I am very J, but I'm closer to the boundary on I and E, that is very situational for me, and sometimes I'm closer to the boundary on T and F.

As for "concerning yourself", it is my understanding that the people who invented the test thought that it's not bad to be equally balanced on any of the dicotomies (sp?), in fact the perfectly ideal human would be balanced on all four of them.

I am pretty borderline on the P/J axis.

My J is only mildly expressed. I believe that about 10 years ago I might have been perfectly balanced, but I was not tested back then. I have definitely become more J with age.

Another thing I have noticed is a tendency to go back and forth on the t/f axis. My T is only 17%. Reading the descriptions of INFJs, I come pretty close. Is 17% enough to be an X?

Yup.

J vs. P is more of an assertiveness/laissez-faire sort of thing. Being "Dom/sub" is on the (J/P) axis, (IMHO, I'm no psychologist).

In my opinion, as well, being J or P wouldn't show up very much unless one was predominantly J or P. Also, IMHO, P behavior seems to be much more common than J.

XNTX

The psychologist was wrong to think that the difference between the two doesn't amount to much, although Jung apparently thought so. INTJ and INTP are as different as apples and oranges. The reason people test as both is because MBTI considers your answer to the J/P questions to be strictly oriented to how you deal with the external world. In extroverts this is easier to determine (it corresponds to their primary trait) but with introverts it is less pronounced (it is their creative trait). Judging from your profile, you are Ne-creative, i.e. INTP.

I personally tested both ways, as I found I could answer either way on the J/P questions. I also had a hard time finding anything particularly objectionable about applying the INTP profiles to myself. But now after years of practice trying to figure this out, I'm pretty sure I have this problem-domain solved.

No, but initially tested as ISTJ. Working in an engineering field, I guess that I subconsciously answered the way that I felt was "correct" and subsequently got the most typical engineer type of ISTJ. I learned through type descriptions and other methods during workshops (run by workplace psychologist folk) that I was clearly INTJ. The label itself does not actually mean anything though. Being aware of your preferences does allow you to take advantage of circumstances where you are most comfortable, avoid situations where you can slip into 3rd function and what you can do to develop your weaknesses.

I tend to test INTJ about 90% of the time and INTP most of the rest -- but even when I test INTJ, it's almost always something like 55-60% J to 40-45% P...

I heartily disagree with your psychologist!

I wonder whether you are more inclined to meet the world with extraverted iNtuiting, or whether you are more inclined to meet the world with extraverted Thinking. That would help indicate which pattern is your *true* preference.

Of course, that's difficult to figure out, especially when you're in the driver's seat.

Both of these codes share the same Temperament pattern -- the pattern now called "Theorist" by Dr. Linda Berens. (It's a good idea to feel confidence that you demonstrate the Theorist pattern before moving onto the next step.)

If you are certain of your "Theorist" pattern, then it's a good idea to figure out your interaction style pattern. (www.InteractionStyles.com)

One of the biggest indicators of whether your preferences are INTJ or INTP is to notice whether you prefer the informing or directing communication style.

I wote quite a bit about this for my website www.INFJorINFP (who often suffer from this same confusion). The particular page (it's in frames) is:
members.aol.com/macvjv/doc...onStyle.htm

You can mostly substitute "INTJ" for "INFJ" and "INTP" for "INFP" for everything I've written there and get the gist of it.

Figuring out whether you prefer directing or informing is the surest way to choose between these two patterns.

Let me know what you think! (INFJs and INFPs usually love it.)

As to their being minor differences, I can tell you that as a Psychological Coach, I would interact with you verrrrry differently depending on which of these patterns was your best fit. To brush it off as minor betrays a little ignorance on the psychologist's part IMHO. :-(

If you were ever married to the other type, you would KNOW what I'm talking about.