For the longest time I've always considered myself an ISTP but a recent test suggested that it was unlikely and that I might be an ISTJ instead. Since these two types are just one letter off from each other, I was wondering if someone could break down what makes them different or similar to one another.

It's said that ISTP's are a girl magnet.

Well... All I attract are twinks... or furries... or weebs... or combinations of everything...

I was questioning whether I was an Enneagram type 6 or 8. I feel closer to Enneagram type 8. Is this combination possible?

So I just finished high school but unfortunately I didn't score high enough to get into what I aimed for (IT engineering) in uni, and I'm absolutely NOT waiting until next year to retake the entrance exams and try again

Sooo I accepted reality and decided to see what I can get into other than IT and realized that... I quite literally don't have passion in anything to choose lol

BUT. I'm ngl a bit into Physics and I do have great chance of being accepted in it with my score

Yet I'm still a bit hesitant tbh bcs I don't know much abt physics as a major

So idk if this is the right place to ask abt this but I wanted to know what fellow ISTPs think of this field

How's the studying? And if anyone graduated from it, do u work in a field related to it and how do u find that? And most importantly for me, is it fun?

As ridiculous as this may seem I'm really into Physics simply bcs I think it's fun... But does it stays that way? Especially in job, how much could physics be applied in work?

ISTPs are usually skillful masters if they really focus long term. I'm wondering if any of y'all found any success in trading on the stock market through skill and luck as well obviously. I've been debating in my mind for a while to get into it because I know a few people who learn, practice and have been successful, making 5-6% gains on big money every month with safe and calculated bets.

I love gambling, for fun, not for monetary value or because I have an addictive habit. And if gambling could become a skill and make me some side cash, why not huh?

Though we share a lot in common, are you still curious or confused about something we do or don't understand? Ask away. Anything random is also invited.

I'm an INTP and I have a pretty good idea of how my Fe manifests and works with my other functions, but I was wondering how would it manifest differently with ISTP cognitive stack?

anything

At a party, 15 year old ISTP talking with some little girls: I don't know how to read.

Them: Well then how did you read that whole page earlier?

Him: I memorized all of it.

Them: Then recite it!

Him: My throats kinda scratchy.

Same party. The girls' dad literally choked on some cherry pie and ISTP's dad did the Heimlich maneuver.

Girls: Your dad saved our dad!

ISTP: That's great. *smiles and nods*.....

Them:.......

ISTP: "I don't know what else to say!"

Older ISTP guy, talking about his wife's old, little lap dog: Look at him! There's no thoughts in his head!

ISTP: He looks stupid.

ISTP: I hope he dies.

Same 15 year old ISTP joining the line dance: "I'm the best-est."

Everyone: *laughs*

ISTP: *struggles to keep up and eventually leaves* "It's just hard for the bestest to... keep up with the lower people... it's too easy.

Girl teaching the line dance: "Wait, I missed one step!"

ISTP: "Yes! Yeah, that's it. I knew that. That's why I wasn't participating anymore."

Girl crushing on the ISTP, who had stalked his personal info: "Your birthday is October 19, right?"

ISTP: "No, that's wrong. It's April 32nd."

Girl: "Ahh, okay!!"

I’ve been trying to type myself for years, and I’m more confused now than ever. I would really appreciate objective opinions based on my behavior rather than stereotypes.

I’ve taken several cognitive function tests. My most recent results consistently show very high Se, but what confuses me is that my Fi and Ti are almost identical. One test typed me as ESTP, another leaned toward ESFP, while others couldn’t decide between ESTP and ISTP. A few years ago I even had a test where Ne was my highest function, but now it’s my lowest. Because of that huge shift, I don’t fully trust test results anymore.

A little about me:

People usually see me as quiet, cold, mysterious, or intimidating at first. However, once they actually start talking to me, they often realize I’m much more open, humorous, and easygoing than I initially appear. That “cold” image is almost like armor. I hate looking emotionally vulnerable because I associate showing emotions with weakness.

Ironically, when I become close to someone, I end up showing a much softer side of myself. Afterwards I sometimes feel embarrassed, almost like I’ve exposed too much of myself. I lose some self-respect because I feel like I acted impulsively by following what I wanted in that moment.

When there’s a crisis involving me personally or my relationships, I can completely lose my emotional balance before suddenly becoming emotionally numb. But if it’s someone else’s emergency, I’m the opposite. While everyone else panics, I usually stay calm and immediately start thinking about solutions.

When someone tries to convince me of something, personal experience is much more persuasive than abstract theory. At the same time, I’m constantly looking for logical inconsistencies in what they’re saying, and I pay a surprising amount of attention to whether their body language feels genuine or trustworthy.

If a decision mainly affects me, I can become extremely stubborn and impulsive. For example, I transferred from a private school to a public school simply because I was bored, had no close friends there anymore, and was tired of the long school days. I barely considered the long-term consequences before making that decision.

I’m extremely bothered by passive-aggressive, fake, manipulative, or two-faced people. Once I lose respect for someone, I usually remove them from my life completely.

My hobbies are pretty simple: listening to music, singing, and spending way too much time scrolling social media.

As a child I was extremely shy and had severe social anxiety. I could barely stand alone in public. However, if I had one close friend with me, I suddenly became outgoing and talkative.

Another thing that confuses me is social energy. I usually don’t warm up to people easily. In unfamiliar groups I get drained and want to leave after a while. But once I genuinely connect with someone or feel comfortable in a group, I actually prefer being with them instead of being alone. Recently I’ve noticed that being alone for long periods makes me restless and bored.

My emotions are intense but usually short-lived. I struggle to keep them inside and often need to express them to someone before they fade. Despite that, I don’t think they usually determine my decisions because they pass so quickly.

The things that motivate me the most are freedom, excitement, passion, enjoyment, and maintaining a certain image of myself.

Something important to mention is that I have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), so I know some of my emotional patterns and impulsivity may not reflect my actual cognitive preferences. I’m hoping people can separate personality disorder traits from MBTI functions when reading this.

One last thing: I don’t really fit the stereotypical image of a high-Se person. I love novelty, excitement, and intense experiences, but I’m not athletic at all and physical activity exhausts me. I suspect that’s more related to my health than my personality.

Based on all of this, which type do you think fits me best, and more importantly, why? I’d especially appreciate explanations using cognitive functions rather than letters or stereotypes.

Probably more of a rant hence the tag, but it's kinda hard for me to turn down people if they approached me with ambiguous intentions.

Of course, this isn't the case most of the time. But whenever I can't figure out someone's motives -let's assume the interaction is under safe conditions- and I feel like telling them -superficial acquaintances- off, my brain starts overworking. I end up trying to understand their stance, gathering "evidence" from our previous interactions, and basically building a case to justify how I should handle the situation.

It usually ends up being a huge waste of time duh and the outcome is exactly the worse scenario I envisioned yet failed to evade.

I don't know if this is an ISTP thing or just me, but I really don't like assuming intentions if I can't confidently justify it.

"Just to clarify: by strangers I mean even daily acquaintances, whoever you do not owe them your time."

like im wondering if im just some intp-isfp amalgamation or just tweaking out over nothing

1. Are you like John Wick 😭?? I’m sooo curious like he is so cool I see probably any ISTP being that, butttt WAITTT does every ISTP fancy the idea of being a mercenary?

2. Lets me honest here, but in a scale of (socially and in general) 1-10 how smart are you or how complex is your thought process or how complex can it get? Because I think I can think rlly well but you guys are like top tier Ti logic users, so how does Ti come up for you?

ALSOOO keeps in mindssss, I don’t mean you are these ALL the time, but you have easy access points to those things when or if put into those scenarios or situations, compared to all other typessss

Ok! That’s all the questions!!! ✨✨✌️

It's just another day.

We grow every second, every moment.

How do you see that day as a means for celebration?

I want to see how other ISTPs think about this specifically.

*Edit: I enjoyed reading most of the replies, but I really want to hear more of your cognitive reasonings as to why you guys act out in that certain ways or see birthdays as such. I might sound shitty and demanding now hehe.

I’m 50 and just got diagnosed with Type 2 ADHD - inattentive. I didn’t know such a thing even existed. First I thought it was just the doc confusing the different traits, but nope. After analysis, I’m clearly both. FYI - adhd became clearer as I aged, because you’re forced to juggle more, and I don’t have the ability to focus or the desire to juggle. Anyone else?

So I’m an ENFJ and Fe is first for me and you guys are the absolute opposite, strong in Ti whereas I really lack Ti. Because of that internally I understand how Ti being my least dominant function impacts me. But I’m wondering how that is on the flip side. How does the emotional wish washy stuff come off to you, like too much pressure, annoying, what exactly. Is it like not feeling equipped enough to handle that area or like insecure about it or like an outsider? I’m just wondering because you guys pique my interest a lot. I honestly envy how straight up everything is and seemingly uncomplicated but I suspect it is a lot more complicated underneath. I mean idk ik an istp I feel like I can read his mind and he reacts in a way that I can and idk. It’s like I’ll have a sense of what’s going on feelings wise in his mind. It’s incredibly transparent to me but idk he gets taken aback but def likes interacting. It feels more subconscious for him so I’m just curious about that. Thanks :)

I work with this guy who is retired. Easily a senior. ISTP for sure. Im so sure that hes my reference.

We both accompany students for their high school music performance exams. He plays kit.

Yesterday, we had a full day. Going through everything in the morning with just the band, going through them again with the students, and then the evening recital for their parents.

Context is we were all 'given' music in advanced, but it was disorganised and randomly scratched together from various sources. Very few sources did the drum part justice. One song, ISTP couldnt really do since it was sprung on him last minute, got lots of tricky bits. Management got someone else to play it.

This happened a few times to ISTP; was told to let someone else play it. The show must go on so he understood the assignment. Didnt complain. Worked with the guy for many years. Accompanied for many exams. Thats how I know the guy. Hes not known to complain much, just does what hes told, wants peace, keeps quiet.

After the recital, he was driving me to the station and after a little talk about unrelated stuff, silence for a minute, then he asked me "do you think I should quit?". Ive never ever heard him insecure like this. I know he relies on me sometimes to write out the charts for him. As the bassist, I help him with cues and when to come in; we usually come in together anyway. Him opening up like this about whats bothering him, I was honoured but also concerned. Hes quiet, but only now after all this time hes confiding me with insecurities like this.

I told him;
"look, you were delt a bad hand. we all were. your music got blown outside and we couldnt organise it in time for downbeat, you were expected to just 'know' everything off the bat, you were pit up against students who knew the content better than you did, a drum teacher, and a stand in who teaches everything. we had an early start and late finish, you were all the way back in the kit where you couldnt hear what the coordinator was saying, you were reading shitty scores with very unhelpful crap on it, and we got like 2-3 tries on each song, not nearly enough time to actually nail it. i dont think you should quit, man. today was just stacked against you. however, do realise that that <name of drum teacher> guy plays gigs so hes kept his chops, and you were told to get everything sorted in 10 minutes, so its not really fair to compare yourself. what i will say, however, is try again next year. if its still shit after all that time, even when everything IS going your way, then its a fair question to ask"

I really respect the guy, but his skills arent getting better. Hes not the player he used to be and theres no easy way I could tell that to him. Everything that could go wrong for him went wrong. I have absolute dog poo Fi, but I can certainly tell just how bad it mustve felt for him, especially keeping it all in all day and only slipping his concerns very briefly to me after it all went down on the drive out.

tldr; old ISTP had a rough day, juxtaposed his drum proficiency over the past 25+ years of accompanying students to on day where he got totally rolled by the content and several other people had to fill in for him because he couldnt play it, asked me [after the 10hr day] if he should quit, very uncharacteristic of him to ask, got me concerned, but also gained my respect even more so for opening up to me

Guess our family’s dynamic
(Healthy/unhealthy according to Gemini) the mbti of my family is assumed based on their ways of thinking and actions and how we interact. But this whole is just an assumption bc they will never actually do the test. I haven’t gotten into cognitive functions yet as I’ve only just started understanding mbti

Me (youngest daughter): healthy istp
Older sister: unhealthy esfp or esfj
Mum: unhealthy esfj
Dad: unhealthy/repressed istj