Today I’m excited to talk about the clever and inventive INTP personality types. Referred to as “the Architects” by personality expert David Kiersey, INTPs are known for their creativity, ingenuity, and strategic way of solving problems. INTPs make up only 1-3% of the population, so if you have one in your life be thankful! They are a rare breed, and they often have a unique way of viewing the world that will open your eyes to new possibilities and theories. Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Immanuel Kant – these are all shining examples of INTPs at their best.

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So how do you annoy these quiet, intellectual types? I scoured internet forums and facebook groups, checked with the INTPs I knew, and scanned through personality manuals for answers. Alas, I discovered the five pet peeves that got mentioned the most. If you want to stay on an INTPs good side, try to refrain from doing these things!

Gossip

INTPs have little patience for gossip or the latest celebrity “dish”. They find this kind of conversation irritating, trivial, and meaningless. One INTP said “I find it not only superficial, but extremely annoying as well. It’s hard for me to respect someone if they gossip too much.”

Tell Them to Smile

INTPs have a hard time being emotionally demonstrative, and usually have more of a quiet, thoughtful disposition. More jovial types may encourage them to “lighten up” or to “turn their frowns upside down” and they find this kind of attitude frustrating. They may be having a great time, but they aren’t going to be as exuberant outwardly as many other types are. Being forced to show off a feigned emotional response is very stressful and irritating for an INTP.

Make Quick, Black-and-White Judgments

INTPs have auxiliary Extraverted Intuition (Ne). Because of this, they see alternatives and multiple angles to many different points of view. They like to know all the information about something before forming an opinion and often seem very open-minded to ideas unless they have no logical basis. When other people make quick judgments or have strong opinions that they haven’t seen from multiple perspectives, it turns off the INTP and they may find the person judgmental and ignorant.

Pull Rank

INTPs don’t have an innate sense of respect for someone simply because they wear a title or have been called an authority by others. While they don’t aim to be disrespectful, they feel that respect and admiration need to be earned – not automatically given just because of a rank. Psychologist David Kiersey said about INTPs, “They will listen to amateurs if their ideas are useful, and will ignore the experts if theirs are not. Authority derived from office, credential, or celebrity does not impress them.”

Push Them to Socialize Too Much

INTPs thrive on alone time to work out their ideas and theories or to relax and read a book or play a video game. While they can enjoy the occasional social gathering, their natural happy place is usually a quiet and uninterrupted space where they can be free to explore their many interests. INTPs are also inclined to be shy, and may feel stressed by frequent socialization or large gatherings of people they don’t know very well. Being with someone who is always pushing them to get out more or go to a new party or club will cause them stress and frustration. If you do want them to socialize more, try to keep gatherings small and with close friends.

All About INTPs

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

What Do You Think?

Are you an INTP with a different opinion? What are your pet peeves? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you!

Other Articles You Might Enjoy:

3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets About the INTP Personality Type

The INTP Personality Profile

The Unhealthy INTP

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