An INTJ or an INTP?

[Cozzine]

I am trying to analyze the differences between the two and apply them to myself, but the two are so close to one another. Could someone please assist in determining what I am? So far I've decided that I'm a bit of both P and J:

- I spend a lot of time in my head (a ridiculous amount of time) and I occasionally come to an "aha!" revelation, but sometimes don't follow through with it.
- I am calm, lazy and laid back at times, but a hard worker and I promote efficiency. I hold myself to high standards and expect a lot from myself.
- I try to be kind to people, but I can be an absolute asshole when it comes to stupidity and when people half-ass stuff (including to myself if I get lazy). I often get down to the nitty-gritty, and speak the honest truth. I don't socialize much though, and usually only talk to people when I have a good reason to (I need information, etc).
- I am a big-picture thinker
- I can be very overconfident about my intelligence to the point of arrogance, but I often am afraid to speak up about my ideas for fear that I am not as intelligent as I like to think. Sometimes I often doubt my own intelligence, and that can lead to a temporary period of depression. My intelligence is something I struggle with.
- I generally have simple needs. I don't do material possessions. But sometimes I like to indulge in things.
- I can have a childlike passion for my interests to the point that I can get extremely excited and begin to talk very fast, bouncing around in delight. As an example, don't get me started on Stargate.
- "Often bad at expressing emotions, some INTPs even believe they have no emotions (which of course isn't true)." This is me to the core.
- "Sometimes have problems with communicating their idea's and thoughts and therefore keep them private." This is me to the core as well. Sometimes when I go to communicate an idea, I stumble and trip, and sound incredibly stupid. I usually say "nevermind" and clamp up, or just clamp up and withdraw in embarrasment.
- "INTPs are passive about the search for love and are often not very sure about how to logically deal with their desires. In their partner they look for someone they respect, and someone they can share their ideas with." This is me to the core as well. I don't look for love, or even consider getting into a relationship for multiple reasons I won't list here. But if I would, it would be someone I respect and who I can share my ideas with.
- I can be a good listener to the point that I will sit back, and hear people out when someone needs to vent. I sometimes just lose myself in my mind though, but I often point out logical facts, or try to explain how I see it, what can be fixed, etc.
- I don't like taking physical risks.
- I am often cold with logic, and dismiss emotions
- I like to research things, and gain more knowledge so I can be all-round competent, or competent in certain fields.

Thanks!

[anticlimatic]

Based on all of this, in my opinion, you're right...it is very close. Almost all of the things you've listed are common attributes for both INTP and INTJ.

I do see a few more suggestions of Ni/Te than I do Ti/Ne. "Clamming up" seems to be more of an INTJ thing, as does an aversion to physical danger. Anyone with Ne, who ISN'T putting themselves in danger (at least once in a while), isn't being themselves...and most P's have no trouble spouting and spouting...they'd usually rather spout something wrong, off topic, or irrelevant, rather than clam up; and the opposite has been true for INTJs, in my experience.

[Fecal McAngry]

Could someone please assist in determining what I am? So far I've decided that I'm a bit of both P and J:

INTP = Ti, Ne, Si, Fe
INTJ = Ni, Te, Fi, Se
Do you prefer to use Ti or Te, for starters?
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More descriptions of the functions at
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[slug]

The way I would look at it is J likes things planned out and decided. P likes to keep options open, may have a hard time deciding, etc.

I'm about even on J and P, with a slight edge on J.

I find that work/school requires you to be more J, so my J function will show up more there. My P function will show up more in my free time.

I think the general advice is to approach the testing as if you were not at work, in other words, more as your natural self, not what society requires you to be.

I can't tell from your description what you are, because none of those address how you decide things.

[reckful]

I'd say most of what you wrote in the OP fits either INT variation pretty well. I don't really have a significant lean one way or the other.

For more input from me on INTJs and INTPs (and INTXs), see this post (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) and the posts it links to.

The linked post has a roundup of online profiles but the Keirsey links are broken, so here's a replacement set:

INTJ Profiles
Official MBTI Manual (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
Keirsey (Please Understand Me) (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
Kroeger & Thuesen (Type Talk) (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
Hirsh & Kummerow (Lifetypes [abridged]) (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
personalitypage: Portrait (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
personalitypage: Personal Growth (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
personalitypage: Relationships (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
personalitypage: Careers (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

INTP Profiles
Official MBTI Manual (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
Keirsey (Please Understand Me) (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
Kroeger & Thuesen (Type Talk) (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
Hirsh & Kummerow (Lifetypes [abridged]) (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
personalitypage: Portrait (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
personalitypage: Personal Growth (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
personalitypage: Relationships (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
personalitypage: Careers (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

[Cozzine]

Thanks for the answers and references all. I think I am more along the lines of a J than a P. I do have characteristics of both though, but I guess the Briggs wasn't wrong in its judgement of me.
What strikes me as rather humorous right now is that I would have answered this about 45 minutes prior to this, but my mind wandered off somewhere else.

[scorpiomover]

So far I've decided that I'm a bit of both P and J:You can see both sides, about a matter where you are trying to classify yourself in only one of them, and yet you do not think of yourself as undecided? You are more committed to your idea, than to your need for accuracy. Clearly, way more of an Ni-dom, than a Ti-dom.

- I spend a lot of time in my head (a ridiculous amount of time) and I occasionally come to an "aha!" revelation, but sometimes don't follow through with it.An INTP would be bothered enough to mention lack of accomplishment of his ideas, if he didn't carry through LOTS of his "aha!" revelations. You're still bothered, if you don't carry them ALL through. Clearly, you seek to carry out all of your ideas, and believe you can. Clearly a J, and not a P.

- I am calm, lazy and laid back at times, but a hard worker and I promote efficiency. I hold myself to high standards and expect a lot from myself.Ti-doms also hold themselves to high standards. But Ti, being judging and dominant, happen almost instantaneously, making it well nigh to impossible to even be aware that one had overly judged oneself, until well after the fact. You have confidence in your abilities, and you clearly are conscious of your high expectations, indicating that your judging function is probably auxiliary, rather than dominant. I say, Ti-aux or Te-aux.

- I try to be kind to people, but I can be an absolute asshole when it comes to stupidity and when people half-ass stuff (including to myself if I get lazy). I often get down to the nitty-gritty, and speak the honest truth. I don't socialize much though, and usually only talk to people when I have a good reason to (I need information, etc).To Ti-doms, there is only truth. Saying the honest truth, would be superfluous, and would imply that there is such a thing as more than one type of truth. To Ni-doms, what is true depends on the context, and so the truth is not always honest, and thus, it needs to be specified, when one is speaking the honest truth, as opposed to the truth. So you'd be an Ni-dom, and not a Ti-dom.

I suppose I could go on. But by now, I think that the answer should be clear. In each case, the general statements could apply to both. But the nuances of your language are such that would suggest a clear INTJ, and very unlike an INTP's choices of words.

FYI, I concluded that you were an INTJ, before I saw your later post (#6). So you have independent objective corroboration of your view that you are an INTJ.

[Cozzine]

[QUOTE=Cozzine;2550052]I am trying to analyze the differences between the two and apply them to myself, but the two are so close to one another. Could someone please assist in determining what I am?

You can see both sides, about a matter where you are trying to classify yourself in only one of them, and yet you do not think of yourself as undecided? You are more committed to your idea, than to your need for accuracy. Clearly, way more of an Ni-dom, than a Ti-dom.

An INTP would be bothered enough to mention lack of accomplishment of his ideas, if he didn't carry through LOTS of his "aha!" revelations. You're still bothered, if you don't carry them ALL through. Clearly, you seek to carry out all of your ideas, and believe you can. Clearly a J, and not a P.

Ti-doms also hold themselves to high standards. But Ti, being judging and dominant, happen almost instantaneously, making it well nigh to impossible to even be aware that one had overly judged oneself, until well after the fact. You have confidence in your abilities, and you clearly are conscious of your high expectations, indicating that your judging function is probably auxiliary, rather than dominant. I say, Ti-aux or Te-aux.

To Ti-doms, there is only truth. Saying the honest truth, would be superfluous, and would imply that there is such a thing as more than one type of truth. To Ni-doms, what is true depends on the context, and so the truth is not always honest, and thus, it needs to be specified, when one is speaking the honest truth, as opposed to the truth. So you'd be an Ni-dom, and not a Ti-dom.

I suppose I could go on. But by now, I think that the answer should be clear. In each case, the general statements could apply to both. But the nuances of your language are such that would suggest a clear INTJ, and very unlike an INTP's choices of words.

FYI, I concluded that you were an INTJ, before I saw your later post (#6). So you have independent objective corroboration of your view that you are an INTJ.

I appreciate the feedback. I will now change my MBTI to INTJ as it should be.

[vanizorc]

My sentiment has long been that the I/E, S/N, and T/F designations were more "permanent" and stable than the J/P dichotomy. The J/P preference, I find, is more frequently subject to variance depending on one's situational context, hence all the common questions of "Am I an xxxJ or xxxP?"

[Cozzine]

My sentiment has long been that the I/E, S/N, and T/F designations were more "permanent" and stable than the J/P dichotomy. The J/P preference, I find, is more frequently subject to variance depending on one's situational context, hence all the common questions of "Am I an xxxJ or xxxP?"

My findings would support your analysis here because I know for a fact that:

1. I am an introvert. It is blatantly obvious. Several tests I've taken have placed me as a strong introvert (I).

2. I am not a sensor, and generally dislike sensor activities. I hate sports, I don't give a squat about fashion, biking, hiking, and other sensor activities. The tests have placed me as a strong Intuitive (N).

3. I am a thinker, and believe solely in logic. I dislike, and feel uncomfortable, around emotions. Emotional people often rub me the wrong way, particularly when they become irrational. This often puts me in a dark mood very quickly as the logical center of my brain begins to boil at the irrationality, and leaves me with a foul attitude for a while. While I am not very emotionally developed and therefore struggle with emotions, I can understand (to an extent, and depending on the circumstances) feelings in others, but sometimes I just don't care. I often wonder if my depression influences details of the previous sentence. I've generally been placed as, on a scale of 1-10, a 7/10 in Thinking (T).

4. The P and the J have always thrown me off. I have established characteristics of a J and a P, and a couple tests have thrown at me that I am a J, but I can also be a P. If you look at (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) as a general example, those traits are me. I can be a goofy guy with an odd sense of humor; basically that whole page describes me, and others have reflected the same. However, (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) also describes me, excluding blame and self-confidence (I don't like blame, but I try to be open-minded that not everything is everyone else's fault. This is primarily due to the fact that when I was younger I had issues with blame, and got into trouble a lot) and I find self-confidence a problem at times, yet in other circumstances I can be self-confident to the point of arrogance. The tests show that I am somewhere in the middle between J and P, more so than T and F. Maybe a 5/10 or 6/10 J.

It is rather interesting that establishing between a J and a P can enter a grey area of uncertainty.