Joshe

The people who run that site are arguably the foremost experts in MBTI, so I think their test is solid as long as you answer correctly. I'm no MBTI expert, but as far as I can tell, you can spot an INTP by how often they tinker with ideas, pull apart concepts, and see what actually holds up logically. That seems to be their default setting. If you only do this from time to time and it does not energize you, you're not INTP. An INTP would explore every country in the world just for the sake of knowledge itself. When the Geo Challenge post first came online, I thought that was a really cool thing to do. I'm interested in all kinds of knowledge too, but that doesn't make me an INTP. I started the challenge and the first thing I did was start building a Notion template to manage it all, because that's what my type does, it likes to architect systems. So I set the system up and planned my learning strategy, then made it about an hour into the challenge before I said, "fuck this, I've got shit to do." If you started the Geo Challenge and you're still going strong with it, that might be a pretty solid sign you're an INTP. If you collect and hoard knowledge like it’s treasure, with no intention of ever spending it, you’re probably an INTP. 😆

INFPs are sensitive to emotional tone, so it makes INFP unlikely, though not impossible. INTJ, ENTJ, ESTJ, and ISTJ are known for confrontation. If you're playfully combative in your bluntness, that could be ENTP. First thing to do is figure out if you're oriented inwardly or outwardly. That would get you the first letter. From there, start researching every I or E type here https://www.typeinmind.com/fise and see which sounds most like you. It can be tricky to figure it out but you should be able to widdle it down to 2 possibilities. From there, it might take you some time to be sure.

@Natasha Tori Maru For better or worse, I think you're almost certainly an INTJ. 😆 If patterns just reveal themselves to you with little to no effort on your part, and if those patterns often invovle underlying motives, future outcomes, or context rather than content, and if you live with this daily, that's Ni-dom, which only occurs regularly in two types - INTJ & INFJ. Combined, these types account for roughly 5% of the population. Literally 95% of the population have no idea what we're living with here. lol. In a sense, we're aliens and we're the only ones who know it. Thing is, you value Fe but it doesn't come natural to you. Fe doesn’t disregard feelings for the sake of delivering truth. Just look at Emerald (INFJ). She delivers truth but never rarely in a cold, blunt manner. I too feel compelled to show others the patterns or blind spots I've identified if I think they need it. And I haven't prioritized developing Fe, so I can relate to you there. INFJs are typically naturals at making people feel welcomed. They do sense some detachment because they know the others don't see what they see, but they can easily put all that aside in service to harmony, but the INTJ doesn't have that ability, at least not without a lot of work. Also, the "INTJ Architect" is a common stereotype, which does things like build systems to build systems. I'm doing the same thing with apps. I’m building apps that can build apps. It’s never just about making something now. It’s always about what it unlocks later, often driven by Te's need for efficiency. Everything points toward some bigger vision down the line, even if the vision isn't fully fleshed out yet. Also, they say a strong sense of destiny or purpose is usually present in INTJs. It most certainly has always existed in me. "I don’t know the exact shape of it yet, but I know I’m meant to build something massive that changes the world for the better." This can cause some unhealthy INTJs to develop a God complex. Regarding the past, the only purpose it serves to an Ni-dom is a dataset to extract patterns from, then discard. I have family members who like to dwell on the past and I can't stand it. Or if I'm around people that start talking about the good ol' days... Shut the fuck up!! Let's focus on bringing order to chaos so we can solve our problems or discuss something useful or something unseen and of significance. Let's read between the lines. When I was a kid, I was super-fascinated with booby traps in movies like the Goonies and Indiana Jones. I was drawn to that which was unseen, yet complex. When I first saw those movies, I felt so alive. I'm not sure if it's like this for all INTJs but for me, it's always been about unseen, complex things and the possibilties of what I could do to manipulate or construct them. I too struggle with self-care because I'm addicted to my inner world and I don't like to be taken away from it. You sound like me regarding getting pissed at people when they don't show proper compassion or respect. That's the Fi. Fi knows what it feels like to be treated like shit and it really doesn't like to see it. But also, Fi is justice-oriented and doesn't mind hurting feelings if it thinks someone deserves it. Fi (INTJ): “That was wrong, and they need to feel the weight of it.” Fe (INFJ): “That hurt people. We need to make things right again.” I'm the same way regarding public outings or events. When I'm engaged in them, my thinking is almost completely shut off, and it isn't easy to turn it on if I need it. I think this is an unconscious survival strategy because I know my naturally deep processing and thinking are not socially acceptable, so I just walk around with wide perception, taking everything in, wearing a socially acceptable mask. As soon as the event ends and I return to solitude, recursive thought loops about everything that happened begin. The only function that doesn’t stand out strongly in your message is Te, but the whole tough-love growth thing is Te. Te doesn’t prioritize feelings. It says "here are the variables, here's the logic, now, do this to solve the problem". It cares about results. Regarding society, this is definitely not the easiest function stack to have, especially for females. Society says "Women are supposed to favor nurturing and caring over cold calculation, results, and efficiency.", so your Te gets labeled cold. Ni gets dismissed as overthinking, and Fi gets forced into expactations it doesn't like. Directness = rude. Confidence = arrogance & intimidating. Efficiency = cold and harsh. So I think this is a particularly difficult type for females in our current society. They say the best thing an INTJ can do is develop their Te. Healthy INTJs are already strong in Ni, but without Te to execute, Ni just loops, usually with Fi, which creates tension because Ni, the driver, is vision-oriented, and when vision stays unrealized, it turns into frustration or emotional paralysis. If an INTJ is to be happy, they have to be making progress. Anyway, yeah, pretty sure all this makes you an INTJ female, which is the rarest of all breeds. lol. Congrats! I think it's a gift, myself. Let me know if any of this doesn't seem right about you.

Thanks! I was actually just thinking a little bit ago that I didn't think you were an INFJ, nor an INTP, but I saw the other day you displayed some pretty sharp intuition, so I figure you have to have intuition high up. Which led me to either INTJ or ENTJ. Although, you said you bowed to Jordan Peterson and you do that to everyone you meet, so that's a hint towards extroversion, but not necessarily because maybe it's just part of the image you've crafted. If you're introverted and do that intentionally, and you don't come from a culture that bows, I think that makes INTJ even more likely. I think you'd know if you were INTP and it doesn't seem like you have Fe in your 2nd slot (INFJ), unless your online persona is completely different than IRL. So I think that just leaves INTJ or ENTJ. Those make the most sense to me. If I had to pick, I'd pick INTJ. Also, are you project manager? If so, that's a common job for ENTJs & INTJs. Come to think of it, if you're extroverted, super playful, and interested in all this shit, that's ENTP.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

True

Trump seeks adoration first and foremost. Always has. He is acting like he demands obedience for two reasons. One, he needs it to continue his reign. Two, his target audience adores a man who demands obedience. He acts hard because he knows that's what the people want. The first time he reflexively attacked the media in public and watched the crowd cheer, he discovered they like it when he plays big daddy. Adoration first, domination second, as a tool for admiration. I think he'd trade the latter for ample amounts of the former. His deepest emotional gratification seems to stem from being adored. He often softens or backtracks when met with disapproval, which is inconsistent with true dominance-first personalities who often double down regardless of reception. A truly domination-first personality wouldn’t care about being liked. Elon musk on the other hand does seem like domination-first. He'll tell the whole world to fuck off if it comes down to it. Kind of like Kanye. 😆

Yeah, I've been meaning to dive into that. I actually printed the whole thing out and put it in a binder but never read it. Below is AI’s take on how the models compare. Notice the 9 Stages offers very little in terms of cognitive processing style. IMO, cognitive processing style is more predictive, meaning it gives you a clearer sense of how someone will actually think and behave, therefore more useful in real-world application, which, for me, is the whole point of knowledge acquisition. Knowledge is meant to be used, not just explored. If it has no practical value, you might as well be making scrapbooks.

I think it's more like this: Ne - Possibility Se - Immersion Ni - Insight Si - Reference Te - Execution Ti- Precision Fe -Harmony Fi - Conviction

Not everyone experiences a violation of those values as a personal crisis - Fi-doms do. INFP's are almost always indecisive because they makes decisions based on internal values, which can be slow, private, and nonlinear. They feel into it, they think into it, they intuit into it, and they wait to see how it all "feels". They often need time to feel out what’s right for them, which can look like hesitation or ambivalence. This is like one of their core traits, so if that's not you, you probably aren't INFP. Take this test and let us know what it says. https://personalityhacker.com/pages/take-your-personality-test I think this is one of the best ones out there. I ended up paying for their full assessment but they have a free one as well, but it might cost you your email address, not sure.

Fair enough. For me, it's about about recognizing where it offers clarity. Like any lens, it has its blind spots. I like SD for the collective and Jung's functions for the individual.

Haha, yeah, again, not possible. Each type has a dominant function. INFP's dom is Fi, which is a world apart from INTP's Ti. Every function is very distinct. You can hop in and out of functions but you have a few that are your go-to, and those go-to functions determine your type. For me, when I go out in public for like 4 hours to the mall or something, I get absolutely energetically wiped out. Why? It's because I'm being forced to leave my preferred functions. It's harder for me to operate outside them. Miguel is Fe (extraverted feeling) dominant, which is all about catering to external emotional dynamics. Fe is last in my stack. I don't give a shit about social harmony and if I try to, it feels alien to me (I want social harmony but I want others to maintain it 😆). So if you put me in an environment where Fe is strong, I will not be happy because I see such endeavors as a waste of my precious time. Same goes for everyone when they're forced to engage their shadow functions. If you're an INFP, you hate these things: Making quick decisions Too much sensory input or chaotic environments Cold, detached logical criticism (feels like personal attack) Pressure to act against your inner values If those don't have a problem with these, you're not INFP.

@Nemra Do you have any creative pursuits? That's a very common thing for INFP.

Well, yeah, I mean, it's not all of reality. MBTI isn’t meant to be a complete model of consciousness or a primary sense-making tool. But dismissing it as a useless tool that leads to delusion, especially when the model has only been evaluated from the absurd, 4-letter-based pop-culture lens is a mistake. The model literally defines and describes your modes of cognition with striking precision, and you reject it? I think you guys are thinking in terms of MBTI pop-culture and not understanding this whole model was built upon Carl Jung's 8 cognitive functions, which can either be oriented inwardly or outwardly, thus creating 16 functions. If you never learned about those functions, you're doing yourself a disservice. INTP's Dominant Function: 🧠 Introverted Thinking (Ti) – Key Characteristics Internal logic focus – prioritizes internal consistency and logical coherence over external rules System-builder mindset – loves building internal frameworks, models, or taxonomies Truth over efficiency – values what is logically correct, not necessarily what’s useful or practical Detaches from emotion – separates logic from personal feeling to maintain objectivity Highly analytical – breaks down ideas to their core components Skeptical and critical – naturally questions assumptions, especially broad generalizations Precision-driven – prefers clarity, specificity, and refined definitions Slow to speak, quick to refine – may take longer to reach conclusions but seeks intellectual purity Personal logic – doesn’t blindly accept external systems (like laws, traditions, or consensus) Private problem-solving – works things out internally, often without expressing the full process aloud Is this not accurate about you?

Yeah, Fi (internal/introverted feeling) is the dominant function in the INFP. It's the least dominant in someone like Aurum and Leo. In a sense, people with Fi first in their stack have a lot of spiritual potential because they can feel inwardly better than the other types, but I think they often have a hard time finding meaning and get depressed because they are always focused on their feelings. At least that was the case with my old friend.

@aurum - I added to it. See what you think about the addition.

@Nemra “Somewhat interested in the intellectual domain” → INFPs often enjoy abstract thinking and big ideas (especially philosophical, ethical, or human-centered topics), but their primary driver is Fi (Introverted Feeling), not logic or intellectual dominance. “Not overly attached to any idea” → INFPs are generally open-minded and non-dogmatic. They have strong internal values but don’t feel the need to impose those on others unless it's a deeply moral issue. “Rarely push your views forcefully” → Classic INFP. They often prefer to lead by quiet example or through meaningful one-on-one conversations rather than assertive or confrontational debate. Sound like you? I think that last part really sounds like you, unless I've read wrong.

Your manner. Somewhat Interested in the intellectual domain but not overly attached to any idea and rarely push your views forcefully. Calm, easy-going. I once had a good INFP friend who fit this bill. I'm no MBTI expert though!

The preferences do change. The model says we have 4 main preferences that we bounce from. The first preference is our core competency, the second our second, and so on. MBTI isn't a model of development. It's just explaining modes of cognition and how they operate and manifest alongside other modes. I'll try to explain. Look at your 7th function, the trickster: "For an INTP, Extraverted Sensing (Se) is the Trickster function — a chaotic, unreliable part of the stack that deals with real-time sensory data and immediate action. INTPs typically live in their heads, abstracting, analyzing, and projecting ideas. Se, on the other hand, demands presence in the physical world — awareness of the here and now, of concrete reality. When Se is triggered, it often shows up as clumsiness, overstimulation, or risky behavior — like suddenly making a reckless purchase, getting lost in sensory distractions, or reacting impulsively to external pressure. Se isn’t trusted or well-developed, so it tends to misfire when the INTP tries to rely on it. Instead of grounding them, it throws them off balance." And what about your Demon function? "For an INTP, Introverted Feeling (Fi) is the Demon function — the furthest from their conscious psyche. It asks them to make decisions based on deeply personal values rather than internal logic, which feels unnatural and destabilizing. When Fi shows up, it often leads to impulsive, emotionally charged decisions that clash with the INTP’s usual Ti-driven clarity — like quitting a job on a moral whim or cutting someone off without explanation. It doesn’t guide — it disrupts. Fi isn’t just underdeveloped; it’s a cognitive blind spot that, when triggered, can derail the INTP’s sense of internal coherence entirely." No matter what you do, these cognitive domains will never feel like home to you. You will never be as competent in them as someone who has these high in their stack. It's impossible because you'd have to leave your already existing cognitive domain, which you've been working on mastering for decades, to practice developing in domains you're not even interested in. Not the best articulation but hope that makes sense. Here's a more thorough explanation:: The TiNe’s functions are as follows: 1. Ti - internal Thinking TiNe's use Ti to make decisions based on logical analysis done over time in their heads. Ti is the reason they prize rationality and objectivity. It also drives their insatiable thirst for knowledge and learning. Because it is their strongest preference, the functions below are said to "serve" the Ti. This just means that the Ti way of doing things gets priority most of the time. 2. Ne - external iNtuition Ne is the main way TiNe’s take in information. It means they use their intuition to find patterns, underlying principles, and ideas, to construct theories and frameworks, and to form connections as they talk, write, or create. It can make them seem quite "rambley" at times as they can jump from topic to topic based on the connections they're making in the moment rather than following a more linear path of conversation. 3. Si - internal Sensing Si is the TiNe’s third function, and it allows them to store all the interesting facts and knowledge they gather in their brain in an organized way for future reference. Si also makes the Ti-led internal world fairly structured and detailed in its analysis, and can often lead to a very strong sense of internal stability which can come across as arrogance to others. While they can jump from topic to topic in conversation, internally their thought patterns are more linear. For TiNe's in particular, their Si drives them to have a high need for precise language, and they can often articulate themselves very well when they want to. As they get older, their thought processes get faster. After some time they will likely not need to consciously think through every step in a thought process unless they're taking on a very novel problem or task. 4. Fe - external Feeling Fe is the TiNe’s last function. As a last function, it is inherently not as strong as the other functions and the TiNe generally prefers to only use it where necessary, rather than using to make all their decisions. Fe is the TiNe’s humanitarian side. It causes them to want to use their intelligence and creative problem-solving to help others and fix the world in some way. Having Fe last means that TiNe’s often start out life being less aware of and equipped to deal with feelings than other types. Even though it's last, a healthy TiNe will learn to develop all of their functions over time so they can use them as needed. More here: https://www.typeinmind.com/tine --- You have Si, which allows you to store all the things you find in your head. I don't have that. I have to ping my intuition to bring those things back to the surface. If I tried to develop Si, it would be very difficult for me, but for others, it's only natural.

TBH, I wouldn't rely on the online tests. Some are accurate but it's hard for most people to answer objectively and to see themselves cleary. People often answer based on what they value or what they want to be like instead of how they actually are in reality. That said, you strike me somewhat as an INFP.

@Leo Gura here's your full stack. We typically only use the first 4. The others are so far removed from us, although not completely inaccessible, that the model doesn't even count them. And INTJ:

Doesn't work like that. The mind has limited bandwidth. It's impossible to embody all the functions (modes of cognition), which is precisely why different personalities exist. And if you decide you'd like to embody functions not natural to you, you'll experience pain and will be completely incompetent in that domain. My 4th function is Se (Extraverted Sensing), which relates to engaging directly with the physical world, the here and now,sensory details. Since this function is so far down in my stack, I suck at this. Absolutely suck but an ESTP who has Se as a dominant function, shines. I will never be able to gain the competence of Se the way it comes natural to the ESTP, and the ESTP would never be able to operate introverted intuition the way I can. If we suck at our 4th function, there are 4 others that are even worse! So, you can't just plug into whatever function you want.

If you try to understand MBTI by the 4 letters, you're missing the entire point and I can see why it appears like a shit model. The whole point is the 8 functions and what they manifest when combined. You could easily spend a month exploring your dominant function and still not fully grasp it.

Look it up man. It's a common misconception. You have to dive a little deeper into the MBTI world. It's a well-known misconception several experts discuss. Forget about the J. You can't isolate the functions. INTJ AND INTP are one letter off but worlds apart in terms of their cognition. One thing they share in common is being intellectually inclined and often socially awkward. lol, but that's about it.

The online tests are often flawed, so I wouldn't rely on those. You have to learn about the functions themselves. The actual cognitive functions behind the types describe how someone prefers to process information and make decisions, which can definitely evolve, but, as far as I can tell, only long the lines they started from. The underlying predispositions don't just up and change. My cognition is wired to seek underlying structure, long-range patterns, and decisive action. I can't turn that off and I most certainly can't start enjoying open-ended brainstorming or jumping between possibilities for the sake of exploration. There's no way I'm going to start enjoying bouncing between disconnected ideas or improvising in the moment just because I’ve “grown.” Development can sharpen what I already have, but I can't really change my cognition. Also, MBTI does acknowledge development, just not comprehensively. Like, you can have a healthy or unhealthy INTP. Two people with the same type can look very different depending on how developed their functions are, how much self-awareness they have, and how balanced their stack is. The model doesn’t ignore growth, but it doesn't map it in a linear way like SD.