8 INTP Stereotypes

The INTP personality type is one of the top four most coveted personality types, up there with INFP, INTJ, and INFJ. Of course, there are a multitude of stereotypes that people associate with it. Usually, coveted types have a large amount of positive stereotypes specifically associated with them, but ironically, INTP seems to be a mixed bag. Of course, in this article, I don’t intend to bash the type, nor put it on a pedestal. The goal is to paint an accurate, objective picture of the INTP, so that you can hopefully understand the personality type a little bit better.

Remember, stereotypes are to be taken with a grain of salt. At their best, they describe behavioral trends. At their worst, they fixate on an overly dramatized character trait that has been mistakenly limited to that specific personality type. In other words, some INTPs may relate to the INTP stereotypes, while others may not. Everyone is different, and stereotypes should never be used as a basis for identifying someone as an INTP. Personality type is determined by cognitive function preferences, which are determined by an individual’s default thought process. Typing purely by behaviors and skills frequently leads to mistyping.

With that being said, let’s get into the stereotypes.

8 INTP Stereotypes

1. INTPs are all brilliant, innovative geniuses

INTPs have been propped up as the originators of all great ideas. They’re all supposedly natural-born geniuses that excel in academics. It’s to the extent that many mistakenly believe you can’t be an INTP if you aren’t naturally intelligent or don’t have creative and unique ideas. Of course, this is incorrect. Intelligence has nothing to do with personality type. Any personality type, including the INTP, has the potential to be either dumb or smart. Unfortunately, this stereotype has negative ramifications in both directions. Many intelligent and innovative individuals are incorrectly assumed to be INTPs, while less intelligent INTPs are mistaken for other types. The focus needs to be on core thought processes, not these surface level characteristics.

2. INTPs are emotionless robots

This stereotype is the result of an INTP’s inferior extraverted feeling function, or Fe. Due to inferior Fe, INTPs struggle with emotional delays and feeling disconnected from their feelings at times. Some INTPs have such underdeveloped Fe that they come across as cold or emotionless. However, this is not the case for all of them. Regardless, even the ones that seem emotionless are most definitely not. Everyone has feelings, and INTPs are certainly capable of feeling deeply. Many just struggle to express their more intimate feelings, especially if they haven’t had time to analyze them. It’s important to separate intimate feelings from surface level feelings, though. Plenty of INTPs won’t struggle with mirroring basic emotions, in addition to expressing lighthearted or safe emotions, like laughing, smiling, etc. This is one of those stereotypes that, while rooted in a genuine struggle, has been taken to too far of an extreme. A healthy INTP will seem like an average, amiable individual, not some emotionless robot.

3. INTPs are physically incapable

The INTP, along with most other intuitive personality types, have been given the stereotype of being so stuck in their own heads that they’re incapable of physical skills. Intuition has been made to be solely about abstract ideas and intellectual aptitude, while sensors are the only ones who know how to use their physical limbs. This has been taken to a ridiculous extreme, and is absolutely incorrect. INTPs, like any other personality type, are fully capable of becoming adept at physical skills. Practice makes perfect, no matter what type you are. In addition, INTPs can even enjoy doing things like sports and crafting. I’ve known INTPs who have gone into stereotypical career fields, like Information Technology or Engineering, while I’ve known others who were in blue collar jobs. One INTP I knew was an army ranger who later became a police officer. All cognitive functions, intuition or otherwise, are lenses for information, which has to do with cognition preferences, not physical ability.

4. INTPs are all socially awkward

Social skills are indeed skills, as the name suggests. While it’s true that INTPs frequently have social insecurities, due to inferior Fe, they aren’t always shut-ins who fail miserably at interacting with other people. Deep down, they struggle to connect with others on an emotional level, but surface-level interaction can be easily learned, no matter what type you are. In addition, an INTP can actually be socially extraverted, and still be an INTP. (See Extraversion in Typology). Many INTPs can fully engage with others, and enjoy having fun with them. They’ll just eventually need to retreat into their fortress of solitude to recharge.

5. INTPs are the nerdy gamers

This is kind of along the same strain as the previous INTP stereotype. Unfortunately, INTPs seem to be trapped in the trope of being a geeks and gamers, living their lives out in virtual worlds while zombie-ing through reality whenever it demands their attention. For the record, this trope shouldn’t be specific to INTPs, since video games are popular amongst all personality types. Most teenagers these days dump their energy and free time into virtual entertainment of some kind. Of course, while it’s easy to spend a lot of time on video games as a teenager and even a young adult, many people, regardless of personality type, end up moving away from gaming as life becomes more hectic. INTPs are no exception. Some may never get involved in stereotypical nerdy hobbies at all, depending on how their life has played out.

6. INTPs are lazy slobs

Discipline (or lack thereof) is not tied to personality type. Not all perceivers are messy, and complete their assignments at the last possible second. Sometimes it also seems like people use laziness to differentiate INTPs from ISTPs. Of course, this is incorrect. Both can be equally lazy, just like both can be disciplined. While some types seem to be more instinctively compelled towards responding to external pressure and thus appearing more disciplined, this has more to do with training and motivation. INTPs can be just as motivated and disciplined as any other personality type.

7. INTPs can’t make and stick to plans

It’s true that many perceivers, including INTPs, may struggle with sticking to plans. Perceivers tend to be more comfortable winging it, or dealing with things as they come, so they don’t typically value plans as highly as judging types. However, that doesn’t make them incapable of planning and following through. When they feel it’s necessary, INTPs are perfectly capable of forming complex and detailed plans, to ensure a specific outcome. Forming goals and being successful are not limited to the TJ types.

8. INTPs all have a wacky sense of humor

This is honestly more of an Extraverted Intuition, or Ne, stereotype than one that is specific to INTPs. However, it’s worth noting that Ne doesn’t always manifest as quirky humor. You can be a serious, humorless INTP. Capacity for humor doesn’t tie into any specific cognitive function. Although, certain personality may trend toward certain types of humor, when they’re interested. This is just another INTP stereotype that has caused more confusion than anything else.