7 Major INTP Weaknesses & How to Manage Them (2024)

Every personality type has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Being aware of your weaknesses helps you identify potential barriers to development, and then possible strategies can be worked upon to overcome these barriers. 

Two of the major INTP weaknesses are that they are too idealistic and often zone out or disconnect from reality.

INTP Weaknesses

1. Zoned Out

INTPs are known for their detached, introspective nature and they are often perceived as being zoned out or disconnected from reality.

Since they have a preference of the Introversion (I) trait over the Extraversion (E) trait, they simply prefer to spend their time in their own inner world, where they can explore their own thoughts and ideas. 

This does not mean that INTPs are not interested in the world around them but rather that they often prefer to observe and understand it from their own unique perspective.

How to Deal With it

• The most significant way to combat this INTP weakness is to identify their triggers, keep track of when they zone out and try to regulate them.
  
• They should practice mindfulness which involves focusing your attention on the present moment, just like in regular thinking but more deliberately
  
• This INTP weakness at work can be countered by taking a break if they are preparing for an interview or trying to finish a project.

2. Idealist

People with the INTP personality are extremely intelligent and are great at finding innovative solutions but they may struggle when it comes to applying them because they have unrealistic standards.

The urge to make sure that everything is as perfect as it could get is an INTP negative trait that often holds them back from making decisions that are perfectly reasonable and beneficial.

The effort INTPs put into eliminating or overcoming every trivial detail reduces their efficiency and may also cause stress to them.

How to Deal With it

• The negative quality of idealism can be easily dealt with by setting realistic standards for themselves which can be attained in the near short term.
  
• Another effective way to deal with the weakness that causes burnout is to come to the understanding that perfection is something that can only be chased and never attained.
  
• INTPs should surround themselves with positive people and should learn to accept criticism if they want to counter idealism and achieve personal growth.

3. Uncertain

The INTP is a paradoxical creature, unpredictable yet logical. They are not afraid to experiment and are constantly exploring new ideas and perspectives which can make them seem unpredictable to others.

Due to their preference of the Intuitive (N) trait and the Perceiving (P) trait, they are extremely spontaneous, open to change, and their actions can be very hard to speculate or predict.

Their unpredictability is a negative personality trait and they may have a difficult time adjusting to social situations where there is a lot of interaction with people and other external stimuli.

How to Deal With it

• There is room for improvement if INTPs practice patience, stick to a task until completion, avoid distractions and be persistent.
  
• Another way to deal with this weakness for INTPs is to be optimistic and work diligently on the goals they have set for themselves.
  
• The best way to be certain of everything is to be proactive and take action instead of waiting for things to happen and then responding accordingly.

4. Impatient

INTPs are impulsive, impatient, easily bored, and can become frustrated when things do not go their way or when they get stuck on a problem for a long time.

One of the INTP problems is that they always want to know what is going on and they want to be in control of the situation instead of sitting around and waiting for things.

Another situation in which they are extremely impatient is when people small talk and beat around the bush instead of stating clearly what they really want to convey.

How to Deal With it

• The best possible way to deal with the lack of patience in INTPs is to practice mindfulness, as it helps in staying focused on what we are doing in the present moment.
  
• To be patient, it is important to learn how to accept your feelings of anxiety and stress without judgment so that they do not get the best of you.
  
• INTPs should build a tolerance for being a bit uncomfortable so that they are not impatient when they are out of their comfort zone.

5. Condescending

People with the INTP personality are generally very smart and possess a high level of intellect but it may turn into a personality weakness if they overplay it.

Since they have a preference of the Thinking (T) trait over the feeling trait, INTPs tend to be critical of others who are not as analytical as them.

An INTP personality weakness is that they tell others what they should think or do, people may accuse them of being condescending and sometimes they are actually being arrogant.

How to Deal With it

• The most effective strategy to combat condescension is to practice kindness and being compassionate towards others.
  
• Another way to deal with INTP weakness in relationships is to avoid telling or advising others what to do because they may feel that you are being arrogant and showing off.
  
• INTPs should be grateful for all the assets they have but never let it get to their head because it may hamper their growth and progress.

6. Dissatisfied

Majority of INTPs tend to be dissatisfied with their lives because they are some of the most intelligent and creative people out there, and they often feel a strong need to be doing something meaningful with their lives.

It is a problematic characteristic that they feel like they are not doing enough, or that they are not living up to their potential which can put INTPs under stress.

They are always concerned about  how things around them could be better and never appreciate or are satisfied with the way things are.

How to Deal With it

• To counter this INTP problem, it is important to find a way to channel their negative feelings about themselves into something positive
  
• INTPs can also try to make a list of all the positive things in their lives which they should be grateful for including their personal abilities and all their close relationships.
  
• They should cherish the small things and remind themselves that it is okay to have fun, even though part of their life may be falling apart.

7. Insensitive 

INTPs are often seen as lacking in compassion, but this is only because they tend to be more introspective and focused on their own thoughts and feelings.

Since they have an inclination towards the Thinking (T) trait over the feeling counterpart, they tend to be more focused on the technicalities and overlook emotions.

The INTP personality type may seem as being antisocial or even rude but the reality is that these individuals are just trying to get their point across, and they do not like to waste time with small talk.

How to Deal With it

• To deal with insensitivity, INTPs should always try to listen more than they speak so that they have an understanding of how the other person is feeling.
  
• INTPs cannot deal with the deficiency of thoughtfulness just by listening to the words spoken but they should also pay attention to the nonverbal cues.
  
• Insensitivity causes conflicts and is an INTP weakness in love which can be tackled if they ask questions, seek to understand and respect other people’s opinions.

FAQ

What is INTPs weakest function?

The weakest INTP function is Extraverted Feeling (Fe) which is why they get uncomfortable in emotional situations and may seem to be insensitive or emotionless to others.

What do INTPs struggle with?

The potential problem area where INTPs struggle is being in the present moment and they might zone out while having a conversation because their mind is always busy in processing ideas.

What do INTPs fear the most?

INTPs fear taking risks the most because they are terrified of failure and want to avoid the potential embarrassment that could come along with making a change in their lives.

What annoys the INTPs the most?

The thing that annoys INTPs the most is being controlled because they are thinkers, not doers who enjoy freedom of thought and they loathe being told what to do.

What is the dark side of INTPs?

The dark side of INTPs is that they are too independent and it can be hard for them to work with others or conform to rules and expectations set by others.

What annoys people about INTPs? 

The negative INTP characteristic that annoys people is that they can be very detached from their emotions and do not feel the need to react or respond immediately.

What are INTPs misunderstood as?

INTPs are misunderstood as emotionless but it’s not that they do not care about people; in fact, they are caring individuals with deep feelings and emotions that they simply do not want to share.

What stresses out INTPs the most?

The INTP flaw of idealism stresses them the most because they have a deep need to do something well and are constantly striving for improvement which is stressful.

How to improve INTP weaknesses?

INTPs can improve on their weaknesses by not setting unrealistic standards for themselves, practicing mindfulness, being grateful for what they have and learning to accept help when needed.