Such Irony
Honor Thy Inferior
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2010
- Messages
- 5,059
- MBTI Type
- INtp
- Enneagram
- 5w6
- Instinctual Variant
- sp/so
Actually I don't know if I am an INTP or not. That's my (very) tentative guess. I read the INTP descriptions and much of it fits but I am more F and J like compared to other INTPs, I think. On tests I pretty much cycle between the 4 IN types: INTJ/INTP/INFJ/INFP.
On another forum, INTP was strongly suggested for my MBTI type. I'm an LII/INTj in socionics. For some reason, I am much more clear on my socionics type than MBTI type. I almost always get LII as my top type. INTj socionics is sort of like an MBTI INTP because both have Ti as the top function and Ne as the secondary. But the two systems are not identical and the functions and dichotomies are described differently in each so you could be unrelated types in the two systems.
So if you could help me sort it out that would be great.
Here is how I relate to T:
*I tend to rely mostly on logic when making decisions. I don't actually sit down and make pros/cons list but I am constantly weighing such things in my head.
*I love to analyze things and solve problems based on logic.
*When I was young, my greatest strengths were in things like math and other logical domains. Mentally, I was always advanced for my age, while emotionally and socially I lagged well behind my peers.
*When I was younger, I wasn't always the most tactful person. Tact is something I've had to learn through time. Today, of course, I am very tactful with others and try hard not to hurt their feelings. But I guess when it comes down to it, I value truth more. I seek the truth even though it may be unpleasant and sometimes telling others the hard truth can ultimately be a form of caring. Here's a case in point:
I remember when I used to teach I'd have students who were failing and they were doing so poorly that there was no way they could theoretically pass the course even if they got 100% of the remaining points. Many of these students failed due to slacking off but a few failed in spite of their best efforts or due to some problems in their personal lives that interfered with their performance. They begged for extra credit and be allowed to pass because they needed to pass the course to take the next one in sequence. I didn't give in, the reasoning being that if they couldn't pass this course, they certainly would have even more difficulty in the follow-up one. If every student were allowed to pass regardless of performance, think about what that would do further down the road, when they are out in the real world and have the degree but lack the competence to effectively do their jobs.
*I seem to value my intellect more than just about anything else. I place a very high premium on competency. My whole self-image seems to revolve around that. Maybe its kind of sad, but I'd rather be told I'm competent and
highly intelligent than something on the lines of being really kind and caring and a good person. I guess its because I take the latter more for granted but I question how competent and good at something I really am. I think this suggests NT temperament is more likely than NF.
*I am uncomfortable expressing strong emotions and also uncomfortable around people who are overly emotional about stuff. One reason I feel uneasy is because I'm not good at comforting people under distress. I sympathize with them but other than the canned "I'm so sorry" response, I often don't know what else to do or say.
*I tend to be more comfortable with the objective realm than the subjective one. An example of this is in my job as a librarian. I help people with all sorts of questions but I'm far more comfortable helping them out on logical, objective ones (like where to locate a specific piece of information or book or a computer question) rather than subjectives ones based on feelings (I'm looking for a good book to read). Everyone has a different idea as to what a "good" book is. Everyone has different tastes and preferences. Just because I like book x doesn't mean you will. When asked those sorts of questions, I tend to make the subjective into something more objective. That is I'll make suggestions more off of objective, measureable criteria like what's popular with the most readers, which books have won awards, which books appear to be similar in content and style to what they've previously read and enjoyed, etc. Rarely does my own preferences influence my decision although if a patron asks me what I personally like or don't like, I'll tell them. I kind of dread those more subjective "good book" questions because I never feel sure in my mind I made the best suggestion. Some of my other colleagues thrive on those questions. They love "selling" a book they loved to someone else, convincing them, you've just got to read this! I feel uncomfortable with this "selling" aspect.
*I feel bad when my emotions get out of control. I value control of feelings. I think that's more of a T thing.
*I also have a great need for things to make logical sense. When reading a book or article for example, the biggest factor that affects whether or not I like or dislike it is the logical coherence. I remember some books I read, I gave up because even though they were emotionally moving or compelling they weren't coherent logically. For example, they would randomly introduce characters and places without fully explaining how they relate to the other characters or the overall framework. (Does that sound like Ti or what?) There would be loose ends and transitions that seem completely random. Or introducing some jargon or concept and not fully explaining it. I don't know but I kind of think that an F might not care so much about that. For me the most satisfying endings are those that make logical sense, that tie all the loose ends together (exception is when there's a going to be a sequel, which in that case some loose ends are okay provided they are tied up in the next book). This is more important than whether the ending is happy or sad.
On another forum, INTP was strongly suggested for my MBTI type. I'm an LII/INTj in socionics. For some reason, I am much more clear on my socionics type than MBTI type. I almost always get LII as my top type. INTj socionics is sort of like an MBTI INTP because both have Ti as the top function and Ne as the secondary. But the two systems are not identical and the functions and dichotomies are described differently in each so you could be unrelated types in the two systems.
So if you could help me sort it out that would be great.
Here is how I relate to T:
*I tend to rely mostly on logic when making decisions. I don't actually sit down and make pros/cons list but I am constantly weighing such things in my head.
*I love to analyze things and solve problems based on logic.
*When I was young, my greatest strengths were in things like math and other logical domains. Mentally, I was always advanced for my age, while emotionally and socially I lagged well behind my peers.
*When I was younger, I wasn't always the most tactful person. Tact is something I've had to learn through time. Today, of course, I am very tactful with others and try hard not to hurt their feelings. But I guess when it comes down to it, I value truth more. I seek the truth even though it may be unpleasant and sometimes telling others the hard truth can ultimately be a form of caring. Here's a case in point:
I remember when I used to teach I'd have students who were failing and they were doing so poorly that there was no way they could theoretically pass the course even if they got 100% of the remaining points. Many of these students failed due to slacking off but a few failed in spite of their best efforts or due to some problems in their personal lives that interfered with their performance. They begged for extra credit and be allowed to pass because they needed to pass the course to take the next one in sequence. I didn't give in, the reasoning being that if they couldn't pass this course, they certainly would have even more difficulty in the follow-up one. If every student were allowed to pass regardless of performance, think about what that would do further down the road, when they are out in the real world and have the degree but lack the competence to effectively do their jobs.
*I seem to value my intellect more than just about anything else. I place a very high premium on competency. My whole self-image seems to revolve around that. Maybe its kind of sad, but I'd rather be told I'm competent and
highly intelligent than something on the lines of being really kind and caring and a good person. I guess its because I take the latter more for granted but I question how competent and good at something I really am. I think this suggests NT temperament is more likely than NF.
*I am uncomfortable expressing strong emotions and also uncomfortable around people who are overly emotional about stuff. One reason I feel uneasy is because I'm not good at comforting people under distress. I sympathize with them but other than the canned "I'm so sorry" response, I often don't know what else to do or say.
*I tend to be more comfortable with the objective realm than the subjective one. An example of this is in my job as a librarian. I help people with all sorts of questions but I'm far more comfortable helping them out on logical, objective ones (like where to locate a specific piece of information or book or a computer question) rather than subjectives ones based on feelings (I'm looking for a good book to read). Everyone has a different idea as to what a "good" book is. Everyone has different tastes and preferences. Just because I like book x doesn't mean you will. When asked those sorts of questions, I tend to make the subjective into something more objective. That is I'll make suggestions more off of objective, measureable criteria like what's popular with the most readers, which books have won awards, which books appear to be similar in content and style to what they've previously read and enjoyed, etc. Rarely does my own preferences influence my decision although if a patron asks me what I personally like or don't like, I'll tell them. I kind of dread those more subjective "good book" questions because I never feel sure in my mind I made the best suggestion. Some of my other colleagues thrive on those questions. They love "selling" a book they loved to someone else, convincing them, you've just got to read this! I feel uncomfortable with this "selling" aspect.
*I feel bad when my emotions get out of control. I value control of feelings. I think that's more of a T thing.
*I also have a great need for things to make logical sense. When reading a book or article for example, the biggest factor that affects whether or not I like or dislike it is the logical coherence. I remember some books I read, I gave up because even though they were emotionally moving or compelling they weren't coherent logically. For example, they would randomly introduce characters and places without fully explaining how they relate to the other characters or the overall framework. (Does that sound like Ti or what?) There would be loose ends and transitions that seem completely random. Or introducing some jargon or concept and not fully explaining it. I don't know but I kind of think that an F might not care so much about that. For me the most satisfying endings are those that make logical sense, that tie all the loose ends together (exception is when there's a going to be a sequel, which in that case some loose ends are okay provided they are tied up in the next book). This is more important than whether the ending is happy or sad.