3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets About the INTP
INTP personality types are known for their intellectual nature, their ability to see life from many different angles and perspectives, and their creativity. They have garnered many nicknames, including “Scientists”, “Logicians”, and “Thinkers.” What makes this type so unusual? What “weird” and unique traits separate them from the crowd? Let’s find out!
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Table of contents
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets About the INTP
#1 – INTPs Build Vast Internal Frameworks In Their Mind
INTPs are always sorting data into the most precise categories they can possibly find. Then they file the data away and make sure it fits into the blueprint their mind has created of what is “true” and what is “not true.” Accuracy is paramount to the INTP. A blackbird isn’t just a blackbird, it’s a “boat-tailed grackle” or a “common raven” or an “American crow”. Lying isn’t just “bad,” it depends on the circumstances and contexts, and after all, there are different types of lies! There are lies of omission, character lies, lies of commission, lies of influence..you get the idea. Nothing is black and white with an INTP. Everything must be sorted into the most precise categories. The information that INTPs are able to categorize and internalize is simply astounding! Because INTPs are so skilled at seeing context and noticing accuracy, they are not quick to rush to judgments about people. They need to fill in as much information as possible before they form a conclusion.
#2 – INTPs See Connections Everywhere
INTPs are able to take in random bits of data from all sorts of different places and see how it’s all connected. Dario Nardi, a UCLA professor, and neuroscience expert says that INTPs (and all NP types) use a process called trans-contextual thinking. They are able to harness all neocortex regions to find relationships across situations. Nardi says in his book The Neuroscience of Personality, “For most people, hearing the words “dog” and “cat” will evoke auditory regions like T3…Perhaps we recall a beloved childhood pet. However, the Ne types get busy using all regions to tap relationships across situations, perhaps suddenly imagining a story about two brothers, one of whom is faithful and sociable (like a dog) while the other is independent and quiet (like a cat). They might wonder about dog and cat writing styles too!”. You can find out more about how INTPs use their brain here.
#3 – INTPs Are Usually Highly Intelligent, Yet Underestimated
INTPs are often underestimated when it comes to their intellectual abilities. Because they don’t extravert their thinking process (like TJ types do) they do a lot of their analysis internally and privately. Inside their minds, their ideas and solutions are ingenious, but it can be hard for them to translate their ideas to others. Sometimes, the sheer complexity of their ideas baffle other people and they can’t keep up. According to the MBTI® Manual, INTPs statistically have the second-highest IQ scores of all the types (second only to INTJs). They also scored highest on the SAT vocabulary section among liberal arts students and the SAT math section among engineering students. They also consistently get higher grades in High School than 14 of the 16 personality types. This shouldn’t be a surprise, considering INTPs are known for their love of problem-solving and understanding theories and concepts. In fact, in a national sample, INTPs were over represented in “Writing,” and “Taking classes” for their preferred leisure activities!
So What Makes YOU Weird?
Do you have any thoughts to add? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
There is a lot more to learn about INTPs! Check out these articles to find out more:
10 Signs That You Might Be an Introverted Thinker
10 Things You Should Never Say to an INTP
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Hello Susan, great article, thank you! 🙂 As an INTP, I can only confirm those points. People often think that we have no self-confidence hence we don’t judge, answer or act quickly in a given situation. But externalizing our thoughts when thinking is just not possible because we think much more faster than talking. So others have no idea about that we are considering aspects they cannot imagine. Well, sometimes we cannot imagine them either as connecting everything might be done consciously and unconsciously as well… Anyway, we can surprise ourselves very well when we invoke an old data, a memory or pulling something in from the external world that would be rather unexpected and surprising first and makes total sense for second. Sometimes I think we are underestimated not just by others but by ourselves as well. 🙂
Wait… The drive for internal accuracy isn’t common? That would explain a lot.
I’m actually evenly split between an INTP and INTJ and have been since I was given my first Myers-Briggs at age 8. My bosses and my mate are continuously amazed at the amount of data I gather in my head. Apparently the INTP’s associative “cascade memory” isn’t common! I can confirm that my brain makes connections between seemingly unrelated data points, integrating them into my ideas and plans, far faster than I can verbally articulate.
I’m also the type of INTP that can not only see my own point of view, but my opponent’s POV, and an additional five other pov’s as well! Debating with another INTP is a huge amount of fun.
Thank you for an interesting article.
I have read several other sites where intp rate higher IQ than intj. Seems right to me as an intp lol.
Started with one article, five ways to annoy INTP, when starting I had only two tabs open. First one was the search inquiry that led to the article. Now I have ten extra tabs due to other provided links, as if staying on task was not hard enough!
I have had time to consider the request about peeves & decided the worse is when someone comes off as inquisitive & interested in one’s perspective, however contenually insist that one does not understand or comprehend or is ignorant or even all of those at same time & never allow a full explanation before turning back to these accusations! Seriously, people who do not really care or do not honestly want to know should keep their mouths shut & Google thier question instead!
Everything is so true!!
About the underrated intelligence, INTP indeed have high IQ, and yet they’re amongst the types with the lowest salaries and the most unemployment.. I know I’m smart but I often realise people don’t see it. They mostly see the randomness of Ne.. Or the ADHD.
About the categorization, some INFP get upset when I want to categorise people into MBTI types, they think it’s so reductive. Their Fi gets upset that I reduce colourful people to four letters. They don’t always realise for me it’s just an outline that I will then fill with everything else, and certainly not stop at the type.