Posted by pork ^(oo)^ on March 27, 2001 at 22:48:16:
In Reply to: Pork thank for the analysis posted by Paul thePharmacist on March 26, 2001 at 23:38:26:
....Is that INTJ is primarily a Perceiver, and INTP primarily a Judger.
The last letter refers to one's prominent Extraverted function, and in Introverts, the prominent Extraverted function is the auxiliary (second) function. For instance, the functions of INTJ are as follows:
Primary: Introverted iNtuition (Perceiving function)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Thinking (Judging function)
Tertiary: Introverted Feeling (Judging function)
Inferior: Extraverted Sensing (Perceiving function)
On top of that, an INTJ will no doubt display the Perceiving traits more if his primary Introverted iNtuition is significantly more developed than his auxiliary Extraverted Thinking. The latter determines the fourth letter, even if its influence wanes before the former, as it often does in people.
The idea for the inexplicable rule probably arose when Briggs-Myers considered that the fourth letter should reflect the way you "act" - thus, your strongest Extraverted function. Yet, though this rule would seem to apply to Introverts whose auxiliary Extraverted function was significantly developed (in other words, mild introverts), an Introvert whose auxiliary Extraverted function is underdeveloped will probably behave according to his stronger (Introverted) function. In any event, it seems palpable that a person whose MB type is INTJ according to the MB standards is more likely to score as an INTP on the MBTI. Don't ask me why this isn't addressed in the MBTI's simplistic questions. I've never been a fan of the MBTI. It's just a test used by corporate human resource divisions and traditional educational institutions. What do they know?
I've applied this traditional, if questionable, rule to myself - I've tested as INFP on many MB-style tests (I've even tested ENFP a few times, but I think that was a fluke). I became familiar with the INFP type, and was able to identify many of its members in the world of people, but I always felt uncomfortable comparing myself to them. Something was not right. Some people described me as "strict" and "habit-bound," but I figured that was a simple misperception on their part. As I became familiar with the MB functions and the INFJ type, however, everything fell into place. Hence, I found my internal pattern not only in the academic descriptions of the INFJ (well, for the most part anyway; they tend to be a bit presumptuous and fantastical), but also in other INFJs.
You may find the Socionics (www.socionics.com) approach to MB-derived typology more sensible, since it is distinguished for amending the common J-P confusion; in this system, a person who leads with Introverted iNtuition Perceiving with Thinking in second place is an INTP.
^(oo)^