Hordes of INTPs supposedly surrounding me...

[poppy]

Since I recently told several friends about MBTI, they have persuaded some of their friends to also type themselves. This means that I have been hearing about the personality types of various acquaintances, most of whom I have met multiple times but would not say I have particularly warmed to. Three of them have been typed as INTPs, which has surprised me. I think I'm tolerable in my typing abilities, but I had no idea that any of them might be INTPs. There have been a few people in the past whom I have concluded were INTPs, so I don't think it's the case that I want to convince myself I'm the only one in the vicinity in order to feel special! It might just be that I incorrectly believed that all INTPs would be similar to me in some sense. I'm also aware that I may be reluctant to concede that people I do not have great respect for, or even particularly like, could possibly be INTPs!

Anyway, I suppose my question is whether I've developed a very narrow conception of INTPs, and if it's possible for two INTPs to find that they hardly share a mindset or 'click' at all? Alternatively, is there a certain type of person that is likely to want to possess INTP traits and therefore mistype themselves?
(-I'm asking this because the thought that I may be making serious typing mistakes, failing to recognise crowds of INTPs in front of my nose or refusing to acknowledge that people I don't identify with could be INTPs bothers me.)

tl;dr - is it more likely that an INTP could fail to notice multiple INTPs they came across, or that multiple people have mistyped themselves as INTPs?

 

[Jelly Rev]

INTP's can be hard to notice because of Ne-social chamelon.

One could argue that this is improbable assuming 5% population is 1 out of 20. This would be an anomoly.

Also think about this, Certain Types are drawn to certain other types. So types that you have befriended are likely to befriend other INTP's as well bc they are compatiable with INTP's.

Out of curiousity, What types are your friends??

 

[pjoa09]

I stick out like a sore thumb. I think I am mistyping myself as an INTP.

 

[Dapper Dan]

How did they type themselves? If they just took some free online tests, there's a good chance of being mistyped. Try to see if they actually understand the functions involved.

Also, what about them specifically strikes you as un-INTP?

 

[poppy]

Jelly Rev - Yes, it does seem possible that INTPs are just difficult to notice when they are using their Ne to blend into a social group or quietly absorb information. However, I obviously need to work on my typing abilities if such behavour completely throws me off.
One of the friends is an INFJ, and the other a (probable) ESTJ (the former supposedly has 2 INTP acquaintances (excluding me) and the latter 1). The compatibility thing certainly could explain the anomaly, though it seems to me as if we became friends largely through coincidence (though I suppose it's possible that these friends draw in, and are drawn to, INTPs without the INTPs necessarily realising).

pjoa09 - That's interesting. Why do you think you aren't an INTP?

Dapper Dan - They all just took online tests, and none of them understand typing as of yet. The reason I didn't consider them as INTPs (and this might show my poor typing methods) is that I thought that I could generally pick up within a few minutes of conversation whether someone had intuition as a primary or secondary function, or sensing. I find that conversation with Ns flows without much trouble (Ne or Ni), but with Ss there would be frequent clashes, misunderstandings and awkwardness (not sure if this is a common experience for INTPs?). If I identify someone as having an N function I can generally deduce their exact type, whereas I find it far more difficult to type those with S functions. There are obviously exceptions to this rule (I get on well with my ESTJ friend, I suppose because I connect adequately with the Te). But anyway: with the three acquaintances I did not intuit intuition, and had them all down as sensers of some sort. Perhaps I am incorrect to expect INTPs to unleash their Ne in every social situation, as I am often guarded when I first meet people and use Ne to absorb information rather than to blurt out absurdities.
I'm trying to probe the matter, and will investigate with one of the acquaintances today!

 

[Jelly Rev]

an INFJ would likely have INTP friends.

An ESTJ and INTP though have a general hate for each other.

I find that conversation with Ns flows without much trouble (Ne or Ni), but with Ss there would be frequent clashes, misunderstandings and awkwardness (not sure if this is a common experience for INTPs?).

Yes very common. There is a general dislike for S types especially the ESXJ types.
If there is a good relationship with SJ types it is usually because the SJ believes the INTP to be higher authority.

 

[poppy]

Yes, it seems that INFJs are likely to collect INTP friends, and it's entirely possible that I've overlooked his numerous INTP friends due to their understated Ne in social situations (perhaps I overestimated my ability to naturally recognise it). But if ESTJs and INTPs do not naturally connect, it does seem implausible that my ESTJ friend has managed to find, and keep, two INTP friends.

The allegedly INTP acquaintance of the ESTJ is round here tonight, so I intend to investigate! I'm hoping that it's impossible for me to fail to notice Ne if I'm specifically looking for it...

 

[Dapper Dan]

The allegedly INTP acquaintance of the ESTJ is round here tonight, so I intend to investigate! I'm hoping that it's impossible for me to fail to notice Ne if I'm specifically looking for it...

Good luck! Also try to see if he frequently pauses to think while talking. It seems to be a Ti giveaway.

 

[poppy]

Ok, I'm almost certain the friend of my ESTJ flatmate is an ESFJ / ISFJ. (Thanks for the information about pausing and Ti, as this had never explicitly occurred to me before but really helped). How could he have managed to mistype himself so drastically?! Anyway, the other two potential INTPs remain to either be ruled out or accepted as INTPs I previously overlooked. I'm seeing their INFJ friend soon, so can try to find out some information about them, though I doubt that trying to type an individual via another individual's knowledge of their personality is a reliable method.

 

[Dapper Dan]

Ok, I'm almost certain the friend of my ESTJ flatmate is an ESFJ / ISFJ.

Details, man! Details! This quest for correctness is of the utmost importance!

I mean, you might be wrong!

 

[Auburn]

Since I recently told several friends about MBTI, they have persuaded some of their friends to also type themselves. This means that I have been hearing about the personality types of various acquaintances, most of whom I have met multiple times but would not say I have particularly warmed to. Three of them have been typed as INTPs, which has surprised me. I think I'm tolerable in my typing abilities, but I had no idea that any of them might be INTPs. There have been a few people in the past whom I have concluded were INTPs, so I don't think it's the case that I want to convince myself I'm the only one in the vicinity in order to feel special! It might just be that I incorrectly believed that all INTPs would be similar to me in some sense. I'm also aware that I may be reluctant to concede that people I do not have great respect for, or even particularly like, could possibly be INTPs!

Don't worry. If they took an online test, their result means close to nothing. I'm sorry but the brain is far too complex to be understood by a simple questionnaire. If someone wants to have legitimate insight into any field, they require immersion and deep understanding. That goes for typology as well.

Anyway, I suppose my question is whether I've developed a very narrow conception of INTPs, and if it's possible for two INTPs to find that they hardly share a mindset or 'click' at all?

Well I don't know about your own personal conception of INTP, but yes it is possible for two INTPs to not "click". This doesn't mean they don't share similar cognition.

Alternatively, is there a certain type of person that is likely to want to possess INTP traits and therefore mistype themselves?

Yes. Oh, hell yes.
There are many many types who do. In fact, most of this forum is not made up of INTPs. (I'm not joking o.o) Though that's not an insult to them, just a truth I've come to know.

tl;dr - is it more likely that an INTP could fail to notice multiple INTPs they came across, or that multiple people have mistyped themselves as INTPs?

I don't know which is most likely, but both are likely. INTPs could fail to notice other INTPs they come across and multiple people mistype themselves.​

 

[poppy]

Details, man! Details! This quest for correctness is of the utmost importance!

I mean, you might be wrong!

Indeed! I'd just been writing multiple long posts so didn't want to bore anyone with too many details (though I should have remembered that this is, thankfully, difficult to do around here).
In terms of why I thought ESFJ / ISFJ: He did not seem to pause mid-sentence or speak slowly (seemingly a sign of Ti). I threw out a few abstract observations and absurd jokes and he seemed to be confused rather than engaged via Ne. All in all I discerned Fe in his expressive face and occasional outraged finger-pointing, and Si because his train of thought seemed to consist of a concrete, clearly-connected progression of facts.

I'm aware that he might have just been guarded around me and making careful small talk, which may have prevented my noticing Ne (since I'm not brilliant at typing people). Yet one instance stuck in my mind as quite unlike the way an intuitive type might be likely to act: my ESTJ flatmate showed him her new pair of shoes, which he evidently hated, yet he neither managed to sufficiently hide this fact nor to reveal his real opinion. I think he might have been trying to hide his disapproval, as he refrained from explicitly voicing an opinion on the shoes and picked them up gingerly to examine them, but his face revealed utter disgust! Perhaps I'm only going by what I'd do in such a situation, and generalising to all INTPs or extroverted intuitives; but if asked my opinion of something unimportant I'd either try very hard to give the impression that I approved of it (I told her I loved her shoes; I didn't) or I'd make it clear that I disapproved. I suppose my point is that Ne is likely to attempt to manifest the feelings that one has decided are called for, whilst Fe is incapable of hiding the real feelings even if one has decided that they should not be explicitly voiced.

 

[poppy]

Well I don't know about your own personal conception of INTP, but yes it is possible for two INTPs to not "click". This doesn't mean they don't share similar cognition.


I don't know which is most likely, but both are likely. INTPs could fail to notice other INTPs they come across and multiple people mistype themselves.
​

In terms of the probable ISFJ / ESFJ, I only spent about 15 minutes in his presence as I find it a real struggle to converse with him. And this is precisely my point... if an INTP met another INTP, should it not be noticeably easy for both of them to communicate with and understand each other, even though they will not necessarily like each other? I suppose that is what I meant by 'clicking'.

And that is a very concise, and most probably accurate, answer to my question! I guess all I can do is put a lot of energy into observing the potential INTPs when I'm around them, without questioning my own typing abilities too obsessively. -(Though obviously I wish to hone my understanding of typing, and would like to be corrected on any details that aren't quite right.)

So in your experience, are there any particular types which are likely to mistype themselves as, or want to be, INTPs? Or is it common for people of every type to sometimes mistake themselves for another random type?

 

[thelithiumcat]

Yes very common. There is a general dislike for S types especially the ESXJ types.
If there is a good relationship with SJ types it is usually because the SJ believes the INTP to be higher authority.

Can confirm this (SJ parents and two known SJ friends). Talking to S types can be very difficult. I wouldn't term it as 'dislike' but something definitely just doesn't work.