INTPs are extremely analytical, curious, and open-minded. They seek to understand whatever interests them, and their interests constantly take them on new paths. They can be seen as philosophical and detached, often getting lost in their own minds.
They are objective and logical, yet always open to discovering new ways to understand the world around them. Since their focus is on the big picture, they can overlook details. They are independent thinkers who want to get to the root of problems.
Logician
Analytical, Curious, Philosophical, Detached, Insensitive
Motivations: To use their research to creatively understand
Values: Autonomy, freedom, independence, and curiosity
Fears: Loss of autonomy and rejection for who they are
3% of General Population; 5% of Men; 2% of Women
Introvert (I):
Energized by inner world and alone time
Intuition (N):
Focused more on ideas, abstracts, and patterns
Thinking (T):
Decisions are made with logic
Perceiving (P):
Perceived by others as flexible, spontaneous, and adaptable
Strengths & Weaknesses
Healthy personality types will often relate more to the strengths, while unhealthy types relate more to the weaknesses. However, most people are a combination of both.
Strengths:
INTPs have a great ability to remain objective and calm when making decisions. They are thorough problem-solvers because they think through a possibility of creative solutions. Their creativity allows them to find unique solutions to complex problems.
- Analytical
- Original
- Open-minded
- Curious
- Objective
Weaknesses:
INTPs have difficulty overthinking solutions, which prevents them from committing to one. They often spend too much time gathering information and assessing risk instead of making a decision. They also struggle with being aware of others’ feelings.
- Disconnected
- Insensitive
- Dissatisfied
- Impatient
- Perfectionistic
Development
Like any personality type, INTPs can be healthy, unhealthy, or anywhere in between. Here is what they look like at their best and at their worst.
At Their Best
At their best, INTPs are imaginative, objective analysts who excel at staying focused on the task at hand. They love diving deep into topics that interest them and have a passion not seen by most. They pursue the truth and a deep understanding of the world, hoping to present perfect solutions for life’s hard problems.
At Their Worst
At their worst, INTPs second guess themselves, anxious about whatever they may have overlooked. They become absentminded, scattered, and unorganized. They are impatient and brutal in sharing their perspective. Their focus on logic causes them to be inconsiderate and uncaring.
Personal Growth
Though INTPs have many great qualities, there are always areas for any type to grow in. Here are some tips for growth.
- Be attentive to others’ feelings: INTPs aren’t particularly great at catching on to the feelings and emotional cues of others. They can learn to pay better attention, and then focus on doing what makes others feel heard and cared for.
- Focus on relationships: INTPs are naturally very solitary and independent, but this doesn’t mean they are incapable of having good relationships. Sharing their inner world with others can help them not feel isolated and also lets others provide feedback that the INTP might not see on their own.
- Be decisive: INTPs are great at gathering information, but can get stuck when it comes to implementing what they’ve learned and making decisions. They can benefit from learning to take risks and experimenting.
Managing Conflict
When INTPs find themselves in conflict with others, they have a tendency to avoid it. When communicating with others, INTPs are somewhat direct, calm, and rational. It will most likely be difficult to communicate with emotional people or anyone they find illogical. They often try to ignore issues and have difficulty confronting problems.
It will be hardest for INTPs to communicate with those they find emotional or less logical. Their overly logical approach and lack of showing feelings will not always be appreciated. When under stress, INTPs tend to withdraw and avoid conflict. Here are some tips for INTPs to manage conflict:
- Try to communicate right away rather than letting problems linger
- Refrain from talking down to others
- Practice listening to the other person’s feelings and sharing your own
- Stay engaged in the conflict until it is resolved for everyone
Types they may struggle to communicate with:
Nurturing INTPs
To take care of an INTP, it’s important to know what stresses them out and what they need to fill at ease. Below are some stressors for INTPs, and also what others can do to help them feel cared for.
Stressors
- Regularly being in large groups
- Giving verbal encouragement
- Talking about concrete experiences rather than hypothetical theories
- Highly strict schedules
- Using emotional language
Nurture
- Keep with them a few people they know well
- Allow them to speak to their strengths
- Engage their theories
- Allow them to have flexibility
- Speak rationally with them
The Human Connection 