Gregory House: INTJ or INTP?

[@HighFiveFriend]

He’s one of my favorite people... no matter what his type! Interesting breakdown!

[@SunscreenAndVitamins]

Good video. INTJ has ENTP shadow, and the character of Gregory House is an INTJ with a very well-developed ENTP shadow. Real ENTPs have way more friends than House does, and get along with people much better (full Rolodex). Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight demonstrates the same dynamic: ENTP with very well-developed INTJ shadow. Almost like dual functioning.

[@GearsDemon]

I thought INTJ shadow is ESFP?

[@SunscreenAndVitamins]

@@GearsDemon INTJ shadow is ENTP, but INTJ in reverse is ESFP. INTJs and ESFPs are using the same functions, but in reverse order. INTJ hero is ESFP inferior, etc. I have seen ESFP described as INTJ shadow, too, so I know what you're talking about. It's not.

[@FrenchCelt]

@@GearsDemon The shadow functions are the other side of the function coin for a type. Since INTJ is Ni-Te-Fi-Se, the shadow stack is Ne-Ti-Fe-Si, which is an ENTP.

[@OG-zc2zj]

I think he's intj. Idk how to explain it well, but he has that weird aggressiveness that ntjs typically have. Most NTPs just doesn't have that vibe.

[@loref4200]

Agreed. These were the two types I considered as well given his unhealth, and constant fluctuating between ego/shadow.

[@PowerRedBullTypology]

ENTP ---> Bounce off ideas of ANYONE is very ENTP.. Risk taking is ENTP, attitude is ENTP, curiousity is Ne, disconnected from own feelings (Fi) is ENTP, collecting usleses info is Ne/Si (intentional is Ni). Try if something works is not (only) Te but can also be NE being experimental I'm surprised someone thinks he's an INTJ. If not ENTP, then it must be INTP.

[@darkonone5158]

I recognize so much of myself in your description of INTPs... it's like you know me ..

[@drwilsonstoenailpolish3194]

I see him as an intp but I’m probably just biased because I’m an intp and I love him

[@keyka161]

House is an ENTP, a not very social one, but definitely ENTP.

[@L.l.I.ia_N]

Agree

[@sonicmaths8285]

What's your exact reasoning for it?

[@migsmethinks5801]

Thought about this a lot and I have to disagree. House is an INTJ. House typically entertains only one possible diagnosis at a time (Ni) then runs a test to see if it's correct (Te). When he does have the team test for multiple ideas, the other ideas are either from the team (in which case, it's often to prove them wrong and get the idea out of the way) or are a matter of logically-required medical due dilligence ("test for X, and when it comes back negative, test/treat for my conclusion"). His singular solutions usually come in the form of a sudden epiphany inspired by something he inadvertently observes that seems at first to outsiders as logically unrelated. Of course, he understands that solving medical cases via seemingly-random epiphanies is not always reliable, so he uses on his team to give him ideas which he then immediately judges using his Te. What he writes on the board are predominantly symptoms, not so much possible diagnoses unless those possibilities (typically derived from others or conventional wisdom) have already been tested to be false. This is not so much a matter of outputting ideas as it is a way to Te externally organize known information for the purposes of intake. As for Fi, he is driven far more by what he personally wants than what others want. His relationships are all about what he wants and what he needs. (He needs Cuddy to help save him from himself, he desires Dominika to serve as a bubbly Eastern European sex buddy who cares about him to help him fill the void, he needs Wilson because he serves as both a companion with zero need for social niceties and worthy intellectual opponent who pays for lunch). The few times in which House takes a personal interest in patients are either because their demeanor/ cognitive condition is a mystery that he personally wants to solve for his own purposes (usually because it threatens his established Ni world view and he Fi needs to be right ) or because he sees himself in the patient (such as his interest in the emancipated minor's freedom and the autistic boy's built-in excuse to not have to follow social conventions). The only time he Fe's is when it's absolutely necessary for his own ends (such as to maintain his relationship with Cuddy). As for Se, well, there's he has a motorcycle, sleeps with prostitutes, and (as Wilson put it in explaining why he's sure that House owns a gun) is attracted to anything physically dangerous. While a drug addiction is in and of itself not necessarily indicative of Se, increased recreational use of it during times of stress points to a propensity to use Se as an escape from deep Fi personal pain. Similarly, notice how House is most reckless and sensory-seeking after his breakup with Cuddy. To avoid dealing with such Fi pain, he turns to an endless string of prostitutes, jumping off a balcony into a swimming pool, and running a car into Cuddy's dining room when seeing her with another guy puts his Fi pain at unbearable levels. Other INTJ-like traits he exhibits include: -The Ni adoption of succinct universal truths ("everybody lies", "there's no such thing as a dignified death", "people are idiots", "there is no God", "life is meaningless", "emotions don't matter", "the ends justify the means", "it's never lupus") -Being incredibly resistant to change that he himself does not initiate (see: whenever a team member leaves, when he's assigned a different parking spot, and when he wants the original blood-stained carpet in his office instead of the bloodless but otherwise identical replacement) -Being very obsessive and adamant about focusing on one project (his cases) at a time and having extreme difficulty moving onto another until the present case is solved -Knowing since a young age what he wanted to do as a profession -Ni ability to correctly predict the actions of people he knows (see: that one episode when he keeps using photos of himself with written correct predictions as proof that he correctly predicted events that happened right before the photo's unveiling, or when it's heavily implied he figured out Chase and Cameron's secret relationship) -Propensity to optimize (in his case, he doesn't bother trying to pick up girls at bars, judging prostitutes to be the more efficient course to satisfy sexual needs; and after his favorite prostitute quits, he goes through an intense interview process with other prostitutes, noting thay "Sex is a given. They're hookers. To get the gig, a call girl - sorry, 'call woman' - needs a combination of skills that I find useful/entertaining for the remaining 57 minutes of the hour I paid for.") -Propensity to solve problems his own way (such as through self-medication, by performing surgery on himself) I will admit that House does also have some ENTP tendencies, especially with regard to witty remarks, crazy bets with Wilson, creative childish pranks, and readiness to argue. However, it's worth noting that the functional stack of ENTP is the shadow of INTJ's stack and that House is very unhealthy, especially with regards to feelings and sensations. The aforementioned ENTP acts seem to be means to serve mostly his demon Fi and Se ends (witty remarks -> his Fi need to be right and superior so as to protect his ego; crazy bets and childish pranks -> also that Fi need plus Se need for thrill to fill the void of boredom; readiness to argue -> again, that same Fi need but coupled with the Te practical need to defend his Ni ideas and methods). If you want an ENTP fictional doctor to look up to, there's always Dr. Perry Ulysses Cox from Scrubs.

[@DannyHansen1]

I agree with this analysis. This is why looking at a person holistically is important. Of course we can see House use Ti and Ne because intuition and thinking are his two most developed functions, but he uses them in critical and antagonistic ways. What makes it most clear for me is the clear difference between Fi child and Fe child. And the whole thing with not wanting to amputate his leg is totally an inferior Se thing. I don't think an INTP's Si child would tolerate that kind of pain just for appearance's sake.

[@darshana1401]

I agree completely. His need for external bouncing of ideas is more to immediately judge and rule out and get it out of the way than to actually pursue them, while working towards the one diagnosis he is sure of (inspired by his epiphany) at a time. House is not an observer in his own life. He isn’t detached from his feelings either. He knows what he wants and would never get out of his way to entertain something that he is not comfortable with (Fi). Also, he is clearly aware about how other people might feel in some cases, and actually uses that to his advantage (which, like has been said already is more of a shadow ENTP tendency to serve his Fi and Se). He experiences deep emotions and is extremely protective of them to the extent of guarding them with the outward facade of not seeming to care and sarcasm. House has a clear overarching goal in his life: solve problems because that is what he’s brilliant at, and he knows that it is possibly the closest he would ever come to having a meaningful existence (Ni) by saving lives with his ability to solve problems. And as much as he doesn’t exactly care about the saving lives part, he would never deny that it might have actually helped with having the sense of meaningfulness to his life ("What's the point? I did everything right. She died anyways"). There are cases where he has regretted not being able to find the answer to a problem faster and save someone, especially in places where he has a personal motive towards the patient or has a strong moral obligation (like seeing himself in the patient, as said already). House may not be attracted to gaining power or fame or being recognized in the general sense simply because he does not really care about the people there as much - not feeding his ego. He knows he is far more likely to get reprimanded for his weird working habits, lack of respect for rules or for the lack of concern about people than be known for his brilliance. As for the people he works with, he makes sure he has his own free will and would constantly remind Cuddy about that. And as for his team, he makes sure he bosses them around and that his own free will remains the ultimate presiding power.

[@m4xjac]

I disagree. I think it is a very good analysis but i think that you have ultimately skewed your observations to match your theory. The reason i say this, as an ENTP who has always identified with House a lot even before any knowledge of MBTI is that i think you overlook how incredibly perceptive he is and how much of a factor he is in terms of who he is. Which combined with his Ti and Ne and display of skills and interest in a wide area of things would lead me to think he is more ENTP/INTP than TJ. And lastly we cannot forget the obvious drive for understanding things simply for the sake of understanding, something i definitely can relate to. The part were you say he writes down predominantly symptom is where i began to suspect your analysis was biased because the act of writing down things can mean many things but at the very least represents the need for deeper contemplation. Anyway that's just my long winded way of saying that i disagree and think he's probably TP not TJ.

[@m4xjac]

And by perceptive i mean observant.

[@loref4200]

House definitely has INTJ either in his ego or his shadow (INTJ goes to ENTP in Jungian Shadow and vice versa (unhealth).. so alas he will emulate ENTP traits in his unhealth or vice versa). He consistently uses witty remarks. Challenges everyone. Sarcasm is his main way of speaking. He has high use of Te and has Ni insights consistently (those little ahas when he is speaking to someone, spurred onto a pattern, the one answer). He surrounds himself with 'experts' to bounce off ideas (Te parent responsibility), and when he attempts to make decisions on his own, while he may be correct, his Fe trickster and Ti critic are highly apparent. He ends up realizing that he has to have a team in order to function the way he should. Just some examples of why this is correct. I appreciate your analysis as well.

[@L.l.I.ia_N]

I also see him as INTP most of the time. It's like me being him or him being me. I don't know at this point. First of all everyone can do anything but most of the time he behaves like me. I might be biased but INTJs are not fun. INTPs are hilarious as well as ENTPs.

[@conservativeanalysis6866]

ENTP. He needs a team (his usual staff, janitor, plane passengers, cuddy, etc), uses Ne followed by characteristic Ti, characteristic wit, INFJ best friend, and treats patients with risk and spontaneity to develop his diagnostic theory rather than meticulously adhering to medical principles. His cynicism and misanthropic views are often confused with introversion

[@houseofblues9016]

u clearly haven't met an entp in rl. its nothing like house .if be was an entp he would kill half of the patients wasting time on wrong diagnosis and arguing for fun and not to get to the truth .

[@Artigaz]

House is clearly INTP. He's TERRIBLY SPONTANEOUS, he doesn't foresee everything he's going to do, he's not structured, he knows how to improvise, he's charming, he likes to be in his head instead of doing productive things, he delegates responsibilities (something that INTJs can't do), and in one episode they show that House without his team tends to go off on tangents. INTPs are also logical and make decisions based on data. Did Einstein rely on his imagination and feelings to develop his theory of special relativity?

[@introvertnomads4243]

Great analysis very interesting!

[@PkmnRayhak]

you did it, you 100% convinced me !

[@vizuz]

Hes an ENTP

[@timothyo718]

Neither he is an ENTP.

[@m4xjac]

Why not ?

[@loref4200]

INTJs emulate ENTP characteristics in shadow (Jungian 8 function model demonstrates this).

[@monkeydog8681]

House doesn't see his patients because he can get attached to them thus, as he believes, he loses objectivity.

[@PROLKR]

I'm intj but based on what you mentioned he does seem intp

[@m4xjac]

thats what i think

[@sonicmaths8285]

yeah, she kinda really convinced me

[@ІринаПанасюк-я4у]

Great analysis about House being Ti-dom, Fe-inf and lacking Fi. Thank you for the common sense! What about ISTP, though

[@ІринаПанасюк-я4у]

There is no way INTJ (high Te user) can be this chaotic, irresponsible, impulsive and driven with carnal pleasure like Greg. However, it makes a lot of sence for high unhealthy Se. Moreover, it is strange to assume House is Te user, his essence is literally the fact he dismisses any external rules and stubbornly tries to protect his strange, subjective logic in all costs, which aligns with Ti-dom perfectly. House is actually gifted ISTP LSI sx6 LFVE choleric-melancholic. House's cynism, rudeness and coldness really suits ISTP sx6 much more than any INTJ suggestion.

[@cazbee6126]

I just went to check if he has Fi or Fe smile but he has No smile 😶

[@loref4200]

Not to be that person, but this would only be helpful if we were actually typing the actor, not the character he is representing...

[@Billy_Hughes]

It's weird his personality is very INTP in alot of ways but with his moments were he gets what's wrong is Ni so who knows

[@Nebur9180]

Correct typing, entp i would say also

[@nathangibson2114]

Neither. Messed up entp

[@victorugo3875]

Sigh. He's an ENTP.

[@Adara007]

INTJs don't utilise others to "bounce" ideas off so House's character is far less like an INTJ and more like an INTP or perhaps an ENTP.

[@loref4200]

'Bouncing ideas off of others' is literally one of the main characterizations of a Te user. Extraverted thinking relies on other's input/knowledge/expertise. XNTJs create teams of cohorts with particular knowledge that they can draw from and network with. Ti is the opposite, and prefers thinking internally prior to ever considering going to a group/team to discuss. Typically, their mind is already made up because the "discussion" was an internal one. I think you're confused.

[@Artigaz]

@@loref4200 You haven't seen an INTJ in your life. They only speak when they have already formed the idea, while INTPs think while they speak and use others to hear themselves. The writers were very clear about it: House is INTP to the limit with ENTP. House's personality is based on that of Sherlock Holmes, who is an INTP. There's not much else to say about it.

[@loref4200]

House definitely has INTJ either in his ego or his shadow (INTJ goes to ENTP in Jungian Shadow and vice versa (unhealth).. so alas he will emulate ENTP traits in his unhealth or vice versa). He consistently uses witty remarks (Ne). Challenges everyone (characteristic of Te or Ti in parent slot). Sarcasm is his main way of speaking. He has high use of Te and has Ni insights consistently (those little ahas when he is speaking to someone, spurred onto a pattern, the one answer). He surrounds himself with 'experts' to bounce off ideas (Te parent responsibility), and when he attempts to make decisions on his own, while he may be correct, his Fe trickster and Ti critic are highly apparent in self-sabotaging tendency. He ends up realizing that he has to have a team in order to function the way he should. Just some examples of why this is correct.

[@loref4200]

I've thought it through. House is a very unhealthy INTJ, swinging into ENTP shadow ((Ne nemesis paranoia ("Everyone is going against me. Everybody lies. There is no other explanation/possibility!" (Until he gets an Ni aha)), Ti critic ("I don't know!!! What if I'm wrong? Double check. We need to run the tests again. I need to stew in my office, spiraling, and brooding about why I cannot figure this out because I can't find the one possibility/answer"), Fe trickster ("Nobody cares about you! You will die alone. Your feelings/values/beliefs don't matter. Who cares what everybody else wants!"), Si demon ("Oh, like you ever once cared, you weren't there for me because you're my friend, you only did it out of moral obligation!"). Thus, INTJ often operating in ENTP shadow.

[@superfilthy]

ENTP for sure. Can’t be an I…

[@Zero11s]

dude has no Fe

[@CricketRodeo]

Definitely not INTP in my opinion. Sorry!

[@L.l.I.ia_N]

I see 0 Fi in him. His definitely not an intj. INTJ are not like that at all. They are boring. I see ENTP, INTP and ISTP traits.

[@sonicmaths8285]

Everyone can be boring. That's quite an insulting and inconsistent argument. Bring a better one to the table.

[@mine6472]

I agree with you 💯. Definitely intp.. they are mean and they love it. Intjs are not mean. Just awkward with people and likely to inadvertently insult them. Chronic foot in mouth syndrome.

[@CricketRodeo]

I have to disagree. INTPs have a lot of difficulty being mean (if they're aware of it) because of Fe in their stack. INTJs don't have that problem. They are polite usually, but if push comes to shove, Fi will dominate over Fe.

[@mine6472]

@@CricketRodeo the intps I know have no difficulty being mean lol. Quite the opposite. And sarcasm is their default gear. I don't think they turn it off ever. Are you an intp?

[@migsmethinks5801]

INTJs can be mean in the sense that it's not in our nature to care what others think or feel unless it's coming from a logical perspective or if the opinion/perception of that person affects some of our desired ends. A super genious with no inclination toward social norms who has no aversion to the outcomes that result of eschewing said norms will see no utility in trying to develop the awareness and considerstion required to be nice. The resulting default to self-centered and self-serving behavior is what accounts for an INTJ's meanness. House does this to the extreme, very rarely caring about the successes and failures of others as he cares only when such successes or failures affect him personally.

[@mine6472]

@@migsmethinks5801 that more sounds like intp to me..

[@migsmethinks5801]

@@mine6472 Huh. How so? Adopting unfamiliar Fe caring about social convention and the feelings of others primarily when there is an Fi personal or Te potential consequence to an Ni objective screams INTJ. Sure, INTPs can be mean in the sense that their Ne tendency to explore ideas trumps their 4th-place Fe ability to read a room, but an INTJ's 7th place Fe is trumped by everything else aside from Si memory of detail. To access Fe, we INTJs must often go through our other functions by considering how Fe affects those. For the INTP, accessing their dead-last Fi personal feelings/desires as reason for utilizing their more natural 4th-place Fe doesn't make much sense.