Peter Cooper

Happy to be an INTP, but what are you?

Anyone who’s been keeping an eye on my Twitter feed or Facebook profile will note I’ve a mild interest in the Myers-Briggs personality categorization system. I take the test every year or two and typically come out as an INTP. Whether you know me or not, the profile given on that page fits me to the letter. The only statement that doesn’t fit is that it suggests I might love games like Chess or Go, and I don’t. That is literally it. I do love word games though, so it’s not far off. Perhaps if you’re someone who deals with me quite often, reading that page will give you some insights into my odd manners.

Of course, if you want to get some insights into yourself, take the test for yourself. It’s about 70 questions with Yes/No answers, and in my experience the results are pretty accurate. It’s not psychoanalysis, but it’s not in the same greasy pit as astrology or religion, so you might find something out. I’d certainly be interested to learn what category you’re in, so go ahead and comment if you like.

I’ve taken this test before and it always comes out INTJ. It’s pretty dead on too.

As one of the guys involved in the new organization that probably prompted this post (entp.com), I’ll come out and say that I am (now) an ENTP. The first time I took a Myers-Briggs personality test, I was in college majoring in art and music, and was decidedly an INFP and had been since childhood, the description of that fit me to a tee.

Six, seven years ago, before I started a business and around when I started teaching myself how to program, I was pretty much an INTP. And then running a business pretty much required me to favor extroverted behavior… which isn’t to say I am now an extrovert as people picture them; my decision-making patterns tend to be more outside of my ’self’ than inside, if that makes sense. For an ‘extrovert’, I’ve been painfully single the last few years.

I think the important thing to realize about the Myers-Briggs categorizations is that they are more “preferences” for modes of behavior than anything else, and that they reflect the choices you make about your own behavior rather than any inherent deterministic qualities you may have.

It’s fun nevertheless, especially when you look at the USA population breakdown on the Wikipedia page for Myers-Briggs and realize that you’re not part of the masses after all.

I coincidentally did a Myers-Briggs last night before I read about ENTP.com, but yes, seeing that was what made me remember it again and mention it here

I mostly agree with what you say, although I think it’s harder for some people than others. I can change these things temporarily but I don’t think I’ve ever been able to effect a true change. I’m not really worried about that though, as I like being an introvert, so perhaps there’s a lack of motivation on my part to be anything else.

One thing that gets me thinking about this is the amount of lucrative work I turn down, simply because I can feel my lifeforce being sucked away by the mere thought of dealing with social interaction for a few days in a row. Of course, it wasn’t always this way, and I imagine if I spent some time just getting on with it (the good old “exposure therapy”), I’d get back on the wagon, but when there’s so many cool things to work on by yourself…

Whilst I was growing up my dad wrote his thesis on Computer Aided Instruction Using Styles, which was quite heavily based upon the Myers-Briggs test.

So I’ve been taking it since I was around 5 and dad wrote the test as a hypercard stack (to use for the students at the local university if my memory serves me correctly.)

Always been an ENTP, just the amount of ENTP varies, but my E and T are always quite strong from what I remember over the years.

I’ve taken this test pretty much every year, because pretty much every year either yourself or another friend will remind me of it’s existence.

Until today, I have consistently had the result of INTJ, this year it appears as ESTJ. The only two changes between this time last year and now is that I have become more involved in Christianity and more “stable” in my own mind.

Fundamentally, I am the same person, but compared to previous winters, this year I have coped remarkably well and been far happier - everyone around me has noticed this.

INTJ - and surprised that many of the facets are accurate. Off now to find out where the most compatable partners are likely to be found.

If you a good looking women 38-50 in Northampton (UK) and a compatible type, drop me a line.

Peter - I’m not saying that introversion is a bad thing; I’m saying it’s not something you necessarily have to resign yourself to if it makes you unhappy, as it did me. There are probably other factors that have contributed to my overall increase in satisfaction with life, but they correlate pretty well with the degree I get outside my own head while making decisions.

Actually, if nothing else, I’m going to credit/blame getting with GTD for this transformation; the whole “Mind like Water” thing is pretty much an indicator of extroverted thinking.

Thanks for commenting, Matt!

Yeah, I don’t find introversion depressing like a lot of people do. I’m capable of short bursts of seemingly extrovert behavior, but man is it tiring! I have a GTD-esque workflow too and am very organized when it comes to my activities, so perhaps I can organize like an extrovert, but actually walking the walk drains me.

I’m an ESTJ like Ed. I think it’s fairly accurate, although I don’t have desires to seek out my roots…

I’m an INTJ and have been one the past few years I’ve taken the test. It’s dead on for me.

Matt - I’m not sure GTD confirms extroverted thinking. I’m heavy into GTD myself and don’t see the connection. Could you explain it a bit more?

I’m an ENFP. I’ve been told that this is one of the most difficult personalities to get along with, certainly to manage.

How can I put my preferences to good use?

INFP here

Thank you for posting this. I have been researching CHANGES and this is the only blog that I have been able to read that peoples outcome of the test change.

I once used to be a ENFP but now I am a INTP. What does that really mean thogh!! Will these always be changing?

The description of the INTP is me to a T but I can also related to a ENFP in so many ways.