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try anything. 228 Others claim that INTJs are more cautious and will not pull dumb stunts. Still
others suggest that the individualism of INTJ children tends to cause them to have a particularly
strong teenage rebellion complete with drugs, sex, weird clothes, hair dye, etc. 229 Still others note
that INTJ children will try risky experiments, "What happens if I eat this bright orange berry?" or
"What happens if I stick a knife in this power outlet?"
So which perspectives are correct? Doubtless there are INTJs who fit into every category, but
where does the majority lie?
One thing that consistently appears in INTJ type descriptions is a dislike for risks. Male INTJs
were not seen as "adventurous" while ESPs were. 230 The letters associated with being "cautious"
were I, S, T, and J, whereas the letters mostly associated with being "reckless" were E, N, and P.
Rebelliousness was associated with NFP females and NTP males, whereas conservativeness is an
ISTJ trait. In fact, a descriptor study found that male INTJs were described by the sentence,
"Favors conservative values in a variety of areas" but not by the sentence "Tends to be rebellious
and nonconforming" and not by the word "unconventional."
It's obvious where INTJs fall in this spectrum. They may not be as conservative and cautious as
their ISTJ cousins, but they certainly have more in common with ISTJs than with ESPs, ENPs, and
NPs. I cannot reconcile this portrayal with the idea that INTJ children are prone to risk taking
behaviors, drug use, sex, etc. Therefore I think that the idea that INTJ children are fearless and
rebellious is incorrect.
However. Rationals will do crazy things in pursuit of knowledge—particularly since they question
established wisdom and need to test things out for themselves. And INTJs are curious and love
experiments. For example, one mother of an INTJ daughter recalled,
I remember when she was 3 years old she came into the house with a large stick. She was told to please
remove the stick to the yard where it belonged. She stopped at the window and tapped the glass gently
with the stick on the way out, and as I could see her mind working, I explained what would happen if she
hit glass with the stick hard enough. "Oh" she said and she went back outside to play. I went downstairs
and all the sudden I hear this ominous 'tink' sound and then swish, gurgle and water leaking sounds. I ran
upstairs and there she was, standing in the living room, in front of our very large fish tank with the stick
in her hand and the glass and water going all over the floor. She had hit the tank and broke it. I looked at
her and said very calmly, "Go to your room." She screamed and dropped the stick, running into her room
and slammed the door shut. Later, after everyone had calmed down, I asked her why she did that, after all
I told her that if you hit glass what would happen. "Well, I just wanted to make sure it worked like that
every time."
INTJs are sort of like young scientist exploring every day hypotheses like, "What would happen if I
microwaved something for 9:99 minutes? What if I inhaled chocolate milk? What if I poured water
in the toaster and turned it on? Is this really dangerous? Why? Are they sure?" INTJs do not
realize that they are doing anything reckless or dangerous. There is no obvious peril in their eyes,
but only a burning desire to know. When there is clear physical peril (like a diving board), then
they are more cautious.
This tendency to perform risky experiments doesn't go away when they grow up, either. Isaac
Newton, INTJ, almost blinded himself by staring at the sun in an effort to study the colorful spots
228 Parenting Skill and the INTJ Child!, n.d.
229 Tieger & Barron-Tieger, 1997
230 Thorne & Gough, 1991. Female INTJs do not fit their gender stereotype as well as male INTJs, and are probably
less likely to be seen as conforming and nonrebellious.