We all know of an ISTP in our lives, even without realizing it! ISTPs can be found in almost any environment, but you might know one as your local mechanic, electrician, or engineer. ISTPs are often privy to keeping secrets, so who knows how smart they really are?
ISTPs are pragmatic, logical, objective, and ambitious with their schemes and ideas. They dislike the abstract concepts that intellectuals discuss and think about; however, they possess a natural intelligence. Famous ISTP thinkers include Diogenes the Dog, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo Da Vinci.
Are you scratching your head just trying to figure out just how smart the ISTP personality really is? Now, you’re in luck; just read on!
The Mind Of The ISTP
The Myers-Briggs Test Indicator (MBTI), first released in 1943 by Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers, categorizes ISTPs as having the indicative traits of Introversion, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving.
Reserved and preferring to keep to themselves, the introversion of the ISTP lives up to its reputation. They prefer to have one-on-one relationships with people they form bonds with. They rarely disclose personal information, making them seem cold, aloof, or unreachable.
ISTPs function incredibly well under stressful conditions, which usually cause others to crack under pressure. An unlikely leader, the ISTP will rise to the occasion and guide others if the situation calls for it. However, they almost always like to work alone and independently.
The ISTP personality is often described as the Crafter, Virtuoso, or the Craftsmen, which is a very apt description for this personality. They are gifted when it comes to playing around or tinkering with all sorts of things, but especially machinery, engines, and all the technical aspects of things.
Are ISTPs Smart?
When it comes to knowing the ins and outs of complex machinery and all things related, no one really beats the ISTP. For this personality, their natural curiosity, talent, and almost intuitive knowledge can make their work seem effortless and less like a chore to them.
Most studies show that the Intuitive trait is linked to higher IQs on average due to their ability to make highly theoretical inferences and abstract connections between things. However, the ISTP’s knack for solving problems means that they possess a natural form of intelligence that others often marvel at.
They are adept at understanding complex machinery and improving efficiency. This, coupled with their creative approaches to work, is another perfect demonstration of their profound intelligence and knowledge.
Are ISTPs Intellectuals?
Pragmatic and guided by their logic, the ISTP is not one to dally about with thinking about things that are highly abstract, theoretical, and hard to clarify. Instead, they enjoy thinking about working on and improving things that are rooted in their realities and produce immediate effects.
Even though they are quite enigmatic and hard to define, they are always the type to be grounded in reality regarding how they think about the world. They dislike discussing things that are very hypothetical or too out there; instead, they enjoy talking about things that they can observe.
Since intellectuals are concerned with the things that ISTPs aren’t and seem to detest thinking about, it’s rather unlikely that ISTPs will be intellectuals. However, this is a very niche portion of those who are intelligent, so it does not mean that because ISTPs aren’t intellectuals, they aren’t smart!
How ISTPs Think
They make decisions that are concerned with the facts of the situation that they can observe around them through, you guessed it, sensing! This means that they can sometimes skip over thinking about things that have plausible yet abstract connections.
ISTPs dislike talking about things that involve emotions and seldom draw guidance for their actions from them. They are intensely objective to the extent that deliberately considering the emotions of others is often difficult for them. This can cause rifts due to their blunt and often insensitive nature.
This personality hates feeling as if they are stuck, so ISTPs love to make bold, spontaneous decisions and often engage in risky patterns of behavior. If an idea pops into their heads, especially if it involves something related to fixing a problem, then they will act on it.
For ISTPs, their actions sometimes make them seem like they are trying to alienate themselves from others. However, this is a product of their independent thinking style. This means they make decisions with their own actions in mind and not that of a team or group, as they value autonomy.
ISTPs are tolerant and accepting of the differences and opinions of others unless it challenges their logical and objective mindset. If this occurs, the ISTP will often defend this to the degree that may seem unlikely for this personality.
Famous ISTPs Thinkers
ISTPs might not be amongst your typical gaggle of intellectuals; however, this is not always the case. You’ll find that ISTPs pop up occasionally amongst the ilk of thinkers, philosophers, and intellectuals alike.
Some famous examples of ISTP thinkers include the ever-eccentric Plato contemporary of Diogenes the Dog, and the world-famous chess player Magnus Carlsen. Even the famous scientist and mathematician Albert Einstein is amongst the ISTP tribe!
Astronomer Galileo Galilei, philosopher Karl Marx, and renaissance man Leonardo Da Vinci are all ISTP personalities. Famous military strategist, samurai Miyamoto Musashi, and the Dalai Lama are ISTP thinkers!
Fascinating Facts About the ISTP Personality Type
This personality makes up about 5% of the overall population, thus making them the third most common MBTI personality. Interestingly, the overwhelming majority of ISTPs are male, making up about 9% of the male population, whereas they only occur in about 2% of females.
ISTPs are one of the personalities measured to have a high prevalence amongst male college athlete scholarship receivers. They are also measured to be one of the least likely personalities to finish college/university.
When it comes to heart disease, the ISTP has a higher probability of suffering from this condition than other people. Coincidentally, ISTPs are also recorded to have some of the least social coping methods.
The ISTP is overwhelmingly represented in construction, engineering, mechanics, and economics fields. Suitable careers for ISTPs include holding positions such as mechanical and electrical engineers, credit analysts, software developers, detectives, police officers, and machinists.
Conclusion
Since you’ve been caught up with the cognitive traits of the ISTP, you’ve probably come to find that ISTPs are innately intelligent, just perhaps not the airy-fairy extent of intellectuals. However, their talent, mechanical know-how, and ingenuity make them valuable assets in any space!
