Four Quadrant Model of the Brain

The SSPS shows that each of the four quadrants of the brain has their own role, or function, to play in our personality and our consciousness. Based on Jung's Theory of Psychological Type, we are hard-wired to prefer one function or quadrant over the others and we use each quadrant or function in either an inwardly or an outwardly way.

The INTP's Predominant Striving Style is the Intellectual, which is rooted in the left rational brain (Jung's Thinking function) and focused internally. This is the part of the brain responsible for self-regulation, or the management of impulses and emotions. The purpose of the left rational brain is to decide and it likes to do this swiftly, sometimes with minimal input. It helps us to consider objectively and dispassionately what needs to be done, how soon it needs to be done, and who must do it. It decides things in a reasoned and logical fashion, considering how everything fits in a well ordered world. It decides what we need to do to get to where we want to go. 

If the left rational brain could talk, it would say things like, “Hey, nothing personal, but I’m sorting you into the ‘people who have done me wrong’ category or the ‘People Who Are Like Me’ category,” The left rational brain doesn’t “feel” any particular way about all this information; it just goes about its tidy, analytical way, keeping track of what’s what. 

Drivers of Human Behavior: Needs & Emotions  

Each of us is driven by powerful, instinctual needs and have been since birth. These needs are a source of motivation and influence our behavior. When our predominant need is met, we are poised for growth. When our need is not met, fear and anxiety override rational, leading to self-protective or survival behaviors.

INTPs, as Intellectual Style people, have a predominant need to be knowledgeable. Cerebral, curious, with a strong need to appear competent, they work to understand things deeply and thoroughly, accumulating information and insight in the process. They create an inner reality for themselves consisting of information, conclusions and ideas, making everything they come across, including people, into a perfect whole. Independent and self-sufficient, Intellectuals use their minds to experience the world. They are non-judgmental and like to “live and let live.”

When their need to be knowledgeable is frustrated, the Self-Protective System of the Intellectual (INTP) is activated, causing survival behaviors to emerge including:

• assume attitude of “intellectual superiority” to push others away; insist on being right
• avoid emotional interactions; don’t tolerate conflict; prefer others to be as logical and detached as they are
• refuse to share information with others; come off as aloof, cold and unfeeling
• resent the demands of others; act rebelliously; can engage in reclusive and withholding behaviors

Using the Whole Brain: Striving Style Squad

Going beyond the descriptors of the MBTI, the SSPS shows people how to access and integrate all four quadrants of their brain in order to use their whole brain as it is intended. There are four Styles that make up a person's Striving Style Squad, each with its own role to play in our personality based on where they reside in the brain.

The Striving Style Squad for the INTP is: Intellectual Predominant Style with Performer, Socializer & Stabilizer Associate Styles. Each Associate Style on the Squad also has a specific need that must be met and different innate talents that allow it to meet that need. Often, we neglect the development of the Associate Styles, resulting in the overuse of our Predominant Style which is a detriment to our confidence and mental health.

If we are not using the appropriate quadrant of our brain and its associated Style for its intended purpose, we end up using a different part of our brain in a way that it was not intended to be used. This can limit our flexibility, drain us of valuable internal resources, and ultimately thwart our development and growth in life.

Want to know more about the Striving Style Squad of the INTP? Download our PDF now! 

To learn about the other MBTI Types, click here.