The ISTP Personality Type: Everything You Need to Know
Let’s introduce the ISTP: the introverted, sensing, thinking, and perceiving individual. This Myers Briggs type gets hands on with anything that brings them curiosity.
Some big names that are ISTP include Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and James Bond. Very few women and many men are ISTP in our population. So, if you know an ISTP, keep reading so you can better understand how they think and do.
Characteristics
ISTPs are some of the most level-headed people out there. They base their opinions, actions, and judgments based on only the objective facts presented to them. This means they’ll be less likely to have a bias towards a certain perspective.
New experiences bring them excitement and energy. They have a knack for risk-taking. If they’re presented with a problem, they will trial-and-error many scenarios until they find or create results, even if it means taking something apart and reconstructing it better.
ISTPs are quite independent as well. By being introverts, they don’t share much with others often unless they feel secure. Small talk is a no-no for this personality type.
They’re not fond of boundaries either; any kind of restriction kind of holds the ISTP back.
Strengths
Action-oriented
When it comes to doing something, the ISTP gets right to it. They don’t sit around pondering whether or not to do something. If presented with a task, the ISTP will get right to work on finding the solution or getting results.
Great in stressful situations
As mentioned earlier, the ISTP doesn’t get riled up in their feelings, focusing primarily on objective facts. This means that in stressful situations, the ISTP can keep a cool head and act to find a solution without much clouded judgment.
Easygoing
The ISTPs’ ability to combine logic with spontaneity makes them quite versatile individuals. They can be placed in any situation, and they’ll match the vibes accordingly with little effort.
Weaknesses
Private
Getting to know an ISTP is going to be tough. Because of their introvertedness, they won’t open up to anyone with ease. It’ll take time and meaningful conversation. You’ll have to present a discussion that they’d want to engage in. Something that allows their creative, problem-solving minds to run.
Seemingly insensitive
Because the ISTP mostly uses logic and objectivity to make decisions, they can appear cold. Since they don’t show emotion much, their ability to show empathy is quite weak even if they try. The ISTP is more likely to be blunt about a comment and less likely to be empathetic.
Not fond of ‘rules’
The ISTP isn’t fond of long-term commitments; they thrive better when they go with the flow of things. They don’t operate well with constrictions that hinder their creative, intuitive ways of thinking.
Relationships
The I in ISTP means that they take a while to open up. Although, they enjoy listening to others open up to them. To have any kind of relationship with an ISTP requires time; it takes a while for one to see them on a deeper and emotional level.
Do not make the ISTP feel controlled. They’re highly independent and prefer their personal space. But if the ISTP is interested, they will put forth much effort in reciprocating the relationship.
ISTPs show love and affection by being of service. This is the friend or partner to go to when a task seems too big to handle alone or takes some extra hands. They may take initiative in trying to meet your needs, especially if the needs are hands-on. For a healthy relationship to thrive with an ISTP, there needs to be spontaneity; stick with surprises or spur-of-the-moment ideas.
If an ISTP’s birthday or Christmas is approaching, think practical when it comes to gift ideas. Some good gifts to get an ISTP include:
Practical tools: power equipment, art supplies, home tools.
Tech and gadgets: video games, cell phones, music players, computer features or accessories.
Experiential gifts: skydiving, sporting events, paintball, concerts, etc.
Career
ISTPs are practical in their ways, and the same should apply to their careers. But not always.
For example, some practical jobs involve working in the office at the computer. While practical, this is not an ideal setting for the ISTP. There’s likely so much routine going on daily that the ISTP will easily get bored; they will not thrive in environments they find to be boring.
The practical work environments that mesh well with the ISTP are the ones that give them room to problem-solve on their own. Any job that allows the ISTP to learn how something works, what tools to use, and what methods --whether known or unknown-- are used to creatively solve a problem is perfect.
Carpentry, engineering, forensics, police force, firefighter, data analysis, and software engineering are all great career choices for ISTPs.
Hobbies
One thing an ISTP will love is adventure. Because of this, don’t be surprised to see an ISTP participating in a lot of outdoor activities. Skydiving, archery, rock climbing, extreme sports, and hunting are activities they enjoy. When it comes to activities, look for ones that spike adrenaline, allow you to be hands-on, or are high-risk high-reward.
That being said, don’t completely dismiss the calm activities. ISTPs do enjoy more relaxed hobbies like yoga. Their laid-back personality and emotionally relaxed lifestyle make yoga a good fit. The ISTP can be in tune with their mind in an actionable way.
Music is another calm hobby an ISTP will enjoy. Granted, everyone likes listening to music. But for the ISTP, it doesn’t have to just be listening. It can be using software to make music, learning music theory and writing music, or making combinations of songs.
Good and Bad Habits
Here are some of the good traits and habits of an ISTP:
Calm optimism: one of the reasons an ISTP makes for a good friend is that they help others see the bright side of things in life. They don’t dwell on what can’t be controlled and help their friends focus on what can be done or what is possible. And they do it in a way that calms the vibes in stressful situations.
Good at prioritizing: Although they prefer to be spontaneous, they’re aware enough to know that some situations don’t call for the unexpected. And they balance those situations quite well.
Here are some of the bad traits and habits of an ISTP:
Stubbornness: Because of their go with the flow nature, they can—and often do—seem emotionally detached from a situation. So, if a disagreement arises, they won’t waver from their stance to the point where they aren’t considerate of others’ thoughts and feelings.
Quick to exit boring situations: The ISTP needs excitement or the unexpected. If they’re in a space where they get bored, they likely won’t hesitate to leave the scene.
Depending on how impatient they get, they may resort to mildly drastic methods of escaping. This could have a negative impact on their relationships.
ISTP: The Level-headed, Spontaneous, Adventurist
This Myers-Briggs personality type is a great asset to have. When you need a calm, reasonable thinker or a relaxed person who’s down for the most lively of events, the ISTP is the answer.