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{<b><p18> INTP <p12><n>}
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{<b>In Love, It's the Mind That Matters<n>

<IB>General Statement:<N> The inner world of thoughts and ideas is endlessly rich for this type. Though they can be slow to communicate with their mates, it doesn't mean that things aren't churning in their minds. While appreciative of attention from their lovers, they can seem disinterested or unresponsive, but that's not the case. Special events, like anniversaries and birthdays, can be celebrated in a seemingly haphazard, last-minute way, not because of thoughtlessness but because the INTP had too many thoughts -- and too little time to carry them out.

<IB>First Impressions:<N> A bit aloof, maybe snobby, often intriguing. The intrigue changes to engaging as conversation ensues. Not good at small talk, but loves to talk or argue about nearly any concept.

<IB>Communications:<N> Until someone has proven themselves worthy of the INTP's mind, communication will be slow and somewhat awkward. Once challenged, the INTP will be engaging and confrontal over any exchange of ideas. Once disengaged or bored, however, they can walk away in a flash.

<IB>Finance:<N> Generally not their area of expertise unless the INTP has made it so. If not, they dabble in these matters and can have great financial schemes or plans, but may be very slow to translate these thoughts into action. If they make it an area of expertise, they will become more interested in money systems than actual dollars and cents.

<IB>Conflict:<N> Often intrigued by the concept of conflict but do not handle it personally very well. If it's unavoidable, they may connect it to something to be learned, objectifying it, riding it out, and process the results. INTPs can write mental word pictures of conflicts -- what happens, who says what -- and carry it out to infinite detail, but never move it much beyond their minds.

<IB>Sex and Intimacy:<N> Often a rich imagination sets up rich imagery for exotic moments. There is no limit to the pictures they can paint in their minds. As those pictures develop, the INTP's intimate moments can turn into an inferno of explosive and expressive affections.

<IB>Commitment:<N> Though it is forever, "forever" is defined daily in the light of new information. If a mate does not keep up, the INTP can get lost in a world of new definitions and redefined expectations.

<IB>Parenting:<N> Independence is the gift of the INTP parent. That is done by stimulating the children, exciting them to learn, and above all, giving the child's mind a chance to develop its own thoughts.

<IB>Contracting:<N> While appreciating the need for a contract, it's far more stimulating to write the contract, redesign the form, or interpret the contract than actually get down to the day-to-day nitty-gritty of carrying out the commitments.

<IB>Ending Relationships:<N> They have great difficulty doing this. But once an INTP says it's over, hell would freeze before the INTP would have a change of mind. If it's over, the INTP is rigid and unheeding in the resolve to let it stay over forever.}
