Well, ISTP's are our literal cousins, so perhaps they inheirited our focus.
Well, ISTP's are our literal cousins, so perhaps they inheirited our focus.
How does it make you feel when you see the reactions in others? I mean do you care or does it matter at all (reaction or no reaction)?
i think ISTPs have an ability to draw on a lot of physical strength and physical power in certain situations, or to simply respond physically without holding back, without saving or diluting their strength.
i know that when ISTPs snap it is really a bad situation, and people better seriously lookout.
and i think you are right, there is an intensity in the physical presence of an ISTP.
ISTPs are not afraid of each other. i think that even if it is two ISTPs who hate each other and one can tell they are physically outmatched, that means very little to the outmatched one. i think ISTPs, for better or worse, have no problem going up against unrealistic odds.
This all rings true. One I know broke his hand punching the wall in frustration recently. It is a very masculine kind of quiet intensity that hints at a primal, explosive energy just below the surface. I find it very attractive.
I believe in my determination overriding the odds. It doesn't matter if i'm semi-physically outmatched, I will keep going at it until it's physically impossible for me to. So far, the odds have never won. Note: I HATE fighting, I have the urge to, but keep my impulses in check. I will never start a fight, but....if someone else starts it, it isn't over until one of us is in the hospital or worse.
I think what Alcea Rosea and Intricate Mystic were referring to is intensity of focus on sensing and the senses, grounding in the present reality, the connection I feel to each and every physical form, animate or inanimate. This connection to physical form is experienced by others, especially in 1-on-1 interactions, because I experience this energy that I am physically connected to the other person. For me this can occur simply through intense eye contact and proximity without even having to touch. In reality, we are sharing this moment of presence and awareness, and I could see how that could be intense for those who aren't regularly in that mindset.
I think that people feel this intensity the strongest when I interact with them 1-on-1, especially in conversation, since ALL of my focus is being directed into them. Sometimes I get the impression that this energy is too intense for the other person, as if they are being pushed away by it, when they begin disconnecting from eye contact, almost as if they were trying to weaken the connection to turn down the intensity, as if the connection we're sharing is making them physically or psychologically uncomfortable. But when people realize that my interaction is sincere they seem to open up.
I don't think this kind of energy is restricted to ISTPs, but is likely possessed by all of the sensing types.
The impact is strongest, for what I've experienced, when one-to-one. It is interesting that you call the focus as energy because I describe it as something very forceful, but not energy. I've got loads of energy that many (especially some introverted) people feel intruding. Even my ISTP husband is tired out with my stormy-like energy. But with ISTP's, I feel, it's different than energy, in my opinoin. It's forceful, strongess of them owning the situation if they are interested. It's mental "power" and a very strong impact. It's like they steal the moment and control it and keep the people on pause for the short moment that is theirs to take. Just my impression, but I experience really strong feeling of ISTP's mental power in these situations. It's the same thing I'm after in this thread. I'm merely trying to get a good name for this feeling I perceive in ISTP's. Maybe focused intensity is the best way to describe it?
There's a conversation going on between me, ISTP and someone else. Me and someone else are talking but ISTP is there listening (but it doesn't look like he is) then I've said something and bam! ISTPs neck snaps right to me and he says, "what did you say?"
My immediate reaction (in my head) is like, "What just happened? WHY are you looking at me like that?!"
ISTPs don't blink. Their eyes are lubricated by consciously allowing Awesome to seep through their membranes.
That's a fact.
They give intensive focus to the particular areas they feel deserve it.
But as Ps they're often fairly dormant when they don't have a current pet project or interest to be working on.
Occasionally they'll spring to life and go full force at working out every detail of something; it can actually be kind of surprising the first time they do it. ("Wow, I didn't think he had it in him!")
I've been married to ISTP for soon 10 years now and we have been a couple for many years more. So, I've observed ISTP behavior for long time and his impact on me and to other people.
But going back to the way I've observed other personality types take male ISTP's intensity (or whatever it is), it's strange. Other men escpecially (not all men but some, I'm not sure if it is a type thing) are offended by it and are even a bit scared or challenged. I haven't observed my husband in a company of male NT but especially F-males seem to be on their toes with him. I don't know why, because personally, I am not offended by their strongness, intensity or willpower. I can take it even if it affects me.
I've seen some females are really drawn by it
simulatedworld - I agree: areas they feel deserve it.
i think this is very true. ISTPs are intense about things that deeply interest us, but we aren't always obvious about it. a lot of times we wait for the right moment or inspiration, and then become very active. i think that is why some ISTPs say they are not active or intense people, because sometimes we are "dormant" and reserving our energy to let it all out later. but i think we are always very aware, and maybe other types interpret our behavior as intense.
i have the feeling that a lot of ISTPs would not describe themselves as intense. i have been called intense, but i do not think i am.
anyway, i do think that ISTPs have a lot of traits which, when combined, make us pretty interesting people. and you are right, alcea rosea, the ladies love us.
yeah, we are pretty awesome. sometimes we have so much awesome we just throw a bunch away, and don't even miss it.
oh, i also agree with the eye contact. i almost never break eye contact when i am talking to/engaging someone. i like it when other people do the same, but it isn't really that important.
So how does this "physical presence" apply to a small ISTP girl? I've been told I intimidate some people, but I've never been told why... Um.. I play fight a lot. Especially when drinking. But I don't think that's why I'm "intimidating"...
It might have to do with the sense that you have a complete control of not only yourself, but a knack for the mastery of your physical surroundings. My brother is an ISTP, and when performing a task, or when we're playing sports, and his focus, ability, and completely perfect translation of thought into action gives an observer the feeling that the person is intense. My brother spins metal by hand, works on his Trans-Am, and was a phenomenal gymnast and when you watch him do things he invests himself in, you can get that sense.
So perhaps when people watch you at your peak focus, it's something they pick up on. It's hard not to.
I'm not the best with typing people but the people I know who are ISTPs I have a good relationships with but yeah they are definitely intense. It's both exciting and intimidating at the same time. And I love it.
I would describe the intensity as a cohesive awareness with the world around me. I often feel as if I am not a separate entity with what is around me, but a part of it where I control only the part that is my body. this causes a sort of hypersensitivity to my environment and I think people pick up on the finely tuned relation between stimuli and a reaction... it gives the impression of being a hair-pin trigger. often times something will happen and before people have even realized it I have already reacted with the appropriate response.
i am always "already there", able and prepared to do anything without hesitation. people are probably intimidated because they feel put under a microscope by something that they have no way of predicting or controlling. the ability to quickly grasp the inner workings of something or someone can makes people feel a bit vulnerable.
I've experienced this intensity with ISTP. Mainly this scenario:
There's a conversation going on between me, ISTP and someone else. Me and someone else are talking but ISTP is there listening (but it doesn't look like he is) then I've said something and bam! ISTPs neck snaps right to me and he says, "what did you say?" (almost in a demanding tone not a questioning one. but yet I don't feel like he's demanding an answer) But the impression that I get is that he heard exactly what I said. He either agrees wholeheartedly or disagrees. I don't know. I'm assuming he agreed because we sort of hit it off after that...somewhat. I don't know. I think I ruined that. But anyway...
This has happened a couple times with ISTP. The difference between their attention when it's suddenly directed at you and when they are just there doing their ISTP thing is night and day. My immediate reaction (in my head) is like, "What just happened? WHY are you looking at me like that?!"
I would say that I find my ENFP to be one of the most intense people I know. His passion for living life, the ideals and people he values, are all expressed outwardly in a very emotionally intense way to everyone he comes across. Many people find him intimidating because of his physical structure combined with his personality.
I could never extrovert that kind of emotional energy. Though I feel I use my energy in a different way, in that it is concentrated in my awareness of physical reality and rationalizing what is occurring.