Confused - INTP or INTJ?

[Sebastian15]

Hello everybody! My name's Sebastian, am from Norway and I have a confusing problem regarding finding out what personality type I belong to...

I've taken a few tests, some several times, and I always end up on INTP. Also took a 88-question MBTI test and it still said INTP. However, I've read both INTP and INTJ profiles and INTP do seem like more the match than INTJ, but INTJ holds a lot of traits that fit me as well.

When starting a project, I never start straight away. I'll most likely think about the project and how it is to be done for like a week, and then I'll start doing it eventually. However, it's not like I hate it when I'm about to close the project up. In fact, I most often feel a relief when the project is done. But I also love how the project progresses. I take good time doing the project because I feel I need to analyze and consider every possible way, every step of the way. On the contrary, when I'm out with friends, I hate it if our plans change. I like knowing how things are going to happen in advance, and often I feel I want and need to plan it ahead.

Over to skills. I love learning new things, but at the same time I prefer refining my current ones too. For instance, I've had a big interest for language (especially English) since I was like 8. Now I'm 16 and I feel I still want to refine my skills in English. I do realize english is pretty broad, but in the end it's the same thing. It's one skill and I know much more English than would be needed for the every-day life.

I have read profiles of both INTP's and INTJ's and both fits in their own ways..

If needed I can add more, but for now, what do you guys think?

Edit: I'd add more now, but when I was about to start writing I suddenly forgot what I was about to write..

 

[Aramea]

INTP's can implement their ideas with proper motivation and lack of "ooh, shiny" impulsivity. There is a similar thread about this elsewhere that explains that it is the external facing "P" function behind flitting from one thing to another (Se or Ne). It sounds like you get much satisfaction with a job well done. Sometimes this is a good motivator and sometimes not. Every spring when the weather gets nice I force myself to clean up the garden and plant new flowers and tomato plants. Literally takes me several weekends to clean up a very small garden, but it is worth it when my barely there Fe gets compliments on my roses and tomatoes. And it is pretty. And I can use the results to feed my (Ti+Ne) next wave of improvements. I think that this is a fairly INTP way of approaching a task.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Here's a quick reliable test:
Are you awesome Y/N?

Yes = INTP
No = INTJ

 

[terraxceles]

Here's a quick reliable test:
Are you awesome Y/N?

Yes = INTP
No = INTJ

More like:
Are you awesome? Y/N

This question is too vague/awesomeness is relative/depends on how you define awesome/I don't understand what you want me to say = INTP
Yes/No = INTJ

 

[ElvenVeil]

@ EyeSeeCol , I think 'Reliable' needs a new definition

@ Sebastian , I am not certain your OP contains enough information. From my perspective there are two ways to approach this - 1) post the parts of INTJ and the parts INTP , that you think really matches you , OR 2) Start to understand what it means that the INTP has the following functions Ti, Ne, Si, Fe , and use that understanding to make a judgement.

2) is the most accurate, but it also requires a lot more research
1) is the best approach atm, so It would be a good idea if you posted what parts of the INTP and INTJ descriptions you like. Perhaps with a small comment at each part you present

 

[Fukyo]

NOT

ANOTHER

ONE

OF

THESE

 

[Sebastian15]

@ EyeSeeCol , I think 'Reliable' needs a new definition

@ Sebastian , I am not certain your OP contains enough information. From my perspective there are two ways to approach this - 1) post the parts of INTJ and the parts INTP , that you think really matches you , OR 2) Start to understand what it means that the INTP has the following functions Ti, Ne, Si, Fe , and use that understanding to make a judgement.

2) is the most accurate, but it also requires a lot more research
1) is the best approach atm, so It would be a good idea if you posted what parts of the INTP and INTJ descriptions you like. Perhaps with a small comment at each part you present

Yeah. Like I said, though, when I was about to type in my description it totally went in reverse inside my head and wouldn't come back, lol.


INTJ:

I am very none-mainstram when it comes to socialities. I feel people always strives to be like everyone else, and quite bluntly I hate them for it. I also hate it when people don't make sense and are illogical. Talking blindly about something which they don't have a clue about irritates me. (I suppose this one also applies to INTP's as well though). I do strive for perfectionism, but only for what I care about. For instance, I wouldn't hold a presentation about something I care about unless I've taken considerable amount of time and thought around it. I need to know it's perfect. I also have a strong disregard for authority. I want autonomy and creative freedom. I work best that way. I rather work alone. If I'm forced to be in a group I'll take charge if there's noone else who are willing to. I'll only share my feelings _sometimes_ with people very close to my heart. Only people I feel I know well are allowed to see what I am like on the inside, speaking cliche-ish. I'm not really very a feelings-person. I'll tell the truth, even though it may hurt someone. I rather not come into conflicts. I always seek logical explanations for actions, events, and conclusions, looking for faulty reasoning and lapses in sequence.

INTP:

I love complexity and analyzing (applies for INTJ type too). I love finding out why things turned out this way and that. When in a room full of people, like my classroom, I would sit alone with music in my ears, observing others and hope noone interrupts me. I love being alone with my thoughts (these traits are the primary reasons I first thought of myself as an INTP). I love thinking about and discussing with 1, max 2 people I know well in my life. Just talking about why i.e Hitler may have been like he was excites me. I hold the trait of the INTP wit. I like being witty with language at times. I don't get very nervous when I walk into a room full of people, but it often feels unnatural to be there. I can also add that depending on the situation and what it's about I can take good time before deciding anything. But I usually don't use a lot of time. I think I'm right in the middle of both being indecisive and decisive.

If more is needed, I'll try and see if I can add more.

Edit: There's more on INTJ than INTP because they both share some traits, so I didn't see a point in typing it twice. You INTP's knows which ones are for which

Edit 2: just proving my own perfectionism for myself here.. 4 edits, all of which for small, stupid typo's.

 

[socialexpat]

NOT

ANOTHER

ONE

OF

THESE

lol why do i suddenly think of your username when reading this post. :smiley_emoticons_mr

 

[digital angel]

It's possible for you to have traits common to both personalities. I believe that you're the ultimate decision maker. Take the time to think about it, if you want.

 

[Particle]

This is apparently a really common topic. I was wondering about my P vs Jness earlier today. I've also got a few things personally that don't really jive, such as the whole confidence thing INTPs are supposed to have. I lack it entirely. Unless I've become an absolute expert on something, I don't feel confident enough to utilize that skill/knowledge/attribute publicly. As a consequence, if I walk into a room to give a speech I'm going to be nervous as hell instead of confident and cocky. It's curious since I'm not feely at all, but I used to have an issue with assuming other people were laughing at me, and even now I still am sometimes afraid of what their opinion of me might be. On the flip side, I'd rather everyone just leave me alone. I'm no socializer. I'd be comfortable in society if everyone was strictly serious and objective. It's the humanness of humor, slang, and "interesting personality" that trip me up.

Perhaps we just don't fit concretely into one or other other sometimes. I for instance do not like to plan anything out but rather play it by ear when it comes to "work" (P), but when it comes to meals I'll know what I'm going to eat at least a meal in advance and often an entire day or two (J). I'm not at all spontaneous (J), paradoxically. If something changes when I was expecting something else, I react very negatively. I do however tend to postpone doing about anything (P).

I don't mean to hijack your thread but rather share that it's a question you're not alone in.

 

[ElvenVeil]

yes the parts of the INTJ that you focuses on, to me, seems like some of the more dominant INTP traits. Now ofc, INTJ and INTP are similar to some extend. parts like: I do strive for perfectionism, but only for what I care about. For instance, I wouldn't hold a presentation about something I care about unless I've taken considerable amount of time and thought around it. I need to know it's perfect.
That is very INTP'ish.

One of the parts under the INTP section, that really hit me as a very INTP'ish thing was:
observing others and hope noone interrupts me.

For some reason the word hope really caught my eye it does not take any sort of action to prevent an event from happening, and it also screams Ti , which would be the INTP's primary function..

So all in all, I would say that the likelyhood that you are an INTP, so far, is a good deal greater than the likelyhood that you are an INTJ.

Well yes the more I think of it, the more you sound like an INTP . So imo, the next step is for you to read on the forum and see if you can relate to what is going on (I for one enjoy a lot of the subtle humor)

 

[Sebastian15]

This is apparently a really common topic. I was wondering about my P vs Jness earlier today. I've also got a few things personally that don't really jive, such as the whole confidence thing INTPs are supposed to have. I lack it entirely. Unless I've become an absolute expert on something, I don't feel confident enough to utilize that skill/knowledge/attribute publicly. As a consequence, if I walk into a room to give a speech I'm going to be nervous as hell instead of confident and cocky. It's curious since I'm not feely at all, but I used to have an issue with assuming other people were laughing at me, and even now I still am sometimes afraid of what their opinion of me might be. On the flip side, I'd rather everyone just leave me alone. I'm no socializer. I'd be comfortable in society if everyone was strictly serious and objective. It's the humanness of humor, slang, and "interesting personality" that trip me up.

I don't mean to hijack your thread but rather share that it's a question you're not alone in.

You're not hijacking. It's alrighty

And yeah, you made me think a bit more now. I'm just like that when it comes to confidence and stuff.

@ Elvenveil - Ah ok. I thought so. But how's a INTP's confidence in himself?

 

[ElvenVeil]

it can variate.. I think the confidence is really shown like this
INTJ : Confident in what he says, knowing that what he claims is so far, in his head, correct. That can be disproven and he will addopt the new correct theory with a new confidence

INTP : INTP's really dislikes being wrong when it comes to matters of importance to them, and that is one of the reasons why they are taking more time before being confident. They see the possibilities where they can be wrong, and that makes them a lot more humble than the INTJ, as they are really aware of the potential that they could be wrong. If they could be wrong then self confidence makes no sense (Ti)

Having said that, INTP's can be very self confident.. If they know that they are correct.. I am like that, when I know I am correct, I don't mind telling others why they are wrong.

(I know my INTP part is larger than the INTJ part, but I simply know the INTP better )

 

[Sebastian15]

it can variate.. I think the confidence is really shown like this
INTJ : Confident in what he says, knowing that what he claims is so far, in his head, correct. That can be disproven and he will addopt the new correct theory with a new confidence

INTP : INTP's really dislikes being wrong when it comes to matters of importance to them, and that is one of the reasons why they are taking more time before being confident. They see the possibilities where they can be wrong, and that makes them a lot more humble than the INTJ, as they are really aware of the potential that they could be wrong. If they could be wrong then self confidence makes no sense (Ti)

Having said that, INTP's can be very self confident.. If they know that they are correct.. I am like that, when I know I am correct, I don't mind telling others why they are wrong.

(I know my INTP part is larger than the INTJ part, but I simply know the INTP better )

Hm, yeah. As for confidence I think I'm in between of both really. I suppose I'm an INTP in whole though

I hate being wrong and I use time to be confident. But I'm also kind of INTJ on this because I most often know I'm right as far I'm concerned. When I'm proved to be wrong, though, I'm a typical INTP - I just hate being wrong. (I am by the way right 95% of the time in my situations though, so it's no problemo, lol.)

I know there are different function terms that indicate which is what, just can't remember which is for which yet. Thanks for the help!

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Try these:
http://dissonance.my3gb.com/mbti.html
http://keys2cognition.com/explore.htm

INTP vs. INTJ

Spoiler

More like:
Are you awesome? Y/N

This question is too vague/awesomeness is relative/depends on how you define awesome/I don't understand what you want me to say = INTP
Yes/No = INTJ

@ EyeSeeCol , I think 'Reliable' needs a new definition

 

[ElvenVeil]

No no, Imo being confident is not an INTJ thing.
Both types can act extreemly confident because they are both knowledge seekers and have a good analytical system. But the INTJ does not dislike being wrong, therefore they do not need as much information as the INTP does to be confident.
The INTP usually needs to know every possible aspect to be confident. So imo, you are not 'INTJ in this' and 'INTP in reaction towards failure' . You are just acting INTP'ish

 

[a detached retina]

There's just a lot of conflicting information out there. If you follow MBTI or JCF you might arrive at different conclusions as to your type. in JCF INTP has Ti (a judging function) dominant so they can seem a little bit more like a J than EXXP types. Also in JCF INTJ has Ni dominant meaning they can be a bit more dreamy "head in the clouds like."

If you strictly follow MBTI often times you will end up identifying as a different type.

I think the problem is that there isn't a lot of consensus in the world as to what an INTJ or INTP or any type for that matter really is.

It's really a descriptive theory that has very little power for prediction, but it is still interesting to sort ourselves of course.

Just remember that the personality type stuff is all very soft and gooey and not well formed. The boundaries between INTJ and INTP are large, maybe the boundary even occupies more area than the "true types" do.

 

[digital angel]

Try not to let your personality type(s) control you or define you. It's just something that helps you understand why you behave the way you do.

I have a tendency to be shy at times. Having said that, I probably appear confident in my profession. You can probably imagine why.

 

[Sebastian15]

True. Immaturity and maturity also plays its part in it too I think.

@digital angel - Yeah, I know.

 

[Zionoxis]

I know how you feel man with different types to the extent that you simply cannot understand. I don't think I have an issue with perceiving as you do, but I honestly have no idea whether I'm introverted or extrovert. Instead of deciding, I'll just pick both.

I can be either (yes, yes, let's continue the bipolar jokes). Just think it over and work it out to the specifications or requirements you have. If it is for self satisfaction, than accept both and put yourself in the catagories.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

cognitive functions up in this bitch