Finally, people that think like me

[jca]

I just became aware of the Myers-Briggs test. When I took it and it came back INTP, it didn't really mean much to me until I started reading about it.

I'm completely blown away by how closely the description of an INTP describes me. Finally, a whole lot of thoughts and behaviors make sense. I thought I was the only one like this. Simply amazing.

Anyway, I'll be absorbing the contents of these boards over the next few days, so I just wanted to say hi.

Regards,
jc

[Serotonin]

Hi jca, welcome to the machine...
This is a real trend now isn't it? I remember the more INTP descriptions I read, the more convinced I was of my type. Same with enneagram 5.
Maybe there should be a caveat at the top of the INTP description - "WARNING! You may experience an overwhelming resonance with the following personality description. Take the day off work and celebrate that you actually ARE normal and there are others out there like you."

[xavierd]

Hello jca, I had the same reaction when I first read about INTP.

[Maedhros]

Welcome! I had to join as wel, finding out and reading about it had this effect one me as well. I'm still not out of the enneagram though. :huh:
Cheers

[Edmond Zedo]

Welcome! I had to join as wel, finding out and reading about it had this effect one me as well. I'm still not out of the enneagram though. :huh:
Cheers
I can't say this enough: Test percentages don't mean anything. And in my opinion, the enneagram is a waste of thought.

[Boneca]

I can't say this enough: Test percentages don't mean anything.And still, it's just your opinion. I think it matters if you're extremely something or close to the border.

[Edmond Zedo]

And still, it's just your opinion. I think it matters if you're extremely something or close to the border.
No, that part isn't opinion. A quarter of the questions in a test are trying to divine one's preference in one scale. Each question has no specific relevance.

[Boneca]

No, that part isn't opinion. A quarter of the questions in a test are trying to divine one's preference in one scale. Each question has no specific relevance.Of course not, you cannot determine percentages from one test alone. But the strength of your preferences still matter.

I also realise that it is rude to hijack other people's threads. Hello and welcome, jca!

[melancholeric]

I'd think there is a difference between extreme and balanced types. Do you disagree?

However, I've said before that I'm close to INFP, and have tested as one. After a quick glance over the INFP forum, I realized that there's no slightest trace of the F of an INFP in me, though I seem to be on the border. So yes, the actual preference is far more important than the percentages.

[Boneca]

I'd think there is a difference between extreme and balanced types. Do you disagree?No, that's about what I'm trying to say. I don't care if your percentage is 90.125 or 85.345 - but the fact that you have a strong preference for a certain letter matters.


However, I've said before that I'm close to INFP, and have tested as one. After a quick glance over the INFP forum, I realized that there's no slightest trace of the F of an INFP in me, though I seem to be on the border. So yes, the actual preference is far more important than the percentages.For me it's the other way around. I am close to the J border, and I do identify a lot with INTJ's, just not as much as with INTP's.
INFP's on the other hand don't seem to come from the same planet as me, which fits well with the fact that I consistenly score highest on the T.

The charm with psychology is that it is such a subjective science. There is no telling if you're right and my result is coincidence, or if I'm right and you're an exception.

[melancholeric]

No, that's about what I'm trying to say. I don't care if your percentage is 90.125 or 85.345 - but the fact that you have a strong preference for a certain letter matters.

That was for Edmond Zedo, not you. I now realize we crossposted, I didnt notice that.

[Boneca]

That was for Edmond Zedo, not you.Oh. Then why am I arguing with you?

I think I lost my point somewhere.

Edit: we both take too long to post, obviously. Nevermind.

[jca]

Hey all, thanks for the greetings! I'm still in the "shock and awe" mode right now. Spent most of last night reading the majority of the posts here. Wow!

I do have a question for folks that have been aware of this longer than myself: The first time I took the test, I was a fairly mild INTP, meaning my I and P percentages were faily low. In subsequent taking of the test (yes I'm obsessed at the moment) I tested out w/ much higher percentages of I and P (sorry if I have the abbreviations wrong). Do you feel that subsequent testing tends to be a self-fullfilling prophesy sort of thing? Just curious.

[melancholeric]

Oh yeah, welcome :)

[Boneca]

Hey all, thanks for the greetings! I'm still in the "shock and awe" mode right now. Spent most of last night reading the majority of the posts here. Wow!

I do have a question for folks that have been aware of this longer than myself: The first time I took the test, I was a fairly mild INTP, meaning my I and P percentages were faily low. In subsequent taking of the test (yes I'm obsessed at the moment) I tested out w/ much higher percentages of I and P (sorry if I have the abbreviations wrong). Do you feel that subsequent testing tends to be a self-fullfilling prophesy sort of thing? Just curious.It's possible. I tend to get more and more introvert the more I test. Either I lived in denial before (which is quite possible), or I am unconsciously choosing the questions I know will lead to INTP (which is also quite possible).

On second thought, I think most of us act more balanced in real life (i.e. closer to the middle) than we really are, so at first we tend to select the answers that we think would be the correct way to act, but then when we know our true nature, we'd answer according to how we'd like to act.

[Clara]

Welcome, and Hi :hello:

Interesting discussion you sparked ;)

[jca]

It's possible. I tend to get more and more introvert the more I test. Either I lived in denial before (which is quite possible), or I am unconsciously choosing the questions I know will lead to INTP (which is also quite possible).

On second thought, I think most of us act more balanced in real life (i.e. closer to the middle) than we really are, so at first we tend to select the answers that we think would be the correct way to act, but then when we know our true nature, we'd answer according to how we'd like to act.

Boneca, you've summed up my line of questioning perfectly. I *think* that I'm actually solidly, but moderately INTP. I'm not sure if the moderation is due to my basic nature, or a learned behavior in order to better fit into the world. I can see I'm going to be pondering this for a while :)

[Edmond Zedo]

jca, don't mind the unrepentant fools who tie test results directly to "preference" and "tendency". They can apparently not be saved.

Boneca: Why do you continue to test? Are you so imperceptive that you don't know your type by now? And even worse, to think that a TEST will decide it for you, finally, after all is said and done?

Everyone: Type theory was around long before tests were invented to GUESS at types. After reading Psy. Types by Jung, it seems like it was written partially for psychologists as a tool to understand and help patients.

Dominant preferences are what provide the fundamental difference between T and F, etc. One is always stronger, but balance changes through life. How one answers test questions could vary a great deal if testing at age 15 and 50, but their type won't have changed. They will probably have a more rounded and less conspicuous character in general, barring neurosis.

[Boneca]

Boneca: Why do you continue to test? Are you so imperceptive that you don't know your type by now?Well, since I'm not so wonderfully perceptive as you, who can apparently judge a person's type from a photo, I need a guide. And since I don't trust one single test, I wanted to do several.
I hope you are aware of the fact that most people who discover they are INTP's do so through a test, not after sitting around reading Jung's theories for fun.

[Edmond Zedo]

Well, since I'm not so wonderfully perceptive as you, who can apparently judge a person's type from a photo, I need a guide. And since I don't trust one single test, I wanted to do several.
I hope you are aware of the fact that most people who discover they are INTP's do so through a test, not after sitting around reading Jung's theories for fun.
I took a test first too, and it was obviously accurate, but some time later I learned that they're relatively unreliable.

[melancholeric]

I took a test first too, and it was obviously accurate, but some time later I learned that they're relatively unreliable.
Is visual identification more reliable then?

[Edmond Zedo]

If the "typist" is an expert at it, I would say so. I'm a beginner, but some people are easy to VI.

[melancholeric]

One can't really argue with that.

Astrology is extremely reliable, if the astrologist is an expert. I'm just a beginner...

[Edmond Zedo]

The foremost principle I use is taking people I've known to be of one type, and intuitively isolating the common impression they make. Then I can categorize people I don't know. It works best for types I have more experience with, and that's completely logical. VI isn't more subjective than tests. I've never had a strong feeling from VI be shown incorrect by any contrary evidence. I don't have strong feelings about everyone, not yet.

[ObstinateBane]

Great Stuff!

I felt compelled to add my two cents to this topic.

First I'm new and wow I'm not alone.

I'll be taking it all in.

[Edmond Zedo]

I felt compelled to add my two cents to this topic.

Well where are they then?

[melancholeric]

You scared him off...

[ObstinateBane]

Well where are they then?




First I'm new and wow I'm not alone

Sorry I guess I needed to say "And second" wow I'm not alone.

I can see I won't even fit in with INTPers. Poor me! :shock:

[Edmond Zedo]

Nah, you'll fit in with a lot of them!