Short Descriptions:

       "Theme is designing and configuring. Talents lie in grasping the underlying principles of something and defining its essential qualities. Seek to define precisely and bring coherence to systems based on the pattern of organization that is naturally there. Easily notice inconsistencies. Enjoy elegant theories and models for their own sake and for use in solving technical and human problems. Interested in theorizing, analyzing, and learning. Thrive on exploring, understanding, and explaining how the world works." ³

       "Quiet and reserved. Especially enjoy theoretical or scientific pursuits. Like solving problems with logic and analysis. Usually interested mainly ideas, with little liking for parties or small talk. Tend to have sharply defined interests. Need careers where some strong interests can be used and useful."⁴

       "INTPs take their energy from the inner world of thoughts and ideas. They prefer dealing with patterns and possibilities, and making decisions on a logical basis. Their life is flexible, following new insights and possibilities as they arise. They are quiet and detached, and adaptable (up to a point - sometimes they may stop adapting, insisting that there is a clear principle at stake). They are not interested in routine, and will often experiment or change things to see if they can be improved. They operate at best when solving complex problems that require the application of intellect.
       INTPs are known for their quest for logical purity, which motivates them to examine universal truths and principles. They re constantly asking themselves and others the question "Why?" and "Why not?" Clear and quick thinkers, they are able to focus with great intensity on their interests. They appreciate elegance and efficiency in thought processes and require them, even more so, in their own communications. They may be seen as unwilling to accept what everyone else regards as truth. While often low key in outward appearance and approach, they are as "hard as nails" when challenging a truth. They do not like to deal with the obvious. They are at their best in building conceptual models and developing unusual and complex ideas."⁵

       "For INTPs the driving force in their lives is to understand whatever phenomenon is the focus of their attention. They want to make sense of the world -- as a concept -- and they often enjoy opportunities to be creative. INTPs are logical, analytical, and detached in their approach to the world; they naturally question and critique ideas and events as they strive for understanding. INTPs usually have little need to control the outer world, or to bring order to it, and they often appear very flexible and adaptable in their lifestyle."⁶

       "INTPs direct their energy towards the inner world of thoughts and emotions. They structure and organize their ideas, coming up with theories and explanations to explain new areas of scientific research or experience. They often seek to understand the full complexity of any situation and enjoy solving difficult intellectual problems."⁷

       "The theme is designing. They precisely arrange all of the elements necessary for an understanding of that part of the world that interests them. Live in a world of ideas. Skilled with logic. Strongly defined interests. Enjoy theoretical/scientific subjects."⁸

       "Private, selective, and reserved. Cool, detached, and unemotional. Logical, intellectual, and analytical. Casual, calm, and adaptable. Tips for communicating with INTP: Challenge their creativity to solve complex problems. Respect their competence and expertise. Give them plenty of time to think about things in new ways." ⁹

The Negative Side of INTP

       "You can often be extremely pedantic. Sometimes you pay so much attention to certain jobs that this waste of time and energy can lead you to become fatigued and even to lose interest in the work. Sometimes you can become obsessed with the quality and freshness of food. You are very conservative in your tastes and habits. You can often be excessively skeptical about new ideas and new projects, especially if a project requires lots of energy and enthusiasm for its development. This can cause you to become more conservative and passive if you are involved in such projects. You also have a tendency to perceive life pessimistically." ¹⁰

INTP Under STRESS

       "INTPs lack follow-through and this can isolate their ideas from practical examination. Their notions become over-intellectualized and too abstract to be of practical benefit. With their sharp critical thinking and analytical abilities, INTPs tend to nit-pick, hair-split, and generally overdo simple issues. Their desire for accuracy and precision exacerbates any error they may perceive in themselves or in others they are, in other words, highly self-critical. Wanting to be competent and know everything, their standards grow increasingly higher. When fear of failing becomes overly pronounced, INTPs are quick to feel unintelligent, slow, and powerless.
       If stress continues, the INTP's mind seems to freeze and block out the vital information it has worked so hard to accumulate. Their creative juices stop flowing and they suffer from stage fright, writers block, and a general inhibition of their ingenious thinking and fluent language skills. Preoccupied with performance failure, INTPs become self-consciously distracted in anticipation of their failure. If the stress becomes too overwhelming, the fear of blanking out prevents them from taking risks in areas they desire to succeed in. Attempting to avoid incompetence, they fail to gain the expertise and mastery they so desperately need." ¹¹

       "Under great stress, INTPs may erupt outwardly in inappropriate displays of emotion. The resulting explosive anger or hurt tearfulness is quite unnerving to others and embarrassing to the usually calm an controlled INTP."¹²

Stress Management for INTP (Feeding the Fourth)

       Do activities that require you to ask, "How can I use this to help someone else?" in an subjective, sharing of emotion manner, such as Loving Lottery