1. Telos

The INTP is disposed towards inner reflections on the flow of events. Detaching from trivial concerns, INTPs turn their attention to the more important and far-reaching matters of life. Penetrating the misty vestiges of the past and future through depth of imagination, INTPs tend to synthesise for themselves a profoundly realist, neutral world view that can be perceived as 'bleak' or 'gloomy' by others. Such a world view is frequently in the form of a singular eventuality that current events will head towards given certain variables. For them, the present is only important in so much as it is the midway point between what has happened and what will happen, and that sometimes actions can be undertaken to change or alter that interaction, usually in the form of preventing stupidity that might lead to disaster later. Often what is completely obvious to the INTP makes very little sense to anyone else and they may be frustrated that other people are too dense to see the issues so clear to them. Frequently, INTPs may feel that they have a responsibility to inform people of these dangers, especially if they may affect the world at large. As such, INTPs regularly come across as critics and augurs for the consequences of foolishness, although their risk aversion may also mean that they do not deign to get involved, in case they are also pulled in to drown.

2. Pragmatism

INTPs tend to be rather well-read. Regularly informing their perception of events is a wealth of useful and relevant information, often historical, mystical or arcane, that they tend to slowly accumulate over time. However, INTPs do not merely take in the facts to apply them, but undergo a long rumination process, picking out patterns and trends that they see as carrying temporal weight and thinking these through until they have an idea on what they mean for the long term. Such information they can usually recall well and use to back up any points or musings they might come up with. Furthermore, should there be a long-term outcome that an INTP deems as favourable, or one that they particularly wish to avoid, the INTP can plan out the processes by which these outcomes can be reached or prevented. Often, they will enjoy board games that require strategy and may be several steps ahead of their opponents, creating a plan and adapting any technique at their disposal to fit the plan. However, this ability also allows them to know when something is inevitable or out of their power, and in such situations, the INTP will fatalistically wait it out. In a similar way, the INTP will often be the first to point out when an action is useless or pointless, already knowing that it will not lead anywhere despite the optimism of others.

3. Senses

The INTP is best situated when detached from the present day and pondering over themes of times been and yet to come. However, a certain amount of begrudging self-maintenance is kept with the INTP, who usually attends to chores and concerns around the house at a slow, steady pace, freeing up the mind to go elsewhere. INTPs are usually unconcerned with how they look but will nevertheless know to maintain basic hygiene and standard practices. However, INTPs will have little care for anything luxurious or pleasant. The room they may occupy is a simple holding cell for them to sleep in, its comfort being as important to them as their distant memories of the room years later. They may also possess a good eye for detail when needed, being able to spot errors and read the fine print, keeping an eye on the specifics of practical tasks without much difficulty. Many may take up work requiring repetitive or detailed activity and perform well, although they will use such physical tasks to go elsewhere mentally.

4. Emotions

INTPs do not tend to care what others think of them and often would prefer not to unnecessarily interact with people other than those they care about. Frequently, INTPs fill the archetype of the outsider to any social circle and the teller of unpopular truths, not because they actively desire to be contrary or controversial, but because they do not see the point of sweetening their words for the ears of others at the expense of accuracy and sincerity. For the INTP, this is partially due to a lack of awareness of their own emotional expression and the impression they are giving off to others. Furthermore, the concept of showing emotions, rather than simply feeling them internally, is quite alien to them, sometimes resulting in a listless or austere manner when speaking. When aware that someone is putting on a façade of sunny emotions, the INTP approaches them with scepticism, questioning their angle. The INTP may stubbornly resist attempts by such people to make them to join in with the forced enthusiasm, socially alienating themselves as a result. INTPs may express frustration with seemingly pointless social norms like small talk, avoiding pleasantries and cutting straight to the point in conversation. These tendencies run the risk of spoiling the positive mood, resulting in a loss of popularity for the INTP. Consequently, their forewarnings can often fall on deaf ears as people may decide not to listen to them and may mistake it for pessimism. However, to accuse INTPs of pessimism is to misunderstand their realism. After all, unjustified negativity is as bad to them as unjustified optimism.

5. Force

The INTP tends to possess a sardonic sense of humour and when the situation calls for it, may make harsh or biting comments at those they think deserve it. However, this is usually the limit of an INTP's aggression. Although often appreciative of power and the will to confront or change reality, they themselves are unable to adequately make these changes themselves, having difficulty overcoming the inertia of excessive thinking before any action might be taken. Rather than jump in and think on their feet, INTPs tend to be highly risk averse, finding it easier to succeed through careful preparation and reviewing as much relevant information as possible in the time they have, making sure that whatever they do will ensure good outcomes for the future. This can lead to a certain hesitance to make decisions, although once a decision is finally made, it is stuck to. They tend to appreciate those with a relentless energy to get what they want when they want, finding this empowering and shaking them out of their analytical paralysis.

6. Relations

Although many appear cold and detached on the outside, INTPs can possess powerful sentiments and attachments that are shut out from public view except in short bursts of temper. INTPs rarely forgive and even more rarely forget the wrongs done to them by other people. INTPs can have a rather strong, all-or-nothing sense of decency and character judgement, sacrificing their own needs without complaint for the select few they care about, while keeping a wary psychological distance from most others. Although being difficult to get close to, INTPs deeply want to encounter people whom they like and foster a bond of great significance. Rather than seek belonging of any social circle where public approval is required, INTPs seek out these close, personal contacts, serving as trusted advisers to those who sincerely find them worth listening to.

7. Ideas

INTPs tend to have little patience for brainstorming with others and running through different options. Instead, their goal is to deliberately limit the range of possibilities as much as they can, putting together the most probable estimation for how future events are going to turn out from the trends and information available. When faced with alternatives, the INTP will likely respond with stubbornness, seeing their conclusion as the most likely outcome and the only one worth focusing on. This can be interpreted by others as arrogance, although the INTP is unlikely to have a position at all, until they have given the matter considerable thought and surveyed all the relevant variables in forming their opinion. Often the INTP will turn out to have been right all along, by which point people would have likely forgotten there was an issue in the first place.

8. Laws

People often perceive the INTP to be a source of intellect and profound insight, given to forming a clear, structured understanding of phenomena. However, although the INTP readily grapples with theories, philosophies and ideologies, they do so with a natural scepticism. For the INTP, grand theories that neatly explain everything should be distrusted, with their analytical rigour easily dismantling such ideas, keeping only what stands up to their scrutiny. After undermining the logical integrity of a theory, the INTP is unlikely to offer a complete structure in its place, preferring to piece together only what works when building their oasis of understanding in a general landscape of doubt.