MBTI Origins

[Nick A]

Where do INTP's come from?

For starters, I am an INTP. I guess that would make sense as to why I'm in this forum (or any forum for that matter, lol). With that being said, my brain is constantly buzzing and proposing question after question; A lot of times, I come to solutions or a solid perspective to accessing my self prompted questions - A lot of times, I don't. When I don't, I discuss things with another INTP friend of mine and together we work toward finding common ground on an issue. When that doesn't work, I come here and to hear you guy's thoughts on the matter. (At the risk of having my intellect insulted, the conclusion of the topic straying so far off course a debate on favorite fast food chain ensues, the nitpicking of my grammar, etc.)

They're more people here to sort through my ideas and I always get a well broken down concept from a variety of perspectives. ( <-Intentional Grammar mistake with the 'They're' simply so that we can get that out of the way LOL)

Now that the introduction is complete.

This isn't a post concerning the history of the Myers Briggs.. sort of, at least.

My concern isn't about the history of typology, who started it or when. Anyone in this forum should already have an idea to the answer to those sort of questions. What I am more interested in, is the START of the 16 personality types.

At what time do you guys thing the human species evolved into having 16 personality types? What factors do you think attributed certain type evolution?

'N''s in particular I think are a relatively new species of man. To provide context to 'New' I mean, I don't see any N's being around during a hunter-gather time (Maybe few.. scarcely)

Do you guys think that all 16 types have always been around? What types do you think were around first and how did they evolve? When might you guys think the INTP type was introduced and what factors might have spawned our type?

I have a few ideas for different answers to these questions, as well as a few more questions - But I'd like to get some of you guys input! Help me sleep at night, lol

*Crosses fingers that this doesn't 'evolve' into a Darwinism debate* LOL

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

Of course there was N's in hunter-gatherer societies o.O

I mean, maybe there's 5% in some places and times, and 60% in others, but they didn't just pop up out of no where.

dont tell me wat 2 do

 

[Jon C]

Well it's clear where INTPs came from. We started as the famous Greek philosophers, and our population kept slowly growing in preparation of reaching a critical mass by the time the Internet was created, so we could change the world. Instead we just decided to congregate in online forums.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

Well it's clear where INTPs came from. We started as the famous Greek philosophers, and our population kept slowly growing in preparation of reaching a critical mass by the time the Internet was created, so we could change the world. Instead we just decided to congregate in online forums.

No, philosophy is wayyyy older than Greek civilisation.

The Greeks invented written history, that's about it really.

And some good books.

 

[Jon C]

No, philosophy is wayyyy older than Greek civilisation.

The Greeks invented written history, that's about it really.

And some good books.

Thank you for pointing out the historical inaccuracy in my joke.

 

[scorpiomover]

Re: Where do INTP's come from?

At what time do you guys thing the human species evolved into having 16 personality types?

Seeing as humans display characteristics of all types, it's more of a preference and prioritisation of which types one shows more of. So probably as soon as it became more evolutionarily advantageous for humans to not have all the same characteristics, probably soon after humans started living in tribes, which I gather was the case even when humans were evolving from apes. So probably right at the very beginning.

What factors do you think attributed certain type evolution?

Diversity. Everything has a weakness. If we all think the same, then we are all prevalent to the same weaknesses. If we were all the same type, then any problems that could stump one type, would stump everyone. If these were things that would kill off humans, like a plague or some type of wild animal, then everyone would get wiped out. By random mutation, human groups would have been attacked by all manner of problems. So it was only a matter of time until they were presented with one problem that would wipe out each type. Those groups that were of one type, probably went extinct. Those who were of many types, had some who were stumped by the problem, and others who could see a solution, because they thought differently to the first type, and so everyone got the solution, and everyone survived.

'N''s in particular I think are a relatively new species of man. To provide context to 'New' I mean, I don't see any N's being around during a hunter-gather time (Maybe few.. scarcely)

I think that the reverse was true. Back in the hunter-gatherer time, humans didn't know much. Most things were new to them, lightning, wolves, bears, plagues, famines, earthquakes, everything. Many of these things, like earthquakes and volcanoes, happened rarely, and very unexpectedly. But when they did happen, those who weren't ready for them, would not have survived. Sensors do poorly when around things they are not familiar with. So in those times, Sensors would have probably died, and intuitives would have probably lived.

When might you guys think the INTP type was introduced and what factors might have spawned our type?

Philosopher types have been written about for thousands of years. They were the advisors to the kings and emperors. Their advice was given great regard. They were held in great esteem.

Many unexpected problems occurred, like earthquakes and volcanoes. People could deal with them, if they knew what to do about them. But no-one understood them well enough to have a clue what to do about them. People were often taken by surprise, and did all sorts of strange things in the vague hope that something might deal with the problem. Anyone who had the calmness of mind to carefully contemplate the nature of those things, enough to understand them, would have a much, much better idea about them than anyone else. His advice would have saved the entire village from being completely wiped out. Such a person would be too valuable to let them spend all their time working. He would have been required to sit and think all day, to figure out the things that were dangerous, figure out their strengths and weaknesses (Ti), and how to deal with them as a group (Ne). In return, the villagers would have brought him food and other things, so he wouldn't need to work.

Those communities with such a philosopher-thinker, would have been much, much more successful than the ones without such a person, as they would have had a much greater chance of being wiped out, and many villages were in those days. Those villages that survived, would have then had room and resources to expand, to become a town, then a great city, then a kingdom, with the philosopher-thinker then advising the king who would order his soldiers to take action on behalf of the group.