The Box

[thoumyvision]

It seems a lot of people, after encountering MBTI for the first time, react strongly against "being put into a box". It also seems like this reaction is much less common among INTPs. I was thinking the reason might be that although we value our individuality, we don't value it over logical truth the way some other personality types might. Seems like for us the box is much more helpful toward developing our individuality rather than stifling it. Any thoughts?

 

[A22]

What do you mean by being put into a box? "You are an INTP, just as all others INTPs" Something like that? If that's so, I guess the reason for it being less common among us is that it is kind of hard to spot our peers around there. I liked seeing that there were other people who act/are/feel in a similar way than I do about things.

 

[lenon01]

Perhaps it's more of an understanding that it's a system with a preference toward one function over the other (For example, 75% Introversion, 25% Extroversion), and not that one takes total dominance over the other (For example, 100% Introversion, no extroversion whatsoever).

 

[Dapper Dan]

I'm guessing it's because we're naturally inclined towards introspection. We scrutinize our own thoughts and actions. Because of this, being diagnosed as an INTP is often a confirmation of things that we already knew or noticed about ourselves.

Without that introspection, I can see how the experience could be harrowing. Having your natural weaknesses laid bare before you is not something everyone would welcome, I imagine.

 

[LPolaright]

Most INTPs would research how does "the MBTI" system works and thus they understand that these are just preferences rather than an actual personality system. Just part of a pattern in the bigger picture that we are now more trained to spot.

Because of that preference of ours to understand patterns we just see it as a tool rather than a box. An opportunity rather than a jail.

The question is quite ironic though, if you notice (logical translation)-
"How come that the attribute which the system gives you, makes you feel like the system locks you in a box?"

 

[Moocow]

Gender roles, ethnicity, species, cliques, families... we're already in plenty of boxes, so how is personality typing really anything new?

 

[GYX_Kid]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat

I could see "INTPs" being more likely to disconnect personally from and objectify something like that concept

 

[Jah]

Logical truth over individuality ?

hmm... not sure.

It helps to realize that you're somewhere along a continuum rather than in a discrete category. (1.02 and 1.45 will both be "1", while 1.55 will be "2" ... etc.)

I would guess that people who are less apt at understanding the fact of continuous rather than discrete categories, would be more likely to oppose "the system" in order to retain their sense of individuality.