INTJ trapped in the body of an ISTJ?

[Curtis_Brandon]

Lately I've been reading through many websites and posts on this forum to try to figure out whether I'm an ISTJ or INTJ. Based on what I've read, it seems to me like I act like an S but think and process like an N, but I'm not sure (and am not sure if this is even possible). Here's some of my traits for being an N or S:

Arguments for INTJ:
-Don't like to do something just because it is tradition to do it.
-Process/remember an environment based on what I thought about something I noticed, not just based on pure observation. Example: If I'm spending Friday night with some friends and someone new arrives, I'll notice that he seems to have had a few drinks already and is trying to hit on this girl instead of the fact that he was wearing a blue shirt and khakis.
-Along the same lines, am bad at noticing/remembering sensing-based facts (hair color, name, etc.)
-Like to analyze (hence my continual analysis of which type I am), critique, problem-solve, and look beyond the bare facts.
-Somewhat scattered in how I live (my room) and how I think
-Am reliable, but only if others strongly expect me to be somewhere/to something (This one could possibly go either way).

Arguments for ISTJ:
-Don't like change for the sake of change
-Respect and don't question authority/rules
-Loyal and hard worker
-Like to think practically instead of theoretically (most of the time)
-Not creative
-When I've found a way of doing something that works for me, I don't want to change it.

I've taken multiple MBTI tests, however, as I am seeking a second opinion, I don't want to prejudice your opinions based on what these tests said. Let me know what you think.

[Jack Flak]

ISTJ

[Bella]

This is very interesting....I can't help you though, because I don't know enough.
I relate to some of the N things you mentioned. I'm pretty sure I'm an S though.

[Bella]

ISTJ

Why do you say that? I'm asking nicely.

[Cimarron]

I get the feeling he's an ISTJ. This sounds a lot like me. What I mean is that I can identify with a lot of that. Of course, I'm using strictly scientific analysis.... :tongue:

[Jack Flak]

Why do you say that? I'm asking nicely.
Speech, uncertainty with type.

[INTJMom]

Would you mind humoring me?

Here are a couple of tests I like.
This one is harder to skew because there's 3 choices for each question.
Discordia Inc. (http://www.discordia-inc.co.uk/misc/mbtitest.html)
This is a longer test which I think provides greater opportunity for accuracy.
Humanmetrics (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp)

[ArbiterDewey]

You sound very much like me. Most of your INTJ points apply, too. I vote ISTJ.

[Metamorphosis]

IMO, if you were an INTJ you wouldn't give much consideration to being an ISTJ. But I could see an ISTJ wondering if they were an INTJ. But that's just based on my experience.

[evan]

Most likely ISTJ. Everyone uses all four of Intuition, Sensing, Feeling, Thinking all the time. The fact that you have some intuitive traits doesn't stop you from being an S.

[Cimarron]

Besides, you can keep observing and collecting information until you can identify which one you are. You could make it an ongoing project. :D Right?

[Curtis_Brandon]

Would you mind humoring me?

Here are a couple of tests I like.
This one is harder to skew because there's 3 choices for each question.
Discordia Inc. (http://www.discordia-inc.co.uk/misc/mbtitest.html)
This is a longer test which I think provides greater opportunity for accuracy.
Humanmetrics (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp)

Thanks for the advice. I actually took both of those tests before I started the thread. Both tests said I was an S (Actually, the discordia test said that I was ISTP, which is the only MBTI test that I've ever taken to type me as a P. J is usually my strongest trait. I'll just assume that it was an anomaly.).

[Curtis_Brandon]

Thanks for the responses. Like most of the tests, all of you typed me as an ISTJ. I think that's probably my correct type. Based on researching some more, I've realized that I can identify with everything that is used to describe ISTJs (more or less), but, while I strongly identify with some parts of descriptions for INTJs, I also strongly disagree with other parts.

I guess I'm an ISTJ with a strong/well developed N, which seems to put me in good company (http://www.typologycentral.com/forums/popular-culture-type/1159-spock-istj-intj-3.html#post44392).

[sciski]

Interesting about the discordia test result. Lots of ISTPs seem to initially test as INTJ.

Look here for a small overview:
ISTP - INTP/INTJ (http://bestfittype.com/istp_intpintj.html)

A really good way to figure out your type is to look through these descriptions and find out which suits you most in terms of content and style.
ISTJ (http://bestfittype.com/istj.html)
INTJ (http://bestfittype.com/intj.html)
ISTP (http://bestfittype.com/istp.html) (Keep in mind that 'J' does not necessarily mean what you think it means.)

[Jack Flak]

I guess I'm an ISTJ with a strong/well developed N, which seems to put me in good company (http://www.typologycentral.com/forums/popular-culture-type/1159-spock-istj-intj-3.html#post44392).
Yep. http://www.typologycentral.com/forums/mbti-enneagram-other-personality-matrices/7316-stereotype-types-positions-mbti.html#post275125

[booyalab]

Yep. http://www.typologycentral.com/forums/mbti-enneagram-other-personality-matrices/7316-stereotype-types-positions-mbti.html#post275125

What's so weird about being amazingly competent in the things you don't prefer? For instance, I am really good at identifying things that I perceive through my 5 senses. Also, I laugh or smile when I'm amused or happy and cry when I'm really sad...and sometimes I make decisions quickly but other times I don't. I guess you just can't understand those of us who are great at everything. That's ok.

[Mondo]

I think you're an ISTJ.
The things you use to describe the INTJ are also ISTJ traits.
ISTJ's don't simply follow tradition for the sake of tradition.
I don't think even Keirsey (the guy who coined the "Guardians") believed that.

[Usehername]

Another thing to keep in mind is that all these type descriptors are (genearally) written by xNxx types, which means xSxx types get slightly shafted in descriptions sometimes. There are books out there with better theory and insights than the online stuff.

(And the humanmetrics test online is very skewed to make people get N results, so if people get S, I am very inclined to think that's accurate.)

ISTJs are pretty cool. It's a good type. :)

[Antisocial one]

Don't overlook the fact that there are much more ISTJs out there then INTJs.

[burkeus]

Discordia: ISTP
Humanmetrics: INTJ

[Curtis_Brandon]

Interesting about the discordia test result. Lots of ISTPs seem to initially test as INTJ.

Look here for a small overview:
ISTP - INTP/INTJ (http://bestfittype.com/istp_intpintj.html)

A really good way to figure out your type is to look through these descriptions and find out which suits you most in terms of content and style.
ISTJ (http://bestfittype.com/istj.html)
INTJ (http://bestfittype.com/intj.html)
ISTP (http://bestfittype.com/istp.html) (Keep in mind that 'J' does not necessarily mean what you think it means.)

Wow, may I really be an ISTP? I can identify with both the ISTJ and ISTP descriptions fairly equally, but I've never thought of myself as a P before.

However after thinking about it more, I realize that I plan/organize very little, often start (and fail to finish) multiple projects, and often procrastinate until the pressure is on.

The only planning I do is for A) a complex project, B) a meeting/event that many people must attend, and C) my day (but usually not until the morning of, and at the very earliest the day before). In fact my thoughts on planning seem to match these (http://www.typologycentral.com/forums/mbti-enneagram-other-personality-matrices/8923-how-like-p-4.html#post334200) fairly closely.

My J side may come from having a mother and father who are both very J oriented. When I was younger and living with them, I had to fit into a J world. But now that I am older and live on my own (I'm 25 now), I find that I plan very little and organize even less. For example, I don't budget or keep a detailed record of expenses, etc. Instead, I prefer to have a general idea of how much money I can spend in a month and just keep a very rough estimate of it all in my head.

On the flip side, in a work environment I like to know what is expected of me and be given a clear direction (although not necessarily instructions) for a given project. And (in work or in life), I don't like others to interrupt/change/throw a loop in my flexible plan (I don't know if this makes sense).

So I don't know. IST?

[Mycroft]

On the flip side, in a work environment I like to know what is expected of me and be given a clear direction (although not necessarily instructions) for a given project. And (in work or in life), I don't like others to interrupt/change/throw a loop in my flexible plan (I don't know if this makes sense).

Preferring stability in your external environment is more indicative of introversion than anything else. Strong introverts, in particular, prefer to be left to their thoughts and not have to deal with pandemonium every second of every day; even the Ps.

This is all based on what I've seen, though, so take it with a grain of salt.

[Cimarron]

Another thing to keep in mind is that all these type descriptors are (genearally) written by xNxx types, which means xSxx types get slightly shafted in descriptions sometimes. And not even because they're looking down on S types, but because of the rift in communication and understanding. It's difficult to see one from the other's perspective.

My J side may come from having a mother and father who are both very J oriented. When I was younger and living with them, I had to fit into a J world. But now that I am older and live on my own (I'm 25 now), I find that I plan very little and organize even less. For example, I don't budget or keep a detailed record of expenses, etc. Instead, I prefer to have a general idea of how much money I can spend in a month and just keep a very rough estimate of it all in my head.

On the flip side, in a work environment I like to know what is expected of me and be given a clear direction (although not necessarily instructions) for a given project. And (in work or in life), I don't like others to interrupt/change/throw a loop in my flexible plan (I don't know if this makes sense).

So I don't know. IST? I think you've analyzed this pretty well. You may indeed be a P by nature, but have learned over time how to deal with J-style conditions and activities (or something like that). Maybe you are an ISTP...

[INTJMom]

Discordia: ISTP
Humanmetrics: INTJ
That's interesting.
The I and the T is consistent, but the other two are not.

The thing I have always thought about these tests is that if a person doesn't understand the context in which the question is couched, it's difficult to understand which answer to give.
Writing the "perfect test" is indeed a challenge.

[Jack Flak]

Still ISTJ. An ISTP doesn't just fit freely into a "J World" because they're supposed to.