What are the top ISTP traits you should know? The ISTP is one of the 16 personality types that the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) describes. It stands for Introverted, Sensing, Thinking and Perceiving.
The ISTP is someone who enjoys spending time alone due to their introverted nature. They also have a high-level of independence.
What do they spend their time doing? Mostly thinking and working on whatever task they have at hand. They crave new experiences regardless of their desire to be alone.
When it comes to involving themselves in activities, they go all in. The ISTP does not like to be behind the scenes when things are being done. They want to see it and possibly be part of it.
When it comes to decision making, they are not so much in touch with their feelings. So they tend to be very logical and rational. But unlike the INTJ, they have no interest in abstract ideas. They will rather be presented with more practical ones.
They do not have a large number of friends and enjoy spending time alone but they hate routines. It’s one of the quickest ways to bore them. They are thinkers and therefore are great at problem solving when the need arises.
Are you wondering if you are an ISTP? Are you trying to get to know the ISTP better? Here are a few things you should know.
What Are the Common ISTP Traits?
Here are some of the common ISTP traits that are hard to miss.
1. They Enjoy New Experiences
The ISTPs love engaging in new experiences to keep their adrenaline levels up. They love the thrill of engaging in activities outside their comfort zone. They are often seen engaging in risk taking behaviors.
Their idea of fun is something that keeps their body going such as sky diving, bungee jumping, motorcycling, and so on.
This is why they tend to go for careers relating to this. This may come off as weird to a lot of people because they are still very much introverted.
2. They Are Great at Problem Solving
If you go to an ISTP with a problem, they quickly come up with a solution instead of dwelling on how terrible it is. They tend to want to get to the root of the problem, identify it and solve it.
This makes them great problem solvers to a lot of people around them. When making judgements, instead of dwelling on their personal beliefs and being subjective, they push that aside and take the objective route.
3. They Are Introverted
The ISTP is an introvert and is often described as quiet and shy. But this isn’t exactly the case. They are very reserved but are very easy going towards others.
They also have strong emotions. The only difference is that they aren’t the best at expressing it.
When faced with challenges, they try to keep their cool. They do this even when going through an emotional crisis. They are not stoic and tend to be free around people especially those close to them.
4. They Aren’t the Best at Being Emotional
The ISTP may not be the best at sympathizing with you emotionally. They are not attuned to other people’s emotional state. This can make them come off as insensitive just as every other thinker.
This doesn’t mean they don’t care about you and the people around them. They just have a different way of showing it.
ISTPs also find it difficult to express their own emotions and just ignore it till they can’t anymore.
The Strength of the ISTP Traits?
Every personality type has their strengths and weaknesses. However, there are always some exceptions to the rule. This is no surprise as it is the basis of human dynamics.
For the ISTP, their strengths include that they
- Are very logical and will not let their emotions control them when making a decision. They understand the existence of emotions but will not let their emotions take the drivers seat.
- Are not into abstract thinking and prefer being more practical and realistic. They don’t spend time day dreaming but will rather be taking actions due to their action-oriented nature.
- Love the thrill of doing something new and want to try out new things. Routines are boring and they will escape one once they get the chance.
- Can hardly be caught making the same mistake twice as they prefer learning from their experiences and mistakes. This makes them very self-confident in themselves as a whole.
The Weaknesses of the ISTP Traits
Some of the ISTP weaknesses are that they
- Make it difficult to know them. Even people around them may not know them completely. It takes a lot to get them to open up and they do not like being vulnerable with people.
- Get tired of routines and can be bored easily. Keeping them grounded can be a lot of work for someone who isn’t patient nor understanding.
- Come off as insensitive due to their view on things. They may say or do things they think is right but may be insensitive to other people, especially feelers.
- Are not the best at commitments and will run away from it the slightest chance they get. This could be because they hate routines and get easily bored. But if they put their minds to it, they can be quite committed.
- Are risk takers and can take actions the average person feels is completely insane.
The Top ISTP Traits You Might Posses
Wondering if you’re an ISTP? Here are a few ISTP traits you might identify with.
1. You Are the Unpredictable One
A very common trait with the ISTP is their spontaneous actions which surprises them sometimes. They tend to act first and think later.
As you can tell, this can be a huge challenge as they make mistakes sometimes.
They may say and do things that can be offensive to others without giving it much thought. This makes them the unpredictable bunch.
People don’t know what you’re about to do next. Heck sometimes even you aren’t sure. You live a completely spontaneous life and this makes you fearless.
2. You Are Not the Best at Emotional Intelligence but You Have Them
Although you are not be the first person people run to when they need emotional support due to your practicality, it is safe to say you have emotions as well.
You may not be the best at offering sympathy to the next person but this doesn’t mean you’re a robot.
The truth is, ISTPs have pretty strong emotions which they tend to suppress till it consumes them.
You’ll rather hide these feelings than be vulnerable with anyone. Deep conversations and sad tales aren’t your thing. You don’t believe in fairy tales; you believe in reality.
3. You Have Your Moments with People
Although reserved and introverted, you tend to get along with people just fine. You have an easy going nature but that doesn’t mean you let just anyone into your space.
You are very friendly and cool to be around. However, you don’t just let anyone into your space that you protect jealously.
4. You Are All About the Action
The ISTPs are great at working with their hands and it’s no surprise. They are all about taking action and wouldn’t mind getting their fingers dirty in the process.
This is the reason why the ISTP is nicknamed “The Craftsman”. When it comes to action, you’ll find them at the forefront.
5. Problem-Solving Comes Naturally To You
You have a problem-solving side to you which just comes alive when needed. You have an understanding of how things work. With the help of logic and analytics, you can fix just about anything.
6. You Have an Eager Curiosity
Your curiosity is one of the most outstanding traits of the ISTP. You need to know how, when, why and when. This curiosity helps you learn new skills, or in finding out new information about things you never knew.
This encourages you to start new projects anytime you can. The flip side to this is, since you get bored easily, you abandon your projects once you lose interest or once you’ve had enough. And then it’s on to the next one.
7. You Find Yourself Drawn To Arts
You find yourself drawn to craftsmanship and artistry. It’s just something you can’t explain other than the fact you love how they function.
You might get a vintage car, motorcycle or similar things. You also love stylish clothes and fancy cuisine.
8. You Are Quite the Athletic One
Non conformists and true to their nature, the ISTPs are very content with the way they look and move. They are naturally athletic and use their athleticism to their advantage.
This also aids them in engaging in very physical activities other introverts may shy away from.
9. One of the ISTP Traits is the Presence of A Sharp Mind
Although blessed with physical abilities, you also have the intelligence to back it up. You’re a perfect blend of physical and mental gifts. This makes you excel in everything you put your mind to.
10. You Posses an Unconventional Approach to Learning
It is not uncommon for the ISTP to be diagnosed with ADD because of the way they are wired. The conventional classroom learning does not work for them. You may even struggle at school.
This doesn’t make you any less intelligent as ISTPs tend to grab more practical concepts than sitting through the bore of theories.
Do You Share Some of the ISTP Traits?
If you’re searching for ISTP traits you identify with then you’re are the right place. You should know that not all ISTPs are the same. They share a lot of characteristics but there are always a few exceptions.
If most of traits above describes you, chances are that you are an ISTP. The best way to know for sure is by taking a personality test. That way you know what personality type you are.
