Thanks to the person in the comments who corrected the spelling mistake in the title. Last time I did that was with the word “genius”, I’m sure there’s some ironic message in that ~ Nathan

"There are more important things than being right" shakes and cries in intp

"You have to do stuff in life, apparently" every INTP ever : "really ?!"

My motto as an INTP: I can explain it to you, but I cannot understand it for you.

"In a world run by idiot's,it's hard to find motivation"-INTP

As an INTP, I resolved a lot by not caring what people believe in. I value my opinions and keep them for myself unless (and only when) someone asks for it. At some point, almost inevitably so, people will be in the wrong and wonder why they did not see it coming. It takes some patience, but eventually people notice the consistency of the INTP's logic. It's like looking at children learning how to walk, you look at them smiling at their clumsiness.

“you have to do stuff in life, apparently” me, trying to figure out what i want to do as a job/in life and making absolutely no progress: 👁👄👁

"There are more important things in life than being right." We both know that's a lie.

"When you are waiting, you're actually intending to do something" Not an INTP, but this hit home. Kind regards, A PROcrastinator. 😬

LOL. I think that most INTPs do intend on "doing something" eventually. When? Maybe not soon...

INTPs love the theoretical and book learning. If there's something an INTP doesn't understand, it must be understood to the INTP's satisfaction, often that means entirely, in every intellectual way. They are often self motivated in this way. Unfortunately the INTP often lacks the practical experience to go along with the theoretical book knowledge and this is something an ISTP will often beat them over the head with and the INTJ will simply shake their head at the inefficiency of having wasted time perusing knowledge that is only practical when playing trivia games. A healthy INTP will understand there is more to learning than books and get out and put that knowledge to practical experience. Eventually that deeper, fuller understanding can even be used to help people in that wise, sage sort of way, but the boundaries of the comfort zone must first and always be challenged.

I’m INTP, I tend to fall into the unhealthy side now and then… “Precision beats power, and timing beats speed” Super useful quote for me, love it!

INTP being an INTP: The more I read and by read I mean listened.

Dogmatically open minded is definitely a trait I've seen. It's the process that people are dogmatic about, rather than the ideas.

Yeahh, I had that conversation with my INFJ aunt. She says, "Would you rather be right or happy?" like she was giving me something new to talk about. "Right," I say immediately. "NO!" She exclaims. "So, being right is wrong?" I ask. "Yes," she nods as she takes the bait. "Well, if that's true, then that means that the statement is wrong and creates a paradox, which proves the statement incorrect." She didn't like that.

Nathan - You are clearly a healthy INTP. As an ENTJ, I take joy that I finished Team of Rivals before you :p

This is very accurate about always being right. As an INTP I used to loose friends and never get close to family members because I always saw their opinions as worse than mine and I had to yell about it and it would push away people. However when I studied the personality types more and how each type is smart in their own way and I look at famous INTPs who succeeded in life, successful INTPs learn that there is more to life than being right. Other INTPs wonder how do I stop wanting to correct people? Well INTPs should have solo hobbies they don’t share with anyone unless the person they meet is a good listener. For example I used to argue about my music taste and showed to everyone but then I found my own genre that I use myself and arguing stops. Again INTPs won’t be perfect in this and I still do get into arguments sometimes but reduce it enough to keep the right friends and solo do things and talk about things you’ll have in common. Also Abraham Lincoln is VERY INTP and he represents an INTP who learned to take action. INTPs that read books about persuasion and read stories that influence them can learn to plant seeds of ways to persuade people. Lincoln used planting small seeds into people and it did work. For me I did something kinda similar, stay quiet about an idea and do lots of research and lots of work into it and talk about the idea natural. For example I always talk to my close friends about relationships and why they’re important in a neutral way to succeed and when they actually do get into relationship struggles they actually would listen to me about it since I’m known to be the guy that knows psychology about relationships and since I’m neutral they would just tell me knowing I didn’t pick a side

To be honest I used to do that, making people think that they discovered the solution or made the plan, but it felt like I was manipulating them. So then I tried to just be straightforward about my ideas and thoughts and that got me into a lot of arguments with people. So now I'm torn on what I should do lol

I've definitely learned in conversation that you get far more of your own ideas and thoughts across through posing them as questions to people. For instance, if I think someone is not seeing the bigger picture: "I haven't thought about this issue in that way, I tend to be concerned with this aspect that just makes it rub the wrong way. What do you think about that?"

If anyone can change my mind about something, it’s INTPs. I’m stubborn and I find their persuasion skills impressive.

Instead of healthy vs. unhealthy, I tend to think in terms of having good days vs. bad days. Everyone has them. If it's a long term pattern, then yes, an unhealthy pattern becomes a rut and blah, blah blah. I definitely have to remind myself, when under stress or stressful situations, that not everyone is thinking like me -or having the same "experience". Learning how and when to detach just comes with experience. At 52, I still have those moments or days, but not weeks or months. So, there's light at the end of the tunnel. 😃

The thing to be considered here, are two things which would make this more indepth: INTP's analysis paralysis, and perfectionism. I would consider both present in healthy and unhealthy INTPs. So, what I would like to add to this is - there is no absolute perfect moment. You just need to know when there is a good moment to act. As for the analysis paralysis and overthinking- usually INTPs figure out a very good solution, and then dismantle it themselves. Just not undermining yourself would do an INTP good. So if you feel insecure, sleeping a night over it, or having somebody encourage you is a pretty good idea.

Maybe I'm in-between healthy and unhealthy because when I encounter blatant illogical ideas I just agree and end the conversation there. I don't think it's my job to teach others, particularly strangers.

This was pretty helpful actually, I’ve always said to myself and other people sometimes “it feels like I’m waiting for something and I know I am” I can see the look in their faces like my mother who is an ESTJ for instance, I see her eyes of disbelief when I say “it’s going to happen eventually”, and I understand that it definitely does not look like it, but I know it is and it will It’s nice to see that what I’ve been feeling like is actually an INTP kind of thing Also, it’s very difficult for INTPs to get their head around that people don’t always want the truth cause they themselves want to be proven wronging they were,, there is nothing worse than thinking something is true when it’s isn’t

Also, I enjoyed the grammatical implication that Abraham Lincoln is still alive. As if he's waiting in the shadows somewhere like some immortal guardian.

A major turning point in my life was reading an article that stated that there are 7 (i think) different types of intelligence and INTPs dont posses all. Hence, the notion that I held (which was that I was an Apex predator among ignorant human beings) was incorrect because every type has something different they bring to the table and they can naturally excel in things that INTPS can't match up to. Mechanical intelligence, Social intelligence, Emotional intelligence (this ties into social intelligence, but it should have its separate category), Nature oriented intelligence were/are all areas I struggled in. Finding these values in others alongside coming to terms with the fact that my innate desire to be autonomous was inefficient in the long run made me the best version of myself to date and made me excited to learn more about others and their giftswhich replaced a natural resentment I had towards society and people in general. ✌🕉😁🦉

I don't know if I would call those characteristics "unhealthy" as much as I'd say they make for an ineffective approach towards getting what you want. My take on unhealthy INTPs are that they're the ones who get caught in the stranglehold of inferior Fe.

"There are more important things in life than being right" We can argue about that, but this alone can't excuse someone from not changing their mind when they know they're wrong about something that matters. Lying to yourself might help you temporarily but it's terrible in the long run. Being right is better than being wrong, and so if you get the chance to correct yourself there is no reason not to. Lies are unhealthy. I'd interpret the main point of your argument is that persuading someone to be right can do more damage than someone correcting themselves can do good. Like bullying someone to agree with you that one superpower is better than the other is by no means worth it, but that is not to say that it's NEVER worth it to change someone's mind. There are important things to be right about that excuse the efforts, although you should always strive to be gentle and kind and mindful of the other person. You also can't just force someone to correct themselves nor should you, especially if you yourself can't be 100% sure you're right.

You did not take into account the mental ache we experience just by seeing inefficient practices or wrong statements around us. It's very hard for us to wait for the wave since we are constantly in pain. In fact, that pain is the only motive for us to speak up

This only really begins to cover the dilemma of the (unhealthy) intp … you forgot to mention the attempts to logically explain emotions, and generally very “straightforward” approach to how relationships “should” operate as a result. And the social anxiety 😥

If there are more important things than being right or not is subjective and depends on the situation at hand, people involved, their belief and value system and what they stand to gain and lose from said outcome. If being right on the short run causes friction and burns some bridges, oh well. It almost always proves to be more beneficial in big picture. "Stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone."

The waves I want to ride are a long way off and I’m not entirely sure if they will ever come at all.

I work with an ESTP (presumably) and he's said I'm the unhealthiest healthy person he knows. I could not disagree. - INTP

Very insightful and well aligned with my experience to influence - some times creating movement many times failing. Love your analogies - as a person involved in board sports.

Gotta say I agree with Nathan here. Being right is overvalued by INTP's (I am one). Action counts not just for more but for everything at least in terms of traditional success measures. My brother is an ENTJ and the quality of his ideas are far inferior than mine. His views on many topics are not well developed or well informed. And yet he achieves far more than I do, because I study too much and act too little. He works up to 130hrs/wk. I read up on 130 topics. He is forceful with his ideas, totally confident and politically shrewd. I avoid games and generally feel the need for more and more information before I feel confident of taking action, which comes to slowly and am easily distracted by the next idea. A man of action and few thoughts will get ahead of a man of ideas and no action. If for no other reason than he will get the benefit of experience, learn and correct before you're even out of the gate.

As an INTP married to another INTP with 2 small kids under 10 years old to care for, I’ve learned to step up and take care for them. Kids are a huge motivation. Headphones help.

“There are more important things to life than being right” If that’s true, wouldn’t that make this statement “right”? If that’s the case, wouldn’t I be adhering to the advice by NOT following it? 😆

Beautiful. Unfortunately, the real world considers our persistent curiosity, second-guessing, and wordplay as "trolling." 😭😈

as an intp i did some deep self evaluation on myself through meditation and i found my need to be right is derived from childhood when people would judge me or treat me poorly for saying my thoughts (which most werent personal conclusions) that came off wrong to others or being physically punished by my father for things i didnt understand and wasnt given an explanation about what i did was wrong as a toddler in my deepest memories. i think and feel that i want to be right all the time to come off as competent to avoid the feeling that i will be vulnerable to consequences if im perceived as "wrong". i dont quite know where to direct this realization or what i can do for self betterment yet, but im sure ill dig deeper. thank you for your videos and giving me the feeling of a sense of community, that i am not alone, and perfectly fine the way i am. your videos give me self confidence, that theres nothing wrong with me in my sense of self and dont have to change who i am in order to feel accepted by myself and others.

This has helped me immensely. I recently learned that I'm most likely an INTP (thought I was an INTJ for like 17 years lol) and it really pivoted alot for me internally. To hear this helps me see im more healthy than I thought progressing in ways I wasnt even aware of. Im deeply spiritual as much as I am logical so hearing about timing and reading waves really thrilled me, for a while I felt alot of what I understand would be difficult to explain because it usually feels so..."before its time" so silence has always been the choice if im not questioned or challenged. Thank you lots 💓

Interesting timing. I just joined an INTP group online to learn more about INTPs and now you come out with this video.

@LoveWho INFP here. Every video about my type is explained so eloquently by you. Like you know me better than most. My husband is an INTP. He is forever playing devil's advocate in conversation whether he takes that side or not. Also, he never believes that I truly don't like something (food, art, music) unless I've experienced it at least three times. It's exhausting but I do admire his tenacity.

I have to agree with you about being right. In general, it is most important to be right- not in the way a lot of people want to be right, which is to to be perceived as right even if detrimentally wrong, but in the way that one should study, learn, grow and reach the conclusion that is actually correct. However, there are times when things are not "right". The solution to a problem that someone comes up with is terrible, the assumption is crap, etc. But, sometimes it is right enough to get the job done. I gave one example of this somewhere already. I will tell you another. My second-eldest sister and my (elder than me) brother were assigned, along with myself, to clean a room. She had very wrong ideas of how to do it and kept interrupting our work that, if we had been left alone, would have resulted in everything being accomplished in a timely and efficient manner. She was driving us crazy, throwing fits, demanding to get her way, so he and I had a brief discussion to make sure we were both on the same page, and then we just started letting her think we were listening to her. It did add more time on to the work and make it less efficient by far, but not as much as if we had actually listened to her. So it was not "right", in any sense. Neither of us enjoyed lying to her or giving her an ego problem that would have to be deflated later in life, which we weren't even sure could be done. But, it got the work done with less interruptions of her screaming and running to Mom to get her to force us to do things the wrong way.

An an INTP, it's strange that now, despide it being one of the most "detached" periods of my life, I feel like the world has opened itself to me. Once I rejected my own ego, which didn't happen purposefully, I have started seeing the world as a giant pool of concepts from which I can reach with my open hands. Surprisingly, I've also grown in touch with my own opinions and emotions, and have learned to respect those of others. Of course, I might never go out into the world fully, because I'm cautious, but you need some caution in life as well

This is a really excellent video. Thanks!

INTP, something I would add to the unhealthy side is waiting for the opportune time, then missing it because it feels slightly off. On the plus side, knowing how to force an issue is very helpful, as you can create opportunity for your designs if you do a little social engineering. (Yes that is more of a learned behavior than our natural state, yes it hurts every time.)

I’ve found it’s worthwhile adding my often broader spiderweb of knowledge: most are offended by impersonality, it takes away their woolly beliefs but I see they need time to process my clangers their pride having been hurt initially I observe I have influenced a change later. But it sucks when they adopt the idea/problem solving info I imparted and claim it as their own. .I’m not expecting credit, only some respect or even apology…. Another wish is if only people I meet gave me the same insights ; it’s not their fault it only goes one way lol! So, I go off and read to mentally dialogue with minds that stretch my thinking. It’s deeply comforting to get back to fresh thinking.

I have learned to never argue with a person. It itcks them off and makes them feel threatened. You won't convince them if they have taken a stance because it is not important to be right but to be percieved as such. If you are certain you are right and they are fools, just smile and walk on. It is not worth the social damage to continue to engage.

I think being right isn’t one of my unhealthy habits tbh, I rarely ever feel that I’m right 🥲 I’ll be very sure of something and once somebody doubts me, I start to doubt as well and my “yes, definitely” answers become “I’m not sure” because I have a problem with absolute certainties lol. More often than not, I’m actually right, but now people are doubting because even I doubt myself (I know this is just an INTP thing to doubt everything, but it comes across as insecurity sometimes).

The Lincoln strategy works great, I've done it multiple times at work when seeing a major project or thing having to go in a typically unpopular direction, instead of using my previous method of telling it how it is immediately (which usually goes badly cause people hate being wrong /made look stupid), I now take weeks sowing the seeds I'm the minds of sometimes multiple people.

Ur my favorite mbti channel . Keep up the good work ❤️❤️ I wanted to suggest an mbti ranking about the most extroverted/introverted types!!!

As an INTP, I appreciate this advice and will try to incorporate it in my life and relationships with people

Excellent video and analysis! I hope you have ideas for doing this for other types at some point!

I've learnt from life lessons that being right isn't everything, nowadays "agreeing to disagree" is a default position, thought I do still fall into the trap If wanting to correct people sometimes. My most unhealthy trait is being passive and indecisive, and I procrastinate, a lot. But I also have ADHD, so I'm sure that plays a role.

Congrats on 100k !!!!

Strongly agreed altho the first point took me the longest to learn and was the hardest. I only agree with it because it gives good practical results when applied to human interaction.

:D This is really good! Hoping to see ENTPs next :)

Happy 100k subscribers! 👏🏻🎊🎉

i honestly think truth is still important and being right is still important however its not important for every person to agree to it bc they are different and you just have to let them be you can't do anything abt it and move on,, Like i still want to be right but not in the sense that 'they are wrong' but in the sense that 'i want to know enough and cross-check enough to know and say that this is the best possible way to deal with this situation'

As an INTJ, the unhealthy INTP archetype resonates with me somewhat.

Congrats on 100K subs!!

Also challenges each type has to conquer to become better functioning, well adjusted and to realistically and practicality pursue their interests and get results

This is one of the best videos on INTPs by one of the best, if not the best, MBTI channels. I have come to the same conclusions after many years of thinking about this stuff. Therefore, Nathan, you must be right 🙂

Can't wait for the other videos 🙏

Awesome! This resonates well with me. Chicken soup for the INTP soul. Subscribed. :^)

@01:52 As an INTP who was the cause of several failed relationships, this one was a hard pill to swallow when I realized it, but after you do and properly internalize it, my god does a lot of stress just melt away.

Good one. I've known for some time I'm predominantly in the unhealthy camp. Getting out of it alone is proving, tricky.

Just as a quote "the truth is always true, but the truth is not always right". I guess to give context to this quote, it means: yes, the truth will always remain true, but the truth is not always the right option in every situation.

Nathan, This is SPOT ON. Your insights are frankly mind blowing. I'm grateful for you.

Great video I agree with thee concepts

I used to know an unhealthy and indecisive INTP with (mostly unrealistic) ideas all over the place, constantly changing everything up with no strategy in place. I could not get anything meaningful and groundbreaking done for them as they were extremely indecisive and didn't know what they want. One year later and they still have not moved forward with their brand. And that's because they don't listen and refuse to spend money but most of all, don't know what their ultimate goal is. For a result and challenge focused INFJ like me who wants to get things done and move forward (rather aggressively, I must admit) this raging unbalanced Ne is a nightmare. My Fe can't take it, this is your company, you need to be happy with the outcome, but decide what you fucking want. I do love INTPs in general however, one of my best friends is. They do however have the tendency to be all over the place with many unrealistic ideas. So there's when an INFJ needs to step in for balance and say: funnel! So success is actually when the message arrives :) And when Ne and Ni can work hand in hand.

your voice is so soothing I watch your videos as I sleep lol. That's a compliment btw

Excellent content.

I think, on a personal level, the best way to leverage INTP's analytical skills and diverse interest set is learning to organize so that you can prioritize objectives...rather than just timing ideas on their own, you have to have a bunch of ideas in your pocket. It's been a challenge and it's taken me years to realize this -- but literally writing them down has been a tool that has been incredibly helpful and I find myself doing more and accomplishing more...and, ironically, having more time to think rather than stew about aimlessly. Getting bogged down into analysis paralysis is one of those things that feeds into feelings of apathy and which feeds back into the paralysis, it's like an ouroboros; the only way to break that is to start to compartmentalize ideas and put them in order. I believe, as a mature INTP, having the expectations or at least the optimism that people will eventually imbued themselves to your ideas and ideals, and much less, having the opportunity to coordinate them for an opportune time is...well... overly optimistic. I think it's okay to have an ego and working unilaterally when you can, hoping others will catch wind and work with you, otherwise, while I appreciate playing the long game, you may be stuck there waiting...forever.

This is so honest that you can think "Yes INTP should do that so relatable" Without even being an INTP

This video confirmed my suspicions about being an unhealthy INTP. Thanks for the advice, Nathan.

"But you have to do stuff in life, apparently." Direct hit, Captain!

Congrats on 100 dude

It's nice seeing my fellas 🤠

“ there are more important things in life, than being right” couldn’t be any more true! At a certain point I got tired of trying to be seen as the one in the right. 1) How the hell is making some idiot understand that they are wrong benefit me and my future? Did my wallet get richer? House get bigger? Car get nicer? No. Therefore, it is completely illogical for me to try to reason with someone who doesn’t value logic. 2) Getting someone to understand that they are wrong, particularly someone who is an idiot, is very emotionally draining. Kills my social battery. And I’m not spending my social battery arguing with someone just for me to forget about the interaction shortly down the line.

I try and greet everyone with a happiness and gratitude that I can't really explain.

It IS amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit. Ego just gets in the way. Of everything. It's more satisfying to move forward.

I think this series will be helpful for me. I've spent more time as unhealthy emotionally than healthy to the point that I have an easier time identifying traits I've struggled with as opposed to things I'm actually good at. I think this is why I struggle with finding which cognitive functions rank the highest for me. The moment I connect with one, a little voice in the back of my mind tells me that I'm thinking too highly of myself and should keep looking.

I’m an INTP and currently in the middle of trying to solve a big problem caused by a group of bureaucrats who aren’t interested in the cause of the problem and trying to manipulate my wife and I with feelings. It’s driving me crazy because we can’t reason with these people.

What is important being a subjective thing one might say it's objectively true that it's the most important thing to INTPs who subjectively value this as the most important thing. To many INTPs 'people being wrong' = millions of people being wrong in the same way = undermining humanity = most important thing. This is due to our empathy and affinity for humanity as a whole as opposed to individuals.

The P in INTP stands for PROcrastination. - An INTP who's watching this instead of studying.

So excited for the other types!😁😁

Love the idea of this series. ENTJ next plzz!

Your brain power & grasp over the subject is phenomenal ! Thanx for the wonderful repository of knowledge! What exactly do you mean by dominant & inferior function?

Probably best life advice ever.

Sounds like Lincoln may have been Enneagram 9? Those move timing behaviors sound very familiar, because I want to help people but know that I can't, until they are ready, without causing conflict. I wasn't aware that I could have so much in common with an INTP, as an INFJ. Very insightful.

I’m an INTP. My ESFP sister often gets frustrated and says to me, “why do you have to be right all the time?” And I’m thinking, “that’s a good thing. Should I be content to be wrong?” But your video has made me understand what the issue is. Thanks!

Once again, very informative video! Also, congrats on 100K! 🥳

I generally avoid arguing because 1) People are not ready to listen (mostly). 2) Who would like to ruin friendship/relations between 2 people because of a small argument.

6:14 precision beats power and timing beats speed - the notorious 😏

In my opinion even healthy INTP's should practice a little bit of dogmatism every now then. Here's my reasoning for it, The mind of an intp similar to that of a horse's eyesight.Has a very wide range and spooks the horse with the slightest unknown factor, hence making it impossible to use the horse for most situations. But put some horse tacs/blinkers on the horse's eyes and he'll easily be able to move forward without being overwhelmed by it's surroundings. It may not be most enjoyable option for INTP's but it helps them from stagnating in every situation.

This video feels like a slap in my face. I can not fathom letting someone believe some dumb nonsense and bullshit i viscerally need to tell them the facts. But its almost never ends well because people think im trying to prove im better but i just want them to think critically and to see reality

Awesome 🥳❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Can’t wait for the rest of the series.💙

I really like the Abraham Lincoln approach example. It does however seem like a difficult balance to strike without becoming straight up manipulative >.>

I often feel as though I possess the truth, but I never feel as though I own it.