People who score as an INTP personality type are often described as quiet and analytical. They enjoy spending time alone, thinking about how things work, and coming up with solutions to problems.
INTPs have a rich inner world and would rather focus their attention on their internal thoughts rather than the external world. They typically do not have a wide social circle, but they do tend to be close to a select group of people.
INTP Strengths
- Analytically brilliance. Beneath the quiet surface sits an intellectual prowess which INTPs bring to any environment in which they find themselves.
- Objective. INTPs are respected for their relentless pursuit of truth, objectivity and understanding.
- Imaginative. INTPs think deeply about theory, how to understand and explain difficult concepts, and how systems and products function and might be improved.
- Enthusiastic. To others, the INTP may come across as private and withdrawn but when a topic piques their interest, INTPs can be very enthusiastic—excited even—about discussing it.
INTP Weaknesses
- Uncertainty. Despite their intellectual prowess, INTPs often live in fear of failure, anxious that they will overlook some critical aspect of their theory, idea or invention.
- Absent-mindedness. INTPs aren’t labeled “absentminded professors” for no reason.
- Condescension. A significant weakness of the INTP is the tendency to be condescending & critical,either of their opponents or those who simply don’t catch on as quickly as they do
- Insensitivity. INTPs can get into trouble because of their tendency to prioritize the activity taking place in their minds over the needs of others.
INTP Growth and Development
In order to reach their full potential, INTPs should:
- Develop emotional intelligence.
- Harness the power of relationships.
- Bring others in.
- Think practically.
- Become more charitable.
The INTP at Work
At work, the INTP is motivated to solve complex problems in an original, innovative way. They hate being limited by bureaucracy and rules, and are often more in tune with the theoretical soundness of their ideas than they are with the practical applications. They typically prefer to focus on creating the idea, and to leave the tedious details of implementation to someone else. INTPs work best independently or with a small team of colleagues that they perceive as smart, competent, and logical. An ideal organization for an INTP is flexible and non-traditional, and values ingenuity over conformity. An ideal job for an INTP allows them to address complex theoretical or technical problems with creative, novel solutions.
INTPs in Love
INTPs are independent and clever partners. They enjoy engaging intellectually and want an intelligent partner who can match their ability to think critically. INTPs have little appetite for the mundane aspects of life, and may disregard the usual rituals of a relationship. They are tolerant of individual preferences but will rarely do something because they are told they “should.” INTPs tend to analyze the theory behind everything, and may interpret human interactions with the detached logic of a psychological researcher. When things get too emotional, they may retreat to their own world of thoughts and ideas.INTPs want plenty of space in a relationship to explore their own thoughts, ideas, and interests. They value a partner that appreciates their ingenuity and problem-solving ability, and one that understands their need for autonomy.
INTPs as Parents
As parents, INTPs encourage competence and independent problem solving. They often do not tune in easily to their children’s feelings, but will enthusiastically help them to reason out a complex dilemma. INTPs are usually involved in their own projects or ideas and typically do not take much pleasure in the mundane, day-to-day tasks of caring for children. As a result, the Architect parent may sometimes seem distant to their children, but their true delight in parenting is in sharing exciting ideas and concepts with young minds.
INTP Communication Style
INTPs can be insightful communicators, when the subject inspires them. Thoughtful and independent, they may not have a great need for conversation, but when discussing complex concepts or innovative ideas they can become quite intense and display a wealth of information and insight. Logical and analytical, they can weigh possibilities endlessly and are great at playing devil’s advocate. They love to pick apart ideas but are not convinced by anything but the most rational of analyses; they can spot a flaw in logic a mile away, and rarely hesitate to point it out.
