[oneoutside]

I've heard this mentioned a lot. That ENTP's are the most introverted-like of the extroverts. It makes sense to me personally, I used to somewhat identify as an INTJ (especially when I was younger).
So why is this the case - can anyone explain why the ENTP is like this? Or share personal experience, to testify to it?

[Nearsification]

I thought I was an intp at one point. Probably because entps are so rejected in their young age.

[WildWinds]

Well, one aspect of introversion is being able to rely on ones own thoughts for entertainment as opposed to the environment. I can entertain myself rather easily with my own thoughts, constantly drawing connections between two things, figuring out how they're related, and coming up with new ideas and schemes and sometimes playing out different ways things can happen. I don't really mind being alone at all if I have something to work on or learn about.

I think a lot of ENTP's learn to keep their ideas to themselves as well because we think outside the box. We challenge traditional methods and ways of thought. And the majority of the population dosen't take too kindly to that. Just because we think something doesn't mean we're actually going to DO it or follow it, but thats another thing people don't seem to understand.

[Apollo Celestio]

It's either the whole "Ne" thing tied in with an introverted judging function, or maybe you don't trust people all that much>

[KC5QNK]

Agreed. Caught a lot of flack when I was a kid (middle school), then sort of "withdrew" for awhile. Actually tested as a mild "I" the first time I took the Meyers-Briggs (not long after high school). On later testing, came out a strong "E". Came back out of my shell, I guess... :)

[Cthulhu]

i have had my introverted spells, where i dont want to do anything with anyone, and i just hide in my room and draw/listen to music/plot world destruction/etc.

[Oldlady]

In trying to be myself I spent the day as an extrovert. I came to the brink of tears at least three times.

Here's why:

ENTPs are EXCITABLE! When people talk about things they remind me of other things and I'm like, "Hey guys! I was just thinking about that and... ALSO... oh my god! We should totally start a band!"


Of course, this excitability and outside the box thinking causes most people to interpret my ideas as comedy rather than serious thought. They go along, "Oh sure, we'll create a band!" I get lead on, and finally face the major depressive fall when I learn the next day, after spending hours fantasizing about our future band, that they were just kidding.

That's one of the major reasons: people don't take my ideas seriously. So I just keep them to myself to avoid that pain.

[Cthulhu]

In trying to be myself I spent the day as an extrovert. I came to the brink of tears at least three times.

Here's why:

ENTPs are EXCITABLE! When people talk about things they remind me of other things and I'm like, "Hey guys! I was just thinking about that and... ALSO... oh my god! We should totally start a band!"


Of course, this excitability and outside the box thinking causes most people to interpret my ideas as comedy rather than serious thought. They go along, "Oh sure, we'll create a band!" I get lead on, and finally face the major depressive fall when I learn the next day, after spending hours fantasizing about our future band, that they were just kidding.

That's one of the major reasons: people don't take my ideas seriously. So I just keep them to myself to avoid that pain.

thats the precise reason why i dont say things at random like you do. I find that people take you much more seriously if your statements arent preceded by "oh mah gawd" or "GUESS WHAT?!" because that makes most of the population laugh, making them set up to think that you arent serious. Try going about acheiving things without the interjections. It worked wonders for me.

[agokcen]

Heck, I still sometimes think I'm an INTP. It doesn't help that my Ne and Ti are fairly even, not to mention the fact that I'm a type 5 on the Enneagram.

Still, I think our relative introversion can be related to two main things:

1.) We have extremely powerful B.S.-o-meters. The result? We often become misanthropic extroverts, which look an awful lot like introverts.

2.) The world tends not to appreciate many of our (admittedly unorthodox) ideas and thoughts. One can only take so much rejection before withdrawing into a shell.

When, however, we are around competent people who appreciate us, we truly shine, no? Indeed, and the rarity of this occasion is what makes us seem so often introverted.

[MNiS]

The introversion comes about due to the ENTP having primary Ne while living in a Te/Ti and Se/Si world. Ne just isn't appreciated or even wanted around people that value tradition over innovation. So a younger ENTP that hasn't figured out how to contain their Ne and channel it through appropriate methods will just suppress it outright is therefore going to seem introverted. Some ENTPs are lucky and grow up around other N-types and aren't as inhibited but most ENTPs live among S-types and have a difficult time fully understanding each other. This is probably why ENTPs are so interested in MBTI, Socionics, Keirsey, Jung etc etc...because:

1. It gives a common language to describe their inner processes that may not otherwise be comprehensible or verbalized.
2. You'll likely find other N-types are interested in personality typing which is a common interest to discuss with people who can understand each other better.
3. It's a systematic approach to an idea to soak up and think about.

As for me, I've grown up around other S-types so I've had to learn to carry on chit-chat and other things I secretly dislike but do to put other S-types at ease.