MBTI Type %

[Fedayeen]

After the INTP test I have noticed it says INTPs make up about 1-3% of the population. I was wondering what the approximate percentage breakdown of all the types was.

 

[Agent Intellect]

http://www.mypersonality.info/personality-types/population-gender/

 

[Calamedes]

If we're 2.5% of the population, that begs the question: why are we only half of the 1/16th assumption? Is there a reason that we're so rare? Hell, why are SJ's so common?

If personality types are genetic, then it should be a 6.5% each. On the other hand, if they're environmentally influenced, then really we should be extinct :P (the hunter gatherers didn't need psychoanalysts... lol). Would this be proof that personalities are indeed a combination of the two?

 

[eudemonia]

If we're 2.5% of the population, that begs the question: why are we only half of the 1/16th assumption? Is there a reason that we're so rare? Hell, why are SJ's so common?

If personality types are genetic, then it should be a 6.5% each. On the other hand, if they're environmentally influenced, then really we should be extinct :P (the hunter gatherers didn't need psychoanalysts... lol). Would this be proof that personalities are indeed a combination of the two?

As only 1% of the population INTP women virtually are extinct. I sometimes feel extinct, as if I am some kind of weird thing from another planet that people look at and think, thank God that's not me

 

[Calamedes]

hahahaha Have you ever watched Big Bang Theory? I"ll have you know that Leslie is the single most badass female INTP on the show. She would be the single most BAMF on the entire show had Sheldon not been on it (my personal favorite)... though w/o him, the show wouldn't exist :P

 

[NoID10ts]

hahahaha Have you ever watched Big Bang Theory? I"ll have you know that Leslie is the single most badass female INTP on the show. She would be the single most BAMF on the entire show had Sheldon not been on it (my personal favorite)... though w/o him, the show wouldn't exist :P

Thank You! Finally someone else here who watches this show! I mentioned it on the TV thread and no one responded. Sheldon is an INTP right? I hadn't thought about Leslie but I think your right about her to!

There are clips of it on youtube and you can download episodes on itunes for anyone who is curious about it.


Sheldon Quotes:

"We don't have any overlapping interests that I am aware of, and of course you know that I don't care for chit chat"



"You have about as much chance of going out with Penny as the Hubble Telescope has of finding that at the center of each black hole there's a little man with a flashlight trying to find the circuit breaker."



"I’ve spent the past three-and-a-half years staring at greaseboards full of equations; before that, I spent four years working on my thesis; before that, I was in college; and before that, I was in the fifth grade."



Penny: I’m a Sagittarius, which probably tells you way more than you need to know.
Sheldon: Yes, it tells us that you participate in the mass cultural delusion that the sun’s apparent position relative to arbitrarily defined constellations at the time of your birth somehow affects your personality.
Penny: (puzzled) Participate in the what?



Leonard: What are you doing?
Sheldon: Every Saturday since we’ve lived in this apartment, I have awakened at 6:15, poured myself a bowl of cereal, added a quarter-cup of 2% milk, sat on this end of this couch, turned on BBC America, and watched Doctor Who.
Leonard: Penny’s still sleeping.
Sheldon: Every Saturday since we’ve lived in this apartment…
Leonard: You have a TV in your room, why don’t you just have breakfast in bed?
Sheldon: Because I am neither an invalid nor a woman celebrating Mother’s Day.


EDIT: Sorry. Got excited. resume topic at hand.

 

[Waterstiller]

Okay, you win. I will watch this show somehow.

 

[Fedayeen]

Thanks for the link AI.

hahahaha Have you ever watched Big Bang Theory? I"ll have you know that Leslie is the single most badass female INTP on the show. She would be the single most BAMF on the entire show had Sheldon not been on it (my personal favorite)... though w/o him, the show wouldn't exist :P

Isn't she the ONLY female INTP on the show? So technically she is the most badass and the least badass female INTP on the show at the same time.

Thank You! Finally someone else here who watches this show! I mentioned it on the TV thread and no one responded. Sheldon is an INTP right? I hadn't thought about Leslie but I think your right about her to!

There are clips of it on youtube and you can download episodes on itunes for anyone who is curious about it.


Sheldon Quotes:

"We don't have any overlapping interests that I am aware of, and of course you know that I don't care for chit chat"



"You have about as much chance of going out with Penny as the Hubble Telescope has of finding that at the center of each black hole there's a little man with a flashlight trying to find the circuit breaker."



"I’ve spent the past three-and-a-half years staring at greaseboards full of equations; before that, I spent four years working on my thesis; before that, I was in college; and before that, I was in the fifth grade."



Penny: I’m a Sagittarius, which probably tells you way more than you need to know.
Sheldon: Yes, it tells us that you participate in the mass cultural delusion that the sun’s apparent position relative to arbitrarily defined constellations at the time of your birth somehow affects your personality.
Penny: (puzzled) Participate in the what?



Leonard: What are you doing?
Sheldon: Every Saturday since we’ve lived in this apartment, I have awakened at 6:15, poured myself a bowl of cereal, added a quarter-cup of 2% milk, sat on this end of this couch, turned on BBC America, and watched Doctor Who.
Leonard: Penny’s still sleeping.
Sheldon: Every Saturday since we’ve lived in this apartment…
Leonard: You have a TV in your room, why don’t you just have breakfast in bed?
Sheldon: Because I am neither an invalid nor a woman celebrating Mother’s Day.


EDIT: Sorry. Got excited. resume topic at hand.

heres some good ones too, some of which you covered
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8P0YmgQTbA


Back on topic.....

@Calamedes: Who says there has to be an even breakdown of all the types? I doubt it it as simple as there being 16 different types and the dice get rolled to see which you get so to speak. The dice could be weighted a certain way. Which way i'm not sure. I haven't really looked at those percentages much yet.

 

[fullerene]

I actually think I saw something as high as 6, once... but I'm not positive. I scoured the internet at one point wondering the same thing. The general consensus falls between about 2-3 for INTPs I think... but I think when Jung made the theory he wrote us in as 1%... but some google answers person cited the Center for Applications of Psychological Type had us at 5-6%. I can't imagine that's possible though.

I actually met my first female INTP the other day... haha it took like 2 minutes of talking to her to realize because she had just about every mannerism I'd ever imagine one having. It was a little startling for a second, but nice because the small talk dropped almost immediately. I was surprised though because I've definitely never talked to one before.

 

[Fedayeen]

Using the percentages on the link AI posted I broke it down into the individual Characteristics as well. Here is what I got.

E=53
I=47

S=78.5
N=21.5

T=50
F=50

J=51.5
P=48.5

I find this very interesting. In every group there is a difference of no more then 3% except for Sensing over iNtuition where there is a 57% difference. Thats almost 20 times the gap of the other types. Makes me wonder why. What would cause such a tremendous difference in sensing over intuition. I doubt anyone has that answer though.

 

[Devercia]

according to Piaget, concreate thinking(s presumably) is the third stage of cognitive development. Formal opperations(n) comes as forth. In a way, being n has a certain amount of prequsition of s. That said people don't shift from s to n, but move on from first obtaining the skill from around age 7 with abstract thinking coming in at around 11 . Piaget also said a very significant portion of the population never reaches formal operations. That does not necessary mean intellectual supiorority, as an s is better at s than an n.

Don't think of yourself as extinct, but rather a new evolution. Speaking from that standpoint, the surviveability of an intp in such an environment is based on inginuity, not practicality. I immagine intps would do reasonbly well in a primitive enviroment, being so adaptive.

 

[Ermine]

Using the percentages on the link AI posted I broke it down into the individual Characteristics as well. Here is what I got.



I find this very interesting. In every group there is a difference of no more then 3% except for Sensing over iNtuition where there is a 57% difference. Thats almost 20 times the gap of the other types. Makes me wonder why. What would cause such a tremendous difference in sensing over intuition. I doubt anyone has that answer though.

I don't have an answer, but I have a credible guess. With all the other functions, they're equally applicable in the "real world". In the case of S/N, there's a general stereotype that sensors have a greater grasp on the world. Then there's the stereotype of Ns being visionaries with their heads in the clouds. I say it's a case of psychological evolution. Otherwise, I could see there being an equal percentage for each.

I've also noticed that S/N is the biggest barrier between personalities, particularly in communication.

 

[Agent Intellect]

i wonder if its more along the lines of how things are supposed to be. you only need a few "visionaries" but it takes a lot of down to earth people to make it happen. if the S/N was the other way around, society as we know it would probably collapse!

 

[Fedayeen]

i wonder if its more along the lines of how things are supposed to be. you only need a few "visionaries" but it takes a lot of down to earth people to make it happen. if the S/N was the other way around, society as we know it would probably collapse!

More like if it was reversed society would never be like it is now but would be structured to fit the other way. The only way it would collapse is if there was a sudden change in S to N

 

[Agent Intellect]

More like if it was reversed society would never be like it is now but would be structured to fit the other way. The only way it would collapse is if there was a sudden change in S to N

i know.... i suppose i should start putting "j/k" after statements i make in jest, though.

 

[Fedayeen]

Or at least an lol

 

[Kuu]

NT women in general are quite rare. I can't imagine what I would think or feel if ever I found a female INTP IRL, but I bet the unified field theory will come first.

she had just about every mannerism I'd ever imagine one having.

Like...?

I'd definitely would like to help with the preservation of the species.

(And I agree, The Big Bang Theory is good, but I never catch it on tv)

 

[Calamedes]

I watch BBT online

 

[Fedayeen]

I watch BBT online

where? youtube?

 

[FF]

http://www.mypersonality.info/personality-types/population-gender/

Dear god save us all, the ESTJs are EVERYWHERE!!!

 

[Fedayeen]

There are even more ISTJs.

 

[Gorgrim]

oh god, noes

 

[FacetiousPersona]

Dear god save us all, the ESTJs are EVERYWHERE!!!

You definitely dislike ESTJs. You created a thread that criticize them.

 

[XIII]

There are even more ISTJs.

ISTJ + Low Self-Esteem = HELL

 

[echoplex]

The more popular types are such because they are needed for reproduction and nurturing.

Tounge-in-cheek but kinda true.

 

[FacetiousPersona]

The more popular types are such because they are needed for reproduction and nurturing.

Tounge-in-cheek but kinda true.

ESFP is a slut>ESFP sleeps with various men and has six children>4 of the six children are ESFP>The 4 ESFP children become adults and three have 4 ESFP children that follow their parent's path. Oh no! The sensors are reproducing at a rate far higher than those of intuitives. Let's hope that the S genes are not very dominant.

 

[echoplex]

Let's hope that the S genes are not very dominant.

LOL.

Well, I read somewhere that SFJ types make up about 25% of the population, making them twice as represented as they "should" be.

If you think about it though, those types make good parents, 'cause they're more nurturing.

 

[hopefulmonster]

I'm kind of mulling over a psycho-sociological "niche" theory to explain the disparity between Ns and Ss. I think Sensors serve as a kind of glue or infrastructure for civilizations; while Ns are kind of the innovators that"move" humanity forward. So in other words the sensors (especially SJ's) take care of all the dirty work and provide a supportive environment for a NT/NF to work their magic.

I'm trying to work out an equation that would show that you need X number of SJ's to support 1 NT or NF. I think NT's are replacing the need for as many sensors through automation and machine tech so the numbers should get closer and closer together as computers remove the need for humans who excel in rote tasks.

I'm not 100% sure where I should fit SPs intol this model though. I've kind of neglected to research SPs to date. Hm...maybe SJ's do the dirty work...SP's balance out the SJs dogmatic nature and help create an environment that allows intuitives to excel?

 

[LucielaMinerva]

As only 1% of the population INTP women virtually are extinct. I sometimes feel extinct, as if I am some kind of weird thing from another planet that people look at and think, thank God that's not me

6.7 million INTP females doesn't really sound like the basis for extinction. Unless 90% of them are sterile, infertile or would die within the next few hours without replacement.

Relax, we're still thriving.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

Yeah, really. I've made two children of my own, although I highly doubt my daughter is an INTP. She screams F. Literally.

And I have to add, as an INTP female, yes I have felt like an unusual bird, but I don't feel like a stranger on a foreign planet or anything. For one, there are males to relate to. (And cool females of other types.) For two, I have learned how to adapt. I suppose it helped that I grew up in a very intellectual family and went to private schools, though...

Many of the males on here seem to think viewing an INTP female would be the craziest thing ever. Not so sure about that. We're social chameleons- we know how to blend in, to an extent. But yes, I think we often tend to have odd conversations- maybe odd mannerisms?- but only with those who we know will appreciate them.

Not like I know. I don't exactly watch myself. I had a couple of female friends in high school who were ENTP. They were the really obviously weird ones, in my opinion.

 

[Enne]

ESFP is a slut>ESFP sleeps with various men and has six children>4 of the six children are ESFP>The 4 ESFP children become adults and three have 4 ESFP children that follow their parent's path. Oh no! The sensors are reproducing at a rate far higher than those of intuitives. Let's hope that the S genes are not very dominant.

Well...we could all meet up and..get to work...

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

An aside, Enne: how the hell did you get a hold of my senior picture?

 

[Enne]

An aside, Enne: how the hell did you get a hold of my senior picture?

I thought your avatar was your senior picture. Senior and senior? Get it? Anyone? Anyone?

*crickets*

Nevermind. Oh, and ... I have ways and means...

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

Har-dee-har.

It took them like twenty hours to get that shot just right... my triceps were killing me. And you... you... just took it away from me.

That's Ernest Hemingway, by the way. So I'll take your comment as a compliment, even though I'm supposed to be the cat in the picture.

 

[Razare]

As far as the types go in general, I think there are a limited number of ways to process information in most human brains. I think sensing exists in all brains, but gets overridden at some stage by a quickly developing intuition. I think feeling also exists in all brains, but at some point is surpassed by intelligence. I have an ESFJ sister with non-developed thinking functions and honestly, she's dumb as a post. I love her to death, but just some simple every-day analysis I make baffles her. She'll always ask, "How do you know that?" and then I explain all the evidence and analysis my brain went through and she ends up thinking I'm the world's biggest dork.

Though in childhood, at some stage I'm sure I relied on feeling more than thought and sensing more than intuition. It would be my guess that this is the case. I'm not saying it's environmental either, I'm just saying if it is genetic, I doubt it kicks in immediately at birth.

 

[Beat Mango]

Yeah I thought it was interesting in the other thread how decrieva said that N corresponds with Piaget's 4th stage of cognitive development.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

I'm having a hard time believing there are more INTPs than INTJs. I feel like in real life I know a handful of INTJs but very few, if any, INTPs.

 

[Ulysses]

Brain: How can you accurately differentiate between an INTJ and an INTP?

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

I guess I just notice differences between myself and those who could be either INTP or INTJ. I am always willing to give someone else or a different idea a second-to-one hundredth-chance (I am exceedingly open-minded, potentially to the detriment of my mental health) while those who seem more INTJ to me seem more dogmatic in a way. But maybe that's a female vs male thing, because all of these others who seem more J to me are male. I don't know. What do you think?

 

[Decaf]

But maybe that's a female vs male thing, because all of these others who seem more J to me are male. I don't know. What do you think?

Or maybe those 'J' traits are more strongly attached to masculine behavior in western culture, hence male 'P's all over the world feeling emasculated for something that isn't gender specific. Sorry if that came off too strongly. You might be able to detect some emotional content with regards to this.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

No, not at all. I'd just like you to explain this to me, because there are a couple of males who I first considered INTP but now I'm not sure. I dig INTP guys, 100%. I see nothing un-male about being a perceiver. Point in fact, the judging side I consider to be way too harsh. Otherwise I would have married a J, not a P. Would you consider yourself to be more like how I described myself in the way of perceiving or more like the other, which seems more INTJ to me?

 

[truthseeker72]

Decaf, in his usual enlightened manner, correctly pointed out that while J is not innately masculine, Western culture strongly encourages "Jness" in men. P is usually construed, however inaccurately, as indecisiveness, which is one step removed from weakness.

As another male INTP noted in this forum (I can't remember who) three of the four INTP traits go against the grain of stereotypical masculine behavior (T of course, being the only "guy" trait). This helps explain why INTP men, like me, tend to stay away from large groups of guys (think fraternities). I'll never be a "man's man" nor do I want to be.

 

[Decaf]

No, not at all. I'd just like you to explain this to me, because there are a couple of males who I first considered INTP but now I'm not sure. I dig INTP guys, 100%. I see nothing un-male about being a perceiver. Point in fact, the judging side I consider to be way too harsh. Otherwise I would have married a J, not a P. Would you consider yourself to be more like how I described myself in the way of perceiving or more like the other, which seems more INTJ to me?

Well, I'll relate some problems I had in my last relationship if you don't mind. We struggled for a long time over my apparent inability to "take charge", though I described it as my unwillingness to make decisions that involved her without having some idea of what she wanted. She felt that quality meant I was asking her to take charge and so she would, but she would resent it.

For a long time I "protected" her feelings in those situations and didn't let her know how frustrated I was that she "refused" to partake in a give-and-take partnership in planning. I would let her take over because it was preferable to actively going against my own bent in order to "take charge" of the situation.

Once I finally let her know how I felt we reached an impasse. We were unable to plan anything without fighting to some extent. She felt like I wasn't being the masculine member of the relationship (made all the worse by my being unemployed and basically living off her income) and I had pretty much given up trying to get her to help me create a culture of free exchange.

That experience helped me realize how important it is for me to have someone to talk to openly about even the simplest things without a decision being made. Without that I become a homebody because I can't generate the enthusiasm I need to get away from the comforts of home. Even when I did have the motivation, it was quickly sapped by the process of trying to make it happen with her.

The problem is that she is a J and operates on a different wavelength than I do. If the roles were reversed it would be more culturally acceptable, and thus perhaps more acceptable to the two of us that she would make those decisions and I would go along with them. I believe that that image encapsulates the belief in western culture that men are J and women are P, without ever understanding what that means.

I've seen successful relationships that are J's and P's, but it provides such a fertile ground for relationship destroying problems that I plan on avoiding it in the future (or until a new relationship further clarifies what I what out of life).

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

But I'm not talking about stereotypical masculine behavior. I didn't mean to sound the embittered male alarm or anything. All I was saying was that:

1. I seem to have encountered more INTJs than INTPs.
2. The people of whom I am speaking are male.
3. Initially, I considered them to be INTPs.
4. Upon further rumination, I thought about the primary differences between us. These differences seem to be of a J nature. Therefore, I considered them to be INTJs.
5. But if there are supposed to be more INTPs than INTJs in the world, maybe there is something I am overlooking.
6. Obvious biological difference: They are male while I am female. Could that play a part in the differences I observe?

INTP males: please enlighten me.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

Woops. I posted this ^ while Decaf was responding, apparently. As far as the J/P thing goes in relationships, I think one of you will be more J than the other, no matter what your MBTI type is and it will cause conflict. The level of conflict, obviously, will decline if you are both more P, but still... My husband is a P as well, but he's still definitely more J than me so it can cause problems.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

As another male INTP noted in this forum (I can't remember who) three of the four INTP traits go against the grain of stereotypical masculine behavior (T of course, being the only "guy" trait). This helps explain why INTP men, like me, tend to stay away from large groups of guys (think fraternities). I'll never be a "man's man" nor do I want to be.

What are considered the more stereotypical masculine traits? I find this interesting because my husband mainly hangs out with other men and he was in a frat (much to my chagrin), but he is still way more feely/sappy than I will ever be. Point in fact, therapists have said he tends to be the female in our relationship, while I'm the male.

 

[Decaf]

I'll never be a "man's man" nor do I want to be.

And how.

But I'm not talking about stereotypical masculine behavior. I didn't mean to sound the embittered male alarm or anything. All I was saying was that:

1. I seem to have encountered more INTJs than INTPs.
2. The people of whom I am speaking are male.
3. Initially, I considered them to be INTPs.
4. Upon further rumination, I thought about the primary differences between us. These differences seem to be of a J nature. Therefore, I considered them to be INTJs.
5. But if there are supposed to be more INTPs than INTJs in the world, maybe there is something I am overlooking.
6. Obvious biological difference: They are male while I am female. Could that play a part in the differences I observe?

INTP males: please enlighten me.

One thing to take note of is that whenever a particular natural trait is considered by the surrounding culture to be negative, the individual may attempt to adapt to close that gap. Unfortunately, this is often maladaptive as, more often than not, the individual ends up pretending to be what the environment has convinced them is better, but without the underlying motivations that make that perspective real.

Fraternities are full of P's of all kinds, but you'd never be able to tell because they're all pretending to be a man's man. You can identify them, often times, by how absurdly masculine they are attempting to be. Why do you think they joined a fraternity? The ones that are authentic in their expression of that behavior become lanterns in the dark for "undesirables".

That being said, the skills that one develops in the pretending phase CAN be highly beneficial after you work your way back to respecting yourself. Those traits are, after all, beneficial to those with whom is occurs naturally.

__

One final note... INTPs are more likely to have obscure interests than INTJs, so if you're looking in relatively "normal" places, you are much more likely to find an INTJ than an INTP. When we're not partaking in obscure activities we are cave dwellers, socializing in our own homes or the homes of friends far more than in public. We may not be as rare as it appears, but finding us is still a difficult task.

 

[Decaf]

Woops. I posted this ^ while Decaf was responding, apparently. As far as the J/P thing goes in relationships, I think one of you will be more J than the other, no matter what your MBTI type is and it will cause conflict. The level of conflict, obviously, will decline if you are both more P, but still... My husband is a P as well, but he's still definitely more J than me so it can cause problems.

Personality type is not a percentage system. The percentages you get as an MBTI result only refers to clarity of preference rather than strength or degree. You prefer one or the other.

That being said, type development can take many paths and adaptive skills can be learned to cope with one's weaknesses. My life experience has allowed me to communicate clearly about my feeling side to such an extent that I wondered whether or not I was an INFP for quite some time. I am a very punctual person who tends to find the term "fashionably late" insulting to all involved. When I first learned about personality type I was certain I was an INTJ. I'm a scientist, so it was obvious.

Those are things I learned for one reason or another and have nothing to do with my type. When you put me in a room with another INTP who does not put much stock in punctuality, we can still come to clear understandings of eachothers positions because we went about that process in similar ways. I do not understand why Js demand punctuality. I've had those discussions and I end up very frustrated.

Your husband may have developed those skills that come more naturally to Js as a means of adapting to his own life experience, but that doesn't make him "more J".

Point in fact, therapists have said he tends to be the female in our relationship, while I'm the male.

Yeah... I have an axe to grind with therapists. How dare they label interactive behaviors with biological terms! Someone needs to thump their skulls.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

Good points, Decaf.

I can see the adaption aspect- I'm sure there are more 'feminine' traits I display as a way of fitting in as well. So it makes sense men would do the same thing.

As far as INTPs being more obscure, I'm not so sure that it applies to the people of whom I'm speaking because they happen to be family members, old friends, and a fellow parent at my school. But still, I can see how in general more INTJs would pop on the radar.

Thanks.

 

[Decaf]

Good points, Decaf.

I can see the adaption aspect- I'm sure there are more 'feminine' traits I display as a way of fitting in as well. So it makes sense men would do the same thing.

As far as INTPs being more obscure, I'm not so sure that it applies to the people of whom I'm speaking because they happen to be family members, old friends, and a fellow parent at my school. But still, I can see how in general more INTJs would pop on the radar.

Thanks.

No problem I'm really curious what those feminine traits might be that you adapted to. What differences do you see in your behavior that might distinguish yourself from how others have described themselves here? As you might expect, I really don't have much insight into this area.

Oh, and as a parting thought... INTPs are by nature highly adaptive, so I believe there is a higher instance of maladaption than other types.

edit- oh, and to borrow from the 5 favorite movies thread... I always liked Singing in the Rain too and thought Gene Kelly's apartment in An American in Paris was just the perfect size. Of course being a guy I can't normally tell people that I've even ever watched them.