The INTP is a passive aggressive competitor. Because the INTP doesn’t like the limelight, they avoid jumping into it to prove to the world that they are the best – however, the INTP is constantly holding private contests with others to prove to themselves that they can win. The INTP might share these conquests after-the-fact with close friends, but often they are content just to know that they won.

These contests can go on for any length of time – from seeing if they can beat someone in another checkout line at the grocery store, to spending years developing a particular skill set. Time also has no boundaries between the offending act (which triggers the contest) and when the contest may take place in the future.

Usually the competitors of the INTP are not even aware that they are being competed against! It could be as simple as noticing that the person next to them started a form at the same time and they try to finish theirs first. These small victories can make the INTP’s day.

As far as real competition goes (ones that get recognized by the public), the INTP will not care unless they have made it a personal decision to win. When this happens, the INTP can be ruthless and will do almost anything in the immediate future to accomplish this goal – because long-term goals do not normally appeal to the INTP. If winning cannot be accomplished in a short period of time, the INTP will probably lose interest altogether.