INTP Emotional Expression
It’s not that INTPs can’t be empathetic, and caring, and sweet, because they really are. However, they’re just kind of awkward around these types of situations. For example, if somebody is crying, an INTP’s initial reaction is going to be I don’t know what to do and kind of pull away. They want to help but they just don’t really know how. That isn’t their forte. They like to be with someone that they can serve their logic to on a cold, hard platter and that will be very rational with them.
Moreover, INTPs just want to feel comfortable with the person. If you take them out and you’ve got plans, an INTP is happy because they can just show up and be themselves without worrying about a thing. INTPs are complex, but they’re also like simple puppies. They just want food and maybe some wine or beer, if they’re old enough, and to sit on a comfy couch. They’re super intelligent, super complex, but also just treat them like cute little puppies and make them comfy, and they will love you for it.
INTP Relationship Example
If you want a good example of an INTP relationship, you can look at Karl Pilkington (video linked below). His long-term girlfriend is named Suzanne. She never appears in anything, but he does talk about how they met, and it’s so INTP-ish. They were at work and he wanted a hot chocolate from the vending machine, and she offered to buy it for him and never asked for the money back, and he thought, in his words, “She’s alright.” That’s an INTP for you.
They’re complex, yet so simple. Suzanne initiated with him. She gave him a good experience, gave him a nice hot chocolate, showed that she wanted him by continuing to initiate with him, and now they’ve been together for a long time. However, they are not married, which is an important note with INTPs.