. They just shrug it off and immediately move on to something that interests them ... usually sales calls, golf, or "The Game." They don't waste one second even thinking about it, much less arguing about it.

[Nighthawk]

You are not as obssesive as the guy I know. He wants to go out only with his own type. He even goes as far as to give people the test. No offense but it would be nice if you gave other types a try.

If I were single, I'd probably limit my serious interaction to NF's and NT's. Some of the best relationships I've had were with NF's. Oddly enough, I married an SJ and am very happy with her ... so I believe that almost any two types can get along well if they work at it. She gives me one thing I value above all else ... a stable home life with no drama. I appreciate that more as I get older.

I have an INFP friend who I've watched go through a string of seven bad relationships, all with SP men. They all go the same way:
- Initial intense excitement due to the SP's charm and playfulness
- Projection of ideal fantasy qualities onto the SP
- Bitter disappointment when she discovers the SP is really just a shallow playboy
- Withdrawal for a few months
I keep trying to steer her towards an NT or fellow NF... so she can try it out with another Abstract ... but she won't listen. I think in her case, sticking to a certain type (or away from a certain type) might be a good idea.

[SheepDog]

Yes, I relate very well. My husband has not outrightly accused me of being obsessive, but, he has made remarks here and there to suggest my interest in typology is not 'normal'.
<sarcasm>I just love it when people tell me I'm not 'normal'.</sarcasm>

I guess I'm very lucky that my ENFP wife is into type even more than I am.

[hemanthraz]

I think we can get along with anyone, though why we should do so eludes me. We should make these decisions based on the personality of people not their type.
If you like them go with it, or else steer clear, i know some intps who are perfect rats, [i might seem the same way to them].and some esfjs who are tolerably fun.
Depends on the person completely.

[ohnoaninfp]

I have an INFP friend who I've watched go through a string of seven bad relationships, all with SP men. They all go the same way:


Note to my self, avoid SP men.



This guy though only wants to go out with another INTP. He wants someone exactly like himself.

[Nighthawk]

This guy though only wants to go out with another INTP. He wants someone exactly like himself.

I think having an intimate relationship with somebody exactly like me would drive me nuts. But that me ;-) I've even had problems dating a few ENTJ's. They were too aggressive and scheduling for my tastes. Go figure, with a name like "Field Marshal."

[Nighthawk]

I had a similar obsession learning technical analysis of the stock market a few years back.

That field has always been of interest to me. Can you recommend any good resources?

[synchronous]

That field has always been of interest to me. Can you recommend any good resources?

Below are links to two of my favorite websites with a fair amount information on the fundamentals of technical analysis, trading strategies, and tactics.

1. Hard Right Edge - The Wizard's Den:
http://www.hardrightedge.com/wizard.htm
The founder of the website is Alan Farley. I've read his book - The Master Swing Trader - overall it's a good resource, although his writing style is a bit cryptic and the concepts he attempts to describe I think can be worded better. Be forewarned... In any case, the information on this site is very useful.

2. Stockcharts.com
http://stockcharts.com/education/TAindex.html
This is a good resource that provides basic information on technical and market analysis, trading strategies, descriptions and advice on the use of various technical indicators and chart patterns. You can subscribe for their free bi-weekly newsletter, and purchase a membership to do your own analysis of your favorite equities. The public chart list is informative as well. I would definitely peruse through the list to explore and learn how others have used the TA tools and theories to analyze the market.

Both websites have a resource section where they make recommendations on books, videos and courses. Equis.com had a section that covered technical analysis (from A-Z) - essentially discussing theory and tools and provided the equations that formed the basis of the indicators so that you can understand the logic behind them. That information was free a few years ago. I think you need to subscribe to the site now to obtain the information. In any case, there is alot of information out there on technical analysis. I've given you a couple of resource leads. Doing a simple google search will lead you to dozens more.

[Nighthawk]

Many Thanks!

[Sackanaka]

I remember posting this thread when I first came to this forum, all excited about the wonders of personality typing but now
the skepticism has set in.
I find myself using the MBTI not as an empirical theory but rather a catch-all theory. It is so far unfalsifiable, which takes away from the validity of its scientific basis. Sure it works, it is logical, and it takes into consideration all of the variables that affect personality and behavior especially when combined with other psychological theories/concepts. However, it's just not empirical and it bugs me. I already know that "hey it's just a theory/device to help understand other people; don't get so hung over about it."
I'm just wondering if there is in fact empirical reasoning behind the MB typology! Prove me wrong! :/

[lexiphanic]

Don't feel bad, I have dozens of manias.

Nighthawk, you're right. In my experience, SJs are simply opposed to Type. They don't think it's valid or worthwhile. This is because they are all morons. SPs may be skeptical, but it doesn't really matter, because they just don't give a crap about studying anything. This position is better than the SJ position, slightly.

I'm always reading that NFs are prone to like Type, but I haven't seen it. Those I know don't give it much credit, in my analysis because they think people are too "special" to be classified. Typical NF bunk.

You could probably be a great standup comedians for a crowd of NTs.

[QrioCT]

NFs though, accepts anything with a "magical charm", which they think psychology is. or "feel" is a better word, because psychology, like other sciences like biology, is science.

nothing's wrong with ur obsession. i guess its just a part of being an intp. for me, i've learned to hide what my mind is actually into from other people so they won't bug me. unless they are into ideas like us, they can't help us anyway even if we share our ideas. "dont throw thy pearls unto pigs". (this is a quote from the bible i find to be true...although im just an agnostic)even if they are really smart without any interest, they won't help much because they are, after all, without interest.

[euterpenc]

NFs though, accepts anything with a "magical charm", which they think psychology is. or "feel" is a better word, because psychology, like other sciences like biology, is science.

nothing's wrong with ur obsession. i guess its just a part of being an intp. for me, i've learned to hide what my mind is actually into from other people so they won't bug me. unless they are into ideas like us, they can't help us anyway even if we share our ideas. "dont throw thy pearls unto pigs". (this is a quote from the bible i find to be true...although im just an agnostic)even if they are really smart without any interest, they won't help much because they are, after all, without interest.

I had a post remarkably like this before, using the same quote lol. great minds think alike ;)

[Hyperion]

MBTI is not an exact science precisely because its methodology of classification is not empirical, measurable and not even perfectly repeatable. In fact hard scientists and skeptics consider it pseudoscience and not too different from numerology and astrology.

While I easily fit the INTP description for the most part, I am not totally convinced of the functional analysis behind the resultant personality behavior. Ti Ne Si Fe seems far too simplistic and convenient. I am not 100% sure that I am totally objective in my evaluation of myself either. I am after all a human being and very susceptible to the Forer effect, i.e. we humans tend to accept questionable, even false statements about ourselves, if we deem them positive or flattering enough.

I don't consider myself obssessed with personality typing enough to mold myself to be more INTP than I really am. I realize that personality typing is more of a tool to help people improve themselves rather than a reliable absolute classification system. I am actually trying to remove some of the less desirable INTP traits like indifference, insensitivity, procrastination, lack of focus, etc.

I do find it fortunate that others are however obsessed enough to make a forum like INTP central. :D At the very least it acts like a magnet for individuals with more open perspectives, greater analytical capabilities, greater knowledge and curiosity than the average human.