INTP Relationships & Compatibility thrive when they take an analytical and measured approach to life. They do not like engaging with people who bring a lot of drama or resort to extreme emotions in the relationship.
This Myers Briggs personality type individuals appreciate being with people carrying different levels of interests. Despite this fact, INTPs don’t prefer to get along with people who possess dramatically opposite preferences because of their unique personality types.
INTP Relationships & Compatibility
The dominant function of an INTP personality type person is Introverted Thinking (Ti), while their auxiliary function is Extraverted Intuition (Ne). In relationships, INTPs will be warm, open-minded, honest, creative, and sincere. This Myers-Briggs type carries vivid imaginations and loads of excitement inside their minds.
Sometimes, it makes them feel as if their external world is a little dull in comparison. It might result in INTPs lacking the necessary motivation to develop and maintain relationships. It is not likely that these individuals will have quite a large circle of significant relationships in their lives.
When an INTP is in a relationship, they require someone who can give them a lot of space to explore their ideas, thoughts, and interests. They will always value having a partner showing appreciation for their creativity and ability to solve complex problems. If you get that kind of person, rest assured your relationship will grow.
Once an INTP personality type person commits to a relationship, they will be extremely loyal and faithful in dealing with its different aspects and challenges. The individual would manage to form affectionate attachments that are straightforward and genuine.
INTPs love to have an independent partner who can match their level of intelligence. It will let them intellectually engage with one another. INTPs incline to have casual and relationship sex. They find it necessary to have some foundation in friendship or companionship before gaining the comfort to attain physical pleasure.
INTP personality type individuals show extreme loyalty when they become part of a family. They are always willing to do anything to offer their help or support to family members. These people might struggle to provide emotional assistance, as it is one of the INTP weaknesses. INTPs could even feel awkward when they need connections to build their own family. Hence, they can face loneliness in the long term, which could even convince them there is no need for those connections.
Let us now discuss how INTPs maintain their relationships in different capacities as romantic partners, friends, and parents.
INTP as a Romantic Partner
As a romantic partner, an INTP might come across as intellectual and reserved. When they become comfortable, they can display their creative and playful side. Being introverts, they appreciate spending time alone. It does not mean an INTP never desires to have a companion.
The ideal matches for an INTP will be those who can challenge their ideas. This Myers-Briggs personality type always wishes to lead their life by learning new stuff and attaining growth. Hence, ideal INTPs partners will be those who share their goals and offer encouragement.
INTPs always treat their romantic relationships with utmost seriousness. In their dating phase, they will be straightforward and honest in sharing their feelings while falling in love. They do not filter their opinions and encourage their partner to do the same.
As their relationship progresses, an INTP will not indulge in giving surprises, and gifts, make random plans to socialize, or go for long date nights. Even if their partner enjoys these things, an INTP person may not take the initiative. INTPs might require putting extra effort and attention into learning ways to show their affection that can resonate with their better half. It will make their partner feel loved and appreciated.
INTP as a Friend
When an INTP plays the role of a friend, he will look for support and companionship. They even look to make friends with those who share similar intellectual depth. It is difficult for any individual to become a friend of an INTP as they will struggle to meet their standards. On the other hand, when someone manages to do so, it will instantly create a spark and surprise everyone around.
Due to their introverted nature, INPTs do not always express their world of thoughts and feelings clearly. Hence, it is tough for anyone to become a close friend with this Myers Briggs personality type individual. Now, when this person does open up, they can be an extremely energetic and imaginative friend. He will always have something unexpected to say. As a friend, an INTP will share their love and passion for new ideas, puzzles, and solutions.
An INTP who has great respect for someone can make them rethink all their assumptions and keep them on their feet. They make friendships based on knowledge and get inspiration from exchanging theories, ideas, and concepts. All those who cannot keep up or have significant differences in tastes and preferences might feel ignored.
A Logician friend would love to have conservations over topics they feel possess the substance. When someone reaches out to this person with confusion and problems, an INTP will be excited to offer their help. One can bank on them to provide logical suggestions and prudent solutions. Hence, they can turn even the most adverse situations into a list of advantages and disadvantages.
In friendship, if an INTP requires handling emotional circumstances, they will not know what to do. One of the most important lessons of friendship, which an INTP realizes, is that there are times when people do not require any suggestions on how to solve problems. They only need someone who can be by their side during the ups and downs of life.
INTP as a Parent
An INTP faces a strong and healthy challenge while playing the role of a parent. There are occasions when they might struggle to handle irrational, messy, and ever-changing neutral emotions. Even then, parenthood can turn out to be meaningful for INTPs. The curiosity and love for learning new things can make INTP parents find immense joy in teaching their children about various aspects of the world.
As INTPs are open-minded and tolerant, they encourage their children to embrace independent thinking, remain on the lookout for new knowledge, and express and defend their viewpoints. These parents do not worry about expectations from society. Parenting of INTPs is such that they never look for external advice. It is also unlikely that they will force their children to follow the traditional life of school, job, marriage, buying a house, and raising kids.
It is not that INTP parents do not have expectations from their children. They encourage their children to become self-motivated and independent. These people feel when their children become old enough, they will possess the critical thinking abilities required for deciding their path in life and how to proceed with it.
INTP parents encourage their children to nurture their curiosity. They get the freedom to garner knowledge from different sources, hence widening their horizons. These parents usually stay relaxed and adopt an intellectual approach toward their children. INTPs never impose unnecessarily strict schedules or rules while raising kids. Their objective is to create a homely environment that encourages exploration and independence.
The INTP Compatibility with 16 Other Personality Types
The Myers-Briggs personality of INTP refers to an introverted thinker who is shy and reserved. They always intellectually engage themselves in different aspects of life and adapt to all circumstances with a great sense of humor. These people can get along with some sections of people better than others.
They are not necessarily social due to their preference for spending time alone. Still, it is not appropriate to say that an INTP does not like the company of others. These people love being around select individuals with whom they share a similar mindset with similar likes and dislikes.
INTPs enjoy making decisions based on logic and intelligence. Hence it becomes easier for them to deal with those individuals who can be a good match. It is necessary for them to connect with those who share somewhat similar interests, values, and approaches toward life.
It is now time to summarize the relationship and compatibility pattern in the chart mentioned below:
16 Personality Types | Compatibility when paired with INTP |
ESTJ | When an ESTJ personality type individual pairs up with an INTP, both will prefer making decisions based on logic and avoid resorting to emotions. While an ESTJ person can help their INTP partner have more order and predictability. Similarly, the INTP can help its ESTJ counterpart adapt to new situations. |
ESFJ | The relationship between an INTP and ESFJ carries a mix of logic and emotions. An INTP uses logic to make decisions, and an ESFJ decides based on emotions. The ESFJ personality type can help an INTP to stay on the right track and finish their work on time. On the other hand, an INTP can help their ESFJ partner make prudent decisions in life. |
ISFJ | ISFJ and INTP are introverts. They prefer to keep their thoughts and feelings within themselves. These people maintain privacy while in a relationship. An INTP person can help their ISFJ partner express their thoughts with clarity, logic, and straightforwardness. The ISFJ personality type allows the INTP to develop feelings while dealing with an issue. |
ISTJ | If an ISTJ pairs up with an INTP in a relationship, they will enjoy thinking about how to solve life’s challenges as and when they arise. The ISTJ person gives sufficient space for an INTP to work at their own pace, thus making them feel free from restrictions. On the other hand, an INTP helps ISTJ partners follow through on their goals and achieve them on time. |
ESTP | The relationship between an INTP and an ESTP sits on logic. They look into various aspects of life analytically, thereby finding ways to solve problems. An INTP individual can help their ESTP partner engage in deep thoughts and creativity for dealing with various aspects of life. On the other hand, an ESTP person can allow their INTP partner to become more expressive and energetic in improving their life. |
ESFP | The relationship between an INTP and an ESFP help bring forth balance in different aspects of life. While an ESFP person can assist their INTP counterpart in learning various ways through which they can empathize more with others in their life. The INTP personality type individual can teach their ESFP partner how to think and find a way out of a problem. |
ISTP | When an INTP pairs up with an ISTP, they become highly compatible and create a free-flowing relationship. The ISTP will patiently listen to the creative ideas of an INTP. They will offer encouragement so that they can come up with innovative solutions to problems. On the other hand, an INTP can make their ISTP partner think practically and involve themselves more during conversations. |
ISFP | If an ISFP pairs up with an INTP, the relationship will require both these individuals to put equal effort into working things out. The ISFP person can help their INTP partner consider how their decision-making impacts others, hence letting them make necessary adjustments. On the other hand, the INTP individual can make the ISFP individual communicate logically and offer balance to their emotions. |
ENTJ | If an ENTJ pairs up with an INTP, they strongly believe in understanding the importance of logic and reason. Their relationship under this condition. An ENTJ gives their INTP the freedom to become spontaneous and adventurous, while an INTP makes the ENTJ follow through on their various tasks and assignments. |
ENTP | The relationship between an INTP and an ENTP thrives from communicating clearly and directly. The ENTP individual offers space and encouragement for an INTP to think through any conflict. On the other hand, an INTP must show patience and listen to the ENTP in sharing their perspective. |
INTJ | When these two individuals get into a relationship, they make practical decisions based on proper reasoning. The INTJ individual knows when to provide their INTP counterpart with space and freedom for exploring their ideas. An INTP can offer support and help the INTJ find a new plan in a chaotic situation. |
INTP | The relationship between INTPs involves mutual respect and giving importance to personal boundaries. They always find a way to empathize with one another. An INTP might initially feel awkward being around another INTP they do not know, but things settle down with time. |
ENFJ | If an INTP pairs up with an ENFJ, they will help balance one another due to the different behavioral patterns of these individuals. An INTP makes its ENFJ partner notice new options while making decisions, whereas an ENFJ helps an INTP stay firmly on track and achieve bigger goals. |
ENFP | ENFP and INTP manage to share a different level of passion for improvement. They believe that everything can become better. One of the INTP strengths is that they are logical. Thus, they make their ENFP partner use logic to overcome any problem at the time of deciding. On the other hand, the ENFP personality type can allow INTP to leave their comfort and connect with others to express their requirements. |
INFJ | The relationship between INTP and INFJ flourishes as they understand each other’s requirements for independence. On one hand where the INFJ can teach their INTP partner ways through which they can become far more considerate of others and their emotions. On the other hand, the INTP can let their INFJ partner adopt an unconventional method to deal with day-to-day problems. He can make them use their intelligence to make good sense of everything around them. |
INFP | The relationship between INTP and INFP flourishes on respect and understanding each other’s needs to spend time alone. INFP helps their INTP partner to become assertive in their approach while dealing with different aspects of life. The INTP person can make their INFP counterpart behave in a caring and considerate manner. |
To Sum Up
We have discussed how an INTP personality type individual adopts a systematic approach and avoids emotion in their relationship. As they are intellectually sound, they look to engage with a partner with the same level of intelligence.
INTPs appreciate all those people who carry various interests and preferences. Still, these individuals will likely struggle to get along smoothly with those who possess dramatically opposite characteristics than an INTP.