Mr. Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2010
- Messages
- 1,450
- MBTI Type
- JiNe
- Enneagram
- 5W4
Okay, so I did make a thread on my possible E-ness, but this idea is a sort of branching off of that, so I thought I'd make a thread with a more interesting name that was more relevant.
So anyway, it had been suggested that I was an ENTP as opposed to INTP, mainly because I seemed rather social and had occasional visible bursts of Ne randomness, and at first I dismissed it, but like everything, I soon found I could not be happy with the issue unclosed, as there was some evidence to say I may be more extroverted, and the source of confusion is this. The definitions of introversion and extroversion don't always entirely seem to line up with the functions.
I always feel like a Ti dom, really, and I always score the same in function tests (though I realise there is a possibility of subconscious bias since I usually can tell what function a question is asking about, though I try to be objective). I am cautious and analytical, and I look into things deeply if they interest me. I prefer closure and hate to leave something unresolved if it means something important to me (like understanding my type, lol) I don't like to rush into things and let my Ne get out of hand, I always search for accuracy and truth and prefer not to draw conclusions until I have examined different perspectives and all the evidence fits in. Even if I do make quick conclusions, it is usually in expectation of a rebuttal so I can see clearly where my logic has gone wrong. I will sometimes switch between ideas and create tangents rather quickly, but most of the time I become very detail oriented and focused on a small area while everyone else moves on to another topic of the conversation. Unlike ENTPs who supposedly love them, I often become very tired of arguments and may often simply give up completely, but my desire to find an accurate conclusion and prove it often leads me to continuing in debates beyond the point of comfort and I can be relentlessly critical at times.
On the other hand, I'm not that unsocial (at least for an INTP, usually considered the most introverted type). In fact, I'm probably more social than the majority of my (all IP, coincidentally) friends. If I am left alone too long, I get bored. I need some sort of stimulation, and in fact this is usually social, though when I have something that interests me enough, I don't need to socialise much (not much lately, been rather uninspired). I am shy about it, but I like to have friends around a lot of the time, and while I sometimes need to retreat, I seem to have a longer preference for having other people (though only friends) around than most of those I am close to. After school I will wait with them long after I should be going home. I also sometimes feel the need to initiate events, mostly because they rarely do so, as opposed to the responding style introverts are meant to have, although I prefer not to unless I have to and would rather have events unfold around me. But I do often like events to unfold, and stagnation bores me and causes me to spend too much time thinking about the same things over and over. Seemingly in opposition to this style, however, when I am around my friends, at least in larger groups, I can be very untalkative. This isn't always true, and sometimes I can bring a lot of energy to the conversation, but often I will spend long periods of time with others detatched and silent. I will tune in and tune out when it suits me and frequently go into deep thought. Perhaps I get my introvert recharging while I am still in groups? Or maybe I just don't need that much time to "recharge". It seems strange, but I find this easier to do when people around me are talking. I'm not sure what it is. Perhaps it's the fact that I know I can talk to someone and express my thoughts at any time should I so wish, or perhaps it gives me another injection of things to think about when I get bored of what's currently on my mind (I know I can't spend any time NOT thinking). Sometimes I can actually be rather talkative and/or adventurous, though I don't do anything risky. Still, I sometimes do have the crazy/imaginative/random behaviour often associated with ENTPs and Ne. However, this is always harmless and I feel that it is probably just behaviour that my Ti does not feel the need to monitor, since I don't really worry terribly much about others perceptions of me an awful lot and there are no other negative aspects.
Anyway, all this got me thinking, are we being precocious in assuming someone to be an introvert (of Jungian typology at least) based solely on how much time they spend alone/with other people and how energised and motivated they are for interacting with the world?? Sherlock Holmes (real one obviously) who gets bored enough to inject cocaine when he lacks stimulation is still almost inevitably considered INTJ, INTP or ISTP. I would in no way consider him ENTP or ENTJ or ESTP, as (in my opinion) his strongest function seems to be Ti, yet he is far more energised (yet antisocial) than most fictional introverts, and at least the vast majority of fictional INTPs. On the other end of the spectrum, here on this board we have an ENFP (I think it was marmalade.sunrise, but I apologise if my memory has failed) who is not terribly talkative or energetic apparently, yet scores higher on Ne than Fi. Would this make them an introvert? Or would it just make them a more stoic extrovert?
So yes, these are my queries and theories. What do you make of them? Do you personally believe I am more of an ENTP or am I a social INTP? Is it perhaps possible that my Fe is simply strongly developed (but poorly utilised)? Do you think a social/energised introvert can exist, at least going by the MBTI definitions and functions? What about an unenergetic extrovert?
So anyway, it had been suggested that I was an ENTP as opposed to INTP, mainly because I seemed rather social and had occasional visible bursts of Ne randomness, and at first I dismissed it, but like everything, I soon found I could not be happy with the issue unclosed, as there was some evidence to say I may be more extroverted, and the source of confusion is this. The definitions of introversion and extroversion don't always entirely seem to line up with the functions.
I always feel like a Ti dom, really, and I always score the same in function tests (though I realise there is a possibility of subconscious bias since I usually can tell what function a question is asking about, though I try to be objective). I am cautious and analytical, and I look into things deeply if they interest me. I prefer closure and hate to leave something unresolved if it means something important to me (like understanding my type, lol) I don't like to rush into things and let my Ne get out of hand, I always search for accuracy and truth and prefer not to draw conclusions until I have examined different perspectives and all the evidence fits in. Even if I do make quick conclusions, it is usually in expectation of a rebuttal so I can see clearly where my logic has gone wrong. I will sometimes switch between ideas and create tangents rather quickly, but most of the time I become very detail oriented and focused on a small area while everyone else moves on to another topic of the conversation. Unlike ENTPs who supposedly love them, I often become very tired of arguments and may often simply give up completely, but my desire to find an accurate conclusion and prove it often leads me to continuing in debates beyond the point of comfort and I can be relentlessly critical at times.
On the other hand, I'm not that unsocial (at least for an INTP, usually considered the most introverted type). In fact, I'm probably more social than the majority of my (all IP, coincidentally) friends. If I am left alone too long, I get bored. I need some sort of stimulation, and in fact this is usually social, though when I have something that interests me enough, I don't need to socialise much (not much lately, been rather uninspired). I am shy about it, but I like to have friends around a lot of the time, and while I sometimes need to retreat, I seem to have a longer preference for having other people (though only friends) around than most of those I am close to. After school I will wait with them long after I should be going home. I also sometimes feel the need to initiate events, mostly because they rarely do so, as opposed to the responding style introverts are meant to have, although I prefer not to unless I have to and would rather have events unfold around me. But I do often like events to unfold, and stagnation bores me and causes me to spend too much time thinking about the same things over and over. Seemingly in opposition to this style, however, when I am around my friends, at least in larger groups, I can be very untalkative. This isn't always true, and sometimes I can bring a lot of energy to the conversation, but often I will spend long periods of time with others detatched and silent. I will tune in and tune out when it suits me and frequently go into deep thought. Perhaps I get my introvert recharging while I am still in groups? Or maybe I just don't need that much time to "recharge". It seems strange, but I find this easier to do when people around me are talking. I'm not sure what it is. Perhaps it's the fact that I know I can talk to someone and express my thoughts at any time should I so wish, or perhaps it gives me another injection of things to think about when I get bored of what's currently on my mind (I know I can't spend any time NOT thinking). Sometimes I can actually be rather talkative and/or adventurous, though I don't do anything risky. Still, I sometimes do have the crazy/imaginative/random behaviour often associated with ENTPs and Ne. However, this is always harmless and I feel that it is probably just behaviour that my Ti does not feel the need to monitor, since I don't really worry terribly much about others perceptions of me an awful lot and there are no other negative aspects.
Anyway, all this got me thinking, are we being precocious in assuming someone to be an introvert (of Jungian typology at least) based solely on how much time they spend alone/with other people and how energised and motivated they are for interacting with the world?? Sherlock Holmes (real one obviously) who gets bored enough to inject cocaine when he lacks stimulation is still almost inevitably considered INTJ, INTP or ISTP. I would in no way consider him ENTP or ENTJ or ESTP, as (in my opinion) his strongest function seems to be Ti, yet he is far more energised (yet antisocial) than most fictional introverts, and at least the vast majority of fictional INTPs. On the other end of the spectrum, here on this board we have an ENFP (I think it was marmalade.sunrise, but I apologise if my memory has failed) who is not terribly talkative or energetic apparently, yet scores higher on Ne than Fi. Would this make them an introvert? Or would it just make them a more stoic extrovert?
So yes, these are my queries and theories. What do you make of them? Do you personally believe I am more of an ENTP or am I a social INTP? Is it perhaps possible that my Fe is simply strongly developed (but poorly utilised)? Do you think a social/energised introvert can exist, at least going by the MBTI definitions and functions? What about an unenergetic extrovert?
And I don't relate to "silent, enigmatic Fi". If I got a dollar for every time I was happy to share my POV or rationale, I'd be a rich man.
