“INTPs desperately want to know who they are, how they should live, and the sorts of things they should be doing. Similar to other IN types, INTPs see it necessary to understand themselves—their personality, interests, abilities, and values—before they can act in the world with any degree of confidence or conviction.”
Quote by A.J. Drenth
“INTPs seem more inclined toward cerebral narcissism than most other types. While Vaknin sees the narcissist’s chance of recovery as relatively slim, I tend to disagree, especially for those with milder cases. In my experience, as INTPs mature and develop, their need for ego affirmation gradually diminishes and is supplanted by a healthier sense of self-worth.”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning
“INTPs can be hoarders and misers of time. Their objective is to maximize time to themselves for exploring and developing their interests. So whenever another person enters their personal space, INTPs may worry over what might happen to their cherished time. If INTPs are happy in their careers, time may be a relative non-issue, since they will have plenty of time to satisfy their Ti and Ne at work. If not, however, they may come to see their partner as a potential threat to their time and freedom.
With all that said, what would seem an admirable reason for INTPs to participate in a relationship is out of genuine interest in their partner. This would typically involve a love for his or her mind and ideas, the type of partner David Keirsey has dubbed a “mindmate.”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning
“First, 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.
Second, when INTPs fail to share their thoughts, the relationship immediately becomes less interesting to them. Remember, the most honest and authentic reason for INTPs to be in a relationship is to learn and explore with their partner. So as soon as they turn down an independent path and start moving away from their partner, they have forsaken the primary purpose of the relationship.”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning
“Keep laughing, keep rolling your eyes,
but know this: even in the darkest of nights,
I’ve seen the faintest glimmer of possibility within myself.
One day, when the laughter has faded,
you will see what I’ve always known—
that beauty, that potential,
sleeps in the heart of every one of us,
waiting to be awakened by those who believe.
Watch me,
because I will chase that light
with everything I have,
for it is my deepest truth,
and one day, you’ll see it too.”
“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.”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning
“When their partners, especially those with strong Fe expressiveness, come to them with an urgent need for support or reassurance, INTPs may find themselves feeling angry or spiteful rather than compassionate. This response is not intentional, but is more of a knee-jerk reaction stemming from feelings of powerlessness and ineptitude. This problem also ties into the fact that INTPs fail to experience empathy to the degree that Feeling types do. INTPs do not want to feign empathy, as it feels awkward and inauthentic. So all they feel capable of doing is proffering potential solutions in a Ti-Ne
fashion, which may leave their support-seeking partner feeling frustrated and unsatisfied. This dissatisfaction may, in turn, further fuel INTPs’ sense of spite and anger, since they feel they are being asked to function inauthentically and “out of their element.”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning
“INTPs can quickly locate inconsistencies or logical shortcomings in a given theory or argument. They excel in pinpointing exceptions or imagining scenarios in which a proposed explanation might breakdown. 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.”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning
“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.”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning
“On the more negative side of things, Ne may contribute to a persistent sense of restlessness or dissatisfaction. INTPs may find themselves wanting to break out of certain situations or circumstances in order to experience more novelty, freedom, and autonomy. They might feel compelled to quit their job or break off a relationship in hopes of discovering something more stimulating.
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.”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning
“Types with Si in their functional stack, including INTPs, tend to eat a fairly routine or consistent diet, "eating to live" rather than "living to eat." They are also conservative with regard to their resources, tending toward saving over spending. Minimalists to the core, INTPs have a diminished need for novel physical pleasures and material comforts. Their mates may get frustrated with their tendency to shoot down proposed expenditures, most of which seem superfluous or otherwise unnecessary to the bare bones pragmatist that is the INTP”
Source: The INTP: Personality, Careers, Relationships, & the Quest for Truth and Meaning