Classification Paradox

[Lfnunley]

Hi there! I'm 15, and a year ago my grandfather introduced me to the personality type spectrum with the book "Please understand me". Ever since I have been obsessed with classifying myself and others into its 16 broad categories.

I feel much more secure now because I know when I go to my room and start drawing programing diagrams on my whiteboard and ignore all attempts to contact me, or I go into a function like a dance and I analyse the sociology of the dance group as opposed to participating, it's completely normal as I'm an INTP.

Recently I've noticed that I sometimes constrain myself to the pure definition of an INTP. Don't get me wrong, I love being an INTP, but I sometimes wonder if I just choose to be an INTP because I liked it's definition. But then that brings up the paradox that because I'm hyper-analyzing my mental classification, I'm an INTP anyway. What do y'all think?

 

[Proletar]

You are an INTP, and there is nothing you can do about it. :-]

 

[Lfnunley]

See, I just took one test that put me 5% more judging than perceiving, which actually gave me a panic attack. Then I re-read the definition of each and I solidified my state of being perceiving, because I hate it when I'm given a timetable or schedule.

 

[lenh]

I think it is really hard to know what's your personality type, specially when you are a teenager. Don't get me wrong, but I am 19 and still don't know for sure.
I think the best way is just try to stop thinking everyday about this subject, and try to behave normally. (If you think about it everyday you may change some behaviors just because you like the idea of being an INTP). At the end of the week, you just reflect about everything you did in the week and try to relate this to any specific personality.

 

[Lfnunley]

Agreed. But the fact that I have about 75% of open wall in my room covered in adhesive whiteboard which in turn is covered in programming plans and flowcharts, I'd say I'm INTP .

 

[Hadoblado]

It could just mean your smart. The majority of smart people are not INTP (though they're possibly over-represented). You should probably look at your functions for further evidence.

If the possibility of you not being an INTP is causing anxiety, this is evidence that you are biased in favor of an INTP conclusion.

I speculate that the descriptors used to classify the INTP are too difficult to falsify in the case of an intelligent person of a different type. Many people seem to read the description and see something of themselves, just like reading a horoscope. This is further exacerbated by the age old adage "if you don't doubt your INTPness, you are certainly not INTP".

 

[Lfnunley]

I agree. What I did was read the detailed description of all 16 types, and picked the one that correlated with my personality the most, which was INTP at about 90%.

 

[Reluctantly]

What do y'all think?

I ...tttthhhhiiiinnnnkkkk... depending on certain kinds of intelligence and what you define as personality, personality can be as much of a self-definition, as it can be related to nature.

Also since I'm not in the same room as you, please now imagine an obnoxious evil laugh coming from my post.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

If INTJs cannot stand you
That's a pretty good indicator
Go to INTJforum.com
Post
If you get banned within 72 hours
You are INTP for sure
That is how I confirmed it

 

[GYX_Kid]

Assigning any category label onto yourself/people will force you to believe in it. But you can also add others to use as well. Like racial stereotypes, for example

I find MBTI helpful as information to sprinkle on what I already know about a person or about myself. I went through a period of classifying people as if types made up the contents of human skeletons, and like everyone was Pokemon of different elements and everything. Actually, using the functions helps to rationalize a lot. My internal library of Si developed to look out for Te that may want to control, etc.

 

[Cognisant]

Classifications are made to fit reality, but reality was not made to fit classifications.

Don't be too obsessed with being an INTP, it can limit your growth in some areas, for example if you use it as an excuse to be antisocial then your social skills won't develop and you'll quickly find yourself in a very lonely rut.

 

[GYX_Kid]

Reality made classifications in His image, hallejuldsfnfdfb

 

[NinjaSurfer]

Reality made classifications in His image, hallejuldsfnfdfb

I smell sativa on you

 

[GYX_Kid]

You'd classify it as that, wouldn't you

 

[NinjaSurfer]

You'd classify it as that, wouldn't you

I have no class

 

[deaconsyre]

I don't agree with people who say you can't change your type. I was an intp up until college, an intj in college, and an infp after a years worth of work on my personality. It takes willpower and intelligence to change but positive disintegration is a powerful concept.

 

[Hadoblado]

If INTJs cannot stand you
That's a pretty good indicator
Go to INTJforum.com
Post
If you get banned within 72 hours
You are INTP for sure
That is how I confirmed it

One of my best friends is an INTJ
I hear their forum is terrible tho.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

One of my best friends is an INTJ
I hear their forum is terrible tho.

I'm sure their forum would be better if an INTP were running it

 

[NinjaSurfer]

I don't agree with people who say you can't change your type. I was an intp up until college, an intj in college, and an infp after a years worth of work on my personality. It takes willpower and intelligence to change but positive disintegration is a powerful concept.

I AGREE!

I really dig Dabrowski's theory and think that it should be MORE POPULAR than it is right now... it is really true... and you won't believe it unless you've gone through one or two "ego shatterings" yourself...

 

[Master]

I AGREE!

I really dig Dabrowski's theory and think that it should be MORE POPULAR than it is right now... it is really true... and you won't believe it unless you've gone through one or two "ego shatterings" yourself...

Thank you NinjaSurfer for pointing out Dabrowski's theory. I have recently posted comment on marihuana effects on an INTP http://www.intpforum.com/showthread.php?p=303256#poststop and I think the process I am describing (and practicing) is very similar to Dabrowski's theory. One more time thank you for information. I became interested in this theory.