INTP, doubt and external 'success'

[Suraj]

Hi INTPs ,

I was wondering whether anyone here could tell me what it's like being a doubting machine (like say, doubting everything you do or whether it's right or wrong, effective or not etc.) but also operating successfully (in terms of basic survival and overall fulfillment levels) in the real world?

It seems to me that many INTPs get a bad rap for being 'lazy', 'excessively doubtful' etc., and I'm wondering whether you believe the potential truth of such stereotypes actually does hold you back in any overly undesirable or unfortunate ways (or if not, why you might think such stereotypes are ill-founded or unapplicable in your own case).

Thanks in advance!

 

[Steven Gerrard]

I think the stereotype applies.

What type are you? What makes you curious about INTP's?

 

[Suraj]

I think the stereotype applies.

What type are you? What makes you curious about INTP's?

Do you think the stereotype legitimately holds you (or other INTPs in case you're not one) back?

I'm an INFJ ultimately looking to learn more about what Ti is like on the Ti dom/INTP side.

I also mistyped as INTP for a year or two around the time I registered here back in 2011.

 

[Steven Gerrard]

Do you think the stereotype legitimately holds you (or other INTPs in case you're not one) back?

I'm an INFJ ultimately looking to learn more about what Ti is like on the Ti dom/INTP side.

I also mistyped as INTP for a year or two around the time I registered here back in 2011.

I feel like an INFP. Thought I was an INTP. Have doubts about typology- in fairness I've done very little reading of Jung and only Wikipedia articles on Myers-Briggs and Keirsey. Architect once used the term "fuzzy meta world" and that's how I've been feeling. I just want to sleep on beds of feedback.

How is life as an INFJ? If you can indulge a stupid lazy question- I am very interested. Maybe I'll just go google it. Although I already have.

 

[Suraj]

I feel like an INFP. Thought I was an INTP. Have doubts about typology- in fairness I've done very little reading of Jung and only Wikipedia articles on Myers-Briggs and Keirsey.

If you want the most concrete descriptions of the functions around, try this: Neuroscience of Personality: Brain Savvy Insights for All Types of People: Dario Nardi: 9780979868474: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51X3Jtq16ZL.@@AMEPARAM@@51X3Jtq16ZL

By far the most helpful book on MBTI that I've found--makes the functions look real, by our modern empirical standards at least. After reading Nardi, I have no doubt about my type, or that I use Ni-Fe-Ti-Se 'in that order' (meaning I use them all, only Ti and Se are a lot less consciously perceptible to me, so they happen somewhat foreignly/sporadically and I don't always act 'smartly' while experiencing or attempting to 'use' them).

Architect once used the term "fuzzy meta world" and that's how I've been feeling. I just want to sleep on beds of feedback.

"Fuzzy meta world"--that sounds about right.

How is life as an INFJ? If you can indulge a stupid lazy question- I am very interested. Maybe I'll just go google it. Although I already have.

Hmm...very dreamy. Feels like most of my life's a waking dream, especially when I'm sleep-deprived (lack of any mention-worthy routine is another part of it for me, as I operate chiefly and almost exclusively on spontaneous bursts of inspiration).

Definitely have experience with Ni offering me insights consistently 'out of nowhere' (where I quote to note that while it might look and feel like those are coming out of nowhere, I know better, i.e. I understand how Ni works for me and thus how to coax it into an 'insight-giving state' should I need to [but it happens naturally with it in the dom position anyway, so I don't really need to 'coax it' so much as simply place myself in situations I know it would thrive best/most comfortably in].)

Hmm. I'm also very physically messy and absentminded. While I identify with the INFJ's cognitive life, I'd say plenty of personality trait descriptions of the INTP fit me quite snugly as well.

Why do you think you're INFP rather than T? (You can answer this on my profile, if you like; not sure how stringent rules are around here on threads going off-topic. Most INTJs back on their forum [where I interact frequently {and am a moderator}] would get really antsy about it. But I don't mind either way, personally.)

 

[Pyropyro]

Hi INTPs ,

I was wondering whether anyone here could tell me what it's like being a doubting machine (like say, doubting everything you do or whether it's right or wrong, effective or not etc.) but also operating successfully (in terms of basic survival and overall fulfillment levels) in the real world?

I think the doubting part is some sort of meta-thinking. I feel that I go into a third-person mode and study my actions/plans as an observer. It is useful for double-checking my actions but it can get paralyzing if I overindulge in it though. If things needs to get done I simply abandon that viewpoint and get about in life. Of course, I'm still plagued by normal type of doubts like other people.

It seems to me that many INTPs get a bad rap for being 'lazy', 'excessively doubtful' etc., and I'm wondering whether you believe the potential truth of such stereotypes actually does hold you back in any overly undesirable or unfortunate ways (or if not, why you might think such stereotypes are ill-founded or unapplicable in your own case).

Thanks in advance!

Yes, I'm lazy I usually quickly finish most of the stuff I need to do so I can go on daydreaming and stuff (and not get called out). The stereotype did hamper me before since I chastised myself for acting "out-of-character". It's only when I figured out that the stereotype is not a limiting box but rather a starting point that I finally been able to use the stereotype to my advantage.

 

[RobdoR]

I'm so lazy, I project it onto others. Sometimes I get annoyed at my wife for doing chores around the house. I would rather have her talk with me about economics, or personality types or some similar nonsense.

As far as being doubtful, I can't even bring myself to speak in absolutes. Everything I say is by degrees (except for this paragraph).

 

[bemused]

OP- i doubt your sincerity.

 

[Suraj]

OP- i doubt your sincerity.

In what way?

 

[Malphas]

I don't think I'm lazy. I don't think INTPs are lazy. I think we just prioritise what our interests are, and we slack off on all our other tasks. For example, I might have to write a research paper, but I don't care about the research paper, I only care about Calculus, so I spend 8+ hours playing around with Calculus and forget about the research paper...
As for doubt, I do doubt myself a lot. I think my doubt arises from my insecurity which ultimately causes arrogance. So on one hand, I can be arrogant, but inside I doubt myself and underestimate what I can do.

 

[Cyon]

In what way?

I think that might have been rhetorical.

Same as above, I choose to indulge my interests instead of doing the practical thing. I depend on how I surprisingly get the needed work done at the last minute. Most of the time it works.

I think my doubting has earned me some merits. But when it begins to be endless, I get trapped into thinking more and end up not doing anything at all. These days I deal by just doing most effective option and face the consequences later for whatever.