The INTP is above all a thinker.
INTPs tend to be theoretical, abstract, and more interested in ideas than in social interaction.
The INTP is fascinated by concepts.
Anything that an INTP has thoroughly analyzed, and fully understands, will soon become boring.
The primary interests of an INTP are those things which he cannot fully understand. He is drawn to complexity because simple things are quickly understood--and thus quickly become uninteresting.
INTPs are quiet, contained, flexible, and adaptable.
The INTP is generally easy-going, and will readily fit with others' needs.
An INTP has a sense of detachment even toward himself. He will analyze his own thought processes as though he's an entity apart from himself. To understand his own reactions, he'll use his thoughts and his self as subjects for experiment.
The INTP's life mission is to provide clarity, and he often suspects that he's the only person capable of that task. The INTP might seem over-critical, aloof, and arrogant--but genuine arrogance is rare in INTPs. INTPs do not want to dominate anyone: all they want is to observe, analyze, and clarify.
INTPs dabble at many things, habitually achieving enough competency to prove to themselves that they could become more proficient if they wished. Rarely will the INTP want to reserve the amount of time necessary to actually become extremely proficient at something: he has too many other interests awaiting his pursuit. Though few interests will compel the INTP to devote the long-term focus to become virtuoso, he does consider genuine competency to be mandatory in every one of his interests. To the INTP, errors made by others are to be expected--but errors he makes himself attack the very root of the INTP. INTPs hate to think of themselves as being in any way inadequate in areas that are important to them.
Typically, others are little aware of the INTP's invariably large set of competencies and skills. The INTP is satisfied knowing that he has those competencies, and finds little need to openly demonstrate them to others.
INTPs habitually find discrepancies in places where others don't bother to look. (True, but I miss a lot of stuff people take for granted as well)
Independence is the source of an INTP's stubborness--which is the INTP aspect that most often evokes irritation in others. If an INTP is pushed into doing something, he will automatically resist. That resistance occurs because the INTP must first analyze the potential action to independently determine whether to approve the action; and since the INTP must withdraw to allow that analysis process to work, any attempt to deny him that withdrawal will invariably be stubbornly resisted.
The INTP takes his interests and beliefs very seriously. Honesty and directness are usually prominent when explaining these interests.
INTPs detest facades, and particulary dislike people who exhibit them. Such people in turn dislike INTPs, and avoid them at all cost, because they know the INTP will always see right through them.
During discussions, especially heated ones, the INTP will sometimes make a controversial, speculative argument which might irritate his discussion partner. He probably will seem to be very serious about it, but he actually is not so sure how thoroughly he believes it--he is certain only that his intuitive perception insists there is some core of truth to it. The purpose of this outspoken argument style of an INTP is to sharpen his own intuitive understanding--by testing the listener's reaction--and to evaluate the logic of his own arguments while speaking them aloud in real life.(this is a big one for me)
An INTP is happy to be seen as somewhat eccentric, innovative, and perceptive.
For an INTP, everything is either All or Nothing. He dislikes half-efforts as much as he dislikes the restrictions of teamwork and co-operation.
Humor is another signature aspect of an INTP, who can readily dream up jokes about almost any situation. Taking things out of context is a chief source of his humor. Needless to say, the humor of an INTP can be pretty zany and warped, and it might not be readily understood by others. INTP humor can also get black and tactless, since it is not constrained by conventions and emotional restrictions.
INTPs prefer one-to-one conversation in almost every situation. In a group, INTPs will not compete for conversation opportunities.
When an INTP deliberately focusses on specific details, he will have a very sharp eye for them, and will not lose sight of them. On the other hand, INTPs are usually oblivious to external details.
When an INTP enters a room the first time, he will be blind to much of the detail that is blatant to others--but he instinctively tunes into the room's mood, its atmosphere, the 'big picture'. The INTP will see what others are missing, while others see the INTP as 'oblivious of the obvious'.
When an INTP sets an object aside, that object will lie there disregarded, until it is again needed. An object that has been disregarded longer than about 48 hours will become invisible to the INTP. (Sometimes an INTP will have a bit of difficulty finding something that is in plain sight directly in front of him.) Such invisible objects will likely accumulate in corners, on table tops, bookshelves, and cupboards; and while those who need strong order and tidiness might be unsettled by the clutter, the INTP doesn't see--literally doesn't see--any problem!
INTPs approach their interests with seriousness: frivolity is not in their vocabulary.
INTP will intensely suppress his own emotions while witnessing someone else's emotions. He senses that if he, too, allowed his emotion to overcome his rationality, then 'surely all would be lost'.
INTPs are not good at clerical tasks, as they have little patience with routine details.
INTPs take their mating relationship seriously and usually are faithful and devoted.
INTPs are willing, compliant, and easy to live with; but they tend to lose track of appointments, anniversaries, and the rituals of daily living.
INTPs are frequently indomitable in arguments, being able to marshall point after point in favor of their position.
An INTP is constantly making logical and systematic judgements and decisions about information which he acquires through intuition. An INTP is therefore oriented toward the theoretical, and habitually looks "behind the scenes" of reality to see the "big picture" and find the "possibilities".
An INTP's thinking is generally adroit, natural, creative, and non-linear.
INTPs prefer an unstructured approach to living and to getting things done. They do not do well with schedules. An INTP sees time as an autonomous physical property of the universe, rather than as a resource to be used and controlled.
Unfortunately, the conventional world of work sees most of an INTP's traits as liabilities, rather than assets; so INTPs usually have difficulty finding compatible work environments, and they often must struggle--sometimes at great psychological cost--to maintain an alien persona throughout their workdays.
Precise about their descriptions, INTPs will often correct others (or bite their tongues) if the shade of meaning is a bit off.
INTPs enjoy games, whether formal or impromptu, and they especially enjoy games which allow them to coax analogies, patterns, and theories out of 'thin air'--usually by mental processes that defy even the INTP's own comprehension.(this one is big for me)
