Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. Your punctuation is fine. I meant: Why have you chosen to post the parts of the INTP and INTJ descriptions that are about how we behave under stress?

I'm just curious.

Ah. Because I find that under stress, more defined parts of the personality emerge. There's almost a bigger gap between similar types - whereas some of them you can pick and choose things that fit you if the types are closely related. Almost every NT has an inherent self-confidence that lies in being "right"....but you put them under stress and the P and J really draw apart. J's aren't as flexible, I think.

Mmhm. It's easier to see the difference. Ironically enough, if put under a fairly phenomenal amount of stress, INTPs become extremely controlling with no reason, and INTJs break down and can't hold to anything. But again, this would be highly abnormal. The shadow funtions of MBTI are exceedingly interesting.

EDIT: Well, by fairly phenomenal, I mean something that would build up on the order of years. Something more like a horrible relationship or something, not a bad day at work.

An INTJ under stress (warning, this is an episode synopsis from House):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_and_Able

It's not really as descriptive as I thought it was. I must've merged inferred more than I read (stupid ENFP tendencies) ><

Basically, an INTJ is under the most stress when they find they are wrong, especially in regard to a subject they are well-versed in. An INTJ has to be THE BEST and push themselves hard to know as much as they can. If they find that they're wrong, the center of their very being is put into doubt. >.> What else could they be wrong about? They suddenly doubt their ability to do anything correctly.

For the NFs, that would be the equivalent of suddenly being presented with evidence that you're a dishonest person who isn't true to their own values.

I read somewhere that Hannibal Lecter was one. I would be mortified to know my husband was waiting for me one day to fry my innocent liver....but then again, with such a brilliant mind, he'd probably have a million ways to stick another, much better one back in and revive me. so really, it's looking like >PURE Horror/ PURE creation. Could we really live with that?? Hmmm, desicions desicions
would you take the chance, out of pure curiosity if nothing else?.

Ah, there was a fairly interesting topic about the shadow functions, and the MBTI under stress. THe basic premise of the shadow function, is that types begin to break down, and become the worst of their opposite type, in stages. Basically, under enough stress, an INTP would become the worst of the ESFJ, judging everyone and everything (themselves included) according to nonsensical values, of what they think is right, and just generally making everyone miserable. We lose sight of our ability to analyze and think, and intuit, and become a person intent on slinging painful words at whoever happens to be closest.

The INTJ would go to te ESFP in these hypothetical circumstances, rather than judging everyone, they would lose sight of ideas and possibilities, and be forever stuck in the current moment, unable to see beyond. INTJ-hell, basically.

Note that shadow theory is less widely accredited than MBTI as a whole. Thoughts?

Oh, and in ENFP-land, even this post is on topic!

Speaking as a blatantly self-serving INTJ...

An INTJ who has matured enough to know how to appropriately handle emotions, interact well with others, etc (like moi!) can be a never-ending source of engaging conceptual conversations! I think the ability to connect on a conceptual level but with the "fun" factor really enlivens the relationship from my perspective. I'm told (and many have posted here and elsewhere) that the other side especially enjoys the additional "practical" or "strategic" insight we naturally offer.

Frankly, I think with some balance on both sides the relationships can be mutually satisfying and infinitely sustaining.

Plus you can't beat it when an INTJ and ENFP are both in synch from a perceptions standpoint in a crowd of people. Talk about hilarious observations!!!!! My boss, an ENFP who is also gay, and I can dish for hours...of course it's in snatches while he circulates and I dip in and out of the crowds..LOL

Plus you can't beat it when an INTJ and ENFP are both in synch from a perceptions standpoint in a crowd of people. Talk about hilarious observations!!!!! My boss, an ENFP who is also gay, and I can dish for hours...of course it's in snatches while he circulates and I dip in and out of the crowds..LOL

I almost started a business venture with my INTJ best friend. I think we would be unstoppable. As far as implmentation goes. INTJ secondary function is Te, ENFP the 3rd. We lead with Ni & Ne.

Nuf said.

The INTJ would go to te ESFP in these hypothetical circumstances, rather than judging everyone, they would lose sight of ideas and possibilities, and be forever stuck in the current moment, unable to see beyond. INTJ-hell, basically.

I think I may have had a glimpse of that.

Hey...this is the ENFP forum and we haven't even addressed the ENFP under stress. The negative ISTJ >< We get quiet and moody...and start to focus on details that aren't even important. We want to be left alone, but being alone makes the stress worse because we hate it and people are what make us feel better. I know I personally bite people's heads off for the manner in which they say or do something. I once exploded at my friend for the way she was sitting on the couch, because in my mind, the fact that she didn't have her feet up like usual meant she didn't want to stay and hang out with me. And of course, when she decided to leave captain craziness to her insanity, that was my "proof."

*gapes*

....wow.

*notes to self*: don't suggest ENFPs sit alone and think about something that's worrying them.

-shrug- We do need *some* alone time. ENFPs are the only E type that has center and recharge like an I. >.> Kind of like a young child that gets overstimulated. We love people and happy time, but eventually we start to rub our eyes and get a tiny bit cranky because we've absorbed SOOO MUCH and we have to sit down and filter it through Fi.

But if an ENFP is sitting in a corner alone, siiiiiiiighing and casting somewhat pouty, annoyed looks at people because it's not fair that the ENFP should be ignored when *we* go out of our way to make everyone else feel included. >.> That's when an ENFP needs some attention.

The INTJ would go to te ESFP in these hypothetical circumstances, rather than judging everyone, they would lose sight of ideas and possibilities, and be forever stuck in the current moment, unable to see beyond. INTJ-hell, basically.

Wait wait wait. So then under stres an esfp becomes an INTJ? A esfj becomes a INTP and a ISTJ because an ENFP? Under stress "n"s become s and s become n?

In a sense. A very twisted sense. You become the worst of the opposite type. S's will be like Ns; unable to keep track of details. Ns will be like S's; Unable to see the big picture.

And so on.

http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/myers-briggs/enfp.htm

Recognising Stress

As stress increases, 'learned behaviour' tends to give way to the natural style, so the ENFP will behave more according to type when under greater stress. For example, in a crisis, the ENFP might:

* involve people in brainstorming ideas
* be democratic about choosing the solution to use
* provide a lot of drive, but try to do too much
* make errors of fact, or ignore routine matters that might nevertheless be essential

Under extreme stress, fatigue or illness, the ENFP's shadow may appear - a negative form of ISTJ. Example characteristics are:

* being pedantic about unimportant details
* doing things to excess - e.g.: eating, drinking or exercising
* being critical of others, and finding fault with almost everything
* taking charge without consideration to others

The shadow is part of the unconscious that is often visible to others, onto whom the shadow is projected. The ENFP may therefore readily see these faults in others without recognising it in him/her self.

Oh yeh it's awful....and mix it with issues, and you got a dead man walking.

Wow. I've been reading all of this and its quite interesting.

I'm positive the girl I fell hardest for a couple years back was an ENFP. Her and I seemed to be like opposites, her the social butterfly while I was the reserved and cautious calculator. I always went to her to reflect my confusing emotions with her while she came to me to put her life in order while she was under stress. Of course she only did that after she waited a day or two. I found that crazy, wondering why she would choose to be alone, unable to solve anything, instead of trying to fix the problem immediately. Near the end of our relationship, we would argue alot, but always wound up going back to each other, as if we were dependant on one another.

Funny how things work...

Posted By AudioPenguin on 04 Sep 2009 07:45 PM I always went to her to reflect my confusing emotions...

That's exactly what I need. 

 

^^ are you like...."i feel. i feel. i feel.... upset?"

Hahaha. You know, I was sometimes like that with even the most simplest of emotions. She was just a great person to have explain to me why I was feeling the way I was feeling (urgh... I hate being repetitive). I think that after my relationship with her, I've gained greater insight into my emotions and I can handle myself a bit better than before.