9 ISTP Stereotypes

Out of all the sensor types, the ISTP (Ti-Se-Ni-Fe) seems to be one of the most favorably viewed, which mean the ISTP stereotypes aren’t that bad. You can correct me if I’m wrong, but I was struggling to find any really negative stereotypes surrounding this type. Granted, it’s not nearly as coveted as some types, but it seems to overall be portrayed in a positive and/or desirable manner. Of course, this means I may be dragging the type down a notch or two, back into reality.

Before, I begin I want to relay a brief disclaimer about stereotypes. The reason we find debunking stereotypes so important is that they turn tendencies into absolutes, provoking people to mistype. However, the important thing to note here is that stereotypes became stereotypes because they are tendencies. An ISTP may actually relate to some of the stereotypes that I’m about to cover, but these stereotypes should not be used as evidence for being an ISTP, nor does failing to fit them make one not an ISTP. The evidence lies in your cognitive reasoning, not behavioral tendencies.

So with all that being said, I’m going to jump right into it.

9 ISTP Stereotypes

1. ISTPs are all mechanics

Out of all the ISTP stereotypes, this is the one that ISTPs everywhere roll their eyes at. ISTPs are not all mechanics. ISTPs can find themselves in just about any job out there, depending on their motivations and life experiences. As an ISTP myself, I was a Systems Administrator, and have always generally worked in realm of IT. The only thing I know how to do with my car beyond driving it to the *ahem* mechanic is change the oil. That’s it. I’ve known other ISTPs in IT. I know an ISTP who was in the military as an Operating Room Technician. I know an ISTP studying psychology. My point here is that ISTPs can be interested in a broad range of fields, and won’t necessarily know how to fix their cars. Ti-Se doesn’t guarantee that.

2. ISTPs are all craftsmen

Perhaps you’re skeptical of this one, but it is, in fact, a stereotype. It’s possible the ISTP description writers out there are using this descriptor as more of a metaphor, but I’ve seen people take it extremely literal and get hung up on this supposed ISTP requirement. First off, many other types can be interested in, for instance, wood working. Do not base your type or the type of someone else off of something so anecdotal. Second, ISTPs do not need to be interested in physical crafts or tinkering in their garage to claim the type. Granted, as I mentioned earlier, stereotypes often form because of tendencies, and many ISTPs trend toward being interested in physical crafts. I won’t deny that, but it’s not a rule. At it’s core, Se wants to act on things, and bring any ideas they have into the real world, but this doesn’t guarantee that it will be a physical craft.

3. ISTPs are all daredevils and adrenaline junkies into extreme sports

ISTPs are often described as being extremely Se heavy for reasons I won’t get into here. This stereotype has emerged from that, and it is more likely to apply to the Se dominants. Although, it could apply to both or neither. As I said earlier, people can outlet their Se in different ways. ISTPs may not be interested in jumping out of airplanes or even riding roller-coasters. Being an ISTP doesn’t make you fearless or extreme.

4. ISTPs lack morals and values

I have seen people claim the ISTP personality type, and use being amoral as proof. As with some other ISTP stereotypes, this one seems to have emerged largely from fiction, or is at least extremely prevalent in fiction. See, Ti (the ISTP’s dominant function) is known for dealing in shades of gray, so fiction loves to portray ISTPs as rogues, bounty hunters, and etc. However, the truth is that while underdeveloped inferior Fe can produce a lack of defined values, the average ISTP will not be this way. They may not share their values with you. They may not feel compelled to assert their values around others. But, they will still have values all the same. For ISTPs, it’s more about actions versus words. Don’t make the mistake of thinking ISTPs can’t be loyal, kind, etc. These virtues are not inherent in any specific type.

5. ISTPs have no emotions

As with every other type, this is absolutely false. Ti dominants can be prone to apathy. Inferior Fe often operates on a delay, which means they won’t always feel what they feel in the moment. In addition, ISTPs that lean hard on their Ti may block out their inferior Fe, but that is unhealthy behavior, and doesn’t make the emotions go away. Eventually, if suppressed long enough, they’ll bubble to the surface, and explode out onto everyone around them, because we are all emotional beings at our core. An ISTP’s emotions can and do run deep. They just usually don’t know what to do with those emotions, and may prefer to ignore them if they can get away with it.

6. ISTPs are always cool, mysterious loners

My cohort, Ryan, said a thing the other day, which I thought was hilariously true. Basically, “the curse of inferior Fe is that an ISTP won’t feel cool even if they are.” Are ISTPs often stand-offish? Yes. Does this make them mysterious as a result? Maybe initially. Will they be cool? Possibly, but no guarantee. Depends on the person. However, ISTPs are rarely as confident in their social identity as they may act, because inferior Fe makes one insecure about how they fit in the social environment. Inferior Fe wants to belong, and fears rejection. The way ISTPs avoid this is by avoiding situations in which they can be rejected, hence loner. Feeling ‘cool’ usually requires a degree of confidence in one’s image, and one’s impact on the social environment, which ISTPs will not often have. (I’m not saying that ISTPs won’t be self-confident; I’m saying that they’re not often confident in regard to how other people perceive them or will respond to them.)

7. ISTPs will always be rebellious and break all the rules

ISTPs are prone to bending and breaking rules. However, it’s completely impractical to assume that they will always be this way. Some rules aren’t worth breaking, even if they’re stupid. In addition, sometimes values dictate that certain rules should be followed. Ti/Fe does deal in judgements. Sometimes it’ll be used to rationalize away a rule, and other times it will be used to rationalize a rule. It’s just going to depend on context. If they deem that a rule isn’t worth following, they’ll likely have no issues breaking it, but that also doesn’t mean it’ll be worth breaking. This is one of those ISTP stereotypes that will definitely vary from person to person.

8. ISTPs are silent and serious all the time

ISTPs trend toward being on the quieter side, especially initially. This has to do with the Se/Ni axis making one tend to struggle with verbalizing their thoughts, resulting in a person of few words. However, ISTPs can loosen up just like anyone else, kick that Se into gear, and be very energetic and lively. In addition, they will definitely not be flat and serious constantly. If they are, they’ve either completely shut off their inferior Fe, or are not actually an ISTP. I somewhat jokingly reference something I call the “smile test” as a way of identifying Fe users. The basic idea is that someone with Fe in their stack should feel compelled to mirror the emotions of the person they are interacting with. ISTPs are no exception to this. If you’re smiling and happy, I expect the ISTP you’re interacting with to at least attempt a polite smile or have smiling eyes. If the “ISTP” typically remains completely flat in spite of you, I start to question.

9. ISTPs often act super aggressive, jaded, or intense

I’m not sure if this is an actual stereotype, but it’s something that annoys me, so I’m going to mention it. I’ve noticed that people tend to type super aggressive, jaded, and/or intense individuals (especially fictional characters) as ISTPs. The person will fall into one of two traps. (1) They assume that if someone is mean, they must be a thinker. (2) They assume that the aforementioned point combined with impulsive behavior must mean a thinker plus high Se. Here is the problem with that. Inferior Fe is not only an inferior feeling function, but it is an inferior feeling function that is by nature detached from the subject’s personal emotions. Ti dominants are not very emotionally in tune with themselves, and tend to find clinging to such emotion exhausting. This is why we’re prone to falling into a state of apathy, or emotional blankness. We can switch briefly into sudden and intense states of aggression, but this is not a state that we can typically hold onto for a long period of time, so someone who is like this constantly is extremely unlikely to be an ISTP. Consider ESTP, ENTJ, or ISFP instead.