The study of human personality is a very extensive and exciting field of psychology. Since everyone is unique, it will never be possible to completely classify all people into predefined personality categories. However, personality models can provide you with valuable guidance in getting to know yourself better.
In the following article we will look at the ISTP personality. This is one of sixteen personality types of the ISTP. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The ISTP is also called "the virtuoso". People of this personality type love to explore the world with their own eyes and hands. Everyday routine is abhorrent to them.
The abbreviation ISTP stands for the following character traits:
Let's take a look at the character traits in detail:
Introversion
Introverts are perceived as reserved and introverted. They enjoy being alone. They draw their energy from the power of their thoughts. They do not need constant hustle and bustle around them. Sometimes it takes time for introverted personalities to socialize.
Receiver
Recipients orientate themselves exclusively on provable facts. They do not dwell on unnecessary speculation. For them, only what can be clearly proven is real. Their thoughts focus on the present. The past and the future are not tangible enough for Sensitives.
Thinker
Thinkers analyze any issue clearly and precisely. They make decisions with the head, not with the stomach or heart. They are not influenced by emotions in any way.
Perceiving
Perceivers do not like to commit themselves. They prefer a spontaneous and flexible lifestyle. In this way, they keep all options open in life. Even in an unstructured environment, they maintain an overview.
The ISTP is a fairly rare personality type. Only about 5 % of the total population can be classified as such. ISTPs are people of action. Simply out of curiosity and interest, they take on a wide variety of tasks; after all, there's always something to tweak. They explore their environment with the help of their sharp minds and unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
It is therefore hardly surprising that ISTP personalities like to experiment. Provided their autonomy and principles are not undermined, they also willingly let other people participate in their projects. In general, ISTP people are helpful characters. In interpersonal dealings, they are initially seen as straightforward and transparent, but this is deceptive. ISTPs are extremely multifaceted.
The personality of an ISTP person combines opposites: They are helpful and at the same time closed, reserved and yet spontaneous, thirsty for knowledge, but at the same time unable to listen for long. Sometimes they even surprise people close to them with their changeable behaviour. The ISTP can appear impassive one second and explode with passion the next.
ISTP personalities possess the following strengths:
ISTP personalities devote themselves to all their tasks and projects with verve and cheerfulness. They do not allow themselves to be distracted by external influences. They have almost inexhaustible energy, so that they can easily manage several projects at the same time. The ISTP must be allowed to explore something in order to feel satisfied and happy.
ISTP people like to work with their hands. They are very talented in the craft and mechanical fields. They are constantly developing new ideas that they immediately put into practice. You have a technical problem, be it at home or with your car? The ISTP is your contact.
The combination of the above characteristics makes it possible for ISTP personalities to adapt flexibly to new circumstances. They judge situations exclusively on the basis of provable facts. The rational thinking prevents emotional wrong decisions. If circumstances require it, ISTPs can quickly set a new mental course.
ISTP people instinctively know how to allocate their energy most purposefully. They do not waste their resources, but only release them when it is really worthwhile. Here they benefit above all from their spontaneous nature.
ISTP personalities cope with all life crises more constructively than most other personality types. They are not afraid to take calculated risks to solve an existing problem. They find creative solutions even to seemingly hopeless situations.
The ISTP lives in the here and now. Worries about the future or melancholic digressions into the past are completely foreign to these personality types. This saves them a lot of energy and allows them to more serene deal with conflicts. ISTP personalities often choose the path of least resistance and simply go with the flow.
ISTP personalities struggle with the following weaknesses:
ISTP personalities exhibit two extremes. As much as they like to go with the flow, they easily switch head-on into the opposite direction. If something doesn't go their way, people of this personality type can be quite stubborn. If someone criticizes their lifestyle, ISTPs will tell them off bluntly and insensitively.
The ISTP has no talent for finding the right words in emotional situations. Because he judges everything rationally, he lacks the ability to put himself in other people's shoes. Emotions are not factually verifiable. Therefore, they are beyond the imagination of ISTP personalities.
It is not so easy to get to know an ISTP. Often people of this personality type give a rather cool and reserved first impression. This is where their introverted character becomes noticeable. Especially small talk is difficult for them. It therefore takes a little longer for ISTP people to make friends and integrate into a group.
ISTP personalities throw themselves into new ideas with verve and love to tinker for a living. However, when it comes to establishing a new idea in the long term, they quickly feel bored. As soon as the ISTP has understood an issue, they no longer want to deal with it, but turn to new challenges as quickly as possible. However, this is not the way to achieve lasting success.
The ISTP values spontaneity. Because he wants to keep all options open, he is reluctant to enter into binding agreements. If forced to do the latter, the ISTP feels trapped and cheated out of possible opportunities. It can be concluded from this that ISTP personalities are not particularly reliable contemporaries.
The urge to constantly experience something new, as well as the lack of ability to deal with other people's emotions, can lead to risky behavior. ISTP personalities like to test their limits without realizing the potentially serious consequences. In the worst case, they completely lose control of themselves.
As you already know, ISTP personalities like to keep all their options open. This is especially true in their professional lives. ISTPs don't like to commit themselves. They flexibly try out different career paths. As soon as one path no longer challenges them enough, they quickly take another. This fact makes it virtually impossible to state specific preferences. Preferences simply change too often.
Basically, however, it can be said that ISTP people are skilled problem solvers. They enjoy learning how various things (e.g., tools) work and how to optimize their use. The combination of curiosity and practical disposition makes ISTP personalities talented mechanics, forensic scientists, designers, or engineers, for example.
The courage to constantly change professionally definitely brings career advantages. If you are flexible, you can acquire a lot of knowledge from different areas. In this day and age, very few people spend their entire professional life in just one company and / or industry. ISTP is one of those people who very much welcome this trend.
In the reference book "Occupation and qualification in the future" by Robert Helmrich and Gerd Zika clearly expresses that the willingness to be flexible in professional life will become increasingly important in the coming years.
The ISTP needs variety in their daily work. If this requirement is not met, people of this personality type can become quite unenjoyable. They rarely adhere to rigid rules, which makes them very headstrong employees. However, if given the freedom to explore and contribute their own ideas, ISTPs are dedicated workers.
ISTPs are often more popular among colleagues than they would ever suspect themselves to be. They are admired for their practical disposition and spirit of discovery. Their introverted nature makes them (usually) affable and fair colleagues. However, it can also be the case that other workers feel hurt by the ISTP's blunt and less empathetic nature.
In the position of a supervisor, ISTPs treat their employees as they would like to be treated. They don't talk much and allow their employees plenty of creative freedom. However, ISTP bosses are sparing with praise. Emotional praise is simply not in keeping with their character. On the other hand, they react calmly to mistakes and hardly ever become choleric.
The freedom-loving ISTP cannot be tamed by a dominant partner. People of this personality type avoid the boring daily routine as long as possible. A relationship with the ISTP is like a roller coaster of emotions. The ISTP can be affectionate and passionate one moment, but cool and distant the next.
Basically, one should not try to change the ISTP. If the potential partner succeeds in accepting them with all their changeable facets, ISTP people learn to appreciate the advantages of a firm relationship. Whether the partnership can have a future often becomes apparent on the first date. If the ISTP feels constricted, there will be no second meeting.
Conversely, ISTP people encourage their partners to become more flexible and open to the world. They do not do this (only) out of self-interest. ISTPs want their partners to get to know and enjoy all the exciting facets of life. ISTPs attach little importance to traditions. It is not uncommon for them to have unconventional relationships. They are also spontaneous and experimental when it comes to intimacy.
If you want touching expressions of love, ISTP is definitely the wrong place for you. ISTP people believe that gestures are a thousand times more meaningful than words. Accordingly, they crave a partner with whom they understand each other non-verbally as well. If both know what the other feels, why talk about it much? This is how the ISTP thinks.
There is little point in pressuring ISTP people into discussions they do not want to have. Instead of reaching a constructive outcome, the ISTP will be stubborn. If you are involved with an ISTP, you should try to appreciate their day-to-day efforts. ISTP people are very observant and notice the things that are important to their partners.
Below we have compiled some curiosities about ISTP that we guarantee you didn't know about:
Source: MBTI Manual: A Guide to the Development and Use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, 3rd Edition by Isabell Briggs Myers.
The following famous personalities can be clearly assigned to the ISTP personality type:
Famous ISTP people from film and television:
In addition to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, there are numerous other concepts for personality analysis. One of them is the DISG personality test, which differentiates between four different communication types. The DISG test is mainly used in large companies. The fact that successful communication is considered the key to success, especially in professional life, is well documented scientifically in the book "Communication and innovation in German companies" occupied.
You've probably noticed that you can easily strike up a conversation with some people, while you can't really warm up to others, even after years of acquaintance. You are not imagining this at all! This circumstance has to do with the different types of communication.
By finding out which communication type you correspond to yourself, you can better respond to your conversation partners in the future and communicate more purposefully. Does this sound interesting to you? Then you should not hesitate any longer and register today completely free of charge and without obligation with us. DISC test perform:
