P E R S O N A L I T Y   6 O

INTP -- The Architect [Designer]

As it is for the INTJ, the world for the INTP exists to be understood. But while the INTJ is satisfied by knowing the rules, the INTP insists on asking: Why those particular rules and not others? How do those rules interrelate? What would an overall model of the rules look like? The key interest of the INTP is "design."

Although INTPs sometimes do become actual architects, their interest in design is much more general; they are the architects of systems. Not just physical systems, but also systems of knowledge and human systems.

INTPs are the supreme logicians. None of the other types surpasses the INTP in detecting contradictions or errors of logic, or in their ability to concentrate on the system currently under examination. INTPs constantly maintain models of systems in their minds, so any statement which violates the rules of those systems stands out to an INTP like a bonfire. Even the games they play tend to demonstrate this characteristic; INTPs are fond of puns, one-liners, and quick verbal quips that reflect the INTP's mastery of the system called language.

This attention to consistency sometimes brands them among other types as "nit-pickers" and "anal-retentives." They can also come across as gruff, argumentative and intimidating, or aloof, arrogant and impatient, although they it may surprise them to learn that others can perceive them in these ways. (In their minds they are simply being efficient, and being courteous to others by presuming that they are intellectually competent.) Even when an INTP's feeling preference is somewhat better developed, other types often find the INTP difficult to get to know.

But once an INTP establishes a relationship, he or she will generally appreciate it. INTPs do have a bad habit of presuming that the other person "knows" how the INTP feels. Because INTPs believe that they will offend if they repeat themselves, they often feel that "saying something once is enough," with the result that friends and loved ones can feel taken for granted. In addition, the independent-mindedness and highly focused concentration of INTPs often lead them to forget external commitments such as anniversaries, and to put off performing routine tasks.

INTPs who are able to indulge their systems-building gifts are usually content to create their designs; only rarely are they interested in developing these designs into real-world objects. In many cases their work either vanishes or is ignored, or else it is developed by someone else who reaps the financial and other rewards.

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