Which is the "smartest" and "stupidest" type?

**jetplane48** · 01-28-2012, 05:02 PM

I am guessing INTP and for the latter, I am unsure.

**ascii** · 01-28-2012, 05:09 PM

I'd like it if the words smart and stupid were banned from the face of the earth. There is no such thing as "smart," or "stupid." Intelligence cannot be quantified, and calling someone smart or stupid just makes you stupid. They're so subjective it's impossible to use the words properly.

INTPs tend to be very good at theoretical principals and design, as well as logical fields like mathematics. Does this make them smarter than any other types? No. It means they tend to have a talent in one specific area, and a lot of weakness too. One could say (if I dare use the word) that they are "emotionally stupid," because they usually don't connect well with other peoples emotions. So INTPs are not the smartest type, because there is no smartest type, and no such things as being smart or stupid either.

As you can imagine, this also means there is no "stupidest" type either.

**JC22** · 01-28-2012, 05:30 PM

I am.

**Owfin** · 01-28-2012, 05:47 PM

There is no smart or stupid type. ESFJs can be inventive geniuses and INTJs can be stick-up-their-bum morons. And it isn't even that ENFPs are more likely to be intelligent or ISFJs likely to be dull and uncreative; I believe that every type has equal chance.

**TheStranger** · 01-28-2012, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by ascii
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I'd like it if the words smart and stupid were banned from the face of the earth. There is no such thing as "smart," or "stupid." Intelligence cannot be quantified, and calling someone smart or stupid just makes you stupid. They're so subjective it's impossible to use the words properly.

INTPs tend to be very good at theoretical principals and design, as well as logical fields like mathematics. Does this make them smarter than any other types? No. It means they tend to have a talent in one specific area, and a lot of weakness too. One could say (if I dare use the word) that they are "emotionally stupid," because they usually don't connect well with other peoples emotions. So INTPs are not the smartest type, because there is no smartest type, and no such things as being smart or stupid either.

As you can imagine, this also means there is no "stupidest" type either.

Going off of the premise that intelligence can't be quantified doesn't mean that such distinctions shouldn't exist, at least in some form.

**ascii** · 01-28-2012, 06:45 PM

Sure, but there is no such thing as a smart or stupid person. I'll agree that certain statements can be labeled as smart or stupid (and I should have added that), but no one is inherently stupid or smart.

**TheStranger** · 01-28-2012, 06:58 PM

I agree cognition is a bit of a grey area, but the relativistic nature of cognition does still apply somewhat, even if you are referring to a specific mental ability (verbal, mathematical).

However, I believe David Wechsler said that intelligence could never be 100% quantified, as performance could be impaired by non-intellectual traits that may or may not be difficult to detect (such as attentional or anxiety issues).

**Wongette** · 01-28-2012, 07:03 PM

Intelligence seems to be independent of MBTI. I have known brilliant ISTJs, ENFPs, INFJs; and really dumb INTJs. I think I have seen the full range of intelligence within ENTJs.

**davai** · 01-29-2012, 07:19 AM

Agree with the general idea that intelligence is independent of type, but disagree that it cannot be quantified. If we have a valid way of quantifying intelligence then we may be able to link it to type, but my first instinct is to say that no meaningful correlation will be found. Could be wrong. It would surely piss all over many an NTs bonfire if we found that ESFPs were on average the smartest type.

**Shoshana** · 01-29-2012, 07:33 AM

agree that no one type is smarter than others. I think type boils down to which areas of your brain are more dominant--but the degree of dominant brain function and intelligence is individual--and in part genetic.

**reckful** · 01-29-2012, 10:19 AM

As has already been noted/demonstrated in this thread, different people define "smart" and "intelligent" in different ways. However, if you're talking about relatively conventional, academic-oriented measures of intelligence like IQ tests and scholastic aptitude tests and school grades, there appear to be noteworthy correlations with MBTI preferences — particularly an N preference.

See
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for more.

**anticlimatic** · 01-29-2012, 11:32 AM

I think the OP raises an excellent point...
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Seriously, though. As a whole, I'd say that P's are going to be smarter than Js. That whole ability to not jump to erroneous conclusions thing.

**SarcasticVlad** · 01-29-2012, 11:53 AM

There are no best and worse types. That's now how the world works.

Smart people are those who agree with me. Stupid are those who dare defy me. No that is how the world works unfortunately.

**Ferbguy101** · 01-29-2012, 01:36 PM

IQ wise statistics usually say Ns perform better on IQ tests ot tests in general, but IQ tests doesn't exactly=intelligent, do you know how long it took eistein to come up with the relitivity theory? I'd say NTs perform the best on these tests and SPs perform the worst

**joliet** · 01-29-2012, 03:17 PM

There are tendencies though. INTJs are more likely to collect intellectual skills because they value understanding and intelligence. ESFPs are more likely to not process calculus, because their cognitive functions don't prefer processing abstract concepts therefore they seldom dedicate time to acquire those skills. ESFPs are more likely to collect social skills because they value the enjoyment of people. On the other hand, social skills will be an immature INTJ's Achilles heel.

I don't know how I would express my opinion on innate intelligence. I think there are individuals who are simply more intelligent, able to process more information, than others, but I would not say type determines this, nor would I say it doesn't determine this simply because there is no compelling study to say one or the other--only theoretical analysis. I think N types tend to be more fluidly intelligent because of N connecting, while S types tend to have more concrete knowledge when motivated. I think, no matter type, an innate higher capacity for understanding will motivate learning.

And Ns test higher on IQ tests, where IQ tests measure a competitive and valuable form of intelligence. It does not, however, measure at all all forms of intelligence.

**darynthe** · 01-29-2012, 03:25 PM

	Originally Posted by ascii To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Sure, but there is no such thing as a smart or stupid person. I'll agree that certain statements can be labeled as smart or stupid (and I should have added that), but no one is inherently stupid or smart.

What? Let me guess. There is no good and evil either right. And there are no truths! Everything is mush. Welcome Miss PC 2012.

Other than that. INTPs are the smartest in average. (I find ESFJs the stupidiest.)

**Owfin** · 01-29-2012, 04:08 PM

	Originally Posted by darynthe To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	(I find ESFJs the stupidiest.)

Bolded words are important. Aside from that whole intelligence looking different from different types stuff, it can be common for people to say, have this idea of ESFPs being vapid party animals, and assign all the people who embody the "vapid party animal" stereotype the type of ESFP, when that person could be anything from an INTP to an ISFJ just going off of that.

**Merak** · 01-29-2012, 04:32 PM

I've always defined intelligence and wisdom as the following:

Intelligence= Knowledge.

Wisdom= Understanding.

I know people who have a large database of knowledge, but they are not able to connect the dots all that well. I also know others who possess less knowledge, yet are so proficient at bringing several elements together, they are able to develop a greater overall understanding.

I'd define "smart" as the combination of the two.

In the case of intelligence (knowledge), I do not think type is a factor. Knowledge is gained through experience and exposure. As for wisdom, I cannot help but think N types have an advantage.

I'm also comfortable with the answer of INTP :D

**ascii** · 01-29-2012, 04:35 PM

	Originally Posted by darynthe To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	What? Let me guess. There is no good and evil either right. And there are no truths! Everything is mush. Welcome Miss PC 2012. Other than that. INTPs are the smartest in average. (I find ESFJs the stupidiest.)

No... there is just no such thing as a smart or stupid person. I do believe that certain people are inherently evil (though their's often a good reason why). INTPs aren't the smartest, and ESFJs aren't the stupidest (which you ironically misspelled). As has been said above, INTPs tend to be socially retarded, while ESFJs could be said to be "social geniuses."

**Alanas** · 01-29-2012, 04:42 PM

This is getting ridiculous... And what will this "knowledge" give? "INTX is the smartest", "ESFX is the stupidest", "sensors are inferior" and all that crap. We don't need more stereotypes to be reinforced - there is enough of them as it is. All that "me is the smartest" fantasy can really get into NT's head which would prevent him from learning and understanding new perspectives and, thus, becoming a more well-rounded person.

And besides who could answer this question: which is better sportsperson a football (European football) player or a basketball player? Sure, there are some basic ground that can be compared such as speed or stamina, but some (such as throw accuracy or ball-kicking technique) can't. Same with MBTI.

On the one hand, INTPs, comparing with us, tend to be better at, for example, looking at the question from various different angles and perspectives while we tend to excel at having a vision and seeking ruthlessly better.

So, yea. 2 different strengths that, combined, can be much more effective.

**Looc** · 01-29-2012, 05:17 PM

	Originally Posted by anticlimatic To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I think the OP raises an excellent point... To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Seriously, though. As a whole, I'd say that P's are going to be smarter than Js. That whole ability to not jump to erroneous conclusions thing.

What if the conclusion I just jumped to was correct? I don't agree you can determine any point of intelligence based on P over J in any way at all.

**Merak** · 01-29-2012, 05:25 PM

	Originally Posted by Looc To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	What if the conclusion I just jumped to was correct? I don't agree you can determine any point of intelligence based on P over J in any way at all.

I have an ENTJ friend that had made a snarky comment along the lines of, "It is easy to look smart if you never say anything to make you look stupid". She mentioned it after I had corrected her on something she said (a habit of mine--it pisses her off, so I am more inclined to do it
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)

Anywho, the situation is similar. I think INTP's often get credit simply because we will rarely make a decision unless we are very confident in it being correct. There is definitely something to be said about the effeciency of a decision-making process. As been said on this forum before, if time was a factor, INTJ's will have the upper hand.

**Tactical Panda** · 01-29-2012, 06:02 PM

Depends on what area of life is in question and the individual.

	Originally Posted by anticlimatic To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Seriously, though. As a whole, I'd say that P's are going to be smarter than Js. That whole ability to not jump to erroneous conclusions thing.

Assuming J effectively means they will jump to erroneous conclusions and that Ps are not doing it. If the "seriously" wasn't there I'd be tempted to honestly think this was an obvious attempt at irony. But alas.

**Aboni** · 01-29-2012, 06:15 PM

Me, an INTJ

**teraczy** · 01-29-2012, 06:44 PM

There have been studies done in schools, correlating high GPA scores and high IQ to certain MBTI (not all necessarily both, but high IQ is always present, with INTJ having most consistent matching GPA to IQ) to these three types: INTJ, INTP, and INFP. If you'd like the reference I'd be glad to provide it.

01-28-2012, 05:02 PM	#1
jetplane48 Member [16%] MBTI: ESTP Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 668	I am guessing INTP and for the latter, I am unsure.
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01-28-2012, 05:09 PM	#2
ascii Member [03%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 131	I'd like it if the words smart and stupid were banned from the face of the earth. There is no such thing as "smart," or "stupid." Intelligence cannot be quantified, and calling someone smart or stupid just makes you stupid. They're so subjective it's impossible to use the words properly. INTPs tend to be very good at theoretical principals and design, as well as logical fields like mathematics. Does this make them smarter than any other types? No. It means they tend to have a talent in one specific area, and a lot of weakness too. One could say (if I dare use the word) that they are "emotionally stupid," because they usually don't connect well with other peoples emotions. So INTPs are not the smartest type, because there is no smartest type, and no such things as being smart or stupid either. As you can imagine, this also means there is no "stupidest" type either.
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01-28-2012, 05:30 PM	#3
JC22 Core Member [112%] MBTI: xxxx Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,509	I am.
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01-28-2012, 05:47 PM	#4
Owfin Member [22%] MBTI: ISTJ Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 894	There is no smart or stupid type. ESFJs can be inventive geniuses and INTJs can be stick-up-their-bum morons. And it isn't even that ENFPs are more likely to be intelligent or ISFJs likely to be dull and uncreative; I believe that every type has equal chance.
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01-28-2012, 06:45 PM	#6
ascii Member [03%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 131	Sure, but there is no such thing as a smart or stupid person. I'll agree that certain statements can be labeled as smart or stupid (and I should have added that), but no one is inherently stupid or smart.
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01-28-2012, 06:58 PM	#7
TheStranger Core Member [148%] MBTI: intp Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 5,946	I agree cognition is a bit of a grey area, but the relativistic nature of cognition does still apply somewhat, even if you are referring to a specific mental ability (verbal, mathematical). However, I believe David Wechsler said that intelligence could never be 100% quantified, as performance could be impaired by non-intellectual traits that may or may not be difficult to detect (such as attentional or anxiety issues).
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01-28-2012, 07:03 PM	#8
Wongette Member [13%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 532	Intelligence seems to be independent of MBTI. I have known brilliant ISTJs, ENFPs, INFJs; and really dumb INTJs. I think I have seen the full range of intelligence within ENTJs.
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01-29-2012, 07:19 AM	#9
davai Core Member [176%] MBTI: Infp Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 7,053	Agree with the general idea that intelligence is independent of type, but disagree that it cannot be quantified. If we have a valid way of quantifying intelligence then we may be able to link it to type, but my first instinct is to say that no meaningful correlation will be found. Could be wrong. It would surely piss all over many an NTs bonfire if we found that ESFPs were on average the smartest type.
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01-29-2012, 07:33 AM	#10
Shoshana Member [27%] MBTI: INFP Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,106	agree that no one type is smarter than others. I think type boils down to which areas of your brain are more dominant--but the degree of dominant brain function and intelligence is individual--and in part genetic.
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01-29-2012, 10:19 AM	#11
reckful Core Member [534%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 21,371	As has already been noted/demonstrated in this thread, different people define "smart" and "intelligent" in different ways. However, if you're talking about relatively conventional, academic-oriented measures of intelligence like IQ tests and scholastic aptitude tests and school grades, there appear to be noteworthy correlations with MBTI preferences — particularly an N preference. See To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. for more.
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01-29-2012, 11:32 AM	#12
anticlimatic Veteran Member [53%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,151	I think the OP raises an excellent point... To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Seriously, though. As a whole, I'd say that P's are going to be smarter than Js. That whole ability to not jump to erroneous conclusions thing.
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01-29-2012, 11:53 AM	#13
SarcasticVlad Veteran Member [62%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,501	There are no best and worse types. That's now how the world works. Smart people are those who agree with me. Stupid are those who dare defy me. No that is how the world works unfortunately.
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01-29-2012, 01:36 PM	#14
Ferbguy101 Member [11%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 452	IQ wise statistics usually say Ns perform better on IQ tests ot tests in general, but IQ tests doesn't exactly=intelligent, do you know how long it took eistein to come up with the relitivity theory? I'd say NTs perform the best on these tests and SPs perform the worst
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01-29-2012, 03:17 PM	#15
joliet Member [15%] MBTI: xxxx Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 607	There are tendencies though. INTJs are more likely to collect intellectual skills because they value understanding and intelligence. ESFPs are more likely to not process calculus, because their cognitive functions don't prefer processing abstract concepts therefore they seldom dedicate time to acquire those skills. ESFPs are more likely to collect social skills because they value the enjoyment of people. On the other hand, social skills will be an immature INTJ's Achilles heel. I don't know how I would express my opinion on innate intelligence. I think there are individuals who are simply more intelligent, able to process more information, than others, but I would not say type determines this, nor would I say it doesn't determine this simply because there is no compelling study to say one or the other--only theoretical analysis. I think N types tend to be more fluidly intelligent because of N connecting, while S types tend to have more concrete knowledge when motivated. I think, no matter type, an innate higher capacity for understanding will motivate learning. And Ns test higher on IQ tests, where IQ tests measure a competitive and valuable form of intelligence. It does not, however, measure at all all forms of intelligence.
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01-29-2012, 04:32 PM	#18
Merak Member [20%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 815	I've always defined intelligence and wisdom as the following: Intelligence= Knowledge. Wisdom= Understanding. I know people who have a large database of knowledge, but they are not able to connect the dots all that well. I also know others who possess less knowledge, yet are so proficient at bringing several elements together, they are able to develop a greater overall understanding. I'd define "smart" as the combination of the two. In the case of intelligence (knowledge), I do not think type is a factor. Knowledge is gained through experience and exposure. As for wisdom, I cannot help but think N types have an advantage. I'm also comfortable with the answer of INTP :D
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01-29-2012, 04:42 PM	#20
Alanas Member [17%] MBTI: INTj Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 719	This is getting ridiculous... And what will this "knowledge" give? "INTX is the smartest", "ESFX is the stupidest", "sensors are inferior" and all that crap. We don't need more stereotypes to be reinforced - there is enough of them as it is. All that "me is the smartest" fantasy can really get into NT's head which would prevent him from learning and understanding new perspectives and, thus, becoming a more well-rounded person. And besides who could answer this question: which is better sportsperson a football (European football) player or a basketball player? Sure, there are some basic ground that can be compared such as speed or stamina, but some (such as throw accuracy or ball-kicking technique) can't. Same with MBTI. On the one hand, INTPs, comparing with us, tend to be better at, for example, looking at the question from various different angles and perspectives while we tend to excel at having a vision and seeking ruthlessly better. So, yea. 2 different strengths that, combined, can be much more effective.
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01-29-2012, 06:15 PM	#24
Aboni Banned MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 644	Me, an INTJ
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01-29-2012, 06:44 PM	#25
teraczy Member [26%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,043	There have been studies done in schools, correlating high GPA scores and high IQ to certain MBTI (not all necessarily both, but high IQ is always present, with INTJ having most consistent matching GPA to IQ) to these three types: INTJ, INTP, and INFP. If you'd like the reference I'd be glad to provide it.
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