The issues of an INTP

[The Fury]

Is it me or are INTPs a little more fucked up than other types. Everybody has issues but from comparing this forum to numerous other MBTI forums I'm starting to think that most INTPs deal with more than others. Paranoia, depression, anger are just a few of the themes that seem to arise in nearly every second thread.

Perhaps we just talk about these things more than others. I know that in my mind I go through all the problems I have a couple of times a day, trying to find a solution or at least a way to use to them to make myself stronger. Or perhaps it's because we can't express these feelings in our life without the fear of being judged by others but here we have a common bond and don't feel so exposed.

[Kianara]

It could also be that INTPs spend more time on introspection. Many other types spend most of their time outwardly focused on more trivial matters.

They could have similar issues, but just be unaware of it or so outwardly focused that their inner issues don't have that much of an effect on their lives.

[Melkor]

Ahh..thats a very good point Kia.

-nasty wink-


Hrm...

Or...could it be...that...being more aware of the world, and it's depression causing tendencies, we are consequently more depressed?

or maybe, we're just whingers who like to inflate our problems to ridiculous heights in order to have something to do...

Hrm...

[Kianara]

How is it that you can manage to do that no matter the circumstances?

Whatever. Anyway...

Your point begs a question. From where does an INTP's depression stem, inward causes or outward causes?

[FacetiousPersona]

Perhaps their feeling process are inadequately developed due to they mainly use logical processes, which results in them being incapable of utilizing emotional processes effiicently as they are seldom used. If the INTP is not innately good with them, he has to improve through experience. It is possible that other types have this innate ability with the emotional processes or experience to have them. What is the consequence of having poor emotional proceeses? It is less easier to resolve emotional issues, consequently leaving them to become worse.

[Ermine]

I think everyone has issues, but either the issues are more socially acceptable or people are more or less willing to talk about it than others. For example, from my perspective, people who are addicted to talking on the phone or texting constantly have issues. It's a serious obsession consuming their lives. However, it occurs more often and tends to be more socially acceptable than depression, or personality disorders, or one of the conventional "issues"

[Halcyon]

^You bring up a good pint that what constitutes an issue is a matter of perspectives. I would consider such a dependency on other people as an issue whereas I have friends who consider my lack of social behavior as an issue. Issue is a pretty broad word, but I'll say that something becomes an issue if it it detracts from your psychological well being. Under this definition, INTPs would be more susceptible to having issues because they tend to be much more introspective and self-aware than other types. I also think it has to do with our capacity to dwell on, regret, or get hurt by social interactions, whereas such things wouldn't even faze an extravert.

[chocolate]

Question: when does having thoughts become an issue?

I often feel quite down, and if I started a thread about it, it may seem that I have issues, but I am quite certain that I am not clinically depressed. These moods come from thinking about life...which isn't a bad thing right?

I also tend to be somewhat paranoid but...

...the ability to have those paranoid thoughts is also the ability to spot patterns/connections in people's behaviour and predict their future behaviour, which, when the paranoid thoughts are filtered through Ti (and either discarded or tweaked accordingly), can be quite accurate.

[Artifice Orisit]

This may shed some light, which do you value more?
Pleasure or Knowledge

As our values affect our choices, and in turn our lives, I can hypothesize that we don't value happiness to the same extent some other types do. Therefore the choices we make and their effect upon our lives lead us into situations where happiness is less prevalent.

In fact a combination of the influences suggested so far could be responsible

[The Fury]

Originally Posted by Cognisant

This may shed some light, which do you value more?
Pleasure or Knowledge

As our values affect our choices, and in turn our lives, I can hypothesize that we don't value happiness to the same extent some other types do. Therefore the choices we make and their effect upon our lives lead us into situations where happiness is less prevalent.

In fact a combination of the influences suggested so far could be responsible

Happiness is a great deal different than pleasure. Pleasure comes from sensual gratification whereas happiness is feeling content with yourself, without the need for indulging in your desires.

[Kianara]

Originally Posted by The Fury

Happiness is a great deal different than pleasure. Pleasure comes from sensual gratification whereas happiness is feeling content with yourself, without the need for indulging in your desires.

Could that possibly mean that Ns desire happiness more than Ss? Since Sensors are more focused on physical gratification, they would be more focused on finding pleasure.

[Artifice Orisit]

Sorry, my bad.
Replace pleasure with happiness.

[The Fury]

Happiness or knowledge. Well I would say that I'm fairly content in my life but if you were to force an answer out of me I'd say happiness. There's little point to knowledge just for it's own sake. The reason I want to learn is because i want to grow and become happy. For me I hope that knowledge will lead to happiness.

How about Wisdom or Happiness.

A few years ago I would have said Wisdom but life has thought me that wisdom often has too high a price. It is often tainted by bitterness.

[meshram.alok]

I think this is mainly because of the highly abstract world INTPs live in. Their Introverted Thinking (which is a passive state when viewed from outside, whereas to the INTP, it appears that they are active) dominates their other trait, which is the Extraverted iNtuition (Experience gathering). It then happens that we confound ourselves too often and end up having a low sense of self-respect without even caring to check what is real (Extraverted iNtuition).

I am currently going through a strange phase (possibly Paranoia), but I'm fighting it by Extraverted INtuition,and checking my assumptions objectively after that.

It's like I'm bringing my inner world back to order.

[Artifice Orisit]

It has been said that most wisdom is earned through suffering...

It came from a Christian friend, well more of a Satanist really, he has a fascinating perspective on the world, very objectified.

Yes, well anyway, carry on.

[The Fury]

You're satanist friend might be right. That's usually the way I've gained wisdom.

I don't like satanists, the worship the devil yet they never commit evil acts. Whats up with that?

[Artifice Orisit]

Evil without purpose is just posing, unless it's funny, then it's just immature.

True Satanists detest those who worship power & evilness, mostly because the people who do so are weak themselves and are missing the point entirely. To a Satanist the suffering of life is a means to wisdom, humility and self dominance, there are no problems, only challenges.
Power does not come to those who plead and try to buy favour, it comes naturally to those with the will power to keep it under control and the wisdom required to use it properly.
They're really not such a bad sort, they just happen to be a little misguided.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

[The Fury]

No one really worships evil. Those who commit terrible deeds do so in the belief that they are doing good, Stalin, Hitler, George W Bust (just kidding, he was incompetent, not evil).

"There are no problems, only challenges", sounds like my boss.

Why exactly do they call themselves Satanists. Doing that makes them seem like foolish children looking for attention from society. I agree with a lot of things they say but labeling themselves that which is most disdained within the world will only bring them scorn and abuse. Are they being sarcastic or do they want the pain to learn from it, another foolish idea. You should never seek pain to learn, though you may often learn from pain.

[Artifice Orisit]

labeling themselves that which is most disdained within the world will only bring them scorn and abuse
Suffering = Wisdom
Yeah I never really got it either, I think it's a "lone hero complex" or something.

"There are no problems, only challenges", sounds like my boss.
They believe a lot in self improvement through trials, and consider Tranhumanists like me lazy. Which makes sense, I guess.

[Perseus]

The Horsemen (ESFJ) or Atrebates tend to see other people as commodities. They are Barbarians.

Cogidubnus

[Concojones]

Happiness OR suffering?! What a joke! Not that I suggest we all go torture each other, but my experience is that you get to appreciate something a lot more after you've seen the back side of the medal. Happiness and pain go hand in hand.

(Now, shoot me )

[polarmonk]

Perhaps the reason that some INTPs seem to suffer from depression, anger etc is because due to society misunderstanding the needs of the INTP (such as needs for space, etc)...I also think that because INTPs' emotional stimuli comes from ideas rather than being around people. This could confuse ExFxs who see others' views by putting themselves in others' shoes, but they can't do this with INTxs because they would hate not being around others.

I realize that a lot of INTPs think that they are not influenced by others' opinions, but humans have evolved to be social creatures, whether we like it or not The levels of this depends on the individual, of course.

People tell me that I shouldn't analyze too much, that it gets me down, but I'd rather analyze and be down then be oblivious...Now I am happy because I realize that I have the freedom to do this and not be in the dark.

I think that experience (and when I mean experience, I mean experience in thoughts/ideas as well as situational) is more important than its emotional anchorage. I think that emotions are only meant to accompany a situation, not to dominate it.

Just my opinion x)

[The Fury]

That's very interesting polarmonk. I often find people telling me the same thing. That to go too deep will only end in my misery. I often find the main problem with my constantly being in my own mind is that I question myself too much. I'm constantly analyzing my reasons for doing something. It has never left me depressed so far but it often leaves me uncertain about myself.

Yet emotions often do dominate our experiences, whether we are aware of it or not. It is when we believe ourselves to be most objective when we are not.

[vash22]

i agree with most of these other posts. i think that the MAIN cause of all of these 'issues' is because INTPs generally are outcasts from society (some INTPs on this forum were outcast physically). With these feelings of being misunderstood and not having someone to connect with, these 'issues' begin to ripen. if it was just us sitting in our home, alone, it would not be SUCH a problem. However, that N in INTP causes us to reflect upon ourselves and the world. We can turn bitter at the shallow imbecilic masses, or begin hating ourselves for being different than the same people who caste us out. It is the mix of all 4 parts of our personalities which dooms us to such 'issues'.
Good day.

[Beat Mango]

Just speculating, but maybe other types have equally as many issues but their problems are externalised, eg: instead of being without a job and friends, they have a job and friends but feel stressed with their job or are in abusive relationships.