I have done about 7 different mbti tests now and I still can't seem to nail this.
I have been wavering back and forth between INTP and INTJ as I identify with both equally well.
That being said I went further into detail with type functions (specifically inferior Si and Se) to try and figure it out; to no real avail.
I have read more than a few of the previous posts on this and although I can relate to an extent I can't say for definite if I'm either.
To list a few qualities: i can make a pun based on pretty much anything, I am good in school and can reach any goal I set for myself(although I rarely set them), I am friendly but I am told I can be to critical, if (for example) I was to get an English essay to do in a weeks time I would do it that day or on the day it's due, I detest people resorting to physical violence in a debate.
If there are any questions that arise about me I will answer them and as a quick addition,
My friends dad (who is an mbti practitioner, in the workplace) tried to solve this by focusing completely on letters alone, no functions or how all the letters kind of "click" once they are definite (forming characterisations). So he of course focused on the j/p preference and he diagnosed me as a weak j type, I disagree be cause although I plan ahead I don't always stick to it , in fact I modify it around what I "want" to do not what I "need" to do (per se)
INTP's often self-identify as INTJ's, due to the dominant inner judging Ti. I don't know if the reverse is true, which is INTJ's self-identifying as INTP's.
INTP's often self-identify as INTJ's, due to the dominant inner judging Ti. I don't know if the reverse is true, which is INTJ's self-identifying as INTP's.
INTJs rarely question their own type because they are so sure of their decisions. A mistyped INTJ (who types as INTP) would be far less likely to think that he had made a mistake in typing himself.
My suggestion would be to try and understand the difference between Ti/Te and Ni/Ne. It seems to me that J/P is an easy clue when trying to identify type, but if those are nearly half and half- it's not the only difference between INTP and INTJ. Sure, these types are similar, but they are distinctive enough too.
If you still can't quite decide after looking at functions, I think I understand how INTJs tick and would be able to explain it.
INTJs rarely question their own type because they are so sure of their decisions. A mistyped INTJ (who types as INTP) would be far less likely to think that he had made a mistake in typing himself.
It's is early morning already and I haven't slept yet, but want to come to some conclusion/ lay sense of things down in words. This is my opinion and I am not an authority of INTJs, these are just the connections I made around them. Also, I will make some comparisons to INTP to show differences- I hope you will find that relevant.
Keep in mind that INTPs do have and use Ni, Te and INTJs- Ne and Ti, but it's the priority and preference that distinct them.
Here is a beautiful and sensible description from an INTJ on their forums about how their ideas appear:
Imagine, if you will, a perfect void. A black, cold, empty vacuum. Now, add a single point in the center - we'll call it a gravity, as it pulls everything towards it. This gravity point is the center of the mind. Now, the last element of the mind - the substance. The substance is fluid with high surface tension. It could be a chunk of knowledge: '1+1-2' or 'bananas are perceived as yellow.' It could be a feeling which you'll have to define for this example. Every day, I add substance through my 5 senses (the walls of the void.) The first substance I ever added added went for an orbit and then settled down on the gravity point. The next chunk of substance was drawn to the gravity point and plopped down into it, increasing its size. The complete chunk of substance around the gravity point is my pool of knowledge today.
This represents Ni. Here's how it works for me.
One day whilst watching my cat, I see it sit down. The knowledge that the cat has sat down sends a large fluid chunk of substance through the walls and into the blob of being. Due to the impact of this chunk, another blob flies out. This blob contains a possibility suggested by Ni due to the input, which flies out and splatters against the wall of the void - it is absorbed and transported to the second room.
The processed Ni chunk is now in the Te room.
Te takes the possibility chunk and hits it with a blowtorch whilst wearing a calculator wristwatch to make sure everything checks out. The chunk becomes hardened and jagged - sharp and solid. I now have a final idea that I can implement.
The cat now has a ball of string.
From my perspective, INTJ's Introverted Intuition thought process sounds similar to surfing in the sea of facts and knowledge that they posses. They don't touch and experience all their knowledge at once, but rather stick their fingers in the sea and pick out/let stick to them the ones that are relevant. This all seems like an unconscious process and from a consciousness perspective, that blob of ready-to-be-shaped concept just drops into their lap out of the sky.
Then when they have this blurry concept of idea, they apply rules of a system their are working in (social protocols, laws of physics, etc.) to shape it into something. The concept now gains a better defined form (process similar to that of trying to remember your dream(s)). After a few or many reiterations/steps of such process (depending on the complexity of the idea) they will have a nicely polished and worked out model.
Another thing about INTJs is that they have a Plan. They see many possible routes that could be taken out from the current situation and sometime in the past they have chosen one. INTJ has it planned in details and their plan for their path covers everything. Their today, this week, next month, years and even their funeral. I believe this is one of the main reasons why they have such high standards for everyone (including themselves) and hate wasting time once they are doing something. They don't care to look back and dwell on things because that's not helping in progressing the Plan.
They are like Langri from Lloyd Biggle Jr.'s "Monument": the goal is unclear to everyone else, but him. He shapes the plan by all the information and facts available to him and gives it to the less gifted masses. "When X occurs, do Y, unless it's immediately followed by Fg, then while you do Y, make sure Og is in place and ready to use at any moment, because it's very likely that JB will follow and you will have to employ Og on short notice at the place N42:E65 facing west. Don't question it, because you won't understand, just follow it." Great book and an opportunity to read about INTJ in action.
INTJ argue and accept/disprove new ideas in a similar manner: they isolate the new concept and apply all the know and relevant facts in a manner of series of thermonuclear explosions; step by step, methodically and from the ground up, then again from different perspective/side until they reach satisfaction or run out of perspectives/facts to attack the concept with. If the concept evaporates during this process, they cease fire and reject it by pointing out witch fact clearly shows concept's irrationality. However, if after all destruction the idea still stands, they will accept it as valid. The idea will be refined through hardship in the process.
When being questioned about their ideas, INTJ are more likely to present facts and relevant data, measurements and then explain (if they see the need) how that information correlates with each other.
To give a metaphor, I imagine INTJ as an electric board scheme. If the idea is generated by an INTJ it's a digital clock: the current witch can be looked at as both field, stream of electrons and wave represents their Introverted intuition. It is then shaped by resistors, relays and other parts which represent known facts. At the end of that scheme there are diodes that will light up in some fashion and give a result. With the same facts they are very likely to get to the same result. If you want the clock to show actual time and not 14:42 all the time, you have to feed the INTJ new data and facts.
When they are validating new idea they lay it out as an islolated scheme and let the current run through it at high voltage. Some parts might burn up and disintegrate- if that means the scheme will no longer work it is thrown out. But if goes through all of it and brings a result, it's accepted and thrown into/dissolved by the their sea.
To compare, this is how I see INTPs: they have a wire model of a whole world. Everything is connected to everything else, but in different density. The concepts and ideas the INTP understands really well are stringed so well that in that volume there is more wire than empty space and you can clearly see the shape of it. However, it is night impossible for an INTP to fill that volume to the point where there is no empty space at all. There is always an option to add on or insert one more connection making the concept more detailed, more connected, more intimate. On one hand, the process is slower compared to that of INTJs and INTP will have more problem with a completely alien new idea (he will have to find how it connects to The Model). On the other hand, once connected, the INTP will be able to see the idea from multiple perspectives at once and so when an INTP says they understand something well, they mean it.
When approaching new idea, INTP will try to see where it connects to The Model and attaches his tendrils. Then he pulls them, making the concept shatter into small particles. If everything feels right, s/he will construct wires in between the particles to see if the previous structure was correct, if not- it's either corrected or if it doesn't make sense at all pointed out and the structure is rejected. Now it doesn't matter if the idea/concept holds or not, it is destroyed and no longer exists as a single unit- it had become a part of the INTPs Model flagged as "This works and ought to be reanalyzed now and then and used for analyzing future ideas" or "This is a mistake you shouldn't make in the future".
My metaphor for an INTP is either that of a grass mower or a spider, though spider might be a bit easier to explain. If you get my style, you will figure it out for yourself. If not and there is demand I will do it, but it's getting earlier and I want those 4 hours of sleep.
So for example, when trying to understand other types an INTJ can look at the descriptions of an ESFP, apply the rules of interconnection between functions, their priorities, etc and make a conclusion about how the ESFP will act in a certain situation.
INTP will have a difficult time following that (unless they really developed their Ni and Te). S/he has to see how the ESFP's functions (co)relate to his own. So s/he might start analyzing ISTP first, because that's an easier target, no need to bend so much. Then see what differences there are between ISFP, INTP and ISTP. It's a lot like search into width. But once the tendrils encroach ESFP, they can walk in their boots. There will be little need to watch at the cognitive functions and descriptions again- the Extraverted Intuition will just provide a detailed answer.
To sum it all: INTJs love a priori and have a detailed Plan for everything and see possibilities or paths spawning from something into the future. They are the guy/girl to go to if you want a detailed and fleshed out answer with measurements, formulas, facts and sources of their information.
INTPs love a posteriori and have a general clue about where everything is in relation to everything else in space-time continuum. They are the guy/girl to go to if you want to check your reasoning and will provide you with the correct question.
Praisethesun, if you are still not sure which one you are after reading this and doing some introspection, then http://personalitycafe.com/intj-forum-scientists/93030-intj-thought-process-breakdown.html might be helpful. There are also some nice videos on youtube that explain differences between INTJ/P.
If it still does not help, consider that you might be neither of these; there are some similar types to these ones (ISTP is somewhat similar to INTP in a broad sense and so on).
Say if something is not helpful, unclear or you are just not sure what sense to make of something.
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