INTPs and social engineering

[systembust]

Do you feel the need to leave a positive mark on the world, or are you more nonchalant about it?

I have read in many INTP profiles that the desire to reshape society in a meaningful way is common to us. I know that when I was in my teens, I spent a lot of time daydreaming about ways to improve upon corrupt institutions, or ways to enhance different aspects of the world around me to make them function better.

As I have gotten just a bit older, I have hit patches where I really didn't care, or felt disillusioned by the socially fatalistic attitudes of many other "adults." However I know that if I were to live my ideal, I would be making a good bit of money while finding some way to contribute to leaving the world a bit better than I found it. I do think this is connected to my being an INTP; I rarely see things simply at face value. I am always looking towards what could be made out of what I see.

I honestly do think that INTPs have a bit of a higher calling. Few other types are able to take such a comprehensive, bird's-eye view of things, and then reduce them to what is essential per any given goal. I think this quality makes us one of the best types for social engineering, on some level. Not necessarily the guy in the front, but the guy pulling the strings.

Others agree? Have any of you found a career that allows you to experiment with social engineering?

 

[HyperESFP]

You'll be banned for being me, I bet. I BET! Am I saying this to not get him banned as this would be surprising when he is me? Is it?! Is it not?!?!

 

[Dormouse]

Sigh. You again... I suppose I'm a bad person because a part of me enjoys this drama.

At OP: I've alwasy really wanted to change the world. Part of it has its roots in the selfish goal of self-immortalization: I want to be remembered, long after my death, for something great. Another contributor is the huge stupidity that affects how this world is run. So many governments and companies can't see past a few years into the future... It's depressing.

And, despite being a heartless NT , I really do sympathise with people, animals, nature. I would like to help. This world enchants me, to make a small part of it better would be a gift.

(Of course, the cynic in me is disgusted with this idealism and resigned to meaningless existence.)

 

[citrusbreath95]

At OP: I've alwasy really wanted to change the world. Part of it has its roots in the selfish goal of self-immortalization: I want to be remembered, long after my death, for something great. Another contributor is the huge stupidity that affects how this world is run.
QUOTE]

I couldn't agree more, I don't just want to live and die without making my very own impression on the world in which I live. It almost seems like if I don't, I failed. I think INTPs are much more capable at doing this than the other personalities (not saying we're smarter or have higher ambition or anything) but it is the different point of view that allows us to look past what the words on a page say, to analyze it for deeper meaning and forsee what this could mean in the future. I talk to other people about such things, and it's clear the thought has never crossed their mind. I think we have a higher dosage of reality. I get frustrated sometimes at how the majority of people get so caught up in their own lives and the worldy values we are expected to worry about such as financial issues, war, health, friends, etc. that they don't even notice the larger picture. It's as if they are looking out a foggy, hazey window thinking it is clear not realizing their eyes have just adjusted to it. They accept what is given to them, all the ideas and opinions presented in life, but don't really question whether or not there are any other alternatives, or how they even came to be. Of course this isn't everyone, and I am not calling people stupid in any way. I just think that we have a glimpse of something a lot of people will never see in their lifetime, which makes us want more than what the average person wants out of life

 

[systembust]

I've alwasy really wanted to change the world. Part of it has its roots in the selfish goal of self-immortalization: I want to be remembered, long after my death, for something great. Another contributor is the huge stupidity that affects how this world is run. So many governments and companies can't see past a few years into the future... It's depressing.

And, despite being a heartless NT , I really do sympathise with people, animals, nature. I would like to help. This world enchants me, to make a small part of it better would be a gift.

(Of course, the cynic in me is disgusted with this idealism and resigned to meaningless existence.)

I couldn't agree more, I don't just want to live and die without making my very own impression on the world in which I live. It almost seems like if I don't, I failed. I think INTPs are much more capable at doing this than the other personalities (not saying we're smarter or have higher ambition or anything) but it is the different point of view that allows us to look past what the words on a page say, to analyze it for deeper meaning and forsee what this could mean in the future. I talk to other people about such things, and it's clear the thought has never crossed their mind. I think we have a higher dosage of reality.

Yes this is what I mean. I have always felt wired this way.

I personally think that it is part of our "path": to endure sharp growing pains as we mature, learn the lessons from them, and then utilize our natural (& many times unappreciated in this society) talents to share the bounty of our experiences with others. This is the reason I think many of us are "late bloomers," because we have a lot more going on to sort out. The more complex an organism, the longer it takes to reach maturity.

Basically I think that greatness is a primary directive to INTPs, that we can choose to either embrace or ignore.

Here is a link (many have probably seen) that addresses this topic:

http://www.theintrovertzcoach.com/introverted_aliens.html

Thanks for your replies

 

[Adymus]

I think INTPs are much more capable at doing this than the other personalities (not saying we're smarter or have higher ambition or anything) but it is the different point of view that allows us to look past what the words on a page say, to analyze it for deeper meaning and forsee what this could mean in the future.

No.

We are not the only type who is capable of leaving changing the world, this is something just about every N type wants to do in some way. However I will say that the INxx types more than any others have a certain adversarial view toward how aspects of the world are run, and have a natural urge to want to fix parts of the world into their own image.

The INFJ sees the flaws in the collective societies (Fe) of the world, and wishes to bring their own design of their ideal society into fruition.

The INTJ sees the incompetence in the systems (Te) of the world, and would wish to replace them with their own superior designs.

The INFP is troubled by the lack of ethics (Fi) in the world. They recognize the suffering of the world when no one else will, and seek to help ease the pain.

The INTP recognises the lack of of logic and reasoning practiced by the people of the world (Ti). They can see what is and is not logically sound when no one else can, and seeks to share this understanding.


You should also note that the INTJ and INFJ are far better at speculating future implications than we are, so you might want to think twice before declaring us the superior breed. We are not meant to stand alone, every type has it's part.


but to answer the question, yeah, I've always wanted to leave my mark on this world in some way or another. At first it was through music, but now it is through psychology.

Another interesting thing worth mentioning is that the team I have been working with on our new, and more advanced than MBTI, model of typology, is an INFJ, and INTJ, an INFP, and myself an INTP. It is awesome how much ground we cover when he have the perspectives of all INxx's working on it.

 

[Geminii]

+1 here. I have an entire directory tree on my hard drive detailing various ways I could change the world for the better, from the Instant Mexican Canal to the AutoBuilder to the death of the telemarketing industry to much smaller minor inventions/improvements, some of which were subsequently created in real life by others (airport automatic drug sniffer booths, wireless PC bus extenders, portable bookprinters).