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[NT] How do you tell the difference between an INTP and an INTJ?

FFF

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Apr 24, 2007
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9
INTP and INTJ types both tend to the have the taciturn, smart/nerdy persona going. So, how do you go about telling the difference between the two?
 

UniqueMixture

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estj
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sx/so
Intjs seem a lot more tense in body language, tend to think of things in more yes/no terms, intjs tend to come across as more "stereotypical male" imo, intjs tend to liken themselves to historical figures more in a positive sense and tend to be more demanding/perfectionistic which can be awesome if done right
 

Rasofy

royal member
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I will skip the ''these are stereotypes yada yada'' talk :yapyapyap: and just tell what I've noticed:

INTPs are more easygoing. INTJs are more srs bsns.
When trying to explain something, INTPs attempt to cover everything, from the basic to the exceptions of the exceptions. INTJs will just tell you what they judge necessary . Most people prefer the latter. It doesn't help that the INTP way of explaining things from the basics can make it seem like we think the other person is stupid.
INTPs are more flaky/lazy/disorganized. More flexible though. Convincing an INTJ that he/she is wrong is usually a hard task - but it helps if this person thinks you're intelligent.
 

FFF

Fight For Freedom
Joined
Apr 24, 2007
Messages
691
MBTI Type
INTP
Enneagram
9
Intjs seem a lot more tense in body language, tend to think of things in more yes/no terms, intjs tend to come across as more "stereotypical male" imo, intjs tend to liken themselves to historical figures more in a positive sense and tend to be more demanding/perfectionistic which can be awesome if done right

I have noticed the tense versus loose body language when it comes to J vs P. Actually, I would use Snoop Dogg (I don't like rap for the record) as a perfect example of P type body language. Made me come up with the expression "P like a G." Donald Trump could work as obvious J type seriousness or "J out the A."

My brother has that demanding/perfectionistic style. With some stuff like music creation he is so critical of stuff I find to be rather trivial.

INTPs are more easygoing. INTJs are more srs bsns.
When trying to explain something, INTPs attempt to cover everything, from the basic to the exceptions of the exceptions. INTJs will just tell you what they judge necessary . Most people prefer the latter. It doesn't help that the INTP way of explaining things from the basics can make it seem like we think the other person is stupid.
INTPs are more flaky/lazy/disorganized. More flexible though. Convincing an INTJ that he/she is wrong is usually a hard task - but it helps if this person thinks you're intelligent.

I exhibit some J characteristics, but I think of myself as a P because I generally walk around with an easy going attitude and demeanor. I tend to tell people what I think in a lot of cases rather than explaining it from the beginning or like the person is ignorant. I am actually capable of convincing that I'm wrong.

Anyway, I was hoping to learn more about INTJ thinking, the Ni mental process. I mean, it must come out eventually in how they talk or what they talk about.
 

Poki

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I will skip the ''these are stereotypes yada yada'' talk :yapyapyap: and just tell what I've noticed:

INTPs are more easygoing. INTJs are more srs bsns.
When trying to explain something, INTPs attempt to cover everything, from the basic to the exceptions of the exceptions. INTJs will just tell you what they judge necessary . Most people prefer the latter. It doesn't help that the INTP way of explaining things from the basics can make it seem like we think the other person is stupid.
INTPs are more flaky/lazy/disorganized. More flexible though. Convincing an INTJ that he/she is wrong is usually a hard task - but it helps if this person thinks you're intelligent.

I agree.

I have been trying to figure this out recently. The extremes are easy because the J/P are really noticeable. But I have a few people in my life that are a middle ground that I am just curious. My guess is INTP. I dont sense Fi from them.
 

yenom

Alexander the Terrible
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
1,755
More stubborn and intense (obstinate)
opinion more fixed
More delusions of grandeur
More workaholic
Care about scheduling
self-controlled and intense
obsession with planning and efficiency
conscientious


Its best to not look at this in a function perspective, but just go join an INTJ real life meeting and see the life samples yourself.

Either give IXTJ or INXJ vibe. Imagine INTP combined with IXTJ mode of thinking.
[
They are actually quite similar to ISTJs. Their intuition is overrated.

Maybe you should just meet someone with strong Te and get the impression of what they are like.

I think Te is the most obvious difference.

the introversion is obvious. You just got to tell the difference between IJ and IP.
I think IJs are not that hard to identify.
 
R

Riva

Guest
Death Note!

There are quite a lot of threads on this subject. Google and you'll find many.

You should watch the Death Note. It's a classic when it comes to many things. Also when it comes to MBTI. A better INTJ Vs INTP battle is never seen before.

Light Yagami - INTJ (The Antagonist)
L Lawliet - INTP (The Protagonist)

This post wouldn't be so much of a contribution if you haven't/wouldn't watch it.
 

yenom

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Actually Light Yagami is not a very good example. Light Yagami is always faking an F in the show, which is what most INTJs are horrible at/
 
R

Riva

Guest
Actually Light Yagami is not a very good example. Light Yagami is always faking an F in the show, which is what most INTJs are horrible at/

He does not fake F at all.

He is pleasant and disciplined.

INTJs though lack emotional expressions are quite polite with words and are disciplined with that regard. Most INTJs have a superiority complex and look down on most people but are almost always polite with words.

And he uses F as a tool to get what his Te requires.

[MENTION=7]Jennifer[/MENTION] taught me that initially when we were discussing the type of Ben Linus from Lost. Thank you Jennifer.
 

Coriolis

Si vis pacem, para bellum
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sp/sx
You can sometimes tell by asking their opinion of something. INTJ is more likely to have an opinion, to answer by stating it in a concise way, followed up by some top-level reasoning, which they will then expand if asked or challenged. INTP is more likely to speak more generally on the topic, listing different perspectives, pros and cons, without ever saying what they personally believe. My INTP claims not to have opinions on many topics, due to incomplete knowledge of the topic. I usually do have an opinion, which (due to the incomplete knowledge), I will revise as I learn more.

This isn't foolproof, though. I have known a couple of INTPs who come off as quite opinionated.
 

Poki

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You can sometimes tell by asking their opinion of something. INTJ is more likely to have an opinion, to answer by stating it in a concise way, followed up by some top-level reasoning, which they will then expand if asked or challenged. INTP is more likely to speak more generally on the topic, listing different perspectives, pros and cons, without ever saying what they personally believe. My INTP claims not to have opinions on many topics, due to incomplete knowledge of the topic. I usually do have an opinion, which (due to the incomplete knowledge), I will revise as I learn more.

This isn't foolproof, though. I have known a couple of INTPs who come off as quite opinionated.

:yes: That is a huge difference between a IP and a IJ. Open vs Closed.
 

Uytuun

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INTPs seem to have stronger convictions about what's right and wrong intrinsically (not morally, though)...they seem to have strong opinions about what they appreciate and don't appreciate (maybe that's some Fe leaking through)...crudely constructed things, especially when carrying a whiff of Se/Fe/Si (I'm thinking mass-oriented popular music for example) may get rejected violently (in this scenario the INTP often fails to engage with the object on the object's terms, which is a fate INTJs also seem to suffer at the hands of INTPs). Matters of taste are not the realm of the dominant perceiver IME.
 

animenagai

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The same with any type - their functions.

INTP's are usually easier to bounce ideas off with their Ne. If they're unhealthy then you get a Ti-Si loop, which usually involves said INTP trying to pick your argument apart through pedantic details. This isn't something INTJ's tend to do. INTJ's I find are less energetic even with things they love. A Te bitchslap can also be an obvious sign.
 

Andy

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INTPs seem to have stronger convictions about what's right and wrong intrinsically (not morally, though)...they seem to have strong opinions about what they appreciate and don't appreciate (maybe that's some Fe leaking through)...crudely constructed things, especially when carrying a whiff of Se/Fe/Si (I'm thinking mass-oriented popular music for example) may get rejected violently (in this scenario the INTP often fails to engage with the object on the object's terms, which is a fate INTJs also seem to suffer at the hands of INTPs). Matters of taste are not the realm of the dominant perceiver IME.

That's a pretty good observation. Ti is about deciding what is technically good (or not) based more on ideas of worth than just practicallity/necessity. The rejection of populat things is often the result of the poor Fe rejecting anything that smells of fitting in.

You are also right the dominant percievers (especially introverted percievers) tend not to to be concerned with matters of taste. It's the weak Ji.
 

Nicodemus

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Nico, this is why INTJs are the perfect villains.

They don't know they are the villains.

:laugh:
Whether he is the pro- or the antagonist has nothing to do with whether or not he is a villain.

To think about 'Death Note' in terms of good guy/bad guy also makes little sense to me.
 
R

Riva

Guest
Whether he is the pro- or the antagonist has nothing to do with whether or not he is a villain.

To think about 'Death Note' in terms of good guy/bad guy also makes little sense to me.

He is not the villain but still is the antagonist of the story.

So in that sense you are still wrong, dear INTJ.

;)

Ti > INTJ
 
R

Riva

Guest
Ti is pretty useless when it works with poor definitions.

Light Yagami is the antagonist of the story by definition because he kills people on his won judgement, outside the rules of the law.

(Even a criminal could have his side of the story. And maybe, just maybe, no matter how disgusting the crime of the criminal, he/she had a reason behind the actions.)

Light Yagami, not the villain, because he chooses and kills criminal who have escaped the law due to the lack of evidence. etc.
 
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