ISTP discussion thread

[ksdgypsy]

Has anyone here ever had a friendship or relationship with an ISTP? What were your experiences?

[Brilliance]

One of my closest friends is an ISTP. I think you are being a little vague with your post. Anything in particular you want to know?

[Perf]

I started another thread a few weeks back called "Working with an ISTP" in the Work and Education section. There have been some good responses - check it out.

[ksdgypsy]

One of my closest friends is an ISTP. I think you are being a little vague with your post. Anything in particular you want to know?

I have been in an 8 year relationship with someone I think is ISTP. It has been a rewarding experience at times, and those moments I treasure... but more often I am left completely befuddled by him. When I read the MBTI description of an ISTP a whole lot of light bulbs lit up. However, I am discouraged that a relationship with him will always be painful for me.

"One day, they may feel completely, intensely in love with their mate, and the next day they may be totally disinterested, or perhaps even ready to move on. This "live for the moment" type of approach is different from how most other types experience their feelings, and is difficult for many to understand. Consequently, the ISTP may be called "fickle" or "cold". In fact, they are not really fickle, and certainly not cold. They simply experience their lives on a moment by moment basis, and go along with it's natural flow. However, since most people need more commitment than can be offered when taking things day-by-day, the ISTP who wants to remain in a relationship will have to resolve themself towards being involved in a more traditional commitment." To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


I started another thread a few weeks back called "Working with an ISTP" in the Work and Education section. There have been some good responses - check it out.

That was very helpful. Thanks!

[Antares]

One of my friends is an ISTP, and she does seem to lose interest in things pretty quickly; but once she found an interest, she holds that particular one for quite a long time.

[Lagawrd]

My two ISTP friends are always depressed and mopey about soo many things that others just accept and live.. Yes, they do lose interest quickly, and tend to hold on to things that require minimal effort.

[rara avis]

"One day, they may feel completely, intensely in love with their mate, and the next day they may be totally disinterested, or perhaps even ready to move on. This "live for the moment" type of approach is different from how most other types experience their feelings, and is difficult for many to understand. Consequently, the ISTP may be called "fickle" or "cold". In fact, they are not really fickle, and certainly not cold. They simply experience their lives on a moment by moment basis, and go along with it's natural flow. However, since most people need more commitment than can be offered when taking things day-by-day, the ISTP who wants to remain in a relationship will have to resolve themself towards being involved in a more traditional commitment." To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


As I understand it, my parents dated for a few years, during which my ISTJ future-mother moved with my ISTP future-father from FL to MI while my dad finished school.

And one day he just turned to her and said, "So. We should probably get married, huh."

He definitely is the type to make a very random, sporadic (sometimes borderline spastic) gesture of affection or attentiveness. But they've been together 35 years, and happy most of that time. Happy now.

[playthestatic]

My first boyfriend (now ex) is an ISTP. In his school, he was the mysterious skateboarder-drummer chick magnet whom all the girls lusted after but thought he was an asshole (not because he actively was one, because his introversion and private-ness was mistaken for arrogance and playing hard to get). We ended up going out for about a year, which was pretty amazing considering we got together on a very spur-of-the-moment thing (I barely knew him).

He never said was he thought much - I'd tell him something I thought was funny or interesting, and his most likely response would be just 'Oh, that's nice,' and he certainly never liked to talk about his feelings, but when he did, he was incredibly straightforward and blunt. Our idea of fun was walking around holding hands in complete silence. He was good at showing affection through little things like always giving me a card on our monthly anniversary (yes, monthly anniversary, hur hur), and when he left to go to school in Australia he wrote me a heart-meltingly honest letter about how he felt about me, the contents within being things he would never have said to me on a daily basis or in person.

Sadly, him being the SP that he is, couldn't remain committed to a long-distance relationship (plus, we were about 16), and we broke up shortly after. I'd say it was a rewarding relationship, and I wish I'd known more about the differences between us, so I could've been more understanding.

[Ijz]

Post all your ISTP related questions, remarks, claims, suggestions, accusations, disinterests, flirtations, etc. here, everything goes.

To start of with a question, why are there so few ISTP's on this forum? We are supposed to make up 5-7% of the population. Could it be that you have mistyped?

ISTP's actually share some interesting traits with INTJ's, which at some stage make them look similar. For instance, the need for freedom and being a free spirit is a common trait. There is also an interesting article when ISTP's may appear as an INTJ or INTP: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

[demvesalius]

I wrote this in a previous thread about ISTP's:

I have a friend who is ISTP. He is a mystery to many of my extroverted friends in that he rarely talks; in fact, sometimes you just want to strangle him to get some vocabulary out of him. He's very good looking for a guy to and woman find him mysterious. He is known for standing around in a room and women gravitating toward him. This frustrates some of my other guy friends who actually have to make an effort. He has a girlfriend though who he's very committed to and they're practically married.

The thing that differentiates me the INTJ from he the ISTP is that I'm more of an idealist when he is much more practical. He is talented at the sport of cycling, such as myself, and he races and trains on his bike simply because it is fun. I, on the other hand, am much more complex. Not only do I want to have fun, but I want to continue to improve and have goals. Racing isn't just about having fun for me, it's about proving something to myself. He's just out there to have fun and to train hard, it's sensational for him - I can't live like that - there has to be more for me.

Also, when dealing with others, I immediately judge them, when he holds back his judgments and keeps them to himself. Sometimes I wonder if he even has any opinions of others. He and I will be riding and will run into another cyclist out in the middle of nowhere. After we're done speaking with him I've made my analysis of the other cyclist in my head. Naturally I want to discuss what he thinks of the person we just met, but my ISTP friend doesn't think that way, the person we just met simply "is" to him.

I hope it is of some value to you.

Edit: I thought I was INTJ at the time of writing it, but this shouldn't make much of a difference.

[dalidaisy]

:love:

Here's some love for the ISTP...

I'm not sure if I've ever met an ISTP, but I'm sure you are a wonderful individual. The description sounds promising, another free spirit. Yay!

[Ijz]

Thanks for that contribution demvesalius.

It kinda freaked me out when I read it. That's actually how I perceive the world, especially the bits on just doing things for fun and keeping judgments to yourself.

And I also think that keeping judgments to yourself is a big pitfall to the ISTP, I know it was for me. We do like to treat everyone in the same way we would like to be treated. And ISTP's simply don't want to be judged by others, they want to be free, and by that logic they also don't like judging although they still do on the inside. That was a big problem for myself, judging others too much and hence it felt like I was being judged by them.

So if you're an ISTP who's judging others, and you're reading this, STOP JUDGING, and you'll feel a heck more free.
(but this probably applies to other types as well ;)).





Ijz added to this post, 5 minutes and 23 seconds later...

:love:

Here's some love for the ISTP...

I'm not sure if I've ever met an ISTP, but I'm sure you are a wonderful individual. The description sounds promising, another free spirit. Yay!
So you've never felt the love of an ISTP....hmmm....

We are probably the people standing amongst the crowd, looking determined, self confident, serious yet aloof, radiating freedom, and you have no idea what makes that person tick. That's us.

Famous ISTP's:

Charles Bronson
Clint Eastwood
Tom Cruise (errr)

[dogwoodlover]

My home boy is an ISTP.

Though we now live on different ends of California, we still keep up and chat every now and again. I'm ready to go home for winter break and fuck shit up with him.

We're (supposedly) working on a book right now, in which he writes a pseudo-biography (semi-embellished, a mesh of our lives and that of our friends), while I write introductions / closings to each chapter covering all the dense theory and analysis we discuss on late nights.

We share a mutual hatred for society, capitalism, cops, bullshit, work and school. We've always got along very well (we've been tight friends for about three or four years now), and we share a lot of common views. Though, he is more of the ripped guy who can bench 300 lbs and has a line of women waiting out the door to get in his pants, while I'm more of the disembodied brain that sits contemplating dense theoretical matters. I supply the theoretical analyses on why we should do what we do, while he goes around getting us into all sorts of trouble.

We make a good team, I suppose. I supply the ideas, he supplies the action.

[fomatizer]

This was really helpful for me narrowing down some issues I was having with what may have been a persistent mis-type. The first time I tested INTP was by a family psychologist as a teen, during my folks' divorce. Knowing my parents would be privy to the result, I'd probably be less honest about some things. I wrote more about this in another thread (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.).

[Trivani]

I'm pretty frustrated with mistyping right now. Several months ago I approached a coworker saying I thought he was either INTJ or ISTP. He went home and took an online test and said he tested INTJ. Now he's my manager and all this time I have been trying to relate to him as someone that thinks like me. It finally occurred to me yesterday that he is really ISTP. The part that bothers me most is that he lied to me but I understand a lot of people just don't want others to know what's going on inside their head.

I thought it was strange that he was so laid back and would refuse to see things from someone elses point of view. I've heard him comment about how I raise red flags unnecessarily. I've had what I thought were in-depth abstract discussions just to realize now that he didn't value the discussion like I did. There are things I would say to an INTJ that I wouldn't say to others because of fear that they would be offended.

[fomatizer]

I'm pretty frustrated with mistyping right now. Several months ago I approached a coworker saying I thought he was either INTJ or ISTP. He went home and took an online test and said he tested INTJ. Now he's my manager and all this time I have been trying to relate to him as someone that thinks like me. It finally occurred to me yesterday that he is really ISTP. The part that bothers me most is that he lied to me but I understand a lot of people just don't want others to know what's going on inside their head.

I thought it was strange that he was so laid back and would refuse to see things from someone elses point of view. I've heard him comment about how I raise red flags unnecessarily. I've had what I thought were in-depth abstract discussions just to realize now that he didn't value the discussion like I did. There are things I would say to an INTJ that I wouldn't say to others because of fear that they would be offended.

It's risky to make personal comments in the workplace such as guess typing a peer. What if your coworker was being honest about his test result? You may be making something from nothing, essentially proving his observation about you to be correct.

[NZPixie]

I am almost certain that my partner is an ISTP, as none of the other profiles fit him at all and ISTP is the only one that sums him up almost completely. But he refuses to take the test. He started but then stopped and won't do it anymore. Too many questions I guess. He is not really a very nice person though. I actually think he is a sociopath, at the lower levels of being a sociopath. Eventually I will have to remove him from my life, but as an INTJ I find it really hard to let people 'escape my inner circle' once they have managed to get themselves in.

I love him dearly but almost eveything he does frustrated me. He is very smart but I think he is very strong S and and has never developed any N, and as I am fairly high N and have not really ever bothered to develop my S, we have some rather major communication issues. He can speel on for AGES about really boring things (like cars... and cricket) in great detail (such as that I could figure out half of it myself without ALL THAT DETAIL).

He does not like to listen to anyone else but himself and trying to change his mind is about as hard as trying to change my mind. So we are both about as pig-headed and stubborn as each other. He is quite a mystery to he because he really does not talk much about what he thinks or feels or wants. Actually I think he would rather have his teeth pulled than discuss things that could make him in any way vulnerable.

He is very sporty and good with fixing things etc. But eveything happens in his own time. If he wants to do something he will stick with it until it is done, but if he doesn't want to do something good luck trying to get him to do it.

He most certainly does not treat people the way he would want to be treated. He does not really pass judgements on people though, at least not out loud. I think he is a bit paranoid though. He has a huge entitlement complex and expects to get everything without giving anything back, which I think is more on the sociopath scale than the ISTP scale from what I have read lol. He uses people without any sense of wrongdoing.

I think I would quite enjoy an ISTP who did not have sociopathic tendancies. They seem to be very complex people who are quite interesting once you get them to open up.

[Trivani]

It's risky to make personal comments in the workplace such as guess typing a peer. What if your coworker was being honest about his test result? You may be making something from nothing, essentially proving his observation about you to be correct.

Discussing anything I have on my mind in the workplace is risky because its likely to be misinterpreted. What I do know is that I told him he's either ISTP or INTJ and he stated "that sucker has me pegged!" the next day. He told me he tested as INTJ so my assumptions about him have been skewed ever since. Before that time I was pretty even between the two types. In this case I can see how it is risky to guess someone's type because people assume categorizing people is only useful to point out their weaknesses.

I can also see why people would think that I'm an alarmist because I see things that others do not. It's like I can see the future. I raise red flags to be prepared. If I think people aren't making appropriate preparations for a huge risk then I'll say something. I can't stand the mentality of dealing with problems as they occur rather than planning ahead for them. I guess that's the difference between a tactician and a strategist.

The thing that got me up in arms so much was that I expected him to see what I saw. It's so easy to think ISTPs think the same because on the surface they seem to. Now that I understand his real type I will communicate with him according to his style.

[Ijz]

Now that I understand his real type I will communicate with him according to his style.

I'm just being curious, but what kind of communication style would that be?

Being the ISTP myself, I tend to be the one who changes his communication style to the other person, as long as it is within boundaries and I feel comfortable with it.

How would you go about to match his communication style, are you truly interested in how and what he thinks?

[Trivani]

I'm just being curious, but what kind of communication style would that be?

Being the ISTP myself, I tend to be the one who changes his communication style to the other person, as long as it is within boundaries and I feel comfortable with it.

How would you go about to match his communication style, are you truly interested in how and what he thinks?

I think my statement followed by your response is a good example. I made the assumption, as I usually do, that people understand what I mean but I don't really articulate what I mean. This can lead to misunderstandings. It's important to me to understand how people think because I don't know how to talk to people otherwise. I figure I'm the oddball so I have to put in the extra effort to figure out how people think.

I realize now how many mistakes I've made in my communications with him because I was making assumptions that he thought like me. I thought I could talk in abstracts and he would see how those abstracts apply to reality. Now I realize I need to articulate myself better and not leave anything to assumptions.

[Sinequanon]

At the place where I'm at right now, I'm starting to think that he just saw my lips move and imagined himself on a surf board the whole time. So I'm curious as to, are ISTPs interested in discussing weirdly connected theoretical topics at all, and what is the ideal way to communicate with them?
I think you're pretty right about that (the lips moving, surfboard thing).

My grandfather was an ISTP and I adored him. He was a carpenter and really handy around the house. I remember years back we replaced a toilet together. When he would get working, he would start sort of spilling out his mind/philosophy on work and getting the jobs done. When he got into that space, I could ask him anything and get a response.

The rest of the time, he was really quite quiet and reserved. Humble, but funny. Didn't really respect people who didn't respect themselves, or who talked first and thought second. But he had a lot of love in his heart.

I like ISTPs, if you can get close to 'em.

[fomatizer]

What is the best way to communicate with ISTP? I was in a relationship with a ISTP a while back (this was before I knew much about MBTI) typing came after the break up. It seemed that he understood me (sort of) but never elaborated on anything I said, just a silent nod. What I'm wondering is what is the preferred communication style. As an EN I tend to talk a lot and veer off on wild tangents but focus on any theoretical possiblities or make rediculous jokes based on some one off connection. He often would say one line things and put a lot of meaning into them without elaborating.

At the place where I'm at right now, I'm starting to think that he just saw my lips move and imagined himself on a surf board the whole time. So I'm curious as to, are ISTPs interested in discussing weirdly connected theoretical topics at all, and what is the ideal way to communicate with them?

Realistically, I don't think an ENFP/ISTP relationship would work out easily. I see a lot of tears, drama, arguments... these are things that an ISTP will avoid like the plague.

I get the feeling your impression is that your communication differences are what led to the failure of the relationship? I guess that because when referring to this relationship, that's what you bring up first. I gather that much have been a large part of your issue with the ISTP.

You have to look at the relationship from the ISTP point of view as well as your own. An ISTP is very practical. More important than how you communicate is what you're talking about. Do you share core common interests? Are these interests going to provide enough fodder for years of mutually stimulating conversation or will, at some point, you tire of the interests you have in common?


Now bear in mind, I'm using my own experiences to illustrate, they may be biased and not apply to all ISTPs.

I was married to an ESFJ and I looked at the relationship on a very practical level before I signed on for commitment. I was not physically attracted to the guy but he was very good looking. But passion wanes after a while so I knew the passion would never be the most important component in a relationship for me. I liked him. He quickly became good friend and playmate. I grew to love and trust him. Trust is very important. I thought then that some of our common interests were sufficient. He went to school and had a career in my field of interest. He understood everything about my current interest. We could discuss it at length, there was something tangible to be gained from asking his opinion and discussing plans with him. He wasn't working in that field at the time but he expressed a desire to get back into it one day, if possible. I thought he was serious. One major difference between he and I that I didn't see for some time was our motivations. He had never applied himself in the field in question. He gave up easily. He lacked confidence, lacked vision, lacked inspiration. In short, he wasn't seriously interested in it. Now on the other hand, I reciprocated by listening to him discuss his work problems at length. I offered practical solutions. I feel that my contribution to his success was just as valuable and effective as his contribution to mine. He always appreciated that I was supportive of him during good times and bad, that I didn't judge him when he failed and tried to lend him a hand to get back on the right track. I didn't make emotional demands on him. Didn't require proof of his loyalty or love. I accepted him as-is and I think that was very important to him. On the other hand, he was not capable of doing exactly that. He judged me for my perceived inadequacies in social settings and for not caring about others for the right reasons. He resented that I didn't see the value in sentimentalism. And on and on.

End of story, when my temporary interests changed, when I gave up the thing we had in common to take a totally new direction, that was really the end of us. I didn't say as much. Just the core interests were no longer there. There wasn't as much to talk about. If I went to him to ask his opinion on what I was working on, his patience was tried. He resented not having much to offer. One day I saw him working on his computer, trying to create a project such as I was now working on. He was angry that I saw him. He knew our relationship was over. When I had the talk with him, he didn't even seem surprised. I felt bad. We had been the best of friends for many years and now we were parting on good terms. We remained friends. But from his point of view, I know that he looked for some other basis for why things didn't work out in the long run. He thought there was something wrong with him. I assured him that it wasn't him. He was a great guy. It was just time to try new things, examine our potential with new experiences that we would not get as much out of together as we would apart. I never stopped loving him but loving someone and living with them are not assumed by an ISTP, who values first and foremost, autonomy over long-term commitments. What I didn't realize when we first got together but I eventually realized over time was that although we'd shared some temporary interests, we never shared the most basic core interest. I was committed to a lifetime of creativity whereas he had lost interest in creativity. Now, I'm in a marriage with someone who shared a lifelong commitment to creativity that would endure even if money were no object. My ex, however, has taken up horsebackriding. He still works at the same old job that he hated all along. He finally came clean that he will never get back into creative pursuits. I say all this in retrospect. When we were together, we didn't discuss the whys. A lot went unsaid. If he'd even asked me why, I don't know that I could have explained it coherently then as I can now. I'd probably just have replied, "Does it matter? It's not working." But it never came to that point.

I hope that effectively illustrates a POV of an ISTP on what makes a relationship work.

Whether the ISTPs interests are sports or engineering, if you want to commit to an ISTP, you have to accept that you are also making a commitment to share core common interests. No core common interests=no commitment.

Now from another perspective, if you think this sort of person would be right for you and are looking for someone to seriously share your interests, you can find a compatible ISTP through the usual channels one would make friends who share common interests. Don't go for the trivial or passing interests. It's got to be something that'll stand the test of time.

[Trivani]

What is the best way to communicate with ISTP? I was in a relationship with a ISTP a while back (this was before I knew much about MBTI) typing came after the break up. It seemed that he understood me (sort of) but never elaborated on anything I said, just a silent nod. What I'm wondering is what is the preferred communication style. As an EN I tend to talk a lot and veer off on wild tangents but focus on any theoretical possiblities or make rediculous jokes based on some one off connection. He often would say one line things and put a lot of meaning into them without elaborating.

At the place where I'm at right now, I'm starting to think that he just saw my lips move and imagined himself on a surf board the whole time. So I'm curious as to, are ISTPs interested in discussing weirdly connected theoretical topics at all, and what is the ideal way to communicate with them?


My dad is ISTP so I have had to learn. With a dominant Ti ISTPs value logical consistency. People that communicate via intuition (such as INXJs and ENXPs) will often jump around points of fact so to a person that communicates via thinking supported by sensing will not see a logical consistency. If the person you are talking to cannot see where you are coming from then they will probably discard what you said as nonsense. He may understand that it is just the way you are but it won't really click with him.

So basically I'd say the best way to communicate with an ISTP is to always connect the dots from one point to the next in a logically consistent manner. I can imagine this would be a very difficult exercise for ENFP. You are after all "Inspirers" and you don't inspire people with logic. It also enforces the reason why an ENFP would be best suited for someone that communicates via intuition.

[fomatizer]

My dad is ISTP so I have had to learn. With a dominant Ti ISTPs value logical consistency. People that communicate via intuition (such as INXJs and ENXPs) will often jump around points of fact so to a person that communicates via thinking supported by sensing will not see a logical consistency. If the person you are talking to cannot see where you are coming from then they will probably discard what you said as nonsense. He may understand that it is just the way you are but it won't really click with him.

So basically I'd say the best way to communicate with an ISTP is to always connect the dots from one point to the next in a logically consistent manner. I can imagine this would be a very difficult exercise for ENFP. You are after all "Inspirers" and you don't inspire people with logic. It also enforces the reason why an ENFP would be best suited for someone that communicates via intuition.

In my case, I don't require linear/logical communication from someone else. This is what I add into the conversation if it doesn't exist and if it seems required. If someone else needs to figure out how to put their thoughts into linear/logical order, I may assist. ISTPs are known for cutting to the heart of a matter. They be looking at the conversation from a much more aloof perspective than you are, attempting to figure out what you need from the conversation and then deliver it. Or they may be approaching it as an unspoken question they will attempt to answer. Or as a puzzle that needs solving.

Another point that's not MBTI related is that men and women often have different reasons for communicating. IMO, this would be most stereotypically portrayed by an ENFP/ISTP relationship. The woman is talking just to spend time together, to develop a bond of shared time, feelings, experiences, etc. The guy may not be interested in that right then and would rather be fishing or talking about fishing. ISTPs don't need a lot of face-time or F time. Without someone forcing the issue, they may wander off and go their own way, however. IMO this is often inevitable due to a lack of common interests or objectives.

My most common (unspoken) response to extroverts and extroverted situations is, "Why are we doing this? Why are we having this conversation? What's the point? Can I go now?"

The worst complaint I get from extroverted friends is that I'm not interested in hanging out just cuz. If I call you up, it's to do something or discuss something in particular and I'm cool with reciprocating. This really rubs some people the wrong way and they'll jump to conclusions and villainize me for having "ulterior motives" and not getting to know people just for the value of forming bonds. I am surprised when they say something that indicates they feel somewhat used. IMO, this is because there's a fundamental misunderstanding as to what needs must be satisfied by the relationship. They may be trying to communicate that they aren't getting what they need from the relationship.

Being the ISTP myself, I tend to be the one who changes his communication style to the other person, as long as it is within boundaries and I feel comfortable with it.


I have to consider whether or not they are worth the bother of changing my MO and essentially being someone else just so they can feel good about me/us. It's easier to just go my own way and leave them to find someone more suitable to their needs.





fomatizer added to this post, 9 minutes and 45 seconds later...

My home boy is an ISTP.

Though we now live on different ends of California, we still keep up and chat every now and again. I'm ready to go home for winter break and fuck shit up with him.

We're (supposedly) working on a book right now, in which he writes a pseudo-biography (semi-embellished, a mesh of our lives and that of our friends), while I write introductions / closings to each chapter covering all the dense theory and analysis we discuss on late nights.

We share a mutual hatred for society, capitalism, cops, bullshit, work and school. We've always got along very well (we've been tight friends for about three or four years now), and we share a lot of common views. Though, he is more of the ripped guy who can bench 300 lbs and has a line of women waiting out the door to get in his pants, while I'm more of the disembodied brain that sits contemplating dense theoretical matters. I supply the theoretical analyses on why we should do what we do, while he goes around getting us into all sorts of trouble.

We make a good team, I suppose. I supply the ideas, he supplies the action.

This is exactly the sort of friendship I value the most. I'd characterize it as collaborative and fun.

[lifeizpoetry]

My dad is ISTP so I have had to learn. With a dominant Ti ISTPs value logical consistency. People that communicate via intuition (such as INXJs and ENXPs) will often jump around points of fact so to a person that communicates via thinking supported by sensing will not see a logical consistency. If the person you are talking to cannot see where you are coming from then they will probably discard what you said as nonsense. He may understand that it is just the way you are but it won't really click with him.

So basically I'd say the best way to communicate with an ISTP is to always connect the dots from one point to the next in a logically consistent manner. I can imagine this would be a very difficult exercise for ENFP. You are after all "Inspirers" and you don't inspire people with logic. It also enforces the reason why an ENFP would be best suited for someone that communicates via intuition.

I've noticed some of this too, in my ISTP brother. I can argue with him ALL NIGHT about something abstract...and it takes a lottalottalotta connecting the dots, over and over again, until he sees my line of logic.

And he never caves. He kind of does his own thing in the end. Always.

By the way, I never noticed that this general secrecy was an ISTP thing. I always thought it was just him. Do any of you ISTP's also guard your political views and religious views very carefully? Never even wear brand names on your shirts? They certainly do keep the mysterious thing alive...

I suspect that they lack on MBTI forums because they are too practical to give credence to MBTI and probably doubt its validity. That sounds like him, anyway...





lifeizpoetry added to this post, 3 minutes and 17 seconds later...

And I might as well also add that I absolutely love my ISTP bro. He's the most genuine, nice, loving individual ever. Seriously, he's a doll of a brother. So intelligent too. I can talk with him about a variety of topics. I also respect his independence...he thinks how he wants, does what he wants. But does it with absolute respect for others. Damn straight.

So far, I lovez you folks.

[fomatizer]

Here someone's come up with a somewhat longer than usual list of ISTPs. Imagine my surprise to see many of my favorite actors* in there. :o

ISTP
Christian Bale***
Clint Eastwood***
Russell Crowe***
Daniel Craig*
Tom Cruise
Christopher Walken***
Jeremy Irons*
Jessica Biel
Billy Bob Thornton*
Kevin Spacey*
Rowan Atkinson
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Keirsey list:
Bruce Lee
Michael Jordan
Woody Allen*
Alan Shepard
Chuck Yaeger
Michael Douglas*
Lance Armstrong
Kathrine Hephurn*
From Typelogic:

U.S. Presidents:
Zachary Taylor

Charles Bronson**
Tom Cruise*
James Dean*
Clint Eastwood***
Burt Reynolds**
Keith Richards
Charlie Yeager
Frank Zappa **

Fictional:
Hedda Gabler in Ibsen's play of the same name
John Miller in the movie American Grafitti
Archibald "Harry" Tuttle in the movie Brazil***
A couple of my own:
Characters:
Dexter*** (Dexter Showtime series)
Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood)

[callmemigs]

my dad is an ISTP. I'm so lazy to type right now. But I think all the other descriptions above 70% fits my father.

[annaelizabeth]

I wrote this in a previous thread about ISTP's:



I hope it is of some value to you.

Edit: I thought I was INTJ at the time of writing it, but this shouldn't make much of a difference.

Lol, that sounds just like my husband. I'm pretty sure he's an istp. He did take the test (against his wishes, he just didn't see the point) and I think that was his result. He enjoys fishing and prefers to hang out with people who fish, because he's not big on just hanging around doing nothing so to speak. Plus he respects people who share similar interests to his own. He rarely speaks an opinion on someone, where I tend to judge people immediately which is something I am working on. Sometimes I have to pull opinions and viewpoints out of him because he just doesn't seem to have any sometimes, where as I have too many. I always tell him that he doesn't have to agree with me and to just have his own thoughts, because he so often won't voice any. He really does keep a lot to himself. He can have a half hour conversation with someone and not remember anything they talked about. It's like if it wasn't interesting to him, it just sort of doesn't register in his brain. When I talk to someone, I can generally recall the conversation. It's somewhat amusing.

edit - crap, forgot to have the quote appear in my message. I'm responding to the second post in this thread!

[AnotherNormal]

I have known at least two istps, my Dad and a former housemate.

They are both smart, polite, private, introverts that like to hide way ( not a bad thing :).

They don’t like to communicate private, personal things. Unfortunately when it comes to their health, this kicks them in the ass. When and if my Dad goes to the Dr. he won’t communicate how he feels, what his symptoms are. The Dr. can’t read his mind so things go untreated. My Dad is old now and it breaks my heart, there are health issues he is having now that could have been treated years ago. He is to frail for surgery now.

Let me make that clear – he has had some medical issues for years (perhaps 10 or 20 years) and yet went untreated because he will not communicate personal, private things. He does not communicate these things to his wife, kids or Dr.

He never complains because that would be communicating personal, private information.

[phantasma]

My dad's an ISTP. I really like him though we don't know too much about each other since we're both introverted thinkers. He has a great sense of humor, and is quite the people person despite his quiet nature. He's good at everything from dentistry to mountain biking to being an all around handyman. The only negative thing that stands out is that he is extremely private about his feelings. I certainly don't blame him and see where he's coming from, but as a father, he ought to be able to open up. I've lived with him for 17 years and we still barely know each other. It's really sad.

The only way I can really get inside his head is talking about politics and moral issues. It seems that he feels through his beliefs.

[fomatizer]

A couple of my own:
Characters:
Dexter*** (Dexter Showtime series)
Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood)

Race car driver Pete Aron (played by James Gardner) in the movie, Grand Prix (1966)

[dogwoodlover]

My dad's an ISTP. I really like him though we don't know too much about each other since we're both introverted thinkers. He has a great sense of humor, and is quite the people person despite his quiet nature. He's good at everything from dentistry to mountain biking to being an all around handyman. The only negative thing that stands out is that he is extremely private about his feelings. I certainly don't blame him and see where he's coming from, but as a father, he ought to be able to open up. I've lived with him for 17 years and we still barely know each other. It's really sad.

The only way I can really get inside his head is talking about politics and moral issues. It seems that he feels through his beliefs.


The same can be said of my INFP father--it probably extends beyond just his MBTI type.

[Plane Stress]

I have always tested either INTJ or INTP, but my S is very well developed and I identify a lot with ISTP descriptions. I am a very "hands on" person. I am also much more reserved than a lot of INTJs or INTPs, even after I get into a conversation. The not going to see the doctor description fits me too-I avoid unfamiliar interaction like the plague. I'm also normally good at doing things the first time I do them, just because I think them through so much before I actually do anything. I have a pretty strong drive to get things done that need to get done.

However, I'm not a super practical person. I also do not at all seek thrills, something that I've read is an ISTP trait. I do think quite linearly, but I guess the best way to describe it is that I think about where it is that I'm trying to get with my thoughts, and then follow paths towards that goal until I either get there or find a different path to try.

Meh, I don't know. I'm always second guessing myself and reading more and taking more MBTI tests. It's early and I'm tired.... I consider myself to be an INTJ with a strong S and weak J, though.

[elpis eutropios]

I hope it's appropriate to resurrect this rather than start a new topic?

My boyfriend is an exemplary ISTP. We get along great, I understand and encourage his projects and also his need for his own space. But we've been going out for several years now and his unwillingness to think about the future is starting to get to me a little bit.

Also it says that "territorial considerations" will be a problem for ISTPs and that they don't tolerate attempts to change their lifestyle. This is the biggest problem. I understand he needs his space but would still love to live with him. I'm not an overbearing person and appreciate my solitary time too as an INTJ! So to me it seems it would work out fine but he doesn't agree. He accuses me of wanting a "relationship upgrade" instead of enjoying a good thing.

Is there a way of appealing to the ISTP's practical live-in-the-moment side by putting the proposition differently? I am at a loss and arguing would just make him more stubborn.

I mean apart from this we're happy - he's very happy, I'm a bit frustrated because of this but would not want to break up over it.

[Indubitably]

I hope it's appropriate to resurrect this rather than start a new topic?

My boyfriend is an exemplary ISTP. We get along great, I understand and encourage his projects and also his need for his own space. But we've been going out for several years now and his unwillingness to think about the future is starting to get to me a little bit.

Also it says that "territorial considerations" will be a problem for ISTPs and that they don't tolerate attempts to change their lifestyle. This is the biggest problem. I understand he needs his space but would still love to live with him. I'm not an overbearing person and appreciate my solitary time too as an INTJ! So to me it seems it would work out fine but he doesn't agree. He accuses me of wanting a "relationship upgrade" instead of enjoying a good thing.

Is there a way of appealing to the ISTP's practical live-in-the-moment side by putting the proposition differently? I am at a loss and arguing would just make him more stubborn.

I mean apart from this we're happy - he's very happy, I'm a bit frustrated because of this but would not want to break up over it.

Having been a relationship with an ISTP myself, and speaking as someone who also leads with Ti, I would say your best option is to just back off and let him be. You can't force something like this with an ISTP. Your need for some sort of formal contractual-ized commitment is actually going to be counter productive. If you want to spend more time with him, just do it, because it is what you want, don't try to force him into doing it for you because you think he owes you something.

Eventually he will get to a point where he is tired of having to drive all the way over to your place, or wait for you to drive all the way over to his place, and just decide that is easier to live together. Thats how it is with an ISTP, a spade is a spade, if you are for all intensive purposes his girlfriend he will start calling you his girlfriend, if you are for all intensive purposes living together he'll just start living with you, because thats just how things are. Don't try to manipulate the situation with plans, he is going to see this as petty and self deluded (coming from him it will probably sound something more like "If you want to waste your energy running around chasing your own tail, knock yourself out, but leave me out of it"). Just do what you want with your life, take care of your own needs, and he will take care of his, eventually things will become what ever they are destined to become. You really just plain can't attach your happiness and sense of success to some sort of formal status symbol if you want to be with an ISTP.

[elpis eutropios]

Indubitably, that sounds like excellent advice and is a pretty accurate description of how our relationship has come this far. I can get a bit obsessed with things I can't change and can see how this would be toxic for him.

Suppose I'd better busy myself with other things and forget I ever thought about it.

Thank you for the insight!

[Indubitably]

Indubitably, that sounds like excellent advice and is a pretty accurate description of how our relationship has come this far. I can get a bit obsessed with things I can't change and can see how this would be toxic for him.

Suppose I'd better busy myself with other things and forget I ever thought about it.

Thank you for the insight!

Its ok to recognize that you have needs, just don't try to blame him for the fact that you have them. Pretending that you don't care about it when you do, isn't going to solve anything. If you need to plan, then plan, just don't resent him for the fact that being part of the plan is not his nature. Go ahead and make your flow charts, and your databases, and your time lines, but own your own needs, make the plans for yourself. Live your own life, with your own goals, he will be there all along doing his own thing but he will love you none the less and he will be a part of your life none the less.

[RedWolff]

My boyfriend is an ISTP. I'm an INTJ, heavy on the I and the T. This makes for some interesting times. The real key is that I'm very developed in my ability to relate to others and to ask questions in which to draw out responses. This one factor makes it a lot easier with dealing with him. He is so cut off from his own emotions, let alone mine, that it take him a while to understand my view point or to realize he has an issue. His normal response to something that he dislikes is to walk away from it, or ignore it. The result is a festering or a severing. He loves me, deeply, today. I know that each day is different for him as an ISTP. Accepting this, I strive to concentrate on the common factors of our two personality traits to assist us in keeping close and keeping him interested.

It's hard at times to deal with his "What does this have to do with anything," attitude when the topic means a lot to me. He doesn't mean that it's not important, he just means that he personally doesn't see how the issue affects him. ISTP's need to be reasoned with. This is what we are good at. The INTJ is all about facts, reasoning, and structured application. To find a solution is our ultimate high.

But don't be mistaken, the ISTP needs physical reassurance. Their sexual needs and requirement for excitement can be a bit much for a reclusive INTJ. Be aware that you will need to be more comfortable with yourself and will the idea of experimenting. Honestly, I find that engaging my rational side in the matter brings forth keen interest in these areas as well, just don't tell my BF. LOL.

One more thing: If you are in a relationship, especially one with the aloaf ISTP, you may wish to no only ask them to take the personality test but also the love language test. This will help you to understand how to best relate to them.

[Daimai]

My sister is an ISTP. Oh how I loathe her sometimes...

She is just annoying and dumb to be honest.

---------- Post added 02-04-2010 at 04:28 PM ----------


Characters:
Dexter*** (Dexter Showtime series)


Oh no, you didnt!

[JTG]

I'm pretty frustrated with mistyping right now. Several months ago I approached a coworker saying I thought he was either INTJ or ISTP. He went home and took an online test and said he tested INTJ. Now he's my manager and all this time I have been trying to relate to him as someone that thinks like me. It finally occurred to me yesterday that he is really ISTP. The part that bothers me most is that he lied to me but I understand a lot of people just don't want others to know what's going on inside their head.

He may not have lied to you. He more than likely lied to the test. I have seen a lot of people mistype as ENTJ/INTJ just because of how the questions are worded. In a lot of ways, the tests seem to have a bias that makes the NTJ answers have a more positive spin.

People say "yeah, i have a pretty easy time understanding the nature of things" or somesuch, when really they're just picking traits they think are desirable and fancy themselves having.