INTP appearance (V.I.)

[Moocow]

I went out to a music show thing to get myself to be social and try to enjoy a loud, energetic, social atmosphere..

The first new person I met kept insisting that I must be a heroin addict because of my complexion and the dark circles under my eyes.
Not very encouraging.

 

[knightofni]

Uhhh... 9 out of 10 people have dark circles.

Draw your own conclusions.

not sure if that is accurate or not, but it sure carries a ring of truth.

dealing with dark circles and/or eyebags is an extremely popular subject on a health and beauty forum I use. I doubt most of these ladies are INTP... or deep thinkers in general.

 

[CoryJames]

It is important to note, as someone else pointed out, that a large number of people have dark circles under their eyes many of whom are not INTP, which would prevent anyone from using this method to accurately type from this characteristic alone.

That being said, I am an INTP, and I have dark circles under my eyes, almost always, and I do exercise often, do get out in the sun a lot, and do not spend an excessive amount of time behind the computer.

It can be theorized though, from the responses of people thus far, that perhaps some common INTP qualities do lead to behaviours that in turn lead to dark circles.

 

[Glordag]

Sign me up for the dark circles under the eyes and extreme allergies and sinus problems contribution. Like others, though, I think it's a stretch to try and use this as a visual indicator. The facial expressions, manner of speaking, and gaze are all things that I would look at before physical qualities like dark circles under the eyes.

To be honest, I've never really thought much about what I look like around others, but now that I do I'm mostly certain that I maintain a gaze with a certain wanderlust. I wonder if this might go away to some degree in more well adjusted INTPs who have developed their other functions a little more.

 

[SQ_Minion]

I too have dark under-eye circles, but much of the human population does. My appearance in general is often classified as "stoner", though I don't smoke weed. Grubby Converse high-tops, jeans, black hoodie, a rat's nest of hair, the whole works.

 

[Geminii]

...............

On a less scientific note (I’m not sure if I read all the comments so I don’t know if this has been mentioned) I was watching some of the so called intp videos on the internet; they all seem really cold, I have never described someone as cold before but that is the only way I can describe it, it’s like watching robots that are covered in a thin layer of human skin. It’s just empty. I was horrified; I sincerely hope I don’t look like that.

I've noticed that in myself, and for a while I made an effort to behave more like other people. While I now tend to revert to robotic as a default, I at least have a "friendliness" body language mode I can drop into in social situations.

 

[Geminii]

A good diet, exercise, and some sun can clear most of that up, as can reducing stress factors. I realise it's not a priority for most of us, but it can be an interesting side-project to pick up for a season or two.

 

[thiagomdo]

I gots the dark circles as well, but it is surely a result of my lifestyle and not a genetic predisposition.

Emergent behavior:

http://intp-bird.blogspot.com/2005/06/intps-and-emergent-behavior.html

 

[thiagomdo]

Suggestion

These avatars are useless (and stupid), don't you think? If someone here agree, let us see your nice INTP face instead of these imbeciles pictures in your avatars.

 

[Glordag]

Re: Suggestion

These avatars are useless (and stupid), don't you think? If someone here agree, let us see your nice INTP face instead of these imbeciles pictures in your avatars.

This prospect horrifies me...

 

[Fukyo]

Re: Suggestion

These avatars are useless (and stupid), don't you think? If someone here agree, let us see your nice INTP face instead of these imbeciles pictures in your avatars.

Why should we pretend we're on Facebook?

 

[thiagomdo]

Re: Suggestion

Why should we pretend we're on Facebook?

Forget about it.

 

[Oster]

I don't have dark circles and I have a good posture. I sleep well (melatonin~) and attempt to eat well. I used to have dark circles, but that was mostly due to insomnia. I wear clean-looking clothes, although I usually fail at this - my hair is a mess, I'm too lazy to wear make-up or to I iron my clothes. blarg.

My face or my body language is nothing like my personality is. Considering the reactions I usually get, I give the first-impression of a very sweet person. I guess being a child of Internets has made me grow separate of my physical appearances...

 

[Intiguous]

I've noticed that in myself, and for a while I made an effort to behave more like other people. While I now tend to revert to robotic as a default, I at least have a "friendliness" body language mode I can drop into in social situations.

I have also noticed that in myself and my brother who is an INTP.

My mom (and others) have said on more than a few occasions that "There is nothing there. You're cold and emotionless." Of course I don't think I am cold or emotionless at all, but I often appear to be that way. (Okay, okay. Sometimes I am far too cynical.)

But then, my mother is an INFP and she's a lot more sensitive than I am. It bothers her when I react indifferently to things she tells me. Again, I don't think I am reacting that way (in my head I am interested), but she still gets offended. Where as I am more concerned with what is actually being said in a conversation, she will ignore words or statements that she doesn't like and focus on what feelings she gets from another person.

All in all, I think the robotic thing has more to do with being an INTP than the dark circle thing does. But dark circles do seem to be a likely quality of someone who is "robotic" or "cold." I have dark circles and I have had them my entire life. How many nine year olds do you know who look like they desperately need a couple shots of espresso? That was me.

 

[PossumOfTheGrotto]

As a general rule, I do not have dark circles under my eyes or the sinus problems/posture problems it seems like a lot of us INTPs exhibit. Sometimes I have developed faint circles due to lack of sleep in short periods, but that is unusual to the point of being noticeable to others in my life. In full disclosure I do have pale skin (by choice and by sunblock) and require corrective lenses, which are also INTP-like characteristics. And I do have a tendency to stare off into space...and to seek out eye contact in conversations and hold it while sharing ideas...and I don't tend to physically withdraw into my body during social interactions. (Maybe learned through exposure.)

However, I have made a point out of eating lots of fruits and veggies, getting outdoors on a regular basis and (to a lazy and lesser extent) getting relatively regular physical exercise. Sometimes I have to remind myself to put down the book and go outside, because my first inclinations are usually to spend as much time researching/learning/considering as possible. But experiencing is a great thing, too...especially for us "living in our head" types...it can be just what we need to get out every now and then and to learn something in the material instead of the incorporeal.

Being into things like photography (I do a lot of detail studies of natural, spontaneous imagery), cooking (obsessed with learning recipes and compiling edible information) and Paganism (no dragons/crystals/deities for me; mainly pure natural cycles and experiences) have really counterbalanced those tendencies.

I don't think these or similar interests are so uncommon in INTPs, so I'm thinking that relying on those physical traits can prove to be misleading. Other introverted personality types would also share them, as might other thinking and perceiving types. (For example - some Idealist Counselors I know share those traits, due to hours spent indoors in serious emotive discussions, processing and ruminations.) Therefore I think it would probably be likely, but not absolute, that those physical traits may be found in INTPs. To put it in logical terminology - it would be a sufficient but not necessary condition. So it would therefore probably be a somewhat unreliable measurement most of the time.

This is an interesting thread, BTW.

 

[PossumOfTheGrotto]

This thread got me thinking about health and environment, so I started a new thread about how to tailor our environments as INTPs to make sure we can still do our thing but not end up like Baron Harkonnen.

(Keeping in mind our proclivities and needs...also like Baron Harkonnen, but in a good way...)

http://www.intpforum.com/showthread.php?p=201787#post201787

 

[starsnghts]

Yes, I do have dark circles. Shikamaru is awesome :P

 

[Pandora]

Well? I do have dark circles, and L is awesome.

I'm also on the group that has always had them. My behavior during first grade was... quite troublesome, to say the least, and looking at old pictures now, I guess my eyes were enough to make people realize that. I still have them, but from experience, it does get better when I feel emotionally healthy... I didn't notice such a change in the period (a few months) in which I adopted "healthier" lifestyle habits, though. (...maybe because it was all so restricting and, therefore, stressing. )

 

[phial]

Maybe you have a genetic disposition to live a certain lifestyle?

Indeed, my dark circles are from lack of sleep. There's simply too much to think about, 24 hours isnt' enough.

 

[Wraith]

Yes, I've noticed this as well. I have dark circles, which I thought resulted from a lack of sleep. However, when I began sleeping better, they remained. Hm.

 

[Stoic Beverage]

I never had the circles when I was younger, but I have them now. Also, I have been compared to L on multiple occasions before I had ever heard of Death Note (presumably) due to my dark circles and tendency to perch on chairs.

 

[Roran]

No dark circles here (an advantage to being forced to go out on the beach for hours with my family during the summer), though I do have a poor diet and spend most of my time not at school in front of my computer. Also, I get about 7hrs of sleep daily.

 

[jameslikespie]

No dark circles here (an advantage to being forced to go out on the beach for hours with my family during the summer), though I do have a poor diet and spend most of my time not at school in front of my computer. Also, I get about 7hrs of sleep daily.

Same here, except I do have dark circles.

 

[ObliviousGenius]

Well I definitely have the dark circles. Even more so, I have super intense eyes and people say they are intimidated by me. I look at myself in the mirror and I can tell why they say that. It can best be described as a cat glare, my eyes are very small and serious. I also used to have a HORRIBLE posture and I leaned forward a lot as I walked when I was in elementary school. I've always looked like a stoner even before I started smoking weed. I act just like shikamaru lol. I look around without moving my head which always makes me look serious. I love L too.

 

[jameslikespie]

L is most definetly badass.

 

[Wittgenstein]

You know, Immanuel Kant was supposed to have been an INTP. And if you look closely at his eyes...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3f/Immanuel_Kant_3.jpg

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Believe it or not, I don't have dark circles under my eyes, though I do just grab the most accessible items of clothing in the morning and throw that on.

 

[Zionoxis]

While at the doctor a while back, a comment was made about mine, but that was a few years ago. I do not think I have them any longer as I try to go to sleep around the same time, otherwise I will be a zombie the next morning before taking my morning caffeine. I doubt I have them now, though. I wish I could check, but I may later.

 

[Dimensional Transition]

I dress very neat. Especially for someone my age, I guess. I really like wearing my shirts tucked-in, wearing non-baggy, non-denim trousers, looking for good color combinations...

So I guess I'm not very INTP in that aspect. I used to not give a damn about clothes, until I was 13-14 I think. That's when I realized I actually have a body which influences the way people perceive me.

I do have dark circles around my eyes. My body also doesn't look very intimidating. I wouldn't say I'm round shouldered though. Oh, and my neck is sticking slightly forward, but it's not extremely noticeable. I'm actually trying to become more muscular and 'big' so I won't have to be ashamed whenever I fake-fight with some friends. Usually I get laughed at because it just looks silly. It might have to do with my personality as well, as I'm not really an aggressive person... But it definitely also has to do with the fact that from 11-15 I basically didn't do any sort of sport. I considered it silly. Only now I see the value of it.