Why are There so many Questions on Quora About INTJs?
Kevin Price, Editor at Large for USA Business Radio and Host of the Price of Business Show, has recently become hooked on Quora. In addition to daily hosting the Price of Business, Kevin has numerous writing obligations on this and other sites for which he serves as an editor and with his syndicated column, so we decided that if he’s going to write at Quora, he is going to share that content on this website. If you are on Quora, make sure to follow Kevin. You can check out his page here: https://www.quora.com/profile/Kevin-Price-67.
Kevin’s hot topics on Quora are history, free market economics, philosophy, and Myers Briggs typology, and many others. The following is one of his recent answers to the question in the title.
I believe it is not for entirely good reasons. It is almost like the “bearded woman” or “wolf boy” at the circus — I think we INTJs have kind of a “freak show” status. INTJs are so different. We often feel like aliens on a strange planet and I think many of those who are not INTJs think we might be too.
Introverts in general are interesting, because they are not easy to read and often try to keep it that way. The INTJs in particular are something of a mystery.
INTJs (like INFJs and ENTJs) are one of the smallest MBTI groups. In spite of our larger disdain of larger “group think” and behavioral norms, and our strong love of being independent, I think the INTJ is the easiest of all types to identify. Even those with zero MBTI experience know there is something different about the INTJ. That makes them intriguing and leads to so many questions.
INTJs and INTPs tend to have the highest IQs. People pick up on that quickly (although not all INTJs and INTPs are intellectually smart, it is very common). The INTJs knack for perspectives means they understand where so many people are coming from in the way they look at life and problems, it is very fascinating for the outsider to watch. The INTJs gusto for problems being fun, is almost contagious. They extrapolate in future thinking that feels like exploring to others.
They often seem to mysteriously know things about many different topics, but have a difficult time explaining how they know it, even as they quote some esoteric source they stumbled on many years before. Isaac Asimov, the prolific author, was practically the poster child of INTJs. He was asked in an interview, “are you a speed reader?” He said (paraphrasing), I don’t know, but I am speed learner. Once I catch something in my reading or research it typically stays with me. That is the case with me too. I will have a passionate conversation, quote something that I had not read or thought of in 20 plus years (and may only had read once), look it up after the conversation and there it is. It is very odd.
Yet, in spite of their ability to communicate, problem solve, and innovate, there is a clear dark side to the INTJ.
It is weird to see someone so intellectually capable, pout like a child if things do not go our way. This is common for an emotionally immature INTJ or an INTJ stuck in his emotions (the ten year old) and has not used his mind to navigate them.
Typically we are not particularly graceful in our physicality. You will not find many INTJs as professional athletes, except maybe golf.
We are often clueless of what’s going on among the people in our lives. Hours after everyone else figured it out, it is not surprising for the INTJ to say… (read more and, while there, look at Kevin’s other content and follow him on Quora).
