Hey,
I've taken numerous tests online, looked at the personalities and behaviours of people of certain types and read through profiles on the types but I can"t seem to reach a conclusion as to whether I'm ISTP or INTP. I always test as either one or the other, and both seem to fit me and not fit me equally. I'm pretty certain about the IxTP part but the S or N has me stumped.
INTP appears to fit pretty well in almost every way except for the fact that I am not blind to my surroundings and I enjoy physical activity and experiencing things myself. I love the outdoors and love high energy, skill based individual sports like swimming, climbing and my passion, horse riding (though the individual aspect of that is debatable). I enjoy pushing myself, I enjoy the rush of adrenaline and I like to explore. (I have a reputation for wandering off if something catches my interest) I'm not satisfied with just talking about or gathering second hand information, I like to see and experience things for myself (this has a lot to do with my natural cynicism too though.). I also enjoy video games, tech and computers, and have a keen interest in engineering and science though Im an expert on none of those things. I'd like to think Im curious, resourceful, creative and inventive. I'm a creative problem solver, I like to design solutions to problems, whether they be things I view as social issues or more concrete things like flaws in the design of physical things. Im studying Architecture which requires me to be acutely aware of my surroundings and real world applications of my ideas but also requires that I explore opportunities to bring theory to life. I need to be able to imagine things that are theoretical and that do not exist and might never exist in the context of real things like social reception, site, physics, aesthetic, pratical application, cost etc.
I'm not all that wacky or quirky with the way I dress, I like strong but subdued clothes that don't attract too much attention. I don't follow trends but I don't purposefully dress to go against it either. Clothes aren't really a form of expression for me (obviously the way someone dresses says something about someone, but I don't do in consciously). I need my clothes to be comfortable, practical and well made. I don't have a lot of clothes, I've got two pairs of shoes, and don't really care for brandnames but I like high quality stuff. Value is important to me in everything I buy, and I put research into any large purchase I do make. (I think this is probably symptomatic of over thinking things in addition to being kind of stingy. Its not that i admire money or aspire to have a lot of it, greed is the root of most of the world's stupidity after all but I'm a student and i recognise I still need it to get by.)
I've been told that I am emotionally distant, and I tend to either repress or try to explain away the things I feel because they can cloud my judgement or cause me to act irrationally. I don't know why or where it originate from either but I always see it as a weakness in myself or as being stupid even though I know it's just part of being human. I don't really let other people in and try to handle things on my own, I find this to be the case even when I know someone very well. I'm not shy but I'm not exactly social either. I won't reach out to people unless I have a reason to. I'm kind of cold and pragmatic but polite and friendly when it comes to people I don't really know or don't really want to know. I tend to be suspicious and reluctant to trust people but I enjoy hearing peoples stories and their sides of an argument, but I will analyse every inch of what they say and take it all with a grain of salt. The little voice in my head likes to point out patterns and inconsistencies in everything, including people.
Everything has to have a point or a reason I see as valid for me to enjoy it, even things like songs or movies. (That reason can be for fun or for experimentation but still, a valid reason.) I cam identify that someone else might like it or agree with it and the potential reasons they might but I wont think any better of it. Ill accept something once there is a solid argument and solid evidence to back it up, if it is proven to be the best and most beneficial way possible in that context. In this way I am open minded but skeptical. I love to theorise and explore crazy ideas but they are rarely just random thoughts, my ideas always start somewhere definite and then start branching off. (Ive visualised it as sort of like a family tree, branching out infinitely until I forget where I started). I also like to play devils advocate and push ideas that may be unpopular but that I believe in. I have a strong sense of justice but its based on my own morals rather than actual law and societal norms and what is generally accepted (of course these things will influence me subconsciously, no man is an island and all that, but I will press ideas that go against that if those laws or societal norms stop making logical sense to me or do not seem to have a beneficial path for the future.) I'm also atheist if that makes any difference.
I get excited by ideas and possibilities but then quickly find that I rationalise away that excitement. I follow through with projects (though I like to do this in my own time. I abhor deadlines) and tend to have a one track mind. I can focus intensely for hours but simple things can break my concentration and once its broken i find it hard to get it back. I'm easily bored unless I'm interested or passionate about something, then I can be completely devoted.
I tend to jump to a decision, but then start picking it part and viewing it from the other side. I'll also do things sometimes just to see where it goes if I think something could be gained from it.
This is a goddamn essay, so sorry about that but if you managed to read through all this bull and still need more information I've got plenty.
I've taken numerous tests online, looked at the personalities and behaviours of people of certain types and read through profiles on the types but I can"t seem to reach a conclusion as to whether I'm ISTP or INTP. I always test as either one or the other, and both seem to fit me and not fit me equally. I'm pretty certain about the IxTP part but the S or N has me stumped.
INTP appears to fit pretty well in almost every way except for the fact that I am not blind to my surroundings and I enjoy physical activity and experiencing things myself. I love the outdoors and love high energy, skill based individual sports like swimming, climbing and my passion, horse riding (though the individual aspect of that is debatable). I enjoy pushing myself, I enjoy the rush of adrenaline and I like to explore. (I have a reputation for wandering off if something catches my interest) I'm not satisfied with just talking about or gathering second hand information, I like to see and experience things for myself (this has a lot to do with my natural cynicism too though.). I also enjoy video games, tech and computers, and have a keen interest in engineering and science though Im an expert on none of those things. I'd like to think Im curious, resourceful, creative and inventive. I'm a creative problem solver, I like to design solutions to problems, whether they be things I view as social issues or more concrete things like flaws in the design of physical things. Im studying Architecture which requires me to be acutely aware of my surroundings and real world applications of my ideas but also requires that I explore opportunities to bring theory to life. I need to be able to imagine things that are theoretical and that do not exist and might never exist in the context of real things like social reception, site, physics, aesthetic, pratical application, cost etc.
I'm not all that wacky or quirky with the way I dress, I like strong but subdued clothes that don't attract too much attention. I don't follow trends but I don't purposefully dress to go against it either. Clothes aren't really a form of expression for me (obviously the way someone dresses says something about someone, but I don't do in consciously). I need my clothes to be comfortable, practical and well made. I don't have a lot of clothes, I've got two pairs of shoes, and don't really care for brandnames but I like high quality stuff. Value is important to me in everything I buy, and I put research into any large purchase I do make. (I think this is probably symptomatic of over thinking things in addition to being kind of stingy. Its not that i admire money or aspire to have a lot of it, greed is the root of most of the world's stupidity after all but I'm a student and i recognise I still need it to get by.)
I've been told that I am emotionally distant, and I tend to either repress or try to explain away the things I feel because they can cloud my judgement or cause me to act irrationally. I don't know why or where it originate from either but I always see it as a weakness in myself or as being stupid even though I know it's just part of being human. I don't really let other people in and try to handle things on my own, I find this to be the case even when I know someone very well. I'm not shy but I'm not exactly social either. I won't reach out to people unless I have a reason to. I'm kind of cold and pragmatic but polite and friendly when it comes to people I don't really know or don't really want to know. I tend to be suspicious and reluctant to trust people but I enjoy hearing peoples stories and their sides of an argument, but I will analyse every inch of what they say and take it all with a grain of salt. The little voice in my head likes to point out patterns and inconsistencies in everything, including people.
Everything has to have a point or a reason I see as valid for me to enjoy it, even things like songs or movies. (That reason can be for fun or for experimentation but still, a valid reason.) I cam identify that someone else might like it or agree with it and the potential reasons they might but I wont think any better of it. Ill accept something once there is a solid argument and solid evidence to back it up, if it is proven to be the best and most beneficial way possible in that context. In this way I am open minded but skeptical. I love to theorise and explore crazy ideas but they are rarely just random thoughts, my ideas always start somewhere definite and then start branching off. (Ive visualised it as sort of like a family tree, branching out infinitely until I forget where I started). I also like to play devils advocate and push ideas that may be unpopular but that I believe in. I have a strong sense of justice but its based on my own morals rather than actual law and societal norms and what is generally accepted (of course these things will influence me subconsciously, no man is an island and all that, but I will press ideas that go against that if those laws or societal norms stop making logical sense to me or do not seem to have a beneficial path for the future.) I'm also atheist if that makes any difference.
I get excited by ideas and possibilities but then quickly find that I rationalise away that excitement. I follow through with projects (though I like to do this in my own time. I abhor deadlines) and tend to have a one track mind. I can focus intensely for hours but simple things can break my concentration and once its broken i find it hard to get it back. I'm easily bored unless I'm interested or passionate about something, then I can be completely devoted.
I tend to jump to a decision, but then start picking it part and viewing it from the other side. I'll also do things sometimes just to see where it goes if I think something could be gained from it.
This is a goddamn essay, so sorry about that but if you managed to read through all this bull and still need more information I've got plenty.