Your Personality Type:
ISTP
IIntrovert. Inner-directed; need ample
alone time; slow and steady, focus on
one task at a time; reserved & cautious
SSensor. Practical & task-oriented;
prefer action over reflection; excel at
handling details & concrete tasks
TThinker. Use logical analysis to
make decisions; attuned to facts,
consistency & fairness
PPerceiver. Outwardly open, receptive
and adaptable; slower to express
judgments or impose them on others
ISTPs’ Dominant Function
Checks everything against inner logical standard; prefers autonomy in projects, problem-solving & decision-making
ISTPs’ Auxiliary Function
“Lives in the moment”; relishes new experiences & challenges; attunes to concrete affairs & opportunities for action
Key ISTP Traits
- Highly autonomous and self-directed; needs lots of time and freedom to reflect and pursue their own interests
- Skeptical and critical by nature; cautious and measured in their cognition and attestations; keep most of their thoughts and observations to themselves
- Derive much pleasure and meaning from undertaking self-directed tasks; can appear overly focused or single-minded, even like “workaholics”
- Like INTPs, prefer self-employment—not having to lead or follow anyone else—whenever possible
- Have a knack for tool use and fixing things, relying on their own powers of logic and reason to find their way to a solution
- Prefer applying their reasoning in a hands-on fashion; think more effectively when engaging with problems in a visual, concrete way; experience a pleasurable sense of immersion with the task at hand
- May struggle to stay engaged and interested in traditional academic settings
- Highly competitive and strategic: be it in sports, business, strategic games, or otherwise; can quickly become impatient or frustrated, however, when things don’t go their way
- When feeling more open and relaxed, seek external sensory stimulation: watching television, playing / viewing sports, cooking, dining out, outdoor activities, etc.
- Observant of their surroundings; notice small details and subtleties in people and the environment
- Can be warm and engaging (Fe) for short spans of time, but have limited tolerance for extensive talking or socializing
- Often friendly with strangers but can become moody, aloof, or impatient around family or co-workers
- Repress their emotions, especially negative ones, which may contribute to occasional and unexpected eruptions of anger; may exhibit “Jekyll and Hyde” tendencies
- Have a love-hate relationship with people and group participation; appreciate casual social contact and affirmation from others, but may resent the perceived obligations of friendship or family life if it impinges on their freedom; however, most ultimately find meaning and stability in the “provider” role
- Often pursue careers in business and finance, which carry the promise of status and financial rewards; generally most satisfied with work entailing both a “hands-on” and “analytical” element, be it as athletes, pilots, chefs, mechanics, drummers, carpenters, surgeons, etc.
Learn More about ISTPs in Our Books:
My True Type: Clarifying Your Personality Type, Preferences & Functions
The 16 Personality Types: Profiles, Theory & Type Development