Hi

[officebum1978]

Hi I'm new to the forum. I did a myers-briggs test recently at work and came out INTP. My name is Jason and i live in the UK. It would be cool to talk to some other INTPs. I'm not usually a fan of these tests but can really relate to a lot of things written about INTPs and some of the comments posted on this site.

However I'm not sure if u can put everyone into just 16 categories i think that in reality there is a lot of cross-over. Is there really only 1% of the population who are INTP?

And I have some issues with how some people write up the various personality types. I have found some good stuff on the net but it seems that a lot of the time the "E" types are portrayed as superior to "I's". I'm totally ok with being "I" ok i think too much am totally indecisive, questioning and find it hard mixing in big groups, but in my experience a lot of "E's" can be loud mothed, arrogant, insensitive and shallow not necessarily good qualities.

Also a lot of discriptions tend to portray INTP's as cold, withdrawn, clinical, unfeeling, unsociable etc. This is rubbish i like being around people (but in small grps) and when i find someone interesting find i can't shut up. i often think about other people when they have problems and i don't always see everything from a detached analytical veiwpoint.

I think you have to be careful how this is all interpreted, the truth is that the world needs all of the different types and we shouldn't be rating some higher than others! Anyway i've ranted on to long and this was only meant to be an introduction (that is if people still wanna talk to me now!!) and i better get back to work b4 my boss finds out i've been looking at myers-briggs all morning!!!

[SheepDog]

You may be surprised at the diversity, even amont INTP's. You are on a good start saying that putting everyone in one of 16 categories is not such a bright idea. It's not about categorization, per se., but about understanding. As a tool for understanding, I find the MBTI very useful.

Welcome.

[lauriep]

Welcome!

[mgb]

Hello.

Some of the INTP descriptions I have read are completely retarded. I wouldn't put too much stock in everything you read, especially online. But your skepticism sounds about right.

Of course "Es" would think its superior, there are more of them.

Go read this:

http://www.intpcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1304

we have a plan, haa haa.

[Clara]

Hello officebum1978

There's someone modelling that calm detached attitide for you already! :lol:
I agree that tools are useful when they serve a purpose... and, even 1 percent has wide diversity.



Also a lot of descriptions tend to portray INTP's as cold, withdrawn, clinical, unfeeling, unsociable etc. This is rubbish...
... can't have been written by an INTP, or by anyone who appreciated us, for that matter.

"This is Rubbish," however, has a nice, familiar ring to it. :cheers:

[Edmond Zedo]

You've taken your first step into a larger world. -- Obi-Wan

[NGene]

Hi, officebum, and welcome to the INTP forum! :cheers:


However I'm not sure if u can put everyone into just 16 categories i think that in reality there is a lot of cross-over.
You're on the right track in there! People certainly can't be put into 16 boxes. That would be ridiculous.

Think of personality typing as categorizing music into different genres. When someone tells you a certain song is rock, or classical, or electronic, you'll have a vague idea of the general characteristics of that song. However, even songs that belong in the same genre are vastly different, so you'll have to actually listen to that song before you can know exactly what it's like.

Also, music can be divided into sub-genres. I'll use electronic music as an example, because that's the genre I know best. The categorizing is overdone and way too detailed, and that has sometimes resulted in bands making up new sub-sub-sub-genres for their songs. That is ridiculous, because when you get too detailed, the categorizing loses its power, because if you get detailed enough, every single song would belong in different genre!

It's exactly the same with personality typing. If you tell you're an INTP, people will have a vague idea of what you're generally like, but they'll still have to interact with you in order to get to know you personally. Also, the power of labeling is that the labels are vague enough, so 16 labels is just enough. There's no point in getting too detailed, because you'd have to invent over 6 billion personality types then!

You're also correct that there is a lot of cross-over. For example, nobody can be 100% iNtuitive with no Sensing. That would mean the person would be deaf and blind. However, most people have a preference for either, and the strength of that preference will vary. Someone might be in the middle of the scale, while someone else might be very clearly iNtuitive.

For example, I personally think and act like an ENFP sometimes, even though I prefer the INTP type. It's all about the strength of the preferences!

[officebum1978]

Hi Thanks for the welcomes!

I'm positive about mostly been INTP and so are the few INTPs that i know. MBTI is really useful for people who feel awkward about being themselves (Mostly the I's), because it highlights strengths of all the various types when done correctly! (saying that i'm so glad i'm not ESJ!!)

Like the idea of a secret society problem is we'd need an ESJ type to organise it which is pretty much how society is organised now.

I think ur right on the 16 categories, using music is a good example its obvious to have a meaningful system you need to have some generalisation. And the same goes for people we all instictively judge people when we first meet them, in order for that to be effective we have our own managable categories to create an impression to decide how best to act. Also i think people are not fixed, preferences to the MBTI change depending on environments we find ourselves in. I can easily change become more "E" especially when i am in a place or with people i feel comfortable with, and i often switch between "T&F". But i to become a "J" (organised and planned) and i nearly went crazy, just wasn't for me!