What is an SP?

[Parabola]

So, SPs are the hardest type for me to visualize. I'm an INTJ, and nearly every one of my friends is an NF or an NT, with one exception of an SJ.

I haven't the slightest idea what an SP is. I've read the MBTI description, obviously, but I was wondering if someone could give me a more concrete example.

(I've always had this mental picture that SPs are the "wild children", or the ones who don't listen to anybody and just do whatever)

[Jeffster]

Well I went to bed in Memphis
And I woke up in Hollywood
I got a quarter in my pocket
And I'd call you if I could
But I don't know why
I gotta fly
I wanna rock and roll this party
I still wanna have some fun
I wanna leave you feeling breathless
Show you how the west was won
But I gotta fly
I gotta fly

Like Steve McQueen
All I need's a fast machine
And I'm gonna make it all right
Like Steve McQueen
Underneath your radar screen
You'll never catch me tonite

I ain't takin' shit off no one
Baby, that was yesterday
I'm an all American rebel
Makin' my big getaway
Yeah, you know it's time
I gotta fly

Like Steve McQueen
All I need's a fast machine
And I'm gonna make it all right
Like Steve McQueen
Underneath your radar screen
You'll never catch me tonite

We got rock stars in the White House
And all our pop stars look like porn
All my heroes hit the highway
'Cause they don't hang out here no more

You can call me on my cell phone
You can page me all night long
But you won't catch this free bird
I'll already be long gone

Like Steve McQueen
All we need¹s a fast machine
And we're gonna make it all right
Like Steve McQueen
All we need's a fast machine
And we're gonna ride it, all right
Like Steve McQueen
Underneath your radar screen
You'll never catch me tonight


Does that help? If not, let me know, I'll try again. ;)

[Edahn]

Kiersey says they're concrete with their language and utilitarian tool users/problem solvers. You're an NT, so you look for utilitarian solutions to problems too; your main question is how well the solutions tackles the problem. The difference is in the kind of problems you'd see, since your language is abstract. So whereas you would spot (or challenge yourself with) problems that concern abstraction (like a philosophical question or a question about a personal dilemma), an SP would tend to notice more concrete problems and seek optimal solutions: does the furniture in this room match the atmosphere? how can I improve this song? how can I build this cabinet?

[alicia91]

I think your best bet is to read the personal accounts from actual SPs on this site:

ISTP (http://www.bestfittype.com/istp.html)

Also read about the different interaction styles that apply to the SPs.

I wouldn't give too much weight to the language (abstract versus concrete) nor their exact interests - I'm interested in theories, personal dilemna and so for too. That's just too stereotyped.

[Jeffster]

I think your best bet is to read the personal accounts from actual SPs on this site:

ISTP (http://www.bestfittype.com/istp.html)

Also read about the different interaction styles that apply to the SPs.

I wouldn't give too much weight to the language (abstract versus concrete) nor their exact interests - I'm interested in theories, personal dilemna and so for too. That's just too stereotyped.

Wow, Alicia, thanks a lot for that link. I think the ISFP one here (http://www.bestfittype.com/isfp.html) might be the best description of me that I have ever read! :)

[Nocapszy]

mozart was.

JFK was too. Slash, most Xgames competitors...

they're everywhere.

[Sunshine]

Wow, Alicia, thanks a lot for that link. I think the ISFP one here (http://www.bestfittype.com/isfp.html) might be the best description of me that I have ever read! :)

Yeah same here.

Ugh. I feel so un-unique now. =(

[Jeffster]

Yeah same here.

Ugh. I feel so un-unique now. =(

:hug: You're still unique! Only you have that special Sunshineyness! I don't have it! We might occupy the same square on the board, but I've got the thimble and you've got the boot.

Or something. :party2:

["?"]

I think your best bet is to read the personal accounts from actual SPs on this site:

ISTP (http://www.bestfittype.com/istp.html)

Also read about the different interaction styles that apply to the SPs.

I wouldn't give too much weight to the language (abstract versus concrete) nor their exact interests - I'm interested in theories, personal dilemna and so for too. That's just too stereotyped.Or just go to this thread (http://www.typologycentral.com/forums/sp-arthouse/4177-improviser-artisan-sp-food-thought.html) and read about us.

[murkrow]

my brother is an ISFP.

He's the only person on the planet I can't stay mad at.

I love that little guy.

aww

I'm gonna cry.

[Jeffster]

my brother is an ISFP.

He's the only person on the planet I can't stay mad at.

I love that little guy.

aww

I'm gonna cry.

:hug:










wuss!

[The_Liquid_Laser]

Well I went to bed in Memphis
And I woke up in Hollywood
...

Does that help? If not, let me know, I'll try again. ;)

This is the song I always think of when I think of ISFP:

Left a good job in the city,
Workin for the man evry night and day,
And I never lost one minute of sleepin,
Worryin bout the way things might have been.

Chorus:
Big wheel keep on turnin,
Proud mary keep on burnin,
Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.

Cleaned a lot of plates in memphis,
Pumped a lot of pain down in new orleans,
But I never saw the good side of the city,
til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen.

Chorus

Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.

If you come down to the river,
Bet you gonna find some people who live.
You dont have to worry cause you have no money,
People on the river are happy to give.

Chorus

Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.
Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.
Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.

[JustDave]

Although I'm probably stereotyping, here goes ...

At there very core SPs love to have fun, even ISTPs. Accordingly they tend to things more for enjoyment than to achieve a particular goal. But because they tend to do things that they enjoy, they tend to be good at doing those things. An excellent example of this is my workplace. I'm a network admin and work with many NTs. We all care about our work but at the end of the day it's just a job to me, not my calling in life. Whereas they take anything and everything VERY seriously.

Typically they do not maintain a neat living environment, but it is not dirty/filthy/grimy/whatever either.

They love stuff. My brother (xSFP) collects art. As for myself, I've got a thing for tools, bags (backpacks, suitcases, toolboxes,...), jackets, boots and knives. Oh, boats and cars as well. And, last but certainly not least COMPUTERS.

FLEXIBLE. Most welcome surprises.

For the most part they have a live-and-let live philosophy. For example, you might be an evil bastard but if you don't harm me or those I care about then we're cool.

Like tangible things, things that are current. As a corollary, hate anticipating the future.

[millerm277]

I agree with everything JustDave has said, entirely true for me as well.

[JustDave]

Thanks :cheers:

One more point I want to add, not all SPs are crazed lunatics. Just as every INTP is not like Einstein, every ISTP is not like ... er, some crazy lunatic. Well, I've sort of made my point.

Edit: Anger tends to be fleeting. SPs usually are not big on holding grudges unless it's for a good reason.

[JustDave]

Me?

[Jeffster]

This is the song I always think of when I think of ISFP:

Left a good job in the city,
Workin for the man evry night and day,
And I never lost one minute of sleepin,
Worryin bout the way things might have been.

Chorus:
Big wheel keep on turnin,
Proud mary keep on burnin,
Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.

Cleaned a lot of plates in memphis,
Pumped a lot of pain down in new orleans,
But I never saw the good side of the city,
til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen.

Chorus

Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.

If you come down to the river,
Bet you gonna find some people who live.
You dont have to worry cause you have no money,
People on the river are happy to give.

Chorus

Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.
Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.
Rollin, rollin, rollin on the river.

Hmmm..you've given me something to think about. I never really related to that song too much, but I might not have allowed myself to, because I just didn't like it that much. ;)

On the other hand, this song (http://youtube.com/watch?v=KG6R3pFCtk0), to me could be my theme song (other than I'm not from England ;)):

give me a story and give me a bed
give me possessions
oh love luck and money they go to my head like wildfire
it's good to have something to live for you'll find
live for tomorrow
live for a job and a perfect behind, high time

mmmmmmmmm ahhh!

England my country the home of the free, such miserable weather
but England's as happy as England can be
why cry?

and did you know desire's a terrible thing
the worst that I could find
and did you know desire's a terrible thing
but I rely on mine!

mmmmmmmmm ahhh!

England my country the home of the free, such miserable weather
but England's as happy as England can be
why cry?

and did you know desire's a terrible thing
the worst that I could find
and did you know desire's a terrible thing
but I rely on mine
did you know desire's a terrible thing
it makes the world go blind
but if desire, desire's a terrible thing
you know that I really don't mind

cause it's my life
yeah, it's my life
and though I can't be sure what I want any more
it will come to me later

well it's my life.... and it's my life
and though I can't be sure if I want any more
it will come to me later... ah

yeah!

:)

[The_Liquid_Laser]

It's been years since I've listened to the Sundays, but I used to have a couple of their albums. :) Do you think Harriet Wheeler is an ISFP?

[Jeffster]

It's been years since I've listened to the Sundays, but I used to have a couple of their albums. :) Do you think Harriet Wheeler is an ISFP?

It's the impression I get. But I don't know how much of the lyrics she wrote herself. Based on the lyrics of most Sundays songs, she certainly comes across that way to me.

But then, I could be biased because she's super-mega-hott, in voice as well as looks. ;)

[The_Liquid_Laser]

It's the impression I get. But I don't know how much of the lyrics she wrote herself. Based on the lyrics of most Sundays songs, she certainly comes across that way to me.

But then, I could be biased because she's super-mega-hott, in voice as well as looks. ;)

If you can relate to a lot of the lyrics in their songs, then she probably is an ISFP. (I'm assuming she writes the lyrics, but I can't remember if that is right or not.) I tend to think one of the guys in They Might Be Giants is an ENTP for similar reasons. There's just something in the lyrics that syncs up in my mind somehow.