When does an ISTP look like an INTP or INTJ?

The Fine Art of Clarifying Type by Dr. Linda V. Berens

What would make the difference?
Of all the Artisan types, ISTPs most look like and most often identify with the Rational temperament, often reporting preferences for INTP or for INTJ on assessments.

Interaction Styles. ISTPs have a Chart-the-Course™ Interaction Style, which goes with a desire to enter a situation with some sort of course of action in mind. It doesn’t have to be a detailed plan and ISTPs often seem planful as they analyze a situation in anticipation of what is likely to happen. ISTPs and INTJs share this Interaction Style and so would look alike in that way.

The Chart-the-Course™ style often seems like the Strategic intelligence that is an important aspect of the Rational temperament pattern and ISTPs often relate to the description of the Rational temperament over the Artisan temperament. This is especially true when the Artisan description focuses too much on freedom and spontaneity.

Temperament. Differentiating Artisan versus Rational is key. Artisan desire for skillful performance often leads ISTPs to identify with the Rational’s core need for competence. In presenting the two temperaments, it helps to contrast the difference between skillful performance as a value and competence as a core need. For the Artisan skill often comes from the drive to action and they hate being clumsy or awkward. They get involved in an activity, get caught up in the pure joy of doing, and thus become skilled. Rationals need to feel competent and often want a measure of competence before they even do something. To practice or “do” means failure and that often can strike at the core need.

Roles. ISTPs, INTPs, and INTJs share a desire to act independently and tend to take pragmatic roles with others, seeking autonomy. This makes the differentiation harder to discover.

Language. It helps to listen for the concrete language of the ISTP, which often creates a picture in the listener’s mind. Such language is likely to be full of specific examples and stories. INTP and INTJ language tends to reference abstract concepts with a focus on precision. ISTPs often get at the essence of something rather succinctly, whereas, INTPs and INTJ go into more depth.

Interest. ISTPs are more likely to zero in on someone’s motives than INTPs or INTJs (unless in the business of understanding people!)

Similar Cognitive Dynamics. ISTPs and INTPs have the same Leading Role process (dominant) of introverted Thinking and are likely to approach situations with an analytical perspective and like to know the principles of how things work. The difference shows up in their Supporting Role processes (auxiliary). An INTP described his preferred work style as exploring problems and sub-problems (Ne), while his ISTP colleague described a tactical trouble shooting approach with a focus on getting the task done (Se).

Also, ISTP’s frequently engage their Relief Role process (tertiary) of introverted iNtuiting and enjoy looking at whole systems and patterns and getting a sense of what will happen in the future.

About Linda V. Berens, PhD.
Linda V. Berens is the founder and Chief Architect of Interstrength™ Associates (formerly Temperament Research Institute), a corporate consulting and training organization. Interstrength™ Associates (ISA) is one of eight organizations in the United States that qualifies professionals to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instrument. ISA also certifies professionals in the Interstrength™ assessments and method, the Ideal Team Profile Questionnaire™ (ITPQ™) and the Management Team Role-indicator® (MTR-i®).

Linda holds a doctorate in psychology and serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Masters in Organizational Leadership program at Chapman University. She is the author of Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to Temperament; Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to Interaction Styles; and Dynamics of Personality Type: Understanding and Applying Jung’s Cognitive Processes and the coauthor of The I in TEAM, The 16 Personality Types: Descriptions for Self-Discovery; Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code; Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types and Teams; Groundbreaking Sales® Skills; Working Together: A Personality-Centered Approach to Management and other books and training materials.

Linda is an organizational consultant and has spent over thirty years training professionals in the field as well as helping individuals and teams recognize their strengths, transcend their weaknesses, and work together better. Linda specializes in whole-organization implementation as well as individual and team development.

©2004 Linda V. Berens.