Am I an ENTP or INTP?

[Jake]

When I first took a MBTI test a few years ago it told me I was an ENTP. I thought this made sense at the time because the description of an ENTP fit me pretty accurately, and I really like spending time with my friends. However, recently I've come to think of myself as an INTP, because I've realized I only like spending time with close friends, and I really don't care about meeting new people or going to parties with strangers at them. I would rather be with close friends than be alone but I would rather be alone than be with strangers or acquaintances, especially if they don't talk about what I'm interested in.

I'm not shy by any stretch of the imagination. I don't become anxious or nervous when meeting new people. I simply don't talk to strangers if they don't share interests with me. But if a group of strangers is talking about something I find interesting (such as politics, religion, math, science, computers, or books/movies/games that I like) then I'm happy to join in the conversation. I'm quite loud and outgoing around close friends (even if my friends and I are in a much larger group of strangers) but I'm completely silent if I have no friends around to make me feel comfortable. People who don't know me well think I'm depressed or very shy, but I really just don't find them interesting enough to befriend.

I also thought I was an extrovert because I didn't think I needed "re-energizing" alone time, but I think that might be because I spend so much time alone on weekdays that by the time the weekend arrives, I've already spent enough time alone and I can spend all of Saturday and Sunday with my friends. I also notice that I am exhausted after a day with friends, but that might just be because we always stay up half the night talking or watching T.V.

I also HATE small talk (or talking about any subject that doesn't interest me), even with close friends. I usually just don't respond at all if my friends try to talk about something that I find pointless, which frustrates people because they think I'm mad at them or in a bad mood, when I really just don't care to comment.

I think the problem with all of the MBTI tests I've taken (all of which but one have placed me in the ENTP type) is that they don't specify whether their introverted/extroverted questions apply to strangers or to friends. My answer changes completely depending on whether the question is "do you like parties with close friends" or "do you like parties with strangers". Questions will ask me if I'm talkative or reserved, and it all depends on whether I'm with close friends or with strangers, but the test doesn't give me an options to specify that.

The final reason I'm leaning toward INTP is because my inferior cognitive function is definitely Extraverted Feeling. I see no use for emotions and I always disregard them in any argument or discussion. My friends often compare me to a robot. If I were an ENTP, then Extraverted Feeling would be my tertiary function, and I can't imagine that being the case. Introverted Thinking is probably my dominant function as well, because I tend to spend days at a time thinking about topics that interest me, and I work all of my opinions and conclusions out in my head without ever needing to consult another person (though I really do like discussing these topics with other people, it's just not a requirement).

Sorry for the long post, I haven't really had an outlet for these thoughts before. Do I sound like more of an INTP or ENTP? (I could also be biased, because INTP's sound smarter and more thoughtful, and I prize intelligence above all else.)

 

[MetallicMoon]

I had the same questions. I always thought of myself as an extrovert, because I don't remember ever feeling particularly "drained" by close friends. But then I considered the other factors: I spend all of my time after school alone; at the weekend i'm with them at best, 5 hours each day - not all of it involves conversation (say, we're at a movie or something) and remembering prolonged interactions with strangers made me realise that I did always want to escape after my due time. For example, at dinner, I'd stay for 30 minutes after the meal, then I'd want to go read my book or something.

So I could be an introvert. I could be an extrovert. But I don't know my functions, so I can't say for now.

You know yours, and it sounds like you know them well. So, in my simplistic opinion, I'd say you were INTP - purely in terms of functions. I see strong Ti. And, like you said, your Extraverted Feeling is a little...lacking.

Take this with a pinch (or a handful) of salt, though, because I don't really know what I'm talking about.

 

[Kenny]

The MBTI system does not very often pin someone exactly, to any exactly personality type. There are not 16 different kind's of personalities in this world, but it helps us organize.

I'm extremely extroverted. I know how to push people's buttons and manipulate them to a certain degree. Typically i'm going for the best impression.

Does this mean that i'm not introverted? I don't think so.
My first and primary skill in live is introversion. I love to sit around alone, absorbing energy.
Writing a post on INTPforum, staring at the keyboard for one hour, just thinking. Can't sleep some nights, because i can't turn the thinking off. It's like a curse and a blessing at the same time.

I consider myself to be INTP for one reason. Introversion is the thing that i turn to, nine out of ten times. Either i funnel the introversion out in a conversation or just turn to crazy, to keep it interesting. I think you should ask yourself, what would you turn to first? Extroversion or introversion?

Finally you say that you prize intelligence above all else.
I've thought a lot about this too, because it was a struggle for me to work on my extroversion. Maybe i should have focused more on intelligence, but i'm actually glad i didn't. The extroverted skill is extremely valuable, because it can very easily be the the bottleneck , holding back your introversion for achieving greatness.