Why would all of my tests say I am NOT INTP but...

[tesseracter]

when I read the description of INTP, it fits me perfectly? Okay - this is my intro! I *think* I belong in this forum, lol, but if you go by the tests, I do not belong here.

But, you tell me: as a kid, I was unmercilessly teased as a "nerd." I didn't know at the time that it was socially unacceptable to be unaware of what I was *doing* because I was thinking so much about - who knows what. As a middle-schooler, I was extremely shy. Most kids thought I was a snob. I wasn't. I just didn't know how to talk to everyone. In high school, I actually was a cheerleader, but my best friends were all the "social rejects." I grew up on Star Wars, taped my favorite parts of it so that I could listen to it while getting ready for school (I didn't tell anyone I did this). I'm only finally NOW able to share this, realizing it doesn't make me weird to admit something like that. Right now, my favorite series is Lord of the Rings. I've watched ALL the extended versions plus all the commentary, plus all the director commentaries. Isn't all or nothing part of being INTP? Oh, and I have a degree in Computer Science. I didn't do anything with my degree, though. I had children, and have been busy with them. While taking care of my kiddos, I got into web design. It's mostly a hobby. I hate having to market myself, and then once I get a client, I don't charge them enough. So now, I am just a teacher's assistant for learning disabilities in a middle school. I haven't decided what I want to do with the next half of my life.

So, what's your prognosis? Am I INTP or an imposter?

 

[farlda]

From the sound of it, you seem to belong here
I know what you mean about the tests, they all tell me I'm INFP or IN?P, pretty much borderline.

 

[Ermine]

Certainly sounds like you're an INTP, but could easily be INFP, INFJ, or INTJ. Yeah, maybe you're INFP. You're totally welcome though, whatever you are.

 

[tesseracter]

INFP and INTJ were definitely possibilities for me. In fact, my tests kept on coming up INTJ - except, I am NOT confident in my own abilities. I do have lots of people around me that are confident and confident in me, though, lol. Perhaps their mentality has seeped into my answers. I don't think I am INFP because although I do tend to be optimistic (of other people), and naive, and seem to wear rose-colored glasses, I don't really draw other people to my ideas. When I mention an idea, I usually get a really weird look from people, and that's when I realize that I said something that only makes sense to me.

 

[mindovermatter]

When I mention an idea, I usually get a really weird look from people, and that's when I realize that I said something that only makes sense to me.

had that happen to me a bit too, along with eye rolling

 

[Ermine]

That's why I don't talk much unless I'm among friends that accept me, weird ideas and all.

 

[Wisp]

Because weird friends are the only friends worth having... just kidding. But it's true for me a large portion of the time...

 

[Vrecknidj]

The first time I took the test, I tested as an ISTJ. The second time, I tested as an INTX.

So, no big deal. I'm definitely an INTP. (Hello? I teach philosophy, can't get much more INTP than that...)

Anyway, from your description, you fit right in.

Dave

 

[loveofreason]

Hi there tesseracter. If the cape fits, wear it.

 

[Chimerical]

INFP and INTJ were definitely possibilities for me. In fact, my tests kept on coming up INTJ - except, I am NOT confident in my own abilities. I do have lots of people around me that are confident and confident in me, though, lol. Perhaps their mentality has seeped into my answers. I don't think I am INFP because although I do tend to be optimistic (of other people), and naive, and seem to wear rose-colored glasses, I don't really draw other people to my ideas. When I mention an idea, I usually get a really weird look from people, and that's when I realize that I said something that only makes sense to me.

Hmm....
Hmmmmmmmmmmm....
. o O (hmmmm...)
You say things that only make sense to you. Interesting. Misunderstood via failure to express you're idea's effectively.
Hmmm.....
You lack confidence...

Okay, strait in clear here's what I've got to say to you. www.intjforum.com. I'm an INTJ and in the earlier stages of my life didn't have this whole self confidence thing. When I got it, it never left. I'm confident that I can do whatever I try to do if given enough time and resources.

My brother is INTP and I'm INTJ. You resemble me way more than you do him. However the two are very alike....hell if you look at one site they'll list famous INTJ's and Isaac Newton will be one of them. Then other sites list famous INTP's and Isaac Newton will be one of them.

Do you often come up with back-up plans for thing [whether you actually initiate these plans doesn't really matter, just the fact that you CAN come of with them pretty naturally.]

Back to the confidence. Most of us have it simply cause we know what we do and don't know. Is this the case for you? Do you know what you don't know the answer to something almost right away and when you DO know it? INTP's aren't so good at this....not so much as INTJ's anyhow. INTP's are pretty friggin' smart but most of the ones I know don't always know if they do or don't know the answer to something.

Yeah, get back to me on this one. My myspace is /edencity you should add me. Later.

 

[EditorOne]

"When I mention an idea, I usually get a really weird look from people, and that's when I realize that I said something that only makes sense to me."

Yeah, that will happen a lot, but if your ideas eventually are proven out to actually make sense, and they are about something that matters, people listen.

Part of the reason it only makes sense to you is, probably, because you expressed the idea without letting them ramp up with you on what led you to it. They will possibly call you arrogant because you think (always the key word, isn't it?) everyone can jump from cause to effect to analysis to conclusion just like you. Sometimes they need help, sometimes they just need time, but your innocent assumption everyone can think fast and true will bite you in the butt if you don't embrace it and act on it pro-actively.

Jobs/professions/fields where thinking fast and true and somewhat coldly are virtues include analytical/investigative journalism, financial market analysis, and, I suspect, some jobs in the state department dealing with international relations, which is a lot like a giant game in many ways. And more, I'm sure.

The advantage of journalism for me was that it allowed me to do that which INTP loves best, learn enough about something to understand it thoroughly and even be competent at doing it, but not have to then work with the knowledge forever to the point of boredom. Just understand it, communicate it to the readership, and go on to the next thing just waiting to be understood.

This may resonate with some of you: Given a tip that something corrupt is going on by a specific person in a specific field of endeavor, is there anything as satisfying as learning about that field to the point where you can say "So if something is wrong, I would expect to find X, Y and Z," and then finding X, Y and Z when you look? Especially when you're investigating a hated authority figure? Oh joyous fulfillment.

Which brings it back to that "idea only I had." The price of being a journalist and getting to think a lot is explaining to readers how you figure stuff like that out, patiently taking them down the road to the buried treasure. It's kind of the same thing you might do with your friends. Probably want to do it by asking them the questions you sort of asked yourself in your thought process, though, otherwise you'll get the other bad rap of being a know-it-all. :-)

 

[IWishSomeoneToldMe]

Chimerical - there's that hmmm again. I just responded to a post by Totes. Here's the jist of it.
Wow . . . I'm a newbie. I discovered I'm an INTP during a team meeting at work 10 years ago. It clarified my life. Out of 30 people taking the M&B test, I was the only INTP. I was also the most productive according to my manager.

I married an EFSJ at age 30 and didn't know it! She keeps me sane!

It looks like we all write as we think. Totes started his intro with ‘Hmmm’ – one of my favorite words. I have a PC directory full of letters to the editor. The dir name is ‘c:\hmmm’. They rarely get sent, but are full of ramblings pointing out the obvious that others either don’t see or chose to ignore.

Folks - Are we all Republicans? Do you find that reacting to emotions is not a way to deal with life? Is your work ethic solid? Do you tolerate people who do not put effort into their jobs when you get equal pay?

I went into the Navy in 1980 at age 18 to see the world for 4 years. I saw it . . . and absorbed everything. I missed my siblings, but loved ever minute of it. While my friends were getting drunk just off the base, I was exploring with the locals, and having fun too.

I’m now a software engineer and work mostly with foreigners. I can relate to them easier than I can relate to most Americans. There are a lot of stupid/pacified people in this country.

Good luck, and trust your intuition. It’s part of your make-up. Be quiet and observe. And when you want to smack some idiot at school . . . remember, it’s not politically correct. Everybody must think they’re a winner.

 

[CowSavior]

Hmm....
Hmmmmmmmmmmm....
. o O (hmmmm...)
You say things that only make sense to you. Interesting. Misunderstood via failure to express you're idea's effectively.
Hmmm.....
You lack confidence...

Okay, strait in clear here's what I've got to say to you. www.intjforum.com. I'm an INTJ and in the earlier stages of my life didn't have this whole self confidence thing. When I got it, it never left. I'm confident that I can do whatever I try to do if given enough time and resources.

My brother is INTP and I'm INTJ. You resemble me way more than you do him. However the two are very alike....hell if you look at one site they'll list famous INTJ's and Isaac Newton will be one of them. Then other sites list famous INTP's and Isaac Newton will be one of them.

Do you often come up with back-up plans for thing [whether you actually initiate these plans doesn't really matter, just the fact that you CAN come of with them pretty naturally.]

Back to the confidence. Most of us have it simply cause we know what we do and don't know. Is this the case for you? Do you know what you don't know the answer to something almost right away and when you DO know it? INTP's aren't so good at this....not so much as INTJ's anyhow. INTP's are pretty friggin' smart but most of the ones I know don't always know if they do or don't know the answer to something.

Yeah, get back to me on this one. My myspace is /edencity you should add me. Later.

Wow, Nick, you just ripped your heart out and threw it on the keyboard.

But the INTJ forum admin is retarded... She banned me for "spamming," but the thing is, I never even remotely spammed...
________________________________________________________________

But aaaanywaaay..
I'm an INTP, and I found this out because my sister forced me to do the test and then the pesonality of an INTP fit me almost exactly.
It doesnt fit exactly anymore though, becaus I evolved.

This whole MBTI type thing is just the basic building block of one's personality, and can be added on to.
If you hang around other people with different personality types, then you'll more than likely be much more diverse...

 

[Melkor]

Would you like me to go murder the 'her' in question?


I'm free on sunday.

 

[Cabbo Pearimo]

As arms dealer I would happily condone the use of a silenced 9mm barretta; they're on the rise.

 

[Melkor]

I'm sorry, I'll pretend I ddin't hear you.

I only use daggers.


Much more personal.

 

[Cabbo Pearimo]

Reason: GOD.?

 

[Melkor]

He spoke to me, and said, ' I hate you you little bug'

I cried.

well not cried, I actually destroyed half a universe, but it was like crying.

 

[Cabbo Pearimo]

Is that why you wear that eyepatch?
To avoid drippage.

 

[Melkor]

No, the eyepatch is to make me look tougher, and of course, it hides a terrible secret.

 

[irteh?]

My thoughts are... why would you buy into the individual personality types, descriptions and all, when the guy that made the test is the one that is responsible for the descriptions of each type of personality allocated through results gained by said test?

Once getting these results and disagreeing with them you decided you want to belong to a group other than the one that the test says you are, this means you looked for a different test result by taking you own personality into consideration and allocating a tag.. a tag from the same guy that got his test wrong (by getting you personality type wrong).. and asked if everyone agreed with you.

INTP's I thought it was commen for you to lose respect for the individual that made the test and not associate yourself with this guys results or tags because he did not deliver the truth from the matter of a test you took.. and told the truth in.. and further to that you have asked others opinions on it all which leaves you open to outside thoughts from people with the said allocated personality type hoping for vindication in your questions...

Both descriptions are made up by the man would then be wrong equally wouldn't they?... why believe one and not the other? You went looking out and picking the type you things suits you and allocated it to yourself. That is a pretty confident statement you made right there by doing that and sounds not like what an INTP, in my mind, would do. They would probably not buy into the whole thing in the first place after the test got them wrong.

 

[Oblivious]

Well if she enjoys chatting with us, she can be an alien for all I care.

Man the intj forum sounds like a pretty (ban) happy place. Maybe the j makes them anal.

 

[murkrow]

My thoughts are... why would you buy into the individual personality types, descriptions and all, when the guy that made the test is the one that is responsible for the descriptions of each type of personality allocated through results gained by said test?

Once getting these results and disagreeing with them you decided you want to belong to a group other than the one that the test says you are, this means you looked for a different test result by taking you own personality into consideration and allocating a tag.. a tag from the same guy that got his test wrong (by getting you personality type wrong).. and asked if everyone agreed with you.

INTP's I thought it was commen for you to lose respect for the individual that made the test and not associate yourself with this guys results or tags because he did not deliver the truth from the matter of a test you took.. and told the truth in.. and further to that you have asked others opinions on it all which leaves you open to outside thoughts from people with the said allocated personality type hoping for vindication in your questions...

Both descriptions are made up by the man would then be wrong equally wouldn't they?... why believe one and not the other? You went looking out and picking the type you things suits you and allocated it to yourself. That is a pretty confident statement you made right there by doing that and sounds not like what an INTP, in my mind, would do. They would probably not buy into the whole thing in the first place after the test got them wrong.

the guys making the tests online are not the people who designed the MTBI

I don't see why an INTP would totally discard the entire MTBI just because they weren't able to be properly typed by a test which almost always accepts it's own fallibility.

If an INTP accepts that the MTBI is a valid tool and is interested in knowing where they fit within the tool, they wouldn't allow the issues with the testing process to stop them from divining their type.

 

[SJ77]

I took like 6 different online tests

Results:
- 3 times INTP
- INTJ
- ISTJ
- ISTP

According to all the different Descriptions, I am definitly INTP. *shrug*

 

[Perseus]

Try the Paragon Test. It is the only one I think was OK.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Of all the people I've met who've been skeptical of the MBTI, the INTPs have been the most skeptical.

No surprise there.



Dave

 

[Perseus]

I have done a brief Questor (INFP) mode on this. INTJs are the most critical. ESFJs especially and SJ in general see the test as a threat to their fortress. In other words, such things spook them and it is not even advised to mention the subject!

 

[iNtporwhat]

What do you test as - may I ask?

smart, reserved, indecisive - doesn't always make you an INTP. You could easily be other things, or could be influenced by other people in your life to be a certain way, and you may not even be aware of it or to what level.

check out Socionics.us as well as cognitiveprocesses.com. Look into the various Jung functions - Ni, Ne, Ti, Te, Fi, Fe, Si, Se. Analyze yourself - why do you do the things you do, why do you think the things you think, why do you feel the things you feel, when do you have to have a plan, when do you like to just let things happen, why do you feel lost, if you found yourself - do you have more motivation to plan things.

On a side note - I test most similarly to an INTP - but I am not really interested in any of the things you are interested in. I consider myself though an INxx, or INtp, meaning to T and P are weak and have a tendency to have little more j and f then your typical INTP. You could be an ESTP, for example, with weak es, so you aren't exactly like an ESTP.

anyhow, keep trying to find yourself, indentify your strengths and weaknesses - determine who you are. Also take the MBTI with a professional - don't take it online - it won't be as accurate.

 

[fullerene]

haha that's funny you should mention that... my first "test" was looking at the characteristics of E/I, N/S, T/F, J/P and picking them out. My only hesitation was on the J/P, but it still only took me about 20 or 30 seconds to decide that I was a P with strongly J parents who pushed planning and "practicality" on me. I'd never heard of mbti before looking at those and picking from there, so I didn't know anything about how the categories work together at all.

Then I googled "intp" and read the portrait with my family... or rather, my brother did. He read it out loud, interspersing the things I do that fit the profile perfectly, and there was much laughter by all.


Funny enough, I did still doubt that it was actually me for a while, haha. I took probably 4 or 5 tests before I was convinced, and then 2 socionics ones. MBTI I test intp all the time, socionics I consistently tested intj (all online). I don't know how you can tell the difference between socionics intp and intj, though, because they're semi-identity and have basically the same strengths and weaknesses. I eventually just looked at people around me and noticed how much better I got along with esfp's than esfj's... and esfp's are duals to intps, while esfj's are conflictors. My vulnerable function also appears to be intp, evidenced by people who criticize me .

Eventually I poked around and found a site that said a lot of socionics intp's do test online as intj's... so I figure that's probably what happened.

 

[Jesin]

Socionics has a different definition for j/p than MBTI.

 

[fullerene]

yea i looked em up... googled "socionics judging perceiving characteristics" i think. They say often that extroverts stay the same j/p in both systems and introverts often switch... but I sure seemed to fit the P better in both systems.

 

[Jesin]

Yeah, socionics makes much less sense to me, and the descriptions of socionics INTp/INTj types don't seem to fit me perfectly the same way that descriptions of MBTI INTPs do.

 

[Decaf]

Socionics redefines a few things from Jung's original theory that the MBTI uses. I tend think the changes were bad, but obviously socio-heads disagree. In MBTI J and P designate which function is extraverted (J for judging: T or F, and P for perceiving: S or N). In Socionics I THINK they have it set up that 'j' means your judging function is dominant and 'p' means your perceiving function is dominant. So obviously since extraverts extravert their dominant functions, the two match. Since introverts extravert their auxiliary function, it swaps. Of course its not that simple because they change a lot of the definitions too... really they should have avoided using MBTI notation to begin with. They're too different now to compare easily. Unfortunately that won't happen because the similarity in appearance of the two theories is more than half the reason socionics is well known. Its like starting a shoe company called Nibe with a sideways splash symbol as your logo.