INTP-A (A Complete Guide)

In this article, we will discuss INTP-A Personality. We will do that by giving a brief description of them including their strengths and weaknesses. We will move on to describe their cognitive functions, their workplace, suitable careers for them, and how they behave in interpersonal relationships. 

INTP-A 

INTP-A is an introverted, intuitive, thinking, perceiving, and assertive personality. These are one of the 16 types of personality from the MBTI types. They can be described as deep thinking personalities who are quiet and like to keep to themself. They prefer to spend time with only a few people they are close to. Such individuals are usually theorists and philosophers especially since they are equipped with skills of logical reasoning and are interested in abstract/theoretical information. They do well in careers that are related to science and allow them the chance to be free thinkers. 

The A in INTP-A refers to an assertive function. Individuals who have this function are confident and self-secure. They are not too dependent on the opinions of others nor are they highly self-conscious. They trust their own judgment. Usually, these people like to keep their options open and do not stick to one idea for too long. 

Description of INTP-A Personality

People with an INTP-A personality are thinkers who like to think of different ideas. Usually, they prefer spending time by themself or with a few people they are close to. This is because they feel exhausted after socializing and need time alone to recharge.  They place intellect at a high priority and accordingly prefer intellectual conversations with others. 

INTP-A engages in deep thinking, especially about theoretical ideas. They are logical and rational people who like objectivity in their information processing and decision making. Accordingly, they are not too emotional nor do they prioritize subjectivity and emotions while deciding something These individuals are flexible and open to considering multiple perspectives of a situation. Likewise, they can adapt to changing situations as well. They like to think about the broader picture and are not too detail-oriented. They dislike being constrained by schedules and structure and prefer to have open options. 

Towards people, an INTP-A’s attitude is warm and friendly but their preference for solitude may make them seem to appear aloof and detached. They are easy-going and laidback personalities who are tolerant of differences. At times, they can be rigid especially if their beliefs are challenged or someone proposes ideas that are against logic. It can be difficult for others to persuade them or change their minds once they make up their opinion about something. 

INTP: The Thinker (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving)

The INTP personality type from the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is based on Carl Jung’s 16 personality types. It describes people who are reserved, quiet, analytical, and not very social. They like pondering on how things work and coming up with new ideas and solutions. Most of their time is spent in their inner world rather than in the external world. 1-5% of people have an INTP personality type in the world.  

Four Cognitive Functions of INTP

Four cognitive functions that guide how INTP personality type processes information includes:

Introverted Thinking

INTPs are mostly focused on understanding how things work. They think in parts rather than whole i.e. they break down complex ideas into simple parts to thoroughly understand something before taking any action or making an opinion.

Extroverted Intuition

INTPs are imaginative and able to utilize their past experiences in present decision-making. They are future-oriented people who think about ‘What if scenarios’. They also have the ability to identify patterns and gather insight into something by thoroughly going through it in their mind. 

Introverted Sensing

INTPs are careful, attentive to detail, and categorize all incoming information into simplified yet understandable categories. They are able to compare new information with the old one to make a judgment or prediction about how the future will play out. 

Extroverted Feeling

This is the weakest part of an INTP’s personality. They can be social and connect with others if they are comfortable. However, for stressful situations, they withdraw, prioritize logic over feelings, and have difficulty connecting with people at an emotional level.   

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

The A function in INTP-A

Function A in INTP-A refers to an additional part of INTP personality. They are called assertive logicians. These personalities are comfortable and self-secure in themself. They feel satisfied with their lives and are proud of who they are as a person. They prefer changes in their life and do not like monotony. They keep their options open and consider multiple possibilities. This manifests as them sticking to one idea obsessively and changing it when something new of their interest comes along.  

Accordingly, their decision-making can be impulsive and often they make choices they regret later on. However, they still weigh the pros and cons and view things thoroughly before jumping into situations which ultimately contributes to their confidence in their judgment. After that, they rarely change their ideas unless they have a strong reason to. 

INTP-A rarely gets stressed out when situations or plans change suddenly at the last moment. Neither do they easily get offended or upset by the opinions of others. They are not dependent on their approval or seek their validation. So, in a way, they are independent and self-sure. Similarly, they are not too self-conscious about their appearance of social image. 

These individuals are not too hard towards themselves and forgive themself when they make a mistake. This can, however, make them seem arrogant and rigid. Yet, it only means that they trust their strategies more than other ways. This explains why it is hard for them to work well in teams.

The strengths and weaknesses of INTP-A Personality

INTP-A personality is a rational and logical person who prefers objective information and evidence while processing information and making decisions. They are also unique in the sense that they value abstract information too and think of things from a broad point of view. They are independent and self-sufficient in their approach and do not depend on others for approval. Furthermore, they are loyal and warm to their loved ones. 

At the same time, INTP-A also has weaknesses. It is difficult to get to know them as they value their privacy and rarely open up. Sometimes, they can be insensitive especially when they say things directly to others without considering how it may impact or influence their feelings. Apart from that, although they are confident people yet, they may experience self-doubt and experience difficulty while expressing themself. They also find it hard to follow rules and schedules. 

Workplace

INTP-A personalities can do well in careers that are linked with science. They like theoretical and abstract information along with a strong liking for logic and objectivity. This makes them adept at being creative with strong reasoning skills. They let their thoughts run free and think of things from various perspectives. 

They like being autonomous and independent decision-makers at their workplace which means that they do not do well under the authority or when they are micromanaged. They feel constrained especially at the thought level while they are in presence of such people. This explains why they do well in careers that allow them to be their own boss and allow them to think freely and creatively. Careers that suit these people include chemists, physicists, engineers, geologists, computer programmers, forensic scientists, etc.

Interpersonal Relationships

In interpersonal relationships, INTP-A personalities can form friendships with people with whom they share their interests. They value intellect in their relationships which is a possible reason why they have few friends with whom they are close. It is important for their friends to help these personalities express their emotions and bond with them on a deeper level, especially on ideas they share a similar passion about.

Parents of children with an INTP-A child need to remember to allow them to pursue logic and their interests rather than forcing them to express their emotions. They should also help them in establishing friendships with children who are similar to them.  

In intimate relationships, INTP-A can be difficult to get to know since they keep to themself and do not open up to their partners unless they think they are worthy. Only then, they share their innermost thoughts. They like being intimate but dislike mind games and prefer being honest and direct. They are not good at detecting the emotions of their partner and responding accordingly.

It is important that their partner communicates their emotions and needs to them in a direct manner. They need to also help such personalities connect with their emotions as well. For this, they need to be observant of any subtle signals INTP-A sends to them regarding their internal emotional state. 

FAQs: INTP-A

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed INTP-A. We found that INTP-A is an introverted, intuitive, thinking, perceiving, and assertive personality. These are one of the 16 types of personality from the MBTI types. They can be described as deep thinking personalities who are quiet and like to keep to themself. They prefer to spend time with only a few people they are close to. Such individuals are usually theorists and philosophers especially since they are equipped with skills of logical reasoning and are interested in abstract/theoretical information. They do well in careers that are related to science and allow them the chance to be free thinkers. 

The A in INTP-A refers to an assertive function. Individuals who have this function are confident and self-secure. They are not too dependent on the opinions of others nor are they highly self-conscious. They trust their own judgment. Usually, these people like to keep their options open and do not stick to one idea for too long. 

 I hope you found this article interesting. If you have any queries or comments, please state them in the comment section 😊

Citations

https://www.verywellmind.com/intp-introverted-intuitive-thinking-perceiving-2795989

https://www.16personalities.com/articles/assertive-logician-intp-a-vs-turbulent-logician-intp-t