Book notes: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning, by Dr. A.J. Drenth

INTPs desperately want to know who they are, how they should live, and the sorts of things they should be doing.

What often happens is quite the opposite

Before really knowing themselves, they dive into a career, get married, have children, and suddenly find themselves dissatisfied in their careers and relationships. They then feel stuck, seeing it as overly difficult to change or reinvent their careers,

The importance of satisfying work for INTPs cannot be overstated.

INTPs are also interested in discerning the fundamental nature of things. This can be understood in terms of their Ti’s tendency toward reductionism, to boiling everything down to its bare essentials.

If we were to liken INTPs to a coin, we might put truth on one side and meaning on the other. Acutely aware of the brevity of life, INTPs strive to ensure that their lives and work are as authentic and meaningful as possible.

Since they extravert both Feeling (Fe) and Intuition (Ne), they can have a certain charm, approachability, and congeniality about them.

Feeling that someone else is closely watching or critiquing their expressions only furthers their sense of insecurity.

Perhaps the best way of sampling INTPs’ inner world is through their work, such as by reading something they have written. This may explain why INTPs often take interest in writing, which provides a forum for more robust and precise self-expression.

INTPs feel their true level of knowledge and competence is often lost on others. This is especially common in the workplace, where their lack of enthusiasm for organizational life, combined with their quirky outward demeanor, may be mistaken for incompetence.

Each personality type is thought to use four main functions that comprise its “functional stack.” The functions in the functional stack are ordered according to their degree of strength and differentiation, as well as their availability for conscious employment.

The INTP’s functional stack: Dominant: Introverted Thinking (Ti) Auxiliary: Extraverted Intuition (Ne) Tertiary: Introverted Sensing (Si) Inferior: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

They want to hammer down what they believe in order to have a platform from which to make important decisions about their lives.

When their beliefs are shaken into state of uncertainty, they can feel anxious, unsettled, and aimless.

This may also partly explain why they can at times be careless or sloppy in their work, since their drive to finish a project may override their desire for precision or accuracy.

In being slow to express their judgments, INTPs are often viewed as good and patient listeners. But as inner Judgers, they are neither as patient, nor as eager to listen, as they might outwardly appear. Nor are they as passive or relaxed as their appearance might suggest,

Because INTPs like to work independently and uninterruptedly, they can get frustrated when others interrupt or make demands of them.

One of the most important things to understand about INTPs is their sense that the one and only thing in the world they can control is themselves. Since their outer Judging function (Fe) is in the inferior position, they feel uncomfortable making judgments or decisions about external situations, especially when there is a potential for introducing conflict.

Immanuel Kant is a great example of a highly self-disciplined and self-regulated INTP. Kant is notorious for never having traveled outside his town. He developed a routine—arising each day at the same time, writing through the morning, dining with friends at lunch, taking a walk in the afternoon, and studying and reading in the evening—that he followed with great consistency. Indeed, one could argue that his degree of self-regimentation was instrumental to his profound philosophical achievements.

Generally speaking, Ti (along with Ne) finds it easier to identify inconsistencies or logical shortcomings—to assert what is not true—than to identify and confidently assert what is true.

Due to their acute sensitivity to theoretical exceptions, they can be quick (sometimes too quick) to discard entire theories, throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater.

Hence, writing (as well as other creative arts) can serve as helpful tools of discovery for INTPs. Rarely can INTPs know in advance what will emerge from the creative act, which is one reason creative work is so interesting and enjoyable for them.

This can make it difficult for INTPs to be consistent in their judgments and decisions, since they often end up second-guessing themselves. While their Ti pushes for closure, Ne counters by rallying for more options and alternatives. In many cases, Ne wins out, interjecting just enough new or contradictory information to keep INTPs in a state of indecision. Indeed, it is not uncommon for INTPs to feel entirely confident one day, only to feel ambivalent and uncertain the next.

INTPs typically see truth on both sides of an issue, which can prevent them from latching onto unwarranted judgments or premature conclusions.

Ne also contributes an openness to alternative lifestyles. It would not be unusual, for instance, for INTPs to experiment with vegetarianism,

it can seem that at the very moment INTPs are feeling good about a theory or decision, their Ne steps in and shakes things up.

This has obvious implications for INTPs who are trying to make important decisions about their careers or relationships. It can leave them feeling discouraged and restless, worried that they may never find what they are looking for or produce anything of lasting value.

INTPs often require a great deal of time and experimentation to approach a higher level of confidence and certainty.

When Si falls lower in the functional stack, as is the case for INTPs, it fails to deliver the strength of conviction commonly seen in SJ types.

As INTPs observe themselves over time, they can identify behaviors that allow them to function most optimally and to feel most satisfied. Then, when they start to get off track, their Si can step in and remind them of those behaviors, aiding their return to a more balanced and healthy state. In combination with Ti, Si helps them hone and perfect their method of living.

The inferior function represents the ultimate goal or attractor point for each personality type’s growth and development. It motivates and draws us forward, compelling us to move toward greater wholeness.

Those who know how to “push our buttons” have usually discovered a way to offend, irritate, or threaten our inferior function.

Since Fe is INTPs’ inferior function, it is often more sensitive and less resilient than it is in FJ types. This can make INTPs extremely uncomfortable in emotional situations, especially those involving potential conflict or disharmony.

Because of their Fe's concern for maintaining external harmony (or what may be better understood as its discomfort with disharmony), INTPs may abstain from expressing their judgments in order to avoid unsettling others. While not as overtly warm or effusive as FJ types, INTPs can be sensitive to others’ feelings and may go out of their way to avoid hurting or offending them.

Although functioning as superficial peacemakers, INTPs are generally slower to go out of their way to help others (at least in direct, hands-on ways). Especially early in their development, most forgo community service and avoid investing extensive time and energy helping others. This is particularly evident when under stress. If burdened by too many external pressures or demands, INTPs' willingness to help others is one of the first things to go.

They may also refrain from expressing judgments because they have yet to settle an issue in their own minds. INTPs never want to be seen as dogmatic, closed-minded, or unnuanced in their thinking. Relatedly, they are naturally slow to advise others, especially with regard to F-related matters. This is because INTPs don’t want to get it wrong, to deal with the aftermath of being wrong, or to make decisions that involve or affect other people.

INTPs can also become impatient with those who are slow to understand or embrace their ideas. They often expect others to learn as quickly and independently as they do.

Most INTPs can do a fair job at reading others’ emotions and discerning the appropriate social response, they often fail to “feel” what others are feeling. In other words, they experience cognitive rather than affective empathy.

For most INTPs, their Fe is rather naive and childlike. They may be easily moved by cheesy romantic comedies or sappy love songs, anything that unconsciously incites their Fe emotions. Their emotional naiveté can make them easy targets for love-at-first-sight sorts of infatuation.

In many cases, INTPs experience emotions at inopportune times. They may, for instance, experience feelings of love and affection when apart from their partners, but may struggle to contact those feelings, let alone effectively communicate them, while together.

Although INTPs may struggle to directly contact their own emotions, they can be adept at overriding or detaching from them, even functioning as though they didn't exist. Therefore, they may not struggle with the same measure of pain, guilt, regret, or shame as other types. Indeed, others may be surprised how quickly INTPs can seemingly resume "business as usual" after what most would consider tragic or traumatic circumstances.

To deal with this Fe deficit, one of the INTP’s primary strategies is to avoid situations that make Fe demands of them. This may, for instance, involve eschewing positions of leadership or minimizing interpersonal contacts. INTPs feel it safer and easier to be responsible only for themselves.

Life rarely allows INTPs to remain in a state of Ti utopia for long. At some point, they must poke their head out of their shell and engage with people. And where there are people, there are bound to be Fe problems.

More than anything else, INTPs struggle in interpersonal situations involving strong displays of negative emotion.

It is not unusual for young INTPs to focus their Ti, which is a reductive function, on only one or two primary interests. They may use their Ti to master video games, collect and organize baseball cards, excel in school, develop strategies and methods to improve their sports performance, or, in the case of Einstein, to explore the nature of physical reality.

Phase II woes can be even worse for INTPs who experience a sort of Fe “double whammy,” falling prey to Fe traps in both their careers and relationships. Unfortunately, this is not as uncommon as one might think. Such INTPs may try to assuage the resultant pain by drowning themselves in fantasies about more ideal careers

All personality types are immature, childish, and incompetent with respect to matters involving their inferior function. It just so happens that INTPs’ Fe weaknesses are magnified in the interpersonal realm, making them more subject to public scrutiny.

Because INTPs are relatively ill-equipped to navigate emotionally-difficult situations, their inferior Fe is inclined to do all it can to defend itself. Hence, in emotionally intense or chaotic situations, INTPs may suddenly be overwhelmed with feelings of rage and anger, which, left unmitigated, may quickly transport them to the dark side.

As Thinking types, they must recognize that, outside of “fight or flight” emergencies, their emotions are rarely good compasses for navigating life.

In many ways, an INTP listening to his emotions is akin to taking advice from a naïve or angry child.

In lieu of buying into their emotions, INTPs are better off gathering all the pertinent information (Ne) and enlisting their Ti reasonability before acting or drawing conclusions.

Depression can result from functioning inauthentically with regard to one’s type. For INTPs, this would involve living in such a way that their Ti and Ne are deprived of meaningful engagement.

Although Ti and Fe are often framed as opposing or opposite functions, they can also be viewed as complementary parts of a whole.

When INTPs place their moods and emotions in high regard, they tend to get themselves into trouble.

INTPs typically don’t struggle with strong concerns about meaninglessness until well into Phase II of their development. During that time, they often experience a sort of “crisis of meaning” that has a lasting effect on them.

Since their purpose and identity often revolve around N pursuits, they may view S activities as essentially pointless or mundane. This can create a situation in which their happiness seems to hinge almost entirely on the success of their N affairs.

To some extent, all INTPs struggle with anxiety. Anxiety may manifest as nervousness, muscle tension, worrisome thoughts, or various forms of social angst.

Another contributor to INTPs’ anxiety is everyday worries, including concerns about money, work, and relationships. To assuage these concerns, INTPs may find it helpful to develop a philosophy along these lines: “Regardless of what happens, I will be okay.”

By “knowing it” I mean a deeper level of knowing, one that extends beyond mere cognitive acknowledgement. Developing this deep sense of assurance empowers INTPs to live courageously and authentically. It provides an antidote for fear, especially the fear of meaninglessness.

As INTPs develop their niche skills and interests, they become increasingly confident in their ability to consistently procure meaning by way of “flow states.” In such states, INTPs become deeply absorbed in their work and experience a sense of meaningful accomplishment.

Getting adequate sleep (I rarely set an alarm) Writing every day, typically for at least two hours Yoga stretches and Feldenkrais movements

Meditation Reading Jogging/walking

In short, I think it is beneficial for INTPs to discover and oscillate among several options for experiencing concrete meaning, including relationships (which I could have also included on my list). That way, after fatiguing of one activity, there are other meaningful options waiting in the wings. I have sometimes thought of this in terms of “diversification of meaning.”

INTPs find it difficult to consistently subscribe to any single theory. Indeed it is not uncommon for INTPs to require decades of exploration before making strong or consistent attestations of what they believe.

Ti and Ne can have a destabilizing effect, since both are adept at sniffing out exceptions, inconsistencies, and potential flaws.

Ne may also incite INTPs to seek more and more information, ad infinitum.

INTPs can also get into trouble when they allow themselves to lose all faith at the first sign of an apparent exception.

INTPs can appear bipolar in their search for truth. One day, they may be flying high, convinced they have finally found the answer, only to feel lost and aimless the next.

When INTPs obsessively rush to make a decision or reach a conclusion, they are, in type speak, in the “grip of their inferior function.”

They can therefore benefit from exercising patience and learning to enjoy the seeker’s journey, rather than falling for illusory short-cuts.

The world needs them to ask probing questions, to poke holes in existing theories, and to provide creative or explorative “food for thought.” Indeed, the INTP’s role, especially early in life, more closely resembles that of the artist, skeptic, critic, or provocateur than that of the sage or prophet.

Ti and Ne might well be viewed as “freedom-seeking” functions, contributing to the INTP’s status as the most fiercely independent of all types. Indeed, INTPs deplore being told what to do or how they should do something. They want to do things their own way and in their own time. This can inspire them to resist or rebel against, even if only inwardly, various rules, laws, and authorities perceived as potential threats to their freedom and autonomy.

As dominant Thinkers, INTPs naturally grant greater priority to their work (Ti) than their relationships (Fe).

INTPs thrive on doing things their own way, developing and employing their own Ti approach. This makes them reluctant to function as employees, loathing the idea of answering to someone else.

INTPs also struggle to embrace an organization’s vision and methods as their own.

While geniuses like Einstein may discern their path rather quickly, for most INTPs, it can take years, even decades, before things come together with greater clarity.

Among INTPs’ signature strengths are creativity and ingenuity.

While these traits may make it difficult for them to readily conform to pre-existing standards, they can be a boon for INTPs willing to think outside the box and carve out their own niche. Building a career around oneself, could there be anything better for an INTP?

Subjects in the humanities (e.g., religion, philosophy, history, literature, languages), as well as journalism, can be good fits for NP types.

INTPs may fancy themselves wise philosophers.

They may dream of a career where they can seek wisdom and use it to counsel or advise others.

INTPs’ interest in self-help and self-exploration. They are always looking for ways of optimizing and improving things, including themselves.

By working to understand and fine tune themselves (Ti), they feel they might also contribute something worthwhile to the collective

Much to their dismay, INTPs don’t get paid merely for thinking, questioning, or experimenting.

IT/Computers

most INTPs have a knack for learning and understanding computers and information systems.

Most INTPs are better than average writers.

INTPs are particularly skilled with writing in clear and accessible ways. They are good at discerning “what is essential” (Ti) and communicating that information in interesting (Ne) and digestible (Fe) ways.

INTPs are natural entrepreneurs in the sense of wanting to work independently.

Part-time work, however, can serve as a nice complement to their personal projects.

For INTPs with a professional degree, working as a part-time employee might be a good option.

INTPs are typically happier when they partake in a variety of activities each day, thereby satisfying all their functional needs—T, N, S, and F.

as P-types, INTPs need variety to remain happy, stimulated, and balanced.

INTPs may not be as impulsive as say, ENTPs might be, many display significant levels of impulsivity.

They might, for instance, reimagine their career in terms of a series of smaller, loosely related projects, rather than obsessively searching for a more grandiose career or project.

According to the upper half of INTPs’ functional stack, they may be wired to function more like artists or innovators than conventional scientists.

Those looking for a champion of the aesthetic approach can find one in Nietzsche, who famously framed life in general, as well as his own life in particular, as “a work of art.”

Six interest themes described by John Holland. These include Realistic (R), Investigative (I), Artistic (A), Social (S), Enterprising (E), and Conventional (C) interests, or what are collectively dubbed “RIASEC."

The following Realistic careers may be suitable for some INTPs: Mechanic Computer/electronics repair Electrician Horticulture Various “day jobs” (see above)

The Investigative domain is typically a top preference among INTPs,

One of these is dealing with red tape and various organizational rules. As we’ve seen, INTPs prefer to avoid functioning as employees if at all possible.

The best type of applied work for INTPs would both inform and stimulate their conceptual interests.

Financial planning/investing Investigative journalist, reporter, freelancer Non-fiction author, writer, science writer Search engine optimization (SEO) expert/consultant

INTPs might do well to conceive of themselves as artists, or at least subjectivists, because of the nature of their top two functions.

Writing is among the more popular art forms among INTPs, serving as an excellent medium for exploring and developing their intellectual interests.

Graphic/web/software design Architecture Writer, blogger, Indy/self-publishing

Career counseling may be the safest avenue for INTPs. It has the advantage of being less emotional and therefore less taxing on the INTP.

Entrepreneur, web-based Consultant, web/software/IT

But when INTPs identify too strongly with what we might call their “public persona,” thereby compromising their Ti selves, they can grow depressed and unsatisfied. Persistently sacrificing Ti for the sake of Fe is rarely beneficial to their personal growth or happiness.

Pairing with a Feeler can also function like a sort of psychological insurance policy, preventing the INTP from swinging too far in the direction of Thinking.

A relationship may provide a sense of safety and stability, a set of training wheels if you will, which can aid their growth and development.

The problem with INTPs entering relationships for F reasons is that, once their F needs are satisfied, their focus naturally reverts to their T interests. When this occurs, they can easily get swept up in their T pursuits and completely lose contact with their feelings toward their partner. They may then begin to wonder if they really love (or loved) their partner, even questioning whether they want the relationship at all. In other words, they turn their Ti skepticism toward the relationship to evaluate whether it is useful or sensible.

INTPs often display a greater concern for humanity in general (Fe) than they do for particular individuals (Fi).

INTPs can be hoarders and misers of time. Their objective is to maximize time to themselves for exploring and developing their interests.

Whenever INTPs fail to adhere to the O & H policy and fail to express their thoughts, they put the course of the relationship in grave danger.

The moment INTPs stop sharing certain thoughts with their partners is the moment they begin to detach from and devalue them. At that moment, the INTP is no longer relating to his or her partner, but has chosen to become a free agent.

When INTPs fail to share their thoughts, the relationship immediately becomes less interesting to them.

The most honest and authentic reason for INTPs to be in a relationship is to learn and explore with their partner.

By automatically assuming their subjective appraisals of their partners are correct, without seeking further information or clarification, INTPs are clearly in the wrong, acting pridefully, tyrannically, and egocentrically.

The problem is that INTPs are not nearly as nice as the nice guy persona suggests. Their extraverted side is more of a social façade than a true representation of their inner selves. It therefore seems appropriate that INTPs, as well as their partners, take an honest look at who the INTP really is (and is not). Generally speaking, INTPs are not social butterflies with strong interests in the lives of others. They are more like lone wolves, fiercely independent and absorbed in their own thoughts and affairs.

As lone wolves, INTPs need and desire a great deal of freedom and control. This can be further enumerated as follows: INTPs want to be in full control of themselves. They don’t want to be responsible for controlling others. They don’t want others to control them.

Seasons of doubt and skepticism are part and parcel of being an INTP. This includes doubting and questioning their relationships.

If partners can grant INTPs the freedom to doubt, they have a far greater chance of earning the INTP’s trust and respect.

INTPs might like the idea of making a good income, money is less important to them than pursuing their interests.

It may take years, even decades, for INTPs to clarify their identity and desired vocation. It is relatively rare that they find an easy or immediate fit into an existing career field. Part of the problem is their disdain for authority. They are naturally averse to rules (save those they make for themselves) and resistant to taking orders from others.

Not only are INTPs the most independent personality type, but also one of the most restless. They are constantly searching and experimenting, while simultaneously dodging and resisting external obligations to ensure adequate time and space to themselves.

What INTPs are actually seeking may be right under their nose—the process of seeking itself.