The most selfish personality type...

[walfin]

is INTP.

We don't uphold tradition.

We don't wanna save the world.

We aren't bubbly, bringing happiness to others.

We don't lead all that well.

All we care about are our thoughts and how to build beautiful logical structures in our brain that may not have much application to real life.

 

[Felan]

Selfishness isn't really related to personality type. Neither is shyness which is often confused with Introversion. Shyness is a form selfishness, in that a person is unwilling to share of themselves knowing that everyone is going to judge or laugh at them.

I'm an INTP.

I'm fine with tradition and only object if its a point of efficiency. Even then I only fight for it if the difference in efficiency between the old way and the new way is substantial.

I would like to save the world and often think on what I can do to improve things. A one shot save the world isn't feasible, it happens here and there.

The need to bring happiness to others can be extremely selfish. I had a coworker that I called selfishly generous just because he would jump at every chance to help someone out. He said his reward would be later (heaven). I said that just reinforced my point. Also accepting help, especially when not really needed, can be a generous act as well - allowing another to feel good about having helped you out.

Abraham Lincoln is commonly thought of as having been an INTP. He shaped the much of the view on leadership in the US up to the current day. Leadership is a rare quality in any type but it is a skill that can be improved.

We have strengths. Other types have strengths. When you effectively combine those various strengths you can really make phenomenal strides. When you try to funnel everyone into the same fit you end up with inefficienies. It is this process of trying to make everything uniform for everyone that is most vexing and commonly referred to as the SJ world.

 

[Toad]

I partly agree with you walfin. I am a very selfish person. However, there are some members on this forum that do seem to care very much about their environment and people in it.

 

[Reverse Transcriptase]

Save the world, bring happiness, lead and create tradition through beautiful logic structures!

 

[Decaf]

I think you'd be hard pressed not to find someone who at their heart wasn't selfish. Its self-preservation. The key is to find ways of being "selfless" that are personally rewarding in a way that doesn't take anything from anyone else.

Or put another way, the difference between a selfish person and a selfless person is that the first doesn't care if they are a net positive or negative to their environment and the latter defines their self-value in how much a net positive they are.

My experience with activists is that many participate as a means of finding self-identity, which is a selfish motive. How else do you get Greenpeace volunteers to rationalize wrapping trees with chains to maim lumberjacks? A violent act justified by the perceived positive self-image of the perpetrator.

I imagine an anarchist black hat goes through a similar mental process. Or the founders of ThePirateBay.org.

Like good and evil the perspective of the individual is important because no act is wholly selfish or selfless until a person reaches their breaking point. Is self defense selfish? Is becoming a monster to make a better world for others selfless?

Don't lose track of others in desperate concern for yourself or life around you will wither and die. Don't lose yourself keeping track of others or you will.

 

[Fedayeen]

what are you talking about walfin?! nobody is selfish!

 

[drumir93]

We don't uphold tradition- Thats not entirely true.Every 4th of july I like watching the fireworks,Every new years I sit and watch the countdown. It's the stupid things like Halloween and the Easter bunny that I think ought to go.(the pointless crap)

We don't wanna save the world- Just pure crap. As much as the people on it annoy me, I love this world (and even them) and would easily give my own life if it meant preserving it and all it has to offer.

We aren't bubbly, bringing happiness to others- Welp, you got me there.Other peoples emotions are no buisiness of mine.

We don't lead all that well- I dont care what some website says. Leadership is a learned trait, and most people who it comes most naturally to end up leading in the wrong direction. Atleast we have the proper thinking process to recognize where we are, where we should be, and how to get there.

All we care about are our thoughts and how to build beautiful logical structures in our brain that may not have much application to real life- We're all different. I've come to realise that there are things far more important than me and my thoughts alone.

 

[Kuu]

I agree with Decaf. This is the 21st century. People should accept already that human nature is inherently selfish...

So most selfish personality type is... ALL. (Wether they recognize it or not is a different issue)


> Save the world? Yes. From stupidity. Of course, that first requires taking over the world

> I like to build nice logical structures for my brain. But I am very concerned about bringing as much of them as I can into real life.

 

[Ermine]

is INTP.

We don't uphold tradition.

We don't wanna save the world.

We aren't bubbly, bringing happiness to others.

We don't lead all that well.

All we care about are our thoughts and how to build beautiful logical structures in our brain that may not have much application to real life.

In my opinion, a healthy amount of selfishness is a good thing. I've seen way too many good people with great potential being too selfless for their own good, to the point of slaving away for others and not doing anything for their own progress. Selfishness is a good thing as long as it doesn't hurt others or cloud our perspectives.

As for your points, I wouldn't project that generalization over INTPs as a whole. Logical structures are definitely not the only things I care about. I mainly use logical structures as tools for everything else I do. It's not like I sit and live inside my head all day. I think while doing other things. And like Tekton, I actually am somewhat motivated to bring my inner logical structures to life. It's part of how I would like to help those around me.

Tradition in itself is bad, the real problem is continuing bad, inefficient, or detrimental things just because it's what is usually done. The real evil is precedents impeding progress. Here's an example of good tradition vs. bad tradition. Every family has their own traditions for doing things together and celebrating holidays. That's a good thing and brings the family together. A bad, inefficient, and detrimental example of tradition would be something like female circumcision.

As for saving the world, it's not that I don't want to save the world, it's that I don't think I can. I don't have nearly enough followers to affect change.

For general bubbliness, I'm not bubbly at all, unless I'm being sarcastic. However, I do enjoy helping people and giving them happiness. But I tend to do that by using my strengths, not the conventional ways of helping people. I tend to help people find information, come up with ideas, think of the what ifs, and by offering an outside perspective/ a listening ear.

As for leadership, it's a learned skill for any type. There may be some people who tend to like control or bossing people around, but leadership is an art. Anyone can be a leader in their own way. Also, ever heard of Abraham Lincoln? Easily one of America's best leaders, and an INTP.

 

[echoplex]

We don't uphold tradition.
We are certainly more critical of traditions, and are usually annoyed by the "just because" attitudes of others (see the South Park Easter episode for an example of this). However, if we see a tradition as logical, useful, or deeply meaningful, we'll likely be even more passionate about it than most, due to the fact that we would have likely analyzed it deeply before deciding we appreciated it.

We don't wanna save the world.
But what of the part about building logical structures? Doesn't that help the world? It certainly could, and does. We may indeed not carry a great sense of obligation to "save" the world, and we may be more aware than most of how impossible such a thing really is. But our desire to critique and improve things has to be rooted in at least some desire to see positive change around us. Even if it isn't "the world", it's something.

We aren't bubbly, bringing happiness to others.
Inferior Fe certainly makes bubbliness (is that a word?) a rare occurrence. However, if we take the INTP model, we'd see that even an inferior function is still a conscious one. I think the presence of Fe actually causes us to, if nothing else, be quite aware of the feelings of others. Whether or not we care to make others happy is a matter of how we use that function, which I'll admit probably isn't even all that usable until one's 30s. (I know mine hasn't come in yet)

We don't lead all that well.
We aren't likely to be the loud leader type, but I think there's a calm, confident type of leadership that an INTP (particularly a mature one) can provide, even if they aren't trying to. Of course, we aren't likely to even want to lead at all.

All we care about are our thoughts and how to build beautiful logical structures in our brain that may not have much application to real life.
This is probably largely true for young INTPs. I think the maturation of inferior functions can help us to bring those internal structures out into the world around us. In terms of just Ti+Ne, you are correct though. It's pretty much all imagination and logic. It takes other functions to make us more useful, sadly.

_____

Also, I'll submit this: It's INFPs who are more selfish. Think about it, they are less aware of the feelings of others, due to their Feeling function being introverted. Ours is extroverted, albeit inferior, giving us more concern for others (perhaps?).

(I'm not sure I even believe this, I'm just shaking things up a bit. I have nothing against INFPs. Just a mere suggestion. )

_____

Either way, on the topic of selfishness, wouldn't an effectively selfish person realize the importance of healthy interpersonal relationships with others? It seems that the typical picture of a "my way or the highway" type who steps on everyone along the way is one of an ineffective selfish person. Everyone is selfish, but some understand they are a part of a society and that their ultimate happiness is at least somewhat dependent on those around them. I can't imagine someone who alienates themselves through selfish behavior being very happy for long.

So perhaps it's not so much a matter of selfish vs. unselfish. Maybe it's about how aware we are of interconnectivity.
​

 

[didyouknow]

I did have a really long post prepared, but the arguments already put forward for some of them pretty much summarise my reactions. So I just included the ones that really got to me.

We don't uphold tradition.

How could this impact on selfishness? As far as I can see it isn't even necessary to refute this considering it's completely irrelevant. In my experience, people don't care if you do or you don't. If they did, I'm sure I would go and pretend to be interested. But this is a kind of fake happiness anyway and I'm unsure at the moment whether this is a good or a bad thing.

We aren't bubbly, bringing happiness to others.

You can bring happiness to others in other ways than being 'bubbly'. I actually find these people annoying and not all that helpful when I'm feeling down. A lot of the time, people want a small gesture like a look, a kind word or even just your presence to know that you're there. They don't need irrational optimistic views about their situation, in my experience, it just makes them worse.

We don't lead all that well.

Also irrelevant to selfishness. I tend to prefer to be in an advisory role because I think I can do more by providing information and alternative views. So... I'm selfish for choosing the role that uses my skills to the best advantage? Even if this were the case, everybody is different... INTP is just a foundation of our personality, using it to judge people as a whole is inaccurate.

 

[walfin]

Very well reasoned responses, unfortunately, not what I hoped this thread would be. I'd wanted a discussion on which personality type is most prone to selfishness, but only 1 person mentioned INFPs and even then only briefly.

I do think there are different forms of selfishness, and different personality types guard different things most jealously.

Well at least, I think, INTPs are loyal, judging from the spirited defence of this personality type by so many posters.

 

[Carnap]

I don't know... I think/know empathy is biologically hardwired. Some people have more. It's in the frontal lobe, dopamine is released into the frontal lobe and people are more able to perceive other's emotions.

Altruism is a secondary instinct in humans after selfishness, because we are social animals. It's an evolutionary adaptation.

Degrees vary in individuals. I would go so far as to say that INTPs could have more because they are introverts, but that is pure drivel on my part, perhaps.

 

[meshram.alok]

What about ENTJs?

With Fi being their Inferior, they wouldn't use emotional values in their decision making process and could be cold, hard and exacting on others to achieve their own goals.

I'm not sure though, I'm just speculating.

Here's what Wikipedia says:

ENTJs tend to be fiercely independent in their decision making, having a strong will that insulates them against external influence. Generally highly competent, ENTJs analyze and structure the world around them in a logical and rational way. Due to this straightforward way of thinking, ENTJs tend to have the greatest difficulty of all the types in applying subjective considerations and emotional values into the decision-making process.

 

[Beat Mango]

If defined as least concerned with others or the world, I could imagine INTPs being the most "selfish".

 

[Felan]

If defined as least concerned with others or the world, I could imagine INTPs being the most "selfish".

To me INTPs might have a stronger tendancy to being unconcerned with what others think of them, but a stretch to say INTPs are unconcerned with others.

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

ESFPs i think, well, the Narcissistic ones...

i can't imagine a being more Hellish than a Narcissistic ESFP

 

[del]

I dunno.

I've always found people with strong Fi to be the most selfish.

Maybe I've just dealt with unhealthy xxFPs, but they all seem to have this "Woe is me!" vibe, despite the fact that they've all come from upper middle class families and have had EVERYTHING provided to them.

I don't know... I think/know empathy is biologically hardwired. Some people have more. It's in the frontal lobe, dopamine is released into the frontal lobe and people are more able to perceive other's emotions.

Altruism is a secondary instinct in humans after selfishness, because we are social animals. It's an evolutionary adaptation.

Degrees vary in individuals. I would go so far as to say that INTPs could have more because they are introverts, but that is pure drivel on my part, perhaps.

This is correct. Empathy appears to be at least partially hardwired via mirror neuron reactions (explaining why, for instance, many Nazi prison guards, who thought they were entirely justified in what they were doing, nevertheless developed severe PTSD).

You commonly see altruistic behavior in populations of closely related individuals where sacrificing oneself will improve the fitness of the group as a whole and, since you're all related, your genes as well -- even though individually, you're exterminated.

Some species of hymenoptera have a sex determination system where fertilized eggs are always female, and unfertilized eggs are always male. This makes it so, on average, sisters are more than 50% similar. This is one reason it's hypothesized that certain hymenoptera (ants, bees, etc.) are so social and willing to sacrifice themselves.

Furthermore, in humans altruistic behavior is HIGHLY dependent on culture. Ache hunters, for example, are ridiculed when they bring in a catch, no matter how large it is, and the meat is distributed evenly between all the families, except that the hunters themselves get none and their families do no better than if any random person brought in the game. There are such strong cultural restrictions that if a hunter brags about his catch or tries to give more to his family than anyone else, he's cast out of the tribe.

I know you could argue that even that kind of altruism is still selfish because it has the highest chance of perpetuating your genes, but the point is the world isn't a prisoners' dilemma and what's defined as acceptable is more defined by culture than human nature.

 

[echoplex]

Very well reasoned responses, unfortunately, not what I hoped this thread would be. I'd wanted a discussion on which personality type is most prone to selfishness, but only 1 person mentioned INFPs and even then only briefly.

To elaborate, I feel like dominant Fi makes INFPs a potential candidate, echoing what del said. For some reason, I just see both Fi and Te as functions that tend to make one a bit stuck in their own head. Fi can make you so immersed in your own world of emotions that you don't see or care about others around you. And Te doesn't seem to care whose feelings it hurts, so long as it's making everything "logical". That's just my hunch though. I don't actually think this question can really be answered without alot of doubt.

I mean, now I'm thinking ISFP is more selfish. They've got Fi too. And what about Ti-types? Probably more reasonable and aware of their own hypocrisies, but still stuck in their heads.

And heck, even Fe could be selfish, although I tend to see it as the least selfish function. Fe can make you a control freak and make you lash out at others. It may be concerned with others, but not necessarily their well-being.

I'm gearing towards ENTJ, but I don't think they'll appear as selfish, since they have the ability to kinda mask it. I think ISFPs will seem the most selfish.

 

[Zero]

I like having my own life, but conditioning wise I'm always helping out. I don't think selfish is a term anyone would use in describing me.

Anyway, I tend to find INFPs just as selfish. Any "personality" that suffers from jealousy or self obsessive lack of esteem comes off selfish.

I'm fairly confident and well adjusted. I would probably be called out for being socially awkward, but that's all I can think of. I know there are some annoying things I do and I can be insensitive or dense, but people tend to take that as "head in the clouds". I'm not a selfish or jealous person. I think maybe the fact that I don't display those traits is sometimes why people find me off.

Maybe INTPs are selfish, I personally would be shocked to be called something like that, considering all the goddamn shit I voluntarily do. I more or less have a job I'm not getting paid for. I don't complain, I understand the situation, but I wouldn't appreciate being called selfish when I have to put up with it. So maybe I'm selfish on the inside, but that's not what counts when it comes down to it. It's what you do that people see.

 

[LucielaMinerva]

lol topic!!

but anyway:

We don't uphold tradition.

- true, but of what value is upholding tradition for? tradition is just a means to get people to be sheeple; to impose one person’s view of how life should be lived according to their subjective cognitive processes. That’s selfish of them, and if we are against their selfishness for our own selfishness, that doesn’t mean it’s bad. It’s technically selfish that we are not agreeable with their notions, but it’s our life, not theirs!

We don't wanna save the world.

- Actually I do, but I only want to save those who deserve saving and I want to eliminate pain (although I cannot) because I know how painful pain is and my empathy side wants others to not feel that pain. A humane issue, I guess. But people in the world are so full of crap that I can’t be bothered anymore. It’s time for me to grow out of my naïveté.

We aren't bubbly, bringing happiness to others.

- It’s nice to be happy. You’re happy, they’re happy, everyone’s happy, what’s not to like about being happy? I’m bubbly when I’m in the bubbly mood. If I’m not, I’m a bubbling heap of hot lava :x

We don't lead all that well.
- for years I deluded myself into thinking that I was good at leadership. I am assertive, yes, but not for the long term. I can’t be arsed to be responsible for a bunch of people! Not my style, not my calling. I’m more interested in myself. ‘sides, I have poor human management and organization, although I am very good at categorizing books and objects. When it comes to humans and self… epic fail >_>”

All we care about are our thoughts and how to build beautiful logical structures in our brain that may not have much application to real life.

Hahahahaha yeah. HAHAHAHAHA I just asked my company for records of employees’ temperatures so that I can go home to ponder about the results and see if there are any patterns in the different departments and tabulate theories to account for why people have such temperatures, and when I asked my receptionist for it, she was like “you want the temperature records?” *blank stare* “what for?” *blank stare again*, to which I replied “err… for, you know, for me to err… look at”. LOL, I should have just stole it by myself and I wish people wouldn’t ask me what it was for. I’m just curious, that’s all!!! Then I’ll publish the results to my blog and then I’ll be satisfied.

Practical people will be telling me: WTF why are you wasting your time with this? And my reply will be: I don’t know, I like doing it. I like information and processing and coming up with theories. Theories are so fun to do. LOL!


Btw: Any jobs for someone with such a penchant? (besides researching)