“Accuracy” as a Decision-Maker
First see “How Your Mind Makes Decisions”
Introverted Thinking (or what we’ve nicknamed Accuracy) is the part of us that asks, “Does this make sense?” When data is incongruent or when it doesn’t add up, you’re using Accuracy to sort it out. When you make a decision based upon consistent, solid facts, you’re using Accuracy as decision-making criteria.
Examples:
“It doesn’t really matter if it’s my boss, he was totally incorrect in his assertion that receiving co-paid insurance should ingratiate us to this company and as a way to ‘pay back’ we should volunteer for overtime. It doesn’t matter if our performance will be graded upon it. I’m not going to volunteer, and I’ll defend my position in my next interview. Status doesn’t justify manipulating facts or people.”
“Happiness is a noble human endeavor, but the way to happiness is mostly systemic. If you create the conditions of happiness, then it will be the natural emergent property. We should look at the components of happiness starting with the ‘nodes’ in the system, the largest influencers, alter to them to ideal conditions and see if happiness emerges.”
Accuracy-driven people are far more driven by facts than people. In fact, sometimes other people seem like data points to an Accuracy user, though they aren’t necessary cold-hearted. Seeking Truth is the ultimate virtue, but Truth is subjective (as any Accuracy person will tell you). That means sorting through a lot of ideally unpolluted data to see as clear a picture as possible. People’s emotions are sticky – definitely not ‘unpolluted’. So, when it comes decision time everyone’s emotions take a back seat.
At best, Accuracy tells truth without judgment. It’s not trying to determine what’s good or bad, just what makes sense. If you’re mistaken and an Accuracy person corrects you, it’s not personal. They honestly would want that information themselves and so they expect you want it, too. Some of the clearest thinkers of the past have been Accuracy driven – Einstein, among them. The concept of “Radical Honesty” is most assuredly an Accuracy person’s project. When we tell each other the truth without judgment, we don’t have to hide from ourselves or our insecurities any more. We face life as it is fully and work with what we’ve got, not with what we wish we had. We also master the secrets of the universe through careful, uncorrupted study. This leads to knowledge that blows us away, and helps us gain perspective through these amazing journeys of science and discovery.
At their worst, an Accuracy person is a know-it-all, cavalierly questioning every conclusion they did not personally come to in order to prove the superiority of their ‘information’. Since they don’t have other people’s emotions on their radar, they can be socially crass and inconsiderate, sometimes down-right hurtful. Masters of data and information, they can see themselves as not benefiting from other people’s information any longer and so zoom too far in on what they already know instead of gathering new, imperative data. They pollute their information, not by introducing sticky elements, but by completely ignoring relevant details.
In order to make the best decisions, Accuracy people should remember a couple of things. First, being open-minded is the quickest path to Truth, whatever that ends up meaning. Dismissing others for being less ‘rational’ than you is a pretty irrational way of culling data. Anyone, anywhere, anytime can teach you grand truths, and so keep your antennae on alert. To do the opposite only makes you what you hate the most – ignorant.
Second, be careful not to ignore the importance of context when studying content. True, sometimes context can get in the way of a train of thought. But information is always part of a bigger spider web of connected ideas and theories, so make sure you’ve at least taken that into consideration before you study just a few strands. Don’t mistake mastery for accuracy.
Accuracy people tend to have a blind spot in Harmony.
Want to learn more?
Discover Your Personal Genius
We want to hear from you. Leave your comments below…
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Great article. As an INTP it’s nice to know there are a few people on this planet who understand our thinking process. One thing that I disagree with (and I see it said on every sight that talks about INTPs) is the idea that we view truth as subjective. Truth is truth. People’s opinions, theories, and beliefs about what is true are totally subjective. Two people give different accounts of the same event, not because they are both true, but because their perspective is limited, and their prejudices cloud their view of reality. Scientist will put forth ideas they are sure of, only to have to discard those ideas after experiments reveal facts unknown before. The truth didn’t change. They were just working with an incomplete set of facts.
I guess I just have a different definition for truth than everybody else. To me truth is there, and it’s always true. Sometimes a specific truth can be discovered, and sometimes it can’t. Sometimes we’re sure we have one figured out, but other truths we know we’ll never know for sure. But I’m glad that there is a sight like this telling other (especially young) INTPs/truth seekers to listen to everybody with an open mind. I never know who will give me my next piece of the puzzle.
We weren’t indicating that truth itself is subjective (since that’s an age-old philosophical question and not the one this article was tackling), but that the results of using the cognitive function Accuracy (Introverted Thinking) are subjective. What makes sense to you doesn’t always make sense to everyone else, regardless of whether or not it’s empirical truth. I hope that helps clarify our intent a bit.
Thanks for the comment and feedback. 😀
-A-
“We weren’t indicating that truth itself is subjective (since that’s an age-old philosophical question and not the one this article was tackling), but that the results of using the cognitive function Accuracy (Introverted Thinking) are subjective.”
That’s exactly what you wrote. From above:
“Seeking Truth is the ultimate virtue, but Truth is subjective (as any Accuracy person will tell you).”
Why lie about it? Rewrite that sentence in the article so it is more clear that you are talking about the cognitive function and not Truth.
NOTHING in this 3D lie and illusion called the universe and humanity is true, it is all a lie and illusion meant to disconnect us from eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, formless, non-dimensional Truth, Wisdom, Joy, Power, Beauty, Ecstasy, Strength, and Reality, which is who we really are.
For more about reconnecting to Wisdom, and how everything 3D is an illusion and a lie, read Bryan Kemila’s IlluminatiMATRIX blog:
https://illuminatimatrix.wordpress.com/
I also recommend Robert Scheinfeld’s Ultimate Key To Freedom:
http://www.robertscheinfeld.com/ultimate-key-to-freedom-online/
IMHO, truth is not subjective, but Truth is subjective.
One is what is, and the other is what we perceive.
All truth can only be experienced through a subjective veil, so we we speak about truth as a theory, it is not subjective, but when we speak about truth in practice, it is always subjective.
A very well stated explanation that’s hard to argue with. Thank you, Matthew.
I am an INTP also and I reacted in pretty much the same way when I read that sentence. It bothers me when people say the truth is subjective because it’s not, it people’s different views on things that make it seem that.
I agree with you both. That is the only thing in the article that “bothered” me 🙂
Hello,
Infj here. Correct me if I am misunderstanding, but I respectfully disagree with the idea of staying open-minded to other people’s views or not dismissing them as irrational. This advice may be excellent for those who think they know everything and those who refuse to listen to others. Here’s my take on it, as a brown-skinned infj woman with a trauma history.
From an infj people pleaser’s point of view, one of the biggest mistakes in my life was choosing to adopt other people’s opinions and taking their bad advice. I only went along with what people wanted me to do, because I felt obligated to please them and to maintain social harmony. Since I have a trauma history, I had a tendency to second-guess myself and not realize that my opinion mattered just as much as the other person. Once I chose to go along with someone else’s flawed perspective, I had to pay the price. When people push their poor advice and poor opinions on you, they don’t have to deal with the negative consequences. I could have avoided a lot of negative situations, IF I stayed true to what I thought and wanted. For infjs who have been involved with narcissists, you all know what it’s like to be manipulated into doing things that you don’t want to do.
One important life lesson for me is to trust my judgment, regardless of what people say. Considering that most of the advice I have received in life was inaccurate and unhelpful, I am happpier evaluating other people’s opinions before I can accept it as truth. It’s ironic that I have gotten more positive results by listening to my introverted intuition, instead of doing what others want me to do. Since my happiness is my responsibility, I can’t aftord to pay the price of listening to someone else who doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Don’t get me wrong. I can appreciate a different perspective, as long as it’s insightful and well-thought out. The best advice I have received in life came from those who understood trauma and people of color, and those who knew how to listen to the facts of what I am saying.
I am polite and respectful to everybody, but I still will mentally reject and discard what someone says if it’s not accurate.
Thanks for your article.
As an INFJ your best decision-making cognitive function isn’t Accuracy (aka Introverted Thinking), it’s Harmony (Extraverted Feeling).
As your 10 Year Old (tertiary) cognitive function, Accuracy can support your conclusions, but if you give it priority it will actually trip you up.
I recommend reading the resource page for INFJs with helpful tips on how to develop the Harmony process: https://personalityhacker.com/resources-infj/
Cheers!
-A-
I am an INFJ as well, and I couldn’t have said it any better! Well done:)
In terms of identifying the functions, how does one identify “Authenticity” Vs “Accuracy”? Are there certain marked visible behaviors or reactions to identify someone who uses one over the other?
Authenticity is feeling-based. Accuracy is thinking-based.
Based on my admittedly-limited knowledge about this, it seems that
Authenticity focuses on personal truth, or being true to yourself and your feelings,
vs
Accuracy, which focuses on universal truth, or being true to the universe and its data.
Anyone have any other thoughts?
I received INTJ on your test however I identify more with Ti as a decision maker. Should I go with INTP due to the Ti identification?
Hi Lore,
Have you had a chance to read INTP vs INTJ? It may help you identify which type makes more sense for you.
https://www.personalityhacker.com/intp-vs-intj
I take the test multiple times. Once INFP. Once ISTJ. Several times INTJ. This time, and once before, I got INTP. I honestly don’t know my type 🤷🏾♂️
(INFJ) Well written 🙂
I like how you are able to use the first function, and when it goes bad in its user, show how it can turn against itself. After all, we value our first function,so we would want to preserve it in a healthy and robust form.
Would an INFP benefit from Accuracy? We INFPs sometimes ignore the truth for the sake of conviction–though effectiveness is a nice way to balance ourselves out, perhaps accuracy is too since it relates to the reality of things?
I’d say having someone who is Accuracy to bounce ideas off of is always helpful, but as an INFP you would want to spend more time developing your Co-Pilot process of “Exploration.” It will help you get the real-world feedback you need to keep your finger on the pulse of ‘reality’ and keep you more grounded.
-A-
great, easy to understand information. Thank you. When will you be posting information about the types Effectiveness & Authenticity as Decision-Makers, please?