Knowing You're An INTP vs. Not Knowing

[flow]

This is a strange dilemma, and for it's almost like taking the red pill vs. the blue pill in The Matrix. Here's my reasoning: Lately I've been interviewing for a lot of jobs, and I find myself just wanting to tell them I'm an INTP, as if it's a disease or a heart condition they should be aware of. Granted, I'm more than aware of the strengths of the INTP, but I tend to dwell on the shortcomings. I know I'm not very assertive, I don't want to lead people or take on a lot of responsibility. I don't like socializing, I'm terrible at making decisions.. blah blah. Anyways, I'm working on all of these things, and knowing concretely that they are my 'type's' faults in a way helps me to see them more clearly. But at the same time, it excuses them. I'm no longer the individual that I really am, now I'm just another INTP with a well developed Fi (shout out to Jordan).

So, do you feel you're better off knowing you're an INTP? Has the myers-briggs typeology world been a warmer more comprehensible place where people make sense? Or is it just kind of annoying to see people in this light?

 

[nickgray]

Or is it just kind of annoying to see people in this light?

Indeed it is. I was wondering for some time why there are so much irrational people whose main passion are trivial things. Now I know a crude hypothesis that answers that question. Ignorance is bliss, as they say

and I find myself just wanting to tell them I'm an INTP

But what's the point? People do not know of mbti and similar stuff won't bother (at least it's very likely that they won't) to learn about it and people who are familiar with it are, well, already familiar, and they would know your type or at least an approximation.

 

[Cogwulf]

I think the only people who would understand the MBTI well enough for it to be worth me telling them my type would be mainly other NT types, but it's NT types who I find it easiest to interact with anyway so there wouldn't be much to gained from it

 

[echoplex]

Knowing my type (could be INTJ, but that's past the point) has helped me to learn to appreciate my own strengths somewhat. However, it has also made it tempting to be a little too accepting of my flaws at times. But I know it's silly to hide behind my type, and once I grasped that typology is more about strengths and challenges, rather than limitations, I was able to gain a more positive outlook. I find that, for the first time, I really want to tackle my weaknesses. I'm not sure if MBTI is to credit for that, but it certainly helps me to identify my weaknesses a little more clearly.

 

[Dormouse]

Hmm, I feel the same way in certain respects, I want to use my INTP-ness as an excuse for multiple shortcomings and bad traits. I find it has actually sapped my determination... I mean, really, it's who I am, can't fight it.
Or at least that's my perception now. It really seems more of a handicap than anything. I find myself wishing I was a J, if only for the ability at making decisions and realizing ambition.

 

[Adymus]

You're doing it wrong, and I suggest you stop this way of thinking.

What you are doing is accepting your weaknesses as an INTP as an identity. If you did not know you were an INTP, would have tried to over come your weaknesses? Because I did, and I still do.
Knowing what your personality type is not supposed to point out a limitation, it is supposed to give you a road map on how to progress to your fullest. As a confirmed INTP, you should be using what you know about yourself to use your strengths and strengthen your weaknesses. We have Si and Fe as lower-functions, but we still have and use them. You just need to learn to reach over and tap into these functions. It is not impossible, and it should be what we are all striving toward.

 

[cheese]

You're doing it wrong, and I suggest you stop this way of thinking.

What you are doing is accepting your weaknesses as an INTP as an identity. If you did not know you were an INTP, would have tried to over come your weaknesses? Because I did, and I still do.
Knowing what your personality type is not supposed to point out a limitation, it is supposed to give you a road map on how to progress to your fullest. As a confirmed INTP, you should be using what you know about yourself to use your strengths and strengthen your weaknesses. We have Si and Fe as lower-functions, but we still have and use them. You just need to learn to reach over and tap into these functions. It is not impossible, and it should be what we are all striving toward.

This answers OP's personal issue. But on a slight tangent - I think MBTI could be put to good use in the office (and it is, at some places). Why not capitalise on your employees' strengths? flow could be limiting himself, sure, but he's also simply letting his boss know (hypothetically) that he would probably do a much worse job in some areas. Bad for the company, and bad for flow's career performance, though he may flourish as a person - or may not. That bit is more open-ended than strength trading.

 

[Reverse Transcriptase]

I've actually considered saying what my MBTI type is in interviews. If you're talking with H.R. people, then chances are they know about the MBTI- it's hard to say if they know it in any detail.

Haven't done it though.

I think one of the most fundamental changes in knowing versus not-knowing about the MBTI is that: When someone do something that others don't understand, they assume that person is stupid, mean or crazy. They assume there is a deficiency in the other's thinking. The MBTI has helped me embrace the variety in human thought.

However, the MBTI is addicting. I keeps on circling in my thought processes, it's pretty obnoxious sometimes- and I'm worrying that I use it too much. (Posting on this forum probably isn't helping. I find that spending time with people I have trouble typing helps me with that.)

I'm glad I know. Yes, it does make our failings more clear- but at the very least, learning that I'm INTP lead me to this forum. cluster

 

[The Fury]

I think that it's better to know your type, it's easy to fall into the trap of shrugging of your weaknesses and rationalizing that they are simply a part of you but I think a great deal of self-improvement can come from knowing your type.

 

[aracaris]

I'd rather leave personality test results out of job interviews, I haven't gone out of my way to research this, so I'm not certain, but I wouldn't be remotely surprised if some of those H.R. people whom know about the MBTI have also formed biases around the various types, which may be a good or a bad thing for you, if you mention your type.

At least if I don't tell them my type right off then they can make their judgment of me based on my resume and what they think of me as an individual, rather than as a type, because despite obviously having some things in common, INTPs are not all the same.

Plus from what I recall hearing MBTI isn't actually a good predictor of job performance, which is what those doing the hiring should mainly be concerning themselves with.

Plus that so many personality tests used by companies as part of their hiring process have a clear bias against introverts, and in some cases even thinkers, has made me really dislike them being used as a determining factor in whether someone is hired or not. If my job had required me to "pass" such a test I'm pretty sure I'd not have been hired.

 

[Aiss]

^ I'm not sure about this bias you mention. I didn't have to do such a test as a part of recrutation so far, but I did a few I've found online (looked plausible to me, although it's possible they were BS). The tests I've seen mostly had both very high and very low scores marked as "bad" (well not literally, but there were only disadvantages mentioned next to these results) - it was good to find yourself somewhere in between. I think INTPs can pass them quite well as long as they don't claim to hate and/or be incapable of teamwork (I'm not). I suppose they may be looking for balance between ability to concentrate and to interact with others.

 

[Enne]

You're doing it wrong, and I suggest you stop this way of thinking.

What you are doing is accepting your weaknesses as an INTP as an identity. If you did not know you were an INTP, would have tried to over come your weaknesses?

I have to agree w/ Adymus. When I read over the MBTI typing, the first thing that I did was head over to the 'self improvement sections'.

INTP's is here: http://www.personalitypage.com/INTP_per.html

I have to say that in the past year self knowledge has helped me move forward faster than I would have been able to fumbling in the dark. I suppose the INTP tendency to overthink might make being an INTP feel like a self fulfilling prophecy, but seriously? 'Warning' people that you're an INTP? They might have to watch out for how amazing the elaborate constructs you're going to create are inevitably going to be, but I think shrouding yourself in this self doubt is the exact opposite of what self knowledge is supposed to give you.

 

[Sapphire Harp]

If you mentioned your type in a job interview - I don't believe they'll start thinking about you as a profile of an INTP (assuming they have some experience with MBTI...), rather - they'll probably start thinking about you as if you were just like the last INTP they knew... Definitely a roll of the dice, there.

Thinking about the weaknesses, though... how obvious do you assume said weaknesses are to other people? It may be that they've got a notion of how assertive, how social, and how prone to leadership you are just from your appearance and mannerisms. The INTP profile may help us to identify these weaknesses, but it may be that they're quite clear to other people - especially ones who are clever at reading others.
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[transformers]

Don't let yourself be boxed in by a description. If it doesn't help you in some way, either to understand your motives better or otherwise, then shrug the INFP label off and create your own "personality type". After all, nobody can understand you the way you do, nor can they influence you as much.

 

[beastie]

I let my direct supervisor know I am INTP and I feel he saw it as a threat - he made a very obvious point to show me what he is by giving me a piece of paper with all his "strengths" (I think he is ENTP) which didnt have the desired effect (I thought before AND after that he was/is a total ass kissing flake).
I will never tell an employer my type again. People are insecure and an INTP profile just adds to it, in my opinion,

 

[Weliddryn]

Discovering one's type can help in explaining oneself to others, as the understandingof the self would, hypotheticaly, be greater. Summing it up as XXXX is a cop out for true understanding and communications. If you understand your strengths more, talk about them. If you understand your weaknesses more, say little-nothing about them but handle them accordingly on an individual basis.

It (the MBTI) shows you where you can excel... and where you will need to compensate. It can help you understand others and deal with them accordingly,but always keep in mind that exceptions occur.

It's a tool.