The INTP personality type is fairly rare, making up only three percent of the

population, which is definitely a good thing for them, as theres nothing

theyd be more unhappy about than being common. INTPs pride
themselves on their inventiveness and creativity, their unique perspective
and vigorous intellect. Usually known as the philosopher, the architect, or the
dreamy professor, INTPs have been responsible for many scientific
discoveries throughout history.
INTPs are known for their brilliant theories and unrelenting logic in fact,
they are considered the most logically precise of all the personality types.
They love patterns, and spotting discrepancies between statements could
almost be described as a hobby, making it a bad idea to lie to an INTP.
Ironically, owing to their Prospecting (P) trait, INTPs word should be taken
with a grain of salt its not that they are dishonest, but INTPs tend to share
thoughts that are not fully developed, using others as a sounding board for
ideas and theories in a debate against themselves rather than as actual
conversation partners.
This may make them appear unreliable, but in reality no one is more
enthusiastic and capable of spotting a problem, drilling through the endless
factors and details that encompass the issue and developing a unique and
viable solution than INTPs just dont expect punctual progress reports.
People who share the INTP personality type arent interested in practical,
day-to-day activities and maintenance, but when they find an environment
where their creative genius and potential can be expressed, there is no limit
to the time and energy INTPs will expend in developing an insightful and
unbiased solution.
They may appear to drift about in an unending daydream, but INTPs thought
process is unceasing, and their minds buzz with ideas from the moment they
wake up. This constant thinking can have the effect of making them look
pensive and detached, as they are often conducting full-fledged debates in
their own heads, but really INTPs are quite relaxed and friendly when they
are with people they know, or who share their interests. However, this can be
replaced by overwhelming shyness when INTPs are among unfamiliar faces,
and friendly banter can quickly become combative if they believe their
logical conclusions or theories are being criticized.
When INTPs are particularly excited, the conversation can border on
incoherence as they try to explain the daisy-chain of logical conclusions that
led to the formation of their latest idea. Oftentimes, INTPs will opt to simply

move on from a topic before its ever understood what they were trying to
say, rather than try to lay things out in plain terms.
The reverse can also be true when people explain their thought processes to
INTPs in terms of subjectivity and feeling. Imagine an immensely complicated
clockwork, taking in every fact and idea possible, processing them with a
heavy dose of creative reasoning and returning the most logically sound
results available this is how the INTP mind works, and this type has little
tolerance for an emotional monkey-wrench jamming their machines.
Whether the chicken crossed the road or the road crossed the chicken
depends on your frame of reference.
Albert Einstein
Further, with Thinking (T) as one of their governing traits, INTPs are unlikely
to understand emotional complaints at all, and their friends wont find a
bedrock of emotional support in them. INTPs would much rather make a
series of logical suggestions for how to resolve the underlying issue, a
perspective that is not always welcomed by their Feeling (F) companions.
This will likely extend to most social conventions and goals as well, like
planning dinners and getting married, as INTPs are far more concerned with
originality and efficient results.
The one thing that really holds INTPs back their restless and pervasive fear of
failure. INTPs are so prone to reassessing their own thoughts and theories,
worrying that theyve missed some critical piece of the puzzle, that they can
stagnate, lost in an intangible world where their thoughts are never truly
applied. Overcoming this self-doubt stands as the greatest challenge INTPs
are likely to face, but the intellectual gifts big and small bestowed on the
world when they do makes it worth the fight.
INTP strengths

Great analysts and abstract thinkers. INTP personalities are great

at noticing patterns and seeing the big picture. They also possess an
impressive ability to jump from one idea to another, linking them in ways
that usually bewilder most other personality types.
Honest and straightforward. INTPs do not play social games and
see no point in sugarcoating their words. They will clearly state their opinion
and expect others to return the favor.
Objective. People with the INTP personality are very logical and
rational individuals who see no point in involving emotions in the decision-

making process. Consequently, they tend to pride themselves in being fair

and impartial.
Imaginative and original. An INTPs mind is always working, always
producing ideas regardless of whether those ideas are likely to see the light
of day. Not surprisingly, INTPs have no difficulties coming up with innovative,
original solutions.
Open-minded. INTPs tend to be open-minded and willing to accept
ideas different from their own, provided that they are supported by facts and
logic. Furthermore, INTPs are usually fairly liberal when it comes to social
norms and traditions, judging people solely on the basis of their ideas.
Enthusiastic. INTP personalities can spend an enormous amount of
time trying to figure out something they are interested in. They will also be
very enthusiastic when it comes to discussing that topic with other people.
INTP weaknesses
Absent-minded. INTPs are able to focus all their efforts on analyzing a
specific idea, but this usually comes at a cost of ignoring everything else.
They may be forgetful or simply miss things that have nothing to do with the
object of their interest.
Second-guess themselves. INTP personalities may be excellent
analysts, but they often lack the decisiveness of Judging (J) types. An INTP
may find it quite difficult to decide which idea is the best one, always looking
for more information and doubting their own conclusions.
Insensitive. INTPs are likely to find it difficult to include emotions in
their decision-making process, focusing all their efforts on getting the
rational basis right. Consequently, they may often come across as insensitive
or be puzzled when it comes to dealing with an emotionally-charged
situation.
Very private and withdrawn. INTPs are often reluctant to let anyone
inside their minds, let alone their hearts. They may often come across as shy
in social settings and even the INTPs friends are likely to have a difficult time
getting to know them well.
May be condescending. INTP personalities are usually proud of their
extensive knowledge and reasoning abilities, but they may get easily
frustrated trying to describe their thoughts other people. INTPs enjoy
presenting their ideas to other people, but explaining how they got from A to
Z is another matter.
Loathe rules and guidelines. INTPs need a lot of freedom and have
little respect for rules and traditions that put artificial limits on their
imagination. People with this personality type would rather have less security
and more autonomy.

INTP relationships and dating

Even though romantic relationships and dating are inherently difficult for
INTPs, people with this personality type take them very seriously. The main
problem that INTPs are likely to face in this area is that they are not naturally
sensitive or emotional individuals. Consequently, understanding another
persons feelings or expressing their own is not something that an INTP is
well equipped to do.
Furthermore, INTPs strongly dislike being at the centre of emotionally
charged situations. As interpersonal conflicts are virtually inevitable even in
the happiest romantic relationships, INTPs may find those situations quite
frustrating and consequently try to avoid or ignore emotional conflicts in
their relationship, especially during the dating phase. If there is no escape,
the INTP will try to find a solution but will likely rely on the analytical
approach, which can be very different from what their partner [especially if
they belong to one of the Feeling (F) personality types] might expect. INTP
personalities should try to include this in their thought process, especially
when it comes to dealing with conflicts in the earlier stages of the
relationship.
These weaknesses aside, INTP personalities tend to be very loyal and faithful
partners. INTPs are also unusually direct and honest, even if they have just
started dating someone. People with this personality type always stick to
their commitments and are actually quite easy to date and live withthey
have simple daily needs and do not demand much from their partners.
However, despite seeking simplicity in dating and romantic relationships,
INTPs do not lack passion or romantic feelings. On the contrary, people with
the INTP personality type tend to be extremely creative individuals whose
vivid imagination allows them to always remain very enthusiastic and
passionate in romantic relationships. Anyone dating an INTP may be quite
surprised by this sometimes.
INTPs simple daily needs are completely opposite their inner world, which is
bound to be very complex and colourful. However, there is a certain logic
behind this: INTPs purposefully seek simplicity in the real life so that they
can focus all their mental power on the inner world.
People with the INTP personality type are likely to use their rich imaginations
to achieve as much as possible in intimate situations. While their enthusiasm
can be very impressive, INTPs should be aware of their tendency to prioritize
the inner world. It is entirely possible that an INTP will imagine an intimate

situation in a very exciting and interesting way but will choose not to reveal
that to their dating or long-term partner.
Another potential issue that someone with the INTP personality type should
try to resolve is their tendency to overlook their partners emotional needs.
As already mentioned above, INTPs are not naturally sensitive or emotional,
but their partner might have a very different personality. It is important for
an INTP to try to understand their feelings and communicate on the
emotional level, instead of simply relying on commitment and dedication and
believing that this is all that is needed. Of course, their partner should also
be aware of INTP personality traits and quirks, and try not to demand a
constant flow of emotions from the INTP.
INTP friends
INTP personalities are likely to be very knowledgeable, intelligent friends, but
they are notoriously difficult to get to know, and few people have the
patience and determination to get through their shields. The INTPs mind is
always buzzing with ideas, riddles, and solutions. In contrast, though,
communicating with other people is often more a nuisance than a pleasure
for an INTP. Consequently, INTPs tend to be very picky when it comes to
choosing friends. If the other person has significantly different interests or
simply cannot cope with the INTPs endless stream of ideas, it is unlikely that
the INTP will see them as close friends.
Bearing this in mind, it is not surprising that INTPs are likely to have a very
small circle of good friends. Many personality types seek friends for chatting,
emotional support, social validation etc. INTPs tend to dismiss these things
as trivial, and this naturally restricts the pool of potential friends. People with
the INTP personality type are bound to gravitate toward other Analyst (NT)
types who share their passion for theoretical discussions and intellectual
riddles. That being said, INTPs will value and respect their friends greatly and
will work hard to keep these relationships strong.
INTPs friends are unlikely to be very warm or emotionally supportive. If you
are having some issues, the INTP will easily come up with several rational
solutions, but do not expect them to understand your feelings or know how
to explain something that is more emotional than logical. This does not mean
that INTP friends have no feelings and should be seen only as walking
encyclopediasquite the contrary. INTP personalities may have very strong
sentiments, but they are likely to be hidden from plain sight. Still waters run
deep.

INTP friendships are likely to be unambiguous, strong, and straightforward,

free from power games and emotional baggage. INTPs reward their friends
loyalty and understanding with thought-stimulating ideas, sound advice, and
reliability. It is not easy to become an INTPs friend, but if you are inclined to
try, you will find that such a relationship is worth the effort.
INTP careers
The INTP personality type possesses a unique combination of traits, and
typical INTP career choices reflect this as well. We will now discuss the traits
that make INTPs successful in their chosen careers please feel free to
suggest any additions or simply leave some feedback in the comment
section below this article.
Let us begin with one of the most prominent personality traits shared by all
INTPstheir love for theoretical methods and ideas. The best INTP careers
turn this unique trait into a major strength as very few other personality
types enjoy theories as much as INTPs do. For this particular reason, INTPs
are excellent career scientists (especially in highly theoretical fields such as
physics or chemistry), mathematicians, technical writers, or system analysts.
Next, INTPs enjoy finding and analysing underlying principles and ideas.
Many typical career paths allow INTPs to utilise this trait, even though this
often comes with practical applications that do not really interest INTPs. For
instance, INTPs can be great corporate strategists, business analysts, video
game designers, programmers, or engineers (this career is particularly
suitable for INTPs due to their love for theory).
INTPs tend to be very independent (even somewhat eccentric), hold
themselves to very high standards, and dislike managing other people or
being managed, especially later in their career. These traits are rarely seen
as attractive in the modern corporate world, and INTPs should avoid
mentioning them in a job interview. However, if their manager proves to be
insightful and open-minded enough, the INTP will be a never-tiring generator
of brilliant and unique ideas. Some of the best INTP careers making good use
of these traits may focus on legal, freelance consulting or forensic or
laboratory research routes.
Finally, INTPs are typical lone wolves and typical INTP careers revolve
around this trait. They live in their own minds, love solitude, and tend to
despise small talk and other social necessities. INTPs do not really
understand or enjoy emotional exchanges and are unlikely to spend a
significant amount of time chitchatting with their colleagues or customers.

For these reasons, customer-facing careers are highly unsuitable for INTPs;
they would do much better in roles that focus on data and theories rather
than people. For instance, INTPs may be excellent lawyers, data analysts, or
even journalists, as long as they find the field interesting. These are some of
the best career choices for people with this personality type.
INTP personality in the workplace
We have already covered the type description, relationships, parenthood,
etc., so lets now discuss how people with the INTP personality type behave
in the workplace. We split this article into three sections: INTP colleagues,
INTP managers, and INTP subordinates. All three are equally relevant as
there is a high chance that you will experience the joy of being in each of
these categories at some point in your life.
Even if you are not an INTP yourself, this information should be useful in case
you run into someone with this personality type at work. It is usually quite
easy to recognize an INTP, but if you still have doubts about your coworker or
a manager, see if the traits listed below ring any bells.
INTP colleagues

Insightful and unbiasedINTPs stay out of gossip but are able to

decipher the underlying motives quite easily.
Reluctant to mingle and chat but enjoy discussing new theoretical
ideas with co-workers they consider equal to themselves
Cautious and suspicious of other peoples motives
Prefer working alone and dislike sharing ideas with untested
colleagues
Very uncomfortable with expressing emotions or being around people
who are expressing themINTPs do not really know what they are supposed
to do in such situations.
Enjoy solving riddles and noticing patterns
INTP managers

Have very high standards, especially for themselves

Dislike explaining their ideas and expect subordinates to be as
insightful as they are
Very tolerant and flexible
Open to suggestions, as long as they are logical
Secretly dislike managing other people
Easily notice discrepancies

Loathe schmoozing and strongly resist all forms of emotional

manipulation
INTP subordinates

Very innovative, original, and resourceful, but demand a lot of freedom

in return
Do not care much about being liked and are less concerned about job
security compared with other personality typesthese notions do not hold
much value to INTPs.
Dislike routine work and implementation of ideas, would much rather
focus their energy on generating new ideas
Need to be accompanied by an implementer [preferably someone
with an Observant (S) personality type] who could put their ideas into
practice; this may take time and clever management, howeversuch things
cannot be forced on an INTP.
Resistant to criticism, but will not understand emotional arguments
Typical lone wolvesINTPs function best when they are left alone.