[lucki]

As an INTJ, I had always been a reflective person, but I found that as a kid I used to be much more dreamy and my reflective mind used to be filled with images and certain type of nostalgic sensations. As an adult, I went into science and though the reflective quality remained, I now realize that my mind's images are replaced with analytical "voices" which I think is a function of introverted thinking.

I'm thinking that a reason that a lot of us(INTJ's esp. in science) sometimes test as INTP is that science is especially an INTP type subject(platonic truth above all else). I wonder if other people had a similar experience?(i.e had to sacrifice some of introverted intuitive urge to cultivate introverted thinking because we were required to adapt to a profession?).

[thegnat]

Hm. As a kid I was very reflective (still am) and as for reflection on the day or life - I was rather imaginative. I wouldn't consider it dreamy though when I was younger. It was more or less...hmm....it was kind of a combination of dreamy and analytical leaning towards analyzing the dreamy part of my imagination and I'd go into deep analysis and the subjects were super positive (although then I used to be more of a positive person, well not necessarily positive, but cheery, too, now I'm a bit more stoic). I've gotten to the point where thinking about all that during childhood has caused me to form enough of a conclusion that I don't have to think about it anymore. I still introspect/reflect more in kind of a dreamy introspection/reflection actually now. My topics may or may not be cheery but what has changed is my security in them. My confidence in them is probably more accurate. I'm a less insecure person now than I used to be. Even on the questions that are unknowable. I *know* they're unknowable, so I don't have to find an answer for them. Thus, I can just kind of toss and dream around about them. I can go through doing something while my mind is in another world. This is usually when I'm very introspective. I still analyze things. I don't always have to analyze them. Those analytical voices are always there - always have been. I've always used them as a mechanism to help me find answers to questions.

As for science being INTP - I'm not sure I agree - I've always tested as an INTJ with a strong J and the only science majors I know the type of all are INTJs. Personally I think it's partly due to what branch of science mainly being theoretical and applied. Of course applied sciences like chemistry will have a theoretical component, but it's not the main line of work.

I think this is a good explanation of the difference:

The INTJ, on the other hand, with Ni dominant and Te as secondary, tends to avoid letting uncertain speculative ideas out in the open: he presents a more considered structured viewpoint to the world while holding his private thoughts free for intuitive reasoning. The INTJ resembles a chess player, ruminating on the possibilites and then making decisive accurate moves. If the INTP played life as chess, he would keep wishing to modify the allowed-move-properties of his various pieces to optimise his strategy, find that that isn't allowed, and ask to start the game afresh!

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I think this also illustrates the difference between theoretical and applied sciences. Theoretical being INTP and applied being INTJ where we like our answers - "to wrap things up" as one of my profs said about his research and then of course he's going onto further research where there are other questions - and INTPs push boundaries. Science does push boundaries in general - but there are different ways of going about it.

[Jedi_sena]

I was talking to my mother about these INTJ traits that I have and she kept remarking, "you've always been that way, even as a child."

[Hdier]

I'm not sure how you identify a child, but I doubt you consider 15 an adult (the movie theaters do!). However, I am starting to embrace Ti, though I am, and always have been, very reflective.

Do you think that I am starting to use Ti at the normal time, or am I early?

[deicruxified]

unicef says 21 is still a child... so i guess i'm still a child and all i can say is i'm still reflective as i have always been :D most of the time i would stun myself with images in my head that i become detached to what's happening around me.

[Masslessxphoton]

Wow that sort of sounds like me, sometimes I come out as a INTP, and I love science so damn much, When I was a kid I had uncontrollable daydreaming, I daydreamed even when talking to people, now I have more control over it, but I still daydream like there is no tomorrow.

[Supaslim]

I haven't changed at all growing up, except for the masks I chose to wear to keep people from judging me. I've always very much been an INTJ.

[daydreamer]

as a child i was much more literal, things were black and white, more matter of fact. i was probably more serious. i've spent most of my adult life appreciating and exploring the grey areas, and the rainbows. some of it is due to the freedom that comes with adulthood, but much of it is because my personality is just different. i haven't lost any analytical skills, and in fact i've improved some of them/refined them - given them application. but they aren't enough. my imagination/daydreaming/creativity is crazy busy these days. analytical voices? only when i'm not feeling well... obsessive thoughts and the like. but thankfully most of the time images/collages in the mind of all kinds of data from different senses, sensations, in silly and often entertaining combinations
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