It's Back...

[Zionoxis]

The doubt of mine...it's back. Allow me to provide an explanation.

In my AP Environmental class, there is a guy who is....extremely quiet. I know, I am on an INTP forum, and I have characterized myself as INTP for quite some time, but his silence still comes across as unnatural to me. He makes me think of an INTJ or possibly an INTP. While I realize that introversion is not defined by how often you speak, I believe that it is safe to assume that it could act as a good indicator.

Now, I know this is a loosely held-together argument, but as I was thinking, it occurred to me that because he was so quiet and because I found that odd, could I be more extroverted that expected? I know ENTP's are considered introverted extroverts...but while I have some friends I get along with well, I am not the most social. I just...talk in class with a friend of mine in that class (I usually have at least one). I feel a need to talk to someone, but I still become overloaded with people if social interaction continues for great lengths of time.

My question is this: Am I an extroverted INTP or an extremely introverted ENTP?
(Asking why I find this is important as MBTI means nothing is aside the point, the pride one gains from being able to effectively categorize themselves is quite the achievement.)

 

[pumpkincat210]

How many times have you taken the test? Everyone has a set type I think, but factors such as personal growth, maturity, etc may effect the earlier tests. Also people sometimes take the test in different mindsets, such as the more laid back set or the work mindset.
If you are interested in a topic then naturally you'll be more vocal about it. If you are around close friends you'll be more engaged too. Just because you are introverted doesn't mean you don't want to speak and interact with others. Do you feel the need to talk to someone else in class because you have something to say, interested in the person for whatever reason or do you feel awkward by being silent so you seek out a person?
It's entirely possible your classmate may just be a lot more introverted than you. He may find that particular class boring, so he doesn't talk or perhaps he is absorbing the information? In an extreme case he could have a disorder such as asperger's, but it's really impossible to know without asking, which obviously would be quite rude.
The question to ask yourself is the majority of the time are you introverted and do you feel more comfortable being introverted?

 

[Zionoxis]

How many times have you taken the test? Everyone has a set type I think, but factors such as personal growth, maturity, etc may effect the earlier tests. Also people sometimes take the test in different mindsets, such as the more laid back set or the work mindset.
If you are interested in a topic then naturally you'll be more vocal about it. If you are around close friends you'll be more engaged too. Just because you are introverted doesn't mean you don't want to speak and interact with others. Do you feel the need to talk to someone else in class because you have something to say, interested in the person for whatever reason or do you feel awkward by being silent so you seek out a person?
It's entirely possible your classmate may just be a lot more introverted than you. He may find that particular class boring, so he doesn't talk or perhaps he is absorbing the information? In an extreme case he could have a disorder such as asperger's, but it's really impossible to know without asking, which obviously would be quite rude.
The question to ask yourself is the majority of the time are you introverted and do you feel more comfortable being introverted?

Let me put it this way, I have taken this test over 8 times under different circumstances. I usually type as INTP, but I believe myself to be slightly more extroverted than what I see from INTP's as I can be a bit....expressive at times, but I am still a mental handicap in the majority of social situations so I shut up. It was because of this person I saw, he seemed so much introverted than me, that I am considering the possibility that I may be just an extremely introverted extrovert.

 

[Pride]

Quite certain you are still an "INTP." I, too, am extroverted based on circumstance and certain stimuli (usually environmental or interpersonal). That still does not make me an extravert by definition. I still find social interaction to be exhausting, and I still find people intolerable when I am trying to think, observe, and analyze. The extraversion manifests itself at times, if I am out at a party with good friends, I may like to sing & dance; if I am asked about a subject that I'm passionate about, I may act quite extraverted in how lively I can be when discussing said subject.

Furthermore, I don't believe that being socially handicapped is a direct symptom of introversion - but a rather indirect result due to introversion's natural aversion to social interaction. Personally, I don't believe I am socially awkward, unless I purposefully want to be. I may come off to many people as cold and emotionless at times, but should I deem it so, I can come off as warm and nice as the natural extravert next to me. It is a matter of learned behavior and adaptive response to the environment. As you grow and mature, hopefully you will feel more at ease when dealing with situations and environments which do not naturally come to you as "easy."

 

[Pride]

Quite certain you are still an "INTP." I, too, am extroverted based on circumstance and certain stimuli (usually environmental or interpersonal). That still does not make me an extravert by definition. I still find social interaction to be exhausting, and I still find people intolerable when I am trying to think, observe, and analyze. The extraversion manifests itself at times, if I am out at a party with good friends, I may like to sing & dance; if I am asked about a subject that I'm passionate about, I may act quite extraverted in how lively I can be when discussing said subject.

Furthermore, I don't believe that being socially handicapped is a direct symptom of introversion - but a rather indirect result due to introversion's natural aversion to social interaction. Personally, I don't believe I am socially awkward, unless I purposefully want to be. I may come off to many people as cold and emotionless at times, but should I deem it so, I can come off as warm and nice as the natural extravert next to me. It is a matter of learned behavior and adaptive response to the environment. As you grow and mature, hopefully you will feel more at ease when dealing with situations and environments which do not naturally come to you as "easy."

 

[Zionoxis]

Quite certain you are still an "INTP." I, too, am extroverted based on circumstance and certain stimuli (usually environmental or interpersonal). That still does not make me an extravert by definition. I still find social interaction to be exhausting, and I still find people intolerable when I am trying to think, observe, and analyze. The extraversion manifests itself at times, if I am out at a party with good friends, I may like to sing & dance; if I am asked about a subject that I'm passionate about, I may act quite extraverted in how lively I can be when discussing said subject.

Furthermore, I don't believe that being socially handicapped is a direct symptom of introversion - but a rather indirect result due to introversion's natural aversion to social interaction. Personally, I don't believe I am socially awkward, unless I purposefully want to be. I may come off to many people as cold and emotionless at times, but should I deem it so, I can come off as warm and nice as the natural extravert next to me. It is a matter of learned behavior and adaptive response to the environment. As you grow and mature, hopefully you will feel more at ease when dealing with situations and environments which do not naturally come to you as "easy."

By social handicapped, I mean in that I am in large groups I am unfamiliar with (and generally they are talking about a subject I am not passionate about), and girls...but then again, I know few INTP's or ENTP's that successfully got into a relationship until after high school. From what I can see, I have an ENTP's weaknesses (Except for extreme narcissism) and an INTP's strengths. That slow response time seems to be a defining factor of INTP's to things as Ti requires time as opposed to ENTP's Ne.

 

[Dapper Dan]

Sounds like you're a well-adjusted introvert, and he's not so well-adjusted.

Also, have you tried talking to him? He may just not know anybody.