Is this ILI-INTp description accurate for you?

[Polly_G]

This goes to show that out Sara is a very special girl. The description here is certainly flattering, and perhaps a bit too flattering. I'm not surprised the ENTps identify with this description (ENTps identify with every description - especially those that are particularly flattering :wink, but I actually see very little ENTp in here.

Actually that's not quite true. ENTps like to be unbiased and examine those types of things and question themselves.

The Critical INTp

“A red breasted robin in a cage puts all the world in a rage.” Though William Blake may not have been thinking of an INTp as he wrote the line quoted it makes a charming metaphor for this type. Though the INTp may break down intellectual and social barriers odds are he will feel like he never took flight. He is an effective artist of the world, always looking for ways that he might change it to better heed his needs. He is an intellectual dreamer so lost in his own world that when shaken from his mind me may at first appear lost and distant.

This is something I've heard verbalized by many INTps, among them our Cone. I suspect that, if we were to follow the train of thought that leads to this mindset, we would find this is based on Ni, as thisis a trait that INTps share with INFps.

This actually describes me quite often too. I just totally block everything else out but my thoughts and can completely ignore my surroundings. ENTps will often describe themselves as the more introverted of the extroverts.

]An eloquent and effective speaker, he can make the most mundane things seem quite amazing with his extravagant verbal skills.

INTps are usually not so gifted verbally, from my observation. They tend to be somewhat awkward (dare I say it, nerdy) and even tactless in conversation. Many do have a gift for language, but tend to express themselves much better through written than spoken word. I've also heard people complain that INTps can carry an affrontery of coldness, apathy, and bemusement which might put warmer types (feelers, mostly) ill at ease. We they try to be light-hearted, they much of thetime end up looking affected or dorky - which can actually be rather charming if it isn't accompanied by arrogance or cynicism (which, I'm sorry to say,is often the case).

I pretty much agree with that entire statement. I know a charming dorking INTp, he is quite fun to be around. At first glance you'd never think this jovial looking guy could know so much. He's very modest in his appearance and his demeaner. I'm more the one can be a very eloquent speaker. I like the attention .

]The INTp shows an intense interest in religion and is more often than not delving into his studies of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and any other religion ancient or modern that strikes his interest. He shows a mish mash of beliefs and usually does not commit to one religion or the other.

Interestingly enough, more than half the ITps I know are admitted Atheists.

My interest is more in cultures and I'm not really interested in studying in religions in detail, just how they impact society and culture.

]Socially he is charming and charismatic.

This is a tad bit misleading. INTps can indeed be surprisingly sociable and charming... however, most will tend to be standoffish, and typically rather shy. Most INTps I know do exhibit the desire and ability to interact socially pretty effectively, but often cross the line between effectively and smoothly - that is to say, INTps usually get where they want to be, socially, but more often than not, rarely value social interaction as much as other types. As a result, INTps may feel socially well-off, but only because they tend not to go after too wide a social circle to begin with.

I'd agree with that. The INTp I know will tend to sit off to the side at a party and have intimate conversations while I'm looking for something new to do every 5 minutes. I actually dislike things like bars and big parties. I much prefer quiet sociable evenings with some good friends. Not always the case when I was younger though. I've gotten a lot shyer as I've gotten older...wierd.

] The INTp puts up barriers and will rarely let them down. He is very guarded and worried that people are judging him because he himself is constantly quietly observing humans. The INTp is very skeptical about love, and though he wants more than anything to love, when he does he thinks himself foolish and quickly backs out of the relationship. As a rule he keeps a distance between himself and his friends. One of his biggest fears is to rely on someone emotionally.

This seems quite accurate.

This is sort of half true for the ENTp too. I may take more risks though but I am definately a lot more guarded than many I know. I fear to rely on someone period. Its such a sensitive thing for me to give my love to someone, I need to be really really really sure before I totally trust them enough to completely let my guard down. I'm in always in observation mode when it comes to people. Its like I'm driven to understand what makes them tick so I can break them down to something logical I can understand. I wonder what this is all about. It sounds like INTps are the same way. Could it be that we are absorbing information through intuitive thinking processes rather than sensing so we can't understand the world unless we do this?

]Perfect chaos is the only way to describe the choice living conditions for the INTp. He will leave the laundry and dishes undone, but the small important things to him are kept in perfect order. It is not uncommon for him to alphabetize and categorize his movie and book collections. The INTp will collect and study odd things such as, fossils, rocks, and old photographs. Things that most people might find boring are quite fascinating and important to him. He is bothered if he finds such small important things out of order and prone to fly into a rage if they are touched by one other than himself.

This holds up pretty well now that I think about it.

Some similarities except for the whole collecting thing. A lot of the reasons I collect things is because I can't be bothered to throw them out. I really do enjoy exploring interesting things at times though. I go through what I call my phases. For a while I will get really into History, then I'm focused on painting for awhile, or on the time sucking vortex of a computer of mine. Many times I will pick up on things from where I left off but unfortunately, I have to be in the mood to do it or it becomes a chore.

]The INTp is incredibly instinctive. He often knows what the out come of any given situation will be. He rarely gets himself into grave trouble for this reason. He is aware of this ability but is often unwilling to share it if he has not been taken seriously in this aspect in the past.

This seems to be describing Ni, and holds up pretty well.

All this said, I think such descriptions are generally helpful to those individuals just discovering Socionics and trying to uncover their own type. Functional descriptions, though more impressive, are often rather dubious once we attach colloquial (and hence, comprehensible) connotations to the abstract functions. People identify with descriptions of people - not descriptions of the activities of an abstract set of preferential instincts, working in a very intricate combination. Functional analysis can be used to put a framework over the behavior, but to denote behavior as a result of functions is a fallacy. Goodbye, cute lemings.

I think its interesting but I didn't know INTps and ENTps were that much a like. I know the biggest things I see are the differences between me and the dorky type of INTp is that I may come off more snobbish at times; he comes across as less threatening; he reads more; he takes more crap than I would; and he keeps a larger psychological distance from people than I do. Like, I will talk about my feelings etc. and you can tell that's an uncomfortable subject for him.

He'd much rather talk about details of world war II or some other type of topic that didn't involve him personally. Which is fine by me because I love those knowledge filled kinds of conversations.

He kicks the crap out of everyone playing trivial pursuit but I can hold my own against him in games like scrabble and monopoly. Oh, and I totally kick his ass in first person shooter games.

I didn't quite realize though what an interest they had in human nature. Explains why he was so interested in Myers-Briggs when I introduced it to him. Most of the guy's I know blew it off and weren't really interested.

He can be quite talkative if you get him going. But he's one person I don't mind listening to because what he is usually saying is very interesting and in plain english.