What personality type is Einstein?

Albert Einstein MBTI

There is no dispute that the MBTI of Albert Einstein is INTP. We will go through why that is the case. We will do so using the functional stack of the INTP by viewing each of the cognitive functions in the INTP’s ego.

Albert Einstein has Introverted Thinking(Ti) as his dominant function. His mathematical proficiency was apparent at an early age, independently discovering the original proof of pythagoras theorem at age 12. This showcases his affinity for logic and his desire to understand concepts for himself.

An avid exponent of rote learning propagated in schools, Einstein could not accept mathematical formulas at face value and memorize them. Instead, he had to derive them in order to be convinced of their validity.

As a theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein did not require empirical evidence to come up with his theories. Rather, he utilized thought experiments and his own imagination coupled with mathematical refinement to discover the truths of the universe. In fact, it took years for special relativity to be confirmed by astronomers.

As Einstein was an independent thinker, he distrusted authorities and did not believe they had all the answers, or even the right ones. His need for autonomy led him to be absolutely miserable working as a patent clerk.

Albert Einstein has Extraverted Intuition(Ne) as his auxiliary function. He uses his theory of special relativity and writes papers on its applications to various academic fields. This is typical of Ne users, who starts with a principle and see various possibilities in which the principle can be applied.

Not only was Einstein a remarkable physicist, he also had numerous other intellectual interests, such as philosophy, politics and music. It is not uncommon for Ne users to have multiple interests, especially in abstract subjects.

Einstein came up with his best ideas when he was sailing aimlessly at sea. As Ne users are aware of many possible futures, they often need time alone doing nothing but ponder through all their options. Oftentimes they have an epiphany when daydreaming.

Einstein has Introverted Sensing(Si) as his tertiary function. Einstein often complained that he had a bad memory, not being able to remember the “speed of sound”. As Si is only his tertiary function, Einstein has a relatively poor memory compared to those with Si as their dominant or auxiliary function.

However, Einstein’s poor memory has been exaggerated and misrepresented. Even though he could not remember certain practical details such as where he left his keys, it was because he was ruminating about something else and not actually because he had a bad memory. He was still able to recall key physics theories. After all, INTPs still have introverted Sensing in their ego.

It is apparent that Einstein did not have Extraverted Sensing(Se) in his ego. He was often unaware of his surroundings, forgetting his address and even his destination. This absent mindedness is archetypical of the INTP, as they often have their heads in the clouds refining their mental model(Ti), going through their ideas(Ne) or reminiscing the past(Si).

Despite having numerous interests, Einstein found comfort in physics. Si users stick to what they enjoy. When he worked at the patent office where he had little autonomy, he sought refuge in pursuing his ideas of the universe on the side.

Einstein has Extraverted Feeling(Fe) as his inferior function. Just as how INTPs neglect their feelings, Einstein neglected those around him, putting a strain on his personal relationships with his wife and children. Faced with the death of family, Einstein would not express any emotion and instead bury himself in his work. As the INTP lack Introverted Feeling(Fi), Einstein probably did not know how to feel.

When Einstein did express his emotion, it came out as outbursts. He created unreasonable strict rules for his wife to follow as a condition for not divorcing her. This included doing all the housework and not expect any sexual intimacy or even conversation from him.

INTPs, like all types, get better at their inferior function as they get older. Einstein was an infamous womanizer, marrying twice and bearing illegitimate children, not to mention having numerous affairs.

An interesting fictional physicist is Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory.

Albert Einstein’s Personality Type According to The Myers Briggs Type Indicator

The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the many online personality diagnostic test. Composed of sixteen different personality types, MBTI serves as a resource to identify the personality types of not only contemporary test-takers; MBTI allows us to retroactively assess the personality types of historical characters.
Born into a middle class Jewish family in the late 19th century, it would have been difficult to predict that Albert Einstein would so greatly impact 21st century understanding of the physical universe. Einstein’s childhood experience, beliefs, and life events shaped not only his rigorous mathematical formulas and equations but also his distinctive personality. BSM Consulting, author of High-Level Description of the Sixteen Personality Types, suggests that Einstein’s Myers-Briggs personality type is INTP, “The Thinker”. According to MBTI and Einstein’s biography, one can infer that, as an INTP, Albert Einstein was a creative thinker, he valued knowledge highly, and he was driven by theories and ideas.
Einstein’s ability to think “outside the box” is the quality that most defines the thinker’s personality type. As explained by BSM Consulting, “INTPs live in the world of theoretical possibilities. They (INTPs) live primarily inside their own minds” (BSM, “The Thinker” par.2). Michio Kaku, the author of Einstein, Albert, writes that one of the most important influence on Einstein was Max Talmud (par.4). Talmud introduced a children’s science series by Aaron Bernstein named Naturwissenschaftliche Volksbucher (translated, Popular Books on Physical Science) to Einstein in which, among other adventures, the author imagines riding alongside electricity inside a telegraph wire (Michio par.4). “Einstein then envis.

. middle of paper .

. truly a greater understanding of nuclear physic for mankind. Einstein also won a Nobel prizes for succeeding physicists and he began to work towards his ultimate dream, “a theory of everything” (Michio par.48). While Einstein did not live to see his dream through, leading physicists all over the world work tirelessly toward his dream of a theory of everything.
In looking at Einstein’s life, one can infer that he fits definitively into the category of INTP “the thinker” in MBTI. His curiosity and inquisitive mind has led mankind to a higher understanding of the universe and the surroundings. His thoughts and theories have given people a microscopic view of atoms as well as a macroscopic view of the universe. Forging a new path in modern physics, Einstein has inspired many scientists and physicists to dream and defy the status quo and enter the world of the unknown.

Take a sneak peek into this essay!

In this essay, the author

• Explains that the myers briggs type indicator (mbti) is one of the many online personality diagnostic tests.
• Explains that albert einstein’s childhood experience, beliefs, and life events shaped his rigorous mathematical formulas and equations, as well as his distinctive personality.
• Explains that einstein’s ability to think «outside the box» is the quality that most defines the thinker’s personality type.

• Explains that the myers briggs type indicator (mbti) is one of the many online personality diagnostic tests.
• Explains that albert einstein’s childhood experience, beliefs, and life events shaped his rigorous mathematical formulas and equations, as well as his distinctive personality.
• Explains that einstein’s ability to think «outside the box» is the quality that most defines the thinker’s personality type.
• Explains that einstein was a man who wanted to know how and why his surroundings worked.
• Explains that einstein’s theories and ideas were the fuel that ran his brain. the intp is at his best when he can work on his theories independently.
• Explains how einstein’s four papers in the annalen der physik in 1905, his «miracle year,» altered the course of modern physics.
• Explains that einstein fits into the category of intp «the thinker» in mbti. his curiosity and inquisitive mind has led mankind to a higher understanding of the universe and surroundings.

Click here to unlock this and over one million essays

7 Differences Between The INTJ & INTP Personality Types

Sarah Regan is a Spirituality & Relationships Editor, and a registered yoga instructor. She received her bachelor’s in broadcasting and mass communication from SUNY Oswego, and lives in Buffalo, New York.

February 24, 2023

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If you’ve ever taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, you know that people can be divided into 16 personality types based on factors like sociability, emotionality, information processing, and more.

When two types have only a one-letter difference—like an INTP and INTJ, for instance—you might assume they have a lot in common. And while this is partially true, the INTP and INTJ have some important distinctions that make them very different people. Here’s what to know.

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INTP vs. INTJ.

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INTP stands for introverted, intuitive, thinking, and perceiving, whereas INTJ stands for introverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging. They’re both relatively rare personality types: INTPs make up roughly 3% of the population (and more specifically, 5% of men and 2% of women), while INTJs make up 2% of the population (and are twice as likely to be men as women).

According to Dario Nardi, Ph.D., personality expert and author of Neuroscience of Personality, INTJs typically come across as busy, orderly introverts, who are as innovative as they are hardworking. INTPs, on the other hand, are big abstract thinkers, highly creative, and a bit more «loose» than INTJs, according to licensed therapist De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar, MSW, LCSW-S, CST.

While these two personality types are both introverted, intuitive, and thinking, the primary distinction between an INTP and INTJ is their difference in judging versus perceiving. Judging or perceiving relates to how you approach life, especially when it comes to planning for things to come. Someone with a preference for judging (INTJ, in this case) will feel supported and secure with the help of things like schedules, structure, and clearly defined expectations. A preference for perceiving (INTP), meanwhile, likes flexibility and spontaneity, and may actually be turned off by too much structure and routine.

Check out our full guides to the INTP and INTJ types for the full rundown.

7 key differences between an INTP and INTJ:

How they approach work.

As Nardi tells mindbodygreen, INTPs and INTJs may seem similar on the surface, as they’re both creative, deep thinkers and innovators. «But when we look closely, we see that they work in different, sometimes even opposite ways,» he explains. «INTP asks, Is the wording or thinking accurate? and INTJ asks, Is the idea implementable, and if so, is it effective?«

Two famous inventors—Albert Einstein and Nicola Tesla—are a prime example of this contrast, with Tesla being an INTJ and Einstein an INTP.

«[Tesla] dreamed up ideas for inventions and then went about trying to build them. If the result was effective, then he was satisfied and might keep building off of that, or more often, follow a new vision,» Nardi says. Einstein, on the other hand, «observed the world around him, asked questions and formed hypotheses, and worked those out in his mind and with math to find a singular theory or framework to explain a very deep ‘problem’ (aka question).»

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What they prioritize.

When it comes to what these two personality types prioritize and are motivated by, they have very different reasons for doing potentially the same thing. INTP, for instance, «focuses on problem-solving and has a deep psychological need to be right, whereas INTJ focuses on progress and has a deep psychological need to be invulnerable,» says Nardi.

How they view their emotions.

The INTP and INTJ may both be thinking types rather than feeling types, but that doesn’t mean they view their emotions in the same way. According to Nardi, INTPs are generally less aware of their emotions, and they mostly view them as social or relational in nature. «That is, caused by interactions with other people,» he explains.

In contrast, INTJs are generally more aware of their emotions, and they mostly view emotions as intrapersonal, which Nardi describes as «something that arises within themselves, that is their responsibility to deal with.»

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How they come off to other people.

It turns out the difference in judging versus perceiving can dramatically impact how other people perceive you. According to Nardi, INTJs are «generally more socially presentable, more organized in daily life, and better able to make their ideas presentable and useful.»

INTPs, on the other hand, come off as more flexible and relaxed, but are actually more mentally organized and logically consistent. «And they’re more prone to actually do a lot of in-depth reading and digging for understanding,» Nardi adds.

What stresses them out.

INTJs and INTPs can both be prone to stress, but for different reasons. When it comes to INTJs, they can be obsessive, with a narrow kind of tunnel vision that can keep them in a holding pattern. They also have a hard time relaxing in general and can be extremely impatient with themselves and others.

For INTPs, they have more patience, but do tend to get stressed out when they doubt themselves, have too much going on, or can’t identify (or articulate) their own emotions. As psychotherapist Annette Nuñez, Ph.D., LMFT, previously told mindbodygreen, «These people are so highly intuitive but struggle to articulate that intuitiveness.»

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How flexible (or not) they are.

As you’re likely catching on, INTJs are considerably less flexible when it comes to organizing and structuring their days—and lives in general. This helps them be hard workers who know how to stay on track but can result in that aforementioned impatience and rigidity.

Meanwhile, according to Blaylock-Solar, INTPs would actually benefit from being a bit less lackadaisical, whether they set up different systems to keep them on track or take more time to plan things out.

What they look for in relationships.

Lastly, INTPs and INTJs have some nuance in what they look for in their partnerships. Namely, according to Blaylock-Solar, INTPs love to ponder, think abstractly, and problem-solve, so they appreciate a partner who can keep up with their mind and intellectually stimulate them.

In the case of INTJs, Nardi says, they’ll have their own unique, personalized criteria when it comes to what they’re looking for and «tend to focus on having clear morals and ethics and hold themselves to high standards.»

FAQ

How can you tell an INTJ and INTP apart?

The primary distinction between INTJ and INTP is that INTJ is a judging type (preferring structure, planning, and organization), while INTP is a perceiving type (preferring flexibility, spontaneity, and «going with the flow»).

Is INTP better than INTJ?

«Better» is a relative term, and no MBTI type is better than another. Each of the 16 types have their own strengths and weaknesses, and all of them have the ability to grow into well-rounded people.

Are INTJs and INTPs similar?

Yes, aside from their difference in judging versus perceiving, INTJs and INTPs share in their introverted, intuitive, and thinking traits.