How to tell if you are INTJ or INTP
August 21, 2011
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Posted by admin
Many INTPs test as INTJ, whereas the opposite phenomenon is less common. There are several reasons for this difference.
For one thing, school, work and family tend to structure behavior even for individuals whose preference is for more freedom, and under such discipline a P may not identify with test item options like: “My goals are open-ended and subject to change as new information becomes available.” Conversely, Js can simply impose structure on themselves when there is none in their environment.
Nietzsche - INTJ poster boy
Also, there is an asymmetry in how the take-charge Js and the laissez-faire Ps deal with each other: Ps don’t tend to interfere with the Js planning and organizing their lives if that’s what floats their boat. (Even if Ps sometimes do feel like Steve Jobs (ISTP) does about Bill Gates (ENTJ): “He’d be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram.”) Js, however, frequently find cause to chastise the Ps for not being Js! In particular when authority figures such as parents exert influence on a P, the P may internalize J values causing them to test as J.
As mentioned, it is comparatively rare for INTJs to test as INTP, although it does happen, particularly when the INTJ lacks structure in their environment. For instance, the INTJ writing this post is accountable to neither a boss nor family and strongly identifies with ‘open-ended goals being subject to change.’ (As an up-to-the-minute case in point, my ENTP co-admin thinks I am writing something else that we agreed on, but then inspiration for this post struck!)
Also, INTJs, particularly those with analytical training, may identify more with Thinking (which is the INTP’s dominant function) than with iNtuition (which is the INTJ’s dominant function). For instance, an INTJ physicist may use his iNtuition to determine which lines of inquiry to pursue, but his logic must be airtight.
Enough throat-clearing – now to the meat of this post: How can you tell whether you’re INTJ or INTP?
First, you should of course read descriptions of the two types if you haven’t done so already. Good ones can be found at Personality Page (INTJ, INTP) and Best Fit Type (INTJ, INTP).
Second, you should read up on the cognitive functions over at Cognitive Processes. INTPs have Introverted Thinking (Ti) as their dominant function backed up by Extroverted Intuition (Ne), whereas INTJs have Introverted iNtuition (Ni) as their dominant function backed up by Extroverted Thinking (Te). Once you are clear on the definitions, we are proud to offer up our illustrated guide to the cognitive functions.
Finally, browse our site and see whether you identify more with the famous INTPs or the famous INTJs!
Categories: Psychology
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This is a question I let myself ponder for quite some time. And after careful observations, I’ve deduced that the perfect way to find out if you an INTP or an INTJ is to gather all the data concerning past behaviors of famous or known historical figurehead INTJ and INTP people. I’ve come to the conclusion that way that, I indeed am a native INTP.
Furthermore, once you are able to find the answer to this amazingly revealing question in your quest to gain Universal understanding, you will be able to find your way towards capitalizing on your strength and also capitalizing on your weaknesses by displaying or developing your other sides that will help you bring out who you are.
As to why INTJs test more accurately than INTPs: how about the fact that INTJs are more self-aware and objective than INTPs?
It’s easy. If you haven’t got any doubt you are an INTJ. If you can’t decide which one are you, definitely INTP.
Actually, it is much simpler than that. Honestly ask yourself “Do you have a problem with laziness?” If you answer yes, then then it is unlikely you are an INTJ.
@Ridita, INTJs constantly gather more and more information, and even though we can be biased in our opinions, a healthy INTJ can simple recognize this aspect in themselves and stay open-minded of new perspectives. Also INTJ’s use a lot of inductive reasoning and thinking in terms of probabilities.
@GuruOfReason, I don’t think it’s that simple at all, since INTJ’s can procrastinate as well, especially after we created a plan of action but get bored with putting it into practice, we then may indulge in our personal interests as opposed to doing what needs to be done (we’re no ENTJ’s).
Now that I’m older, I’ve learned to mask some of my worst INTJ tendencies – especially as they relate to dealing with others. I like to think of myself as more of a INTP or even an INFJ in terms of presenting myself to the public. But deep down, I know better.
I always look to the inferior function to find out type. I am an INTJ and my eternal Achilles’ heel is inferior sensing: aloofness, sense binges, overwhelmed by moods.
I think the J/P thing is a red herring because I am intuition dominant and intuition is a perceiving function, while INTP’s are thinking dominant which is a judging function. So really, INTJ’s are perceiving (but don’t show this to the world — it is more internal) while INTP’s are judging (but show their perceiving side to the world).
Also, I extravert thinking so when I get into a great philosophical discussion with another INTJ, we can talk until 5 AM in a neverending chain of randomness, thinking aloud, working it out as we go. Apparently introverted thinkers need time to ponder. To me, the classic INTJ gesture is that “wrap it up” hand gesture — it annoys people so much so I typically don’t do it, unless I’m talking to another INTJ in which case I know they won’t be offended. Being an INTJ I often feel like I know exactly what the other speaker is going to say halfway through the first sentence, and then they say like 10 more sentences and I’m so bored and impatient. I constantly give the impression of just waiting for my turn to speak, it really bugs people. I think INTJ’s are the least-liked of any type! I know that even as an INTJ I typically don’t get along that well with others of my type, although there is a kind of love-to-hate thing going on…
Er, I realize that when I included being overwhelmed by moods as inferior sensing it might actually sound like it should be inferior feeling. But let me explain: I get overcome by affect, which is the physiological component of emotion or feeling. Introverted intuitives can be absolutely overwhelmed by affect — which is different from inferior feeling. It is a physiological sensing “mood” that overcomes me from time to time, and usually something like jogging will help me shake it off.
I have a theory about the way I switch back and fourth between an INTJ and an INTP; it may only apply to me though. I found that most INTJ (generally speaking), have a tendency towards falling into lapses of depression because by nature they are self-critical and perfectionists. I recently took the test again and was over and over again tested as an INTP when normally I am a INTJ. I don’t normally get depressed but when I do it’s not a pretty sight. Anyways, the general symptoms of depression tend to make me unfocused, lazy, unmotivated and unorganized.
A few months ago I took the test and scored as an INTJ. About a week later I was cleaning out some boxes of old notes and discovered that I had took the test about 10 years ago and scored as an INTP.
So I compared the old test to the new one. The main difference was that I tried to keep things more organized now. I have been going through several iterations of organizing and re-organizing my external world.
Is this a maturation of my Jungian Archetype? Don’t know…I am not a psychologist. I am currently age 53 as I write this.
Any test only tests for concrete behavior and then attempts to backtrack to the real type from that.
No tests are fool proof. So the question becomes rather one of the functions.
so basically your article told us nothing and just gave us some links to vague websites, gee thanks.
New article in the pipeline on the same subject. Stay tuned.