When you have time, I'd love to see one of those distinctive traits list of an ISFJ.
Concern for internal and external physical comfort for self and others (”Are you cold? I’m cold… I’m turning the heat up”).
Tendency to want to plan and attend to all related details rather than wing it. (There is no one better to go on vacation with. Everything is provided. Everyone’s physical, mental, and dietary needs are met. Etc.)
Often has a swift emotional response when problems arise. May make momentary decisions based on emotion or impulse. Calms down and becomes rational later.
Sentimental. May preserve, protect, or romanticize their personal past.
Interested in understanding themselves and others, and may adopt certain methods to organize their inner mental process (”Why do I like these things? What do they have in common? What does that say about me?”).
Previous negative friendships/relationships may block new ones from happening organically or, alternatively, set a “standard” of idealism that new people struggle to live up to.
Tendency toward pessimism under stress. Everything can and will go wrong. (This is inferior Ne “freaking out.”)
Swift to protect and defend others, particularly those in their inner circle. May “adopt” certain people and be very protective over them (friends, family, etc). More inclined to defend others before self. Might over-extend self, in an attempt to provide for or take care of other people or meet all their needs; has trouble learning to say “no.”
Excellent at the details involved in a project. Has a reasonable idea of how much work is involved, which influences the decision to begin or not.
Meticulous and studied in their conclusions and arguments. Prone to infrequent exaggeration on emotional terms, but not in factual terms.
Becomes progressively more of an “expert” over time, at whatever they are doing, because repeated exposure to the same thing improves with repetition (ISTJs and NPs can also do this, though NPs may not stick with the hobby long enough to perfect their skill).
Bottles up emotions but feels better once “airing” them.
Good at listening to others’ problems, affirming them, and general politeness. Often reluctant to correct others or offer criticism that is not coached in overall supportive dialogue (”You have a problem with this, but in these five other areas, you are exceptional!”).
Tendency toward resistance to change or new, unproven ideas. Skeptical toward idealism, and sometimes prone to over-exaggeration.
Finds lack of details frustrating and leaps to conclusions that may be incorrect when they don’t have all the information to get a broad view of what happened.
May, when young or unhealthy, be prone to over-enthusiasm and gushing, to make people feel better.
Tends to hide personal feelings behind a smile, and pretend nothing is wrong.
Open to change if it does not threaten personal memories or involve past experience triggers (”The last time this happened…”).
ENTJ: You are an amazing lightning-calculator of optimal allocations of capital and labor resources in grand global corporate or military undertakings. Your only weakness is that you are just so amazing and competent at everything that you often lose track of your ~feelings~
ESTJ: You can be middle-management of an assembly line or a construction foreman or something.
INTJ: You are a strategic mastermind, quietly manipulating the course of external events from the shadows, smirking as your enemies trap themselves in your cleverly-laid invisible snares. Your mind is a labyrinthine complex of contingency plans and flexible strategies that allow you to overcome any challenges or obstacles.
ISTJ: You like to follow rules and you can organize calendars or whatever.
ENFJ: You are a giver, a wonderful friend, a diplomat using his intuitive understanding of interpersonal relations to manipulate the feelings of individuals and crowds for the greater good.
ESFJ: You’re good at organizing office birthday parties and book clubs.
INFJ: You have the righteous introspection of Jesus, the charisma and principles of Gandhi, and you are amazing at internalizing the pain of others and empathizing with their true struggles. The only dark side is that you might be so good at this that you become HITLER because you’re so devilishly smart and amazing.
ISFJ: You can bake cookies and take care of gardens.
ENTP: You are a clever, quick-witted inventor, endlessly creative with loopholes in systems of logic and always fast with a joking retort during a debate. You’re a whiz-bang lawyer or a famous entrepreneur, following your amazing vision.
ESTP: You can do x-treme sports and be a club promoter.
INTP: You can be an Einstein, a Darwin, a Dawkins, an amazing thinker, producing a formidable corpus of thought and theory that will influence science and philosophy for generations to come.
ISTP: You can fix cars.
ENFP: You are an inspirer, extremely perceptive of others’ thoughts and feelings, a revolutionary champion of the downtrodden, able to bring the best out of everyone, able to get people to open up like no other.
ESFP: You can party and dance.
INFP: Your richly developed inner values can blossom forth in an explosion of extraverted intuition to create new worlds and universes of indescribable beauty, and reveal an understanding of the workings of human feelings and ethics that is unrivaled. You are a beautiful soul that few can understand.
ISFP: You’re really sensitive and you can paint pictures :)
I think it does a good job of pointing out the flaws of how most MBTI descriptions are written, and I personally found it really funny. Of course, as you brilliant Sensors can attest, none of it is true. :)
Healthy Sixes trust their
own experiences and are okay with being unable to predict the outcome. They are
productive, logical thinkers who organize their thoughts and actions around
what is most advantageous for the common good. Astute judges of character, they
are honest, loyal, reliable, and positive.
Six Traits
Sixes imagine and plan for the worst
Sixes distrust and authority figures
Sixes are sharp, analytically-minded
troubleshooters
Sixes are the ultimate devil’s advocate
Sixes are funny, understanding, loyal, and
compassionate
Sixes suffer from almost-constant low-level
anxiety
Sixes are quick and competent in a crisis… then
fall apart
Sixes wait for the other shoe to drop
Sixes are rarely sure they’ve made the right
decision
Fear influences all of the Six’s life choices
Sixes hate unpredictable situations and prefer
order to chaos
Sixes distrust flattery or too many compliments
Sixes are slow to open up but then never leave
you
Sixes are skeptical of the unknown and ask hard
questions
Sixes see two sides to everything and doubt
themselves
Sixes turn their anxiety into self-depreciating
humor
Sixes often forget their past success and take
on too much work
Enneagram Wings
6w5: are intellectual, cautious, self-controlled, introverted,
and seek security through an authority figure; they feel safest in groups
that share their values or belief systems; they protect their personal
information and seek alone time, which exacerbates their fears; often,
they over-analyze instead of act.
6w7: are entertaining, adventurous, and playful, willing to
take risks for their loved ones, but always careful to have a backup plan in
case the mission fails.
Phobic: these Sixes obey the rules and are loyal to authority, in
whom they place their trust, are deferential to their boss and avoid conflict.
They do not challenge their fears and instead stay inside ‘safe zones.’
Counter-Phobic: these Sixes are less compliant and agreeable, more
inclined to actively challenge authority to provoke a counter-attack (and
reveal the truth about the ‘authority’). They try to identify, target, and defeat their fears.
Under stress: Sixes act like unhealthy Threes (become
workaholics, pursue material success, and hoard resources to make them feel
more secure); they put on a facade of competence to dull their anxiety and
impress others with how ‘together’ they are, but refuse to do anything they
doubt they can succeed at or take unnecessary risks.
When feeling secure: Sixes move to the positive side of Nine, less
likely to have panic attacks about what could happen, stop planning for
disasters, and have less general anxiety. They become amusing, flexible, enigmatic,
and energetic, and less narrow-minded or rigid in their beliefs, able to trust
their instincts about other people and become less jaded.
Advice for the 6: doubt
yourself less, and trust yourself more. You have more courage and strength than
you know. Believe and trust in something bigger than yourself. Believe that whatever
happens, you can always find a place of safety, and you can trust your friends
to have your back. Consider prayer or meditation to calm your mind. Rebel when necessary, not out of fear. Record your successes and read them often, to
remind yourself that you can make good choices alone. Be positive about others’
ideas, instead of tearing them apart. Limit your exposure to the news. Learn to
recognize the difference between legitimate fear and free-flowing anxiety.
Influences on MBTI Types:
ISTJ: relies on
extensive knowledge and research to prepare oneself for the worst, motivated
through inferior Ne fears of “the great unknown”; unlikely to take risks,
semi-aggressive in pointing out logical flaws; may become rigid in their belief
system and traditionalist in their views.
ESTJ: a
safety-first decision-maker and reluctant leader, who prepares for all possible
negative outcomes and does not move forward until certain of success; may
distrust and push away from their emotions, fearing they might be a source of “weakness,”
leading to poor inferior Fi development (and insecurity in their relationships,
which causes additional anxiety); prone to traditionalist or nationalist
thinking (their ‘safe’ zone).
ISFJ: relies on extensive knowledge and research to prepare oneself
for the worst, motivated through inferior Ne fears of “the great unknown”;
unlikely to take risks, desperate to form emotional connections but hesitant to
reveal too much personal information; extremely loyal and care giving toward
those who win their trust, often uses self-depreciating humor to amuse others,
but semi-detached from their feelings (over-reliant on analyzing and
problem-solving with Ti).
ESFJ: takes on a
mothering role in protecting and shepherding their loved ones / trying to
anticipate and problem-solve any potential issues, eager to avoid risk, feels
safest in familiar territory and/or with others who share their values; low Ne
issues of paranoid suspicions, indecisive and second-guessing of their
decisions (low Ne issues + 6 fearfulness); strong reliance on inferior Ti, but
insecurity about its blind spots.
INTJ: distrustful
and secretive, prone to negative idealization and/or may face high Ni conflict
with 6 in trying to identify and eliminate problem areas as they go; may have
trouble identifying a safe zone, and involve themselves in a rigid ideology to
feel safe; pushes away from inferior Se / risk taking, overestimates how much
they can accomplish at once; due to indecisiveness, may mistype as a Ne or Si
type.
ENTJ: often
builds their own system which enables them to feel safe, or distrusts authority
other than their own; uses Se to deal with problems as they happen, but has a
negative outlook on life and always prepares for the worst; may be indecisive
and self-doubting, has inferior Fi issues of feeling anxious in their
relationships, which combines with Ni ‘reading’ between the lines / into things
overmuch.
INFJ: distrustful
and secretive, prone to negative idealization and/or may face high Ni conflict
with 6 in trying to identify and eliminate problem areas as they go; may have
trouble identifying a safe zone, and involve themselves in a rigid ideology to
feel safe; pushes away from inferior Se / risk taking, desperate to form
emotional connections but hesitant to reveal too much personal information;
extremely loyal and care giving toward those who win their trust, often uses
self-depreciating humor to amuse others, but semi-detached from their feelings
(over-reliant on analyzing and problem-solving with Ti).
ENFJ: takes on a
mothering role in protecting and shepherding their loved ones / trying to
anticipate and problem-solve any potential issues, eager to avoid risk, feels
safest with others who share their values; uses Se to deal with problems as
they happen, but has a negative outlook and always prepares for the worst;
strong reliance on inferior Ti, but insecure about their relationships; may
fall into a narrow ideology (Ni) to feel safe.
ESTP: far more
risk-adverse and more analytical than other ESTPs, may mistype as an ISTP due
to reliance on Ti, with inferior Ni struggling to identify future negative
outcomes; prone to a lot of negativity about the future (and singular
conclusions about it); less self-assured about their ability to wing things,
prone to low-level anxiety over tert-Fe (the desire to connect to others, but
uncertainty and suspicion causing detachment issues).
ISTP: intensely
analytical, with frequent Ti/Ni loops (predicting the worst and preparing for
it), not inclined to risk-taking, low NiFe desire to connect to a larger
ideology or group who can provide security in being “right”; especially good at
pointing out logical fallacies, and trusting of their ability to ‘read into’
authority figures’ motives.
ESFP: more covetous
of traditionalism and rigid ideology than other ESFPs, prone to knee-jerk
reactive (and often competent) impulses; less emotional and more driven to arm
oneself with Te facts / logic / strong decision making, but struggles with
continual self doubt, waffles on decisions once made, and feels insecure about
going out on a limb alone; may cling to an ideology of the future that makes
them feel safe (Ni).
ISFP: less
emotional and more reliant on logic than other ISFPs, prone to Ni-looping (fear
of singular negative outcomes, and then uses Te to try and effectively head
them off); hard-working and responsible, but does not like additional
responsibilities; may distrust their logic center, and feel safer when others
agree with them. Prone to negativity and becoming secretive and withdrawn when
anxious.
ENTP: quick to
read beneath the surface and assign motives to authority figures, or point out
flaws in proposed ideas; often indecisive, self-doubting, craves external affirmation
and reassurances about their logic (tert-Fe needs); may be safety-conscious and
reluctant to abandon old belief systems that root them into ‘feeling’ safe about
the unknown (inferior Si); less risk-taking than other ENTPs, and more traditional
/ covetous of finding something, anything to cling to that seems “true.”
INTP: super-analytical
and detached, wants to connect to a community through shared values (low Fe)
but suspicious, distrustful, quick to read beneath the surface and assign motives
to others or second-guess their relationships, often loyal to former ideologies
or belief systems (faith, science, nationalism, family, etc) as their security
checkpoint; will read up on many different things in order to “arm themselves
for the worst.”
ENFP: quick to
read beneath the surface and assign motives to authority figures, or point out
flaws in proposed ideas; often indecisive, self-doubting, and distrustful of
their Ne (they may not feel it is ‘practical’ in the real world) – which means
over-reliance on tert-Te to problem solve, point out rational flaws in proposed
ideas, and come up with worst-case scenarios instead of the usual Ne-dom
optimism; may be detached from their emotions as a result of continual Ne/Te
looping; may be safety-conscious and reluctant to abandon old belief systems
that root them into ‘feeling’ safe about the unknown (inferior Si); less
risk-taking than other ENFPs, and more traditional / covetous of finding
something, anything to cling to that seems “true.”
INFP: less
emotional and more reliant on logic than other INFPs, quick to read beneath the
surface and assign motives to authority figures, or point out flaws in proposed
ideas; often indecisive, self-doubting, and distrustful of their Ne (they may
not feel it is ‘practical’ in the real world); strong Si-roots (areas in their
thought process they refuse to question, challenge, or second-guess); may
distrust their logic center, and feel safer when others agree with them. Prone
to disappearing when anxious.
so can an ISFJ resemble extroverts with their Fe? i have a lot of extroverted qualities but i personally feel that i’m an introvert deep down. so how can you tell the difference between ISFJ and ESFJ? also side note do ISFJs also define themselves by external standards and care what others think like Fe doms do?
I have seen my ISFJ best friend ‘turn on’ Fe and act like an extrovert in a social group … but at the end of the day she still wants to go home and crash. After being out and about and social for that long, she winds down and needs to sleep it off or go into her room for awhile. She dreams about long weekends with the house all to herself.
Extroverts get bored of that very quickly and start texting all their friends, if they can’t call them or see them in person or have nothing to do. :P
I’ve done four comparisons of these two types in the ESFJ x ISFJ tag.
Would you say your flaw is not considering all possibilities and/or feeling threatened by multiple perspectives (inferior Ne) or a dislike of detaching on an emotional level and analyzing your loved ones ruthlessly (inferior Ti)?
Under stress, do you turn into Rory Gilmore and think about the 453 ways this could ruin your future (ISFJ) or do you become like Caroline Forbes and wail, “WHY? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING???” as you try desperately to understand it instead of just dealing with it (ESFJ)?
Hello. I was wondering what are the sterotype of (the function) extroverted feeling? And what are the real (function) extroverted feeling like? Also could a extrovert exuse themselves from people? I mean when they started to get tired of/or they get exhausted of socializing? And what are the clear difference between ESFJ and ISFJ?
Stereotype: shallow, people-pleasing, with no morals of their own.
Reality: strong-willed, opinionated, in harmony with the group, strong ideas about right and wrong based on how it impacts everyone involved.
Extroverts can and do need time alone, but the difference between them and an introvert is that the introvert needs a longer period of isolation to recharge whereas the extrovert can power down / back up and be ready to socialize again in a shorter amount of time. Think of it as the extrovert needing a couple of hours alone after an event, vs the introvert needing a couple of days alone.
ESFJs are far more social and vocal about their views than ISFJs. ESFJs tend to want to address issues as they happen (Fe-dom) so they are often assertive in handling situations as they unfold and do not shy away from conflict, in the sense that if they feel it needs addressed, they are going to address it. The ISFJ is less comfortable doing this and less in tune with their own feelings, so they may delay, rationalize, hide out, and/or avoid this discussion for awhile, until Fe demands they clear the air. ESFJs are quicker to take action, more likely to pronounce an instant Fe-judgment, and have greater and easier access to tert-Ne, which makes them interested in many things and/or ideas; ISFJs are perceiving dominants, which means they are much slower to decide, and all their judgments are based on their personal subjective sensory experiences and what they are familiar with, rather than on objectivity (unlike Fe-dom) based in social standards of appropriateness; they also have more Ti, which means they want to build an idea in their mind of how the ‘system’ of reality works, and have a stronger capacity to do this than ESFJs.
Under stress, Fe-doms become obsessed and/or distracted by the WHY – why is this happening? what caused it? etc. This can prevent them from actually focusing on FIXING IT or DEALING WITH IT. This is their inferior Ti, glitching. Under stress, the ISXJ goes into Ne, which imagines a bunch of different situations they cannot control, mostly negative, about how this is going to ruin everything, which takes them out of their comfort zone. This is inferior Ne glitching.
I have two friends, an ESFJ and an ISFJ. The ESFJ is never home, because she’s out socializing, and within 10 minutes of knowing her, I knew ALL ABOUT her likes, dislikes, what she thinks is wrong with the world, etc. If she comes over, she only leaves under duress / when it gets late, and when I’m at her house, she begs me to stay another hour. The ISFJ comes home and crashes after work, she does “alone” projects such as knitting, and she doesn’t e-mail me for weeks on end because she doesn’t feel like socializing. I’ve found out her likes and dislikes a little bit at a time, over 15 years.
*jumps on bandwagon* What does a stereotypical isfj look like as a fictional character? Please & thank you.
Often the sweet ‘girl next door’ heroine in romantic comedies, or the ultimate ‘nice guy’ hero in other romantic comedies, the ISFJ character is loyal, hard-working, and doesn’t much care for change, but blossoms with inferior Ne when someone new and/or exciting shakes up their world (turning them to writing, introducing them to the arts, and/or urging them to experiment outside their comfort zone). They are sometimes the best friend of the more flamboyant heroine or hero and, on occasion, the tormented, people-loving vampire.
Hey, can you give me a beginner's insight into the enneagram stuff probably devoid of stereotypes because most of the internet contains very stereotypical understanding of almost everything.
The short version?
Enneagram describes what you most fear and describes how you cope.
ISFJs thrive on nurturing and caring for their loved ones. But when the people in their lives are behaving inconsistently, it makes it difficult for the ISFJ to understand how to harmonize with them. The inability to make sense of those they love is highly stressful for the ISFJ and it rapidly drains them of energy.
Can you make a big post about Si-Ti loops? (for ISFJs)
Si-doms often want to stay within what is ‘familiar’ to them; what they are ‘used to,’ and what has ‘worked in the past,’ so they push away from lower functional development. This creates the rigid reputation most fictional Si-doms are known for, where they are staunchly against change / anything new.
Unlike the INXJs, who need Se as an anchor to stay rooted in reality, ISXJs need Ne in order to consider moving beyond their comfort zone / what they grew up with. When a Si-dom ignores their second function and loops into Ti, they either get stuck analyzing the past and/or rationalizing (poorly) as to why they can’t try new things and backing up the decisions they make (centered on ‘being safe’) rather than on truly analyzing their motives, intentions, and decisions for logic. Like the INFJs, they become locked in an endless loop of feeble justification and only gathering
weak logical ‘arguments’ to justify their Si-dom perceptions. They
will come up with “logical arguments” to excuse any problematic
behaviors instead of admitting to, confronting, and dealing with them.
When
someone does not want to use Ti properly, they become indecisive,
insecure, super critical of others, and hate critical feedback – because
the goal is self-preservation rather than self-improvement.
In
a loop, an IXFJ becomes stubborn, refuses to admit to being wrong
and/or change wrong ideas, perspectives, or conclusions, lacks empathy
for others while believing themselves morally superior and/or a “good
person”; projects their own fears, insecurities, and motives onto people
in the outside world, and is prone to negativity, bitterness, and
cynicism about people and their motives; only accepts other people who
are in agreement with their views, and struggles to develop or maintain
healthy relationships (despite wanting them). The ISXJ may use
manipulation to get what they want (shallow Fe) but become highly
protective of and defensive over their ‘knowledge’ and try to one-up
others.
Si/Ti loops fail to move on from past events or and refuse to see any other perspective other than their Si perceptions; thus they will ignore any external evidence that challenges, threatens, or tries to re-frame their concept of former experiences, relationships, mistakes, or decisions. (For example, an ISFJ may decide the reason Ted stood up Nancy is because Ted is seeing someone else behind Nancy’s back; a Si/Ti looper would start analyzing all their past interactions with Ted and finding only evidence to support this conclusion; it would ignore his statement that he stood her up because he had an unexpected emergency with his dog. In a loop, not only is Fe missing in action – the function that would be tolerant, understanding, and want to talk things through with Ted, but Ne is absent also, so it wants to stick with the one stubborn conclusion it reached, built out of paranoid lower Ne in the first place: cheaters stand you up, the last time I got stood up, my ex cheated on me.)
Si/Ti loopers will concoct complicated and irrational “reasons” to avoid moving beyond their personal comfort zone or confront their deeper fears; but they will also suffer unhappiness because of it, because their inferior Ne will make them fearful that they are missing out on maturing, making progress in life, or having new experiences. They become socially isolated and miserable, since their Si/Fe wants to work together to impact people’s lives in the present, and when they are in a critical, fearful loop, they cannot connect to other people.
To break the loop, you need to work on utilizing Fe;
in communicating openly with others, in tapping into and sensing their
emotional needs before they tell you, in honestly listening to them
without judgment, in thinking in terms of ‘for the greater good of
everyone involved,’ in airing your feelings, in being open to intimate
emotional relationships, in learning to consider each life as being
equal in importance to another, in learning how to communicate in
non-insulting ways that energize rather than demean people, etc.
There are plenty of self-help books, books on communication, etc. =)
This manual is part of
a series of guides originated by @intpboard!
Congratulations! You have come under the
care of your very own ISFJ unit, probably because you needed help with a task
and they needed an excuse to procrastinate. They have offered you this manual in a simple
attempt to assist you. You should be
pleased that they have chosen you to benefit from their helpful nature!
Your ISFJ unit will
come equipped with the following accessories:
One (1) large cup of
coffee (refillable)
Four (4) extra jackets
to give you if you are cold
Two (2) semi-fancy
outfits
Three (3) casual
outfits, one of which they strongly prefer
One (1) calendar to
keep track of important dates
One (1) coffeepot, for
refilling coffee cup
Three (3) grandiose,
altruistic life paths
One (1) large dog
Infinite (∞) support,
patience, work ethic, and enthusiasm
Software:
Your ISFJ will come
preprogrammed with the following traits:
Si: Your ISFJ will often be
preoccupied with thoughts about the world and people around them, and may zone
out during these times. Don’t be alarmed
– this is normal. They are just gathering
information about their surroundings, processing their impressions, and filing
everything away in the proper place.
Disturbing them during this process will often result in blank stares
and confusion.
Fe: This
trait is activated only when necessary, following the processing phase. After your ISFJ has
updated with the gathered information, you will find them very interactive, friendly,
and helpful! They contain a special chip which makes them particularly intuitive
and responsive to all your feelings and needs, as well as overly willing to
assist you in anything you may need.
Ti: Occasionally,
instead of Fe following the processing phase, your ISFJ will need to withdraw
and spend time deeply analyzing the information gained. This trait allows them to balance their
people pleasing side with their analytical side.
Ne: The
weakest trait of the ISFJ, Ne works with Fe to prod the ISFJ into trying new
things. It is also responsible for their
occasional bursts of creative ideas and plans!
However, it is only able to activated for fleeting periods of time;
pushing an ISFJ too far out of their comfort zone for too long will cause them
to revert to the withdrawn, silent behavior that characterizes their original
information-gathering mode.
Getting Started:
When you first start up your ISFJ, do not be alarmed by
their silence! The first stage of ISFJ programming requires distant
observation, which allows them to gather information about their surroundings!
1. Place included cup of coffee in your ISFJ’s hand.
2. Set them on a bench
in a busy location.
3. Allow your ISFJ to
charge by observing details about the situation.
4. If step 3 does not
work, place included dog on leash and hand leash to ISFJ; Fe mode should
trigger when ISFJ is approached about dog.
5. If your ISFJ still
doesn’t start, announce a task with which you need assistance.
Modes:
Selfless Giver
(default) – In this mode, ISFJs
will jump at any opportunity to help others, regardless of their own schedule
or plans. They will never complain about
this type of service. Even if they do
not want to help you, they will – regardless of any inconvenience it may cause
them. Taking advantage of this mode too
often will result in an unhealthy ISFJ that will shut down in response to
future requests.
Nature Lover - Activated when outside
in nature settings. ISFJs love nature,
particularly the solitude and silence they can find there. This allows them to process information
without the interference of additional information. They are likely to bring you outside with
them, in an effort to help you silence your mind as well – even if this is not
your idea of fun, please be patient.
They are just trying to help you.
Humble - Activated in response
to any type of praise. ISFJs prefer to
downplay their own accomplishments, as they are uncomfortable with overwhelming
praise. This often results in their successes
being claimed by others, which upsets the balance of the ISFJ and often
triggers Clowning mode to hide anger and disappointment.
Observer - Activated in busy situations/places.
Your ISFJ will be content to sit back and watch the action around them. Although they will be lightly conversational,
attempting to engage them more deeply will not be successful – they are too
busy processing their surroundings.
Clowning - ISFJs are prone to
self-deprecating jokes. They use this as a defense mechanism to hide their
emotions. A shield of laughter is the best defense of all! To this end, they
also find joy in puns, wordplay, and any unique jokes. Their sense of humor
never ceases to surprise, so try not to be taken aback! Activated most often around NF units.
Relationships with
other units:
NFs: ISFJs have very close
relationships with NFs, because they are both concerned with the care and
well-being of the other. The ISFJ also
often balances the NF, who prefers an “outside the box” way of thinking to the
more traditional views of the ISFJ. NFs
can also be too demanding of the ISFJ – they need to know when to let up or
they will burnout their ISFJ unit.
NTs: NTs have a very
strong drive and work ethic that the ISFJ greatly admires; in return, the NT
admires the way ISFJs care so deeply for others. This is a relationship that can produce a lot
of mutual respect. However, NTs are far
more logical than ISFJs, who are more focused on emotions, and this can cause
friction.
SJs: ISFJs get along very
well with other SJs. They are both
responsible and trustworthy, as well as equally willing to take care of one
another. This creates a nurturing
environment for the ISFJ that is very important for their health and security.
SPs: SPs are fun loving
and carefree, capable of assisting an ISFJ with big plans, ideas, or
experiences triggered by the Fe trait.
However, the SP must recognize that the ISFJ has a limit and be
respectful of that – if not, their wild, impetuous nature can quickly wear down
an ISFJ.
Feeding:
When busy, an ISFJ will
often forget that food is necessary.
This is especially true when engrossed in a project that will help
others or while bringing one of their ideas/adventures to life. To properly care for an ISFJ, you must feed
them at least once a day. If they are
resistant to stopping long enough to eat, tell them you are feeling hungry and allow
them the option of preparing (or paying for) the meal – their overly kind
nature will override their natural enthusiasm for work and in making sure you
are fed, they will feed themselves as well.
Grooming:
Your ISFJ will groom on
a regular basis, as it never knows when it will be called away to help someone
else. They will always keep themselves
clean and their appearance tidy – they never want to call too much attention to
themselves, so they groom and dress in a way that allows them to blend in. You will not need to monitor this function
for your unit, and you should leave it to the ISFJ to take care of at all
times; insinuating that your ISFJ is untidy in any way will cause them to feel
offended and could result in total shut down until you apologize.
Sleeping:
Your ISFJ unit will
sleep regularly, as being well rested is necessary to support the enthusiasm
with which they approach their day (whether their day is at school, at work, or
being with others). Despite this, they
often need naps or a large amount of caffeine to keep running in Selfless Giver
mode – this mode drains their energy very quickly.
Frequently Asked
Questions:
How do I get my ISFJ to
relax and take a break?
You don’t! ISFJ’s are not capable of “relaxing” in the
traditional sense. During their dormant
periods, their brains are still rapidly processing and filing information. The word “relax” is foreign to them and will
confuse them if mentioned too often.
Help! I lost my ISFJ!
Don’t worry! ISFJs often need a break to recharge by going
into one of the aforementioned dormant periods.
They will reappear shortly! If it
has been more than three hours, brew a pot of coffee and wait. The smell of coffee should bring your ISFJ
out of dormancy.
My ISFJ does not like
to try new things? What do I do?
ISFJ units come with a
preinstalled love of habit and familiarity.
Attempting to change too much at once can lead to a complete crash if
you are not careful! To deal with this,
introduce your ISFJ to new situations, places, and people very gently. Be patient and they will adjust in time. Their Fe and Ne traits will also occasionally
activate and push them into trying something new – make sure you take their
lead and do not over stimulate them.
This will cause them to withdraw into dormancy and will require
additional coffee to fix.
Again, congratulations
on your newly acquired ISFJ helper unit!
(Thank you to @effervescience for all of her help in researching and writing this guide! <3)
THIS IS ADORABLE
Lol, the trick to get an ISFJ to eat is so clever…I’m sure that would work on me - darn it.
1. “Thanks for being the most loyal people I know.” –ENFJ
2. “Bottling things up and refusing to let the people in your life know that you’re upset with them hurts infinitely more in the long run (for both you and the other person) than just sucking it up and talking it out does.” –ENFP
3. “Your wisdom is underrated.” –INTP
4. “Not everything is a challenge to your sense of duty. And it’s often more hurtful to sacrifice the needs of the many for the needs of the few (or the one). The martyr syndrome doesn’t always pan out.” -INFJ
5. “You are some of the most genuine and kind people in life. NEVER let anyone tell you that it’s a weakness.” –ENFJ
6. “Thanks for protecting me. Sometimes you drive me nuts with trying to protect me by getting my head out of the clouds, but I know your heart is in the right place. I love you.” –INFP
7. “Stop being so passive-aggressive. If you don’t like me, then tell me.” –ESFP
8. “You’re actually super goofy and creative, it makes you easy to talk to even though we don’t typically approach things from the same angle.” –ESTP
9. “Just because you are so damn sensitive doesn’t mean that everyone must comply with that.” –ISTP
10. “Your introversion is beautiful. You don’t need to be the life of the party to win hearts. Let people get to know you and they will undoubtedly fall head over heels.” –ENFP
11. “Try being your own person and creating your own life instead of absorbing your current significant other’s… be your own independent person!” –ENFP
12. “I appreciate the self-sacrificing, but if you tell me what you need, it can be a two way street. You don’t always have to give of yourself.” –ENFP
13. “I truly admire your ability to provide things for everyone without asking for anything in return.” –INFP
14. “You guys hold the world together, and I think you don’t realize quite how much we all depend on you. You’re fiercely loyal, humble and hardworking. Don’t let people take advantage of you. You will be able to give more over the course of your life if you can give freely from your heart, not from shame, guilt or obligation. Draw those boundaries now so that you can give from strength. You are worth loving deeply, I hope you know that.” –INFJ
15. “Being passive aggressive doesn’t make anyone want to be around you. If you’re unhappy, please just say so in a way that can bring about growth and change in both of us. Avoiding someone and then pretending to their face that everything fine does no one any good.” –ISTJ
16. “Change is a process that’s usually uncomfortable, and it’s okay to be uncomfy for some time because I’m sure with the right mindset, you might just be having the best time of your life.” –INFP
17. “It’s ok to open up to me, it’s ok to share your thoughts and feelings with me. I’m sorry if I get so caught up in imagining the future, that I forget the here-and-now and the details, and that sometimes I scare you.” –ENFP
18. “Please open up to me and let me get to know you. Please initiate friendship with me. I love other ISFJ’s, particularly ones who are as inquisitive and passionate as I am.” –ISFJ
19. “Do not feel guilty if you are not loving or giving enough. Your value does not come from how much you give to others.” –ENTP
20. “I’m sorry for not reminding you how treasured you are more often.” –INFJ
21. “It’s ok to voice your needs – in fact it’s better that way so I know how to accommodate you.” –INTP
22. “You are like warm cups of tea to my soul. Seriously, thank you so much for taking care of people in real, tangible ways.” –ENFP
Awww, the ISFJ … such a common type, yet so often pigeon-holed as boring soccer moms who’s primary choice of activity is reading a Danielle Steele novel with a cup of herbal tea. And yest in fiction, they have been portrayed as some of the most intriguing, fascinating and heroic types out there. Not to mention a good number of intricate villains as well.
Introverted Sensing (Si): Unlike the ISTJ which is usually depicted as this anally by-the-book type authoritative type, The ISFJ’s Si in fiction is often quite fascinating. It is usually a vast world of experiences that weigh heavy on their hearts and minds, often in the form of trauma which gives way for either a natural protagonist or antagonist. Since they are often on the more “tragic” side however, chances are your typical ISFJ characters is plague by haunting memories and lifetime emotional scars, all of which will be revealed to the audience piece by piece giving us great insight into the character and why they do the things they do. In many cases however, their Si will be shown in some stereotypical way, such as them being very obedient or blindly loyal to someone who mistreats them. But, storylines (and other functions) are bound to make the fictional ISFJ want to break free from this at some point.
Extroverted Feeling (Fe): Interestingly Fe tends to be downplayed in ISFJ character. Probably because a mysterious introvert whom is focused on pleasing people doesn’t make for a compelling character and thus, Fe in their case will often come off as Fi. But the fictional ISFJ is typically very assertive when dealing with people. They usually have great insight and know what they want from others. Where Fe tends to shine is that the ISFJ character is often the glue that holds their group together, the one whom is often seen as a little too safe and boring, yet the go-to person for advice and usually everyone’s BFF on some level. They are also very keen at keeping their more wild friends in check. This is especially prominent in the token “final girl” in horror movies, a.k.a the most stereotypical archetype of the ISFJ. The ISFJ character also tends to be very self-sacrificing. In horror movies for instance, their focus is on protecting others instead of, you know, getting the hell out of there. Which is often a great pretext for a bloody final fight with the killer or supernatural entity.
Introverted Thinking (Ti): Lying dormant in every fictional ISFJ is an inner badass, and when it awakens it usually takes the form of hardcore Ti as if to say “Screw it! I’m going to handle this MY way!” Another recurring trait is their analytical and inquisitive nature. ISFJ characters are often natural detectives, although it can take them a while to get into that mode given that it’s a tertiary function. Every ISFJ character seems to be equipped with a (and pardon the expression) bullsh*t threshold, and of course you will see them reaching their boiling point before the movies ends.
Extroverted Intuition: (Ne): some people seem to assume that Si-Doms are incapable of metaphorical comparisons. Well just listen to Norman Bates’ speech and how he compares people to his stuffed animals. Although it is true that you will often catch your fictional ISFJ constantly dreaming of “more” but always finding themselves bound to their everyday life circumstances and responsibilities, a trait this sadly true in real life as well. Inferior Ne can allow protagonists to dig deep into the antagonist’ psyche and defeat them by hitting where it hurts, whereas in ISFJ villains, Ne can make them lose all touch with reality and go completely insane to scary, scary levels. Again, Norman Bates and for good measure, Annie Wilkes.
I'm going to hop on the train- feel a little bad asking you to another post but could you tell us what you've learned from ISFJs? Thanks
Don’t feel bad. ISFJs are some of my favorite people. I’m blessed to have had one as a best friend for 15 years. =)
You can build new memories with each unique experience. Each day is a new, glorious opportunity to create a new moment to treasure forever. Look for ways and opportunities to make it special. Learn to value each interaction and person you meet, and record these moments for future enjoyment.
Better a kind word that brings a smile than a harsh word that creates pain. Some things (the important things that can save someone from harm) can be said with gentleness. Other things never need said at all.
Each day can be filled with delight if you look for the small things. If you rush too much, you will miss the ladybugs of life. Learn to notice and appreciate the world around you, because it will not be the same tomorrow as it is today.
A world of comfort lies in your senses. Your room should be a haven for you, filled with the things you love that can bring you joy. When you decorate it, focus on how each thing makes you feel, in how you respond to it; fill it with soft, delightful things, a favorite blanket to wrap up in on a cold day. And when you read a book, brew a cup of tea or hot chocolate or bring lemonade. These small things can build a sense of contentment in you.
You can increase the pleasure, with attentiveness to the details. A picnic is so much more delightful with decorated food lids. These small details, the name cards, the party favors, the special wrapping paper, tell people that you love them enough to make an occasion special for them.
Better to love and lose, than never love at all. Life is full of hardship, but if you love someone or something, it’s easier to bear. So don’t be afraid to love.
I admire: their quiet, tender heart, their deep wish to make those they care about happy, their never-ending loyalty to their friends and family, their need to immerse themselves in sensory solitude once in awhile, their love of books, movies, and music, and their gracious compliments.
As an ISFJ, I notice that I'm an emotional sponge. I "soak" up all the emotions of the people I'm around and unconsciously mirror their feelings in my demeanor. If I'm around someone that is worried, their stress becomes my own even if I wasn't feeling that before I came in contact with them. I would like emotional distance from people, but I think Fe demands that I have a heightened sense of the emotions of the group. How can I be around others and not be an emotional chameleon?
I have noticed this a great deal in IXFJs. It can be good in the sense that someone else’s positive mood can rub off on them… and bad, because I have sometimes seen the IXFJ start to hate something they loved, because a person close to them hated it, trashed it, and changed their mood about it.
(All feelers can suffer from this to a degree – especially if you rate high on the ‘affability’ scale, which means you have an overall pleasant approach to others.)
You have already won half the battle by realizing you do this, and wanting to change. Next you need to become aware of it as it is happening, and learn to detach enough to ask yourself, “Am I feeling this… or are they?” To realize you are a separate entity from this person, that you can choose whether or not to allow their emotions to influence yours (you have Si as a barrier to help you, which you can activate through asking detail-driven questions to understand their mood and perhaps force them to be objective in the process, pausing to examine your past interactions with this person, and maybe to recognize a pattern of behavior or a certain dynamic between you), and analyze things (Ti) as they happen, rather than allowing other’s moods to “overwhelm” you.
You can also shape the emotional mood around you, rather than being reactive – choose to be proactive, and if the mood is bleak, focus on how you can uplift that person (provided they are receptive and really do want help). The strength of Fe is understanding and shaping complex personal dynamics within the group – you are terrific at sensing / feeling them, now learn to USE them. Healthy Fe-doms are very good at shaping the mood of a group, by setting a strong and positive emotional standard. You can learn similar techniques.
Since you are an ISFJ, I’m guessing some people’s moods influence you more than others – your beloved family and close friends, maybe? The people you most care about? Typically, emotional detachment is higher with total strangers, those you do not like, or those you do not know well than those in whom you wholeheartedly invest your emotions. Being emotionally engaged with those people is not wrong or bad – they are “your tribe,” and it’s common to be emotionally influenced over those we most love or care about. This is where my advice to step back and think about (analyze) it will be harder. But unless you are reasonable about others, you cannot see them clearly.
The next time someone you care about goes into an emotional meltdown – give yourself some space, leave the room for a few minutes, go somewhere, shut the door, and work through your feelings / reach a point where you can analyze what just happened and whether it’s rational for you to be upset with them. In the case of “worry” … anxiety is an emotional response. How do you counter an emotional response? With logic that “comforts.” If it’s a problem, what are the ways you can solve it? Fix it? Lay out steps to help the other person be proactive?
The human mind does not like uncertainty or indecision. Until you make a choice, you are “stuck” in limbo. You cannot make these six decisions, until you make THAT decision. Decisions build on one another. You can combat anxiety – your own and other people’s (if they will listen) through decisions. A leads to B, which makes C inevitable. Suddenly it’s not so scary anymore, because you have a plan. You may deviate from the plan, but your mind can calm down for awhile. :)
how do you tell the difference between Ne sharing and Fe sharing? and I've read that ideas stick easily to high Ne and that Fe is affected by other people's emotions and ideas, so how to tell if changing opinions quickly is because of Ne or Fe?
Ne’s speak through ideas, Fe’s speak through emotions.
Ne’s tell you about their dreams and the psychology book they just read; they are excited to hear what you have to say and if any of your ideas align with or contradict what they just read; they speak with such enthusiasm about ideas, other people may think they have far more of an emotional investment in those ideas than they actually do. It’s a bit like a puppy with a bone. It’s great, he loves it … and then he sees a bigger bone, and drops the first without a second thought. The first bone may or may not catch his attention ever again. Ne’s can seem out of touch with reality due to their idealism – their Ne teaches them to see an ‘ideal,’ the absolute greatest potential something can reach (a perfect person, a perfect day, a perfect concept) and they want to believe it’s possible. So they give idealistic advice. They push people to try their hardest. And their standards may seem unattainable as a result. But as a friend of mine said, “We’re all in the gutter… but some of us stare at the stars.” Watch them. Their IDEAS change.
Fe’s tell you about their emotional interactions, their desire for unity, their reactions to things, how they feel about the ethics of this or that, the behaviors they will and will not tolerate, what they believe, and can be incredulous when others do not have the same standard of ‘emotional openness’ that they do. They try to merge with you, to include you, to be in harmony with you. If they change, their emotions change – not necessarily their ideas – and it’s often because they saw something from your perspective and it seems wrong to them not to see you as an equal and treat you with respect, even if they disagree. Depending on the level of health / development, this can manifest in Fe ‘pushing’ a moral concept on you or trying mightily to change your mind (since that you do not agree bothers them); or in being weak, and more desirous of harmony or inclusion, so their values shift based on the stronger voices in the group.
In short:
Ne: changes their mind because a better idea came along
Fe: changes their mind due to a persuasive argument or external pressure
Hi Charity! I’m sorry for asking this through the ‘Submissions’ text-box, but I don’t have a Tumblr account and I’ve noticed a couple of people doing the same thing lately, so I hope that it’s okay…?
It’s fine. :)
I’ve been actively reading about type and cognitive functions for the past couple of years, and I’ve noticed something that regularly happens in the small circle I discuss type with. Essentially, whenever a character has a vision or goal, it is decided that they are an intuitive character. For some characters this is obviously the case, otherwise there wouldn’t be a Sensor/Intuitive binary. For others though, Se-dom becomes Ne and Si-dom become Ni-dom the moment they state that they have a goal or vision, begin developing some kind of plan or try to instigate change.
It’s because of the stupid bias online (and elsewhere) that sensors can’t be smart, so if a character shows even a hint of intelligence, creativity, or a plan that includes the future, they must be an intuitive, since sensors all live in the moment and never think about the future. ;)
The best examples of the Se/Ne discussion come from anime, sorry – Mello from Death Note and Eren Jaeger from Attack on Titan, though Harley Quinn can appear to be an ENFP to some people. Some examples of the Si/Ni discussion off the top of my head are Cersei, Sansa and Maergary from Game of Thrones.
I can’t speak to anime, but Harley Quinn as an ENFP baffles me, when she’s clearly all about immediate impact for future benefits (Se/Ni axis). I guess you could make a very weak argument for inferior Si with her relationship with Joker (she’s in an abusive relationship just because she’s always been in it)… but you’d still need idealistic, ideas-stick-to-me-like-glue Ne-dom and I don’t see it.
Cersei… I am considering Ni/Se simply because I’ve realized that her methods are out of sync with the world around her in a way that Si/Ne is not, and she is clearly able to think significantly ahead (the finale this year was a good example, where she and Euron had obviously planned what to do in several scenarios in advance, and she resolutely absolutely refused to deviate from those plans even when she ‘faked’ it – which indicates a poor Se imbalance, and lack of fearful inferior Ne that would be freaked out, thinking of the 5,000 things that could go wrong with the White Walker invasion on her doorstep). Other examples include her attempts to be significant / take a leadership role, in a male-dominated hierarchy, as if she somehow expected to be allowed to do so, even though no woman had been allowed to do so in the past – sort of a Ni-dom idealism in play, and a lack of Si-awareness of ‘how things work.’
Show Sansa is such an SFJ I’m not sure how anyone could see her different. I know I typed her ISFJ (I think?) here but I’m fairly sure she’s an ESFJ in the grip sometimes, because she’s so assertive of her feelings and suspicious of everyone’s motives. She references her own subjective experiences 24/7, and denies anyone else knowing people ‘as well as I do’ because she lived through things they did not, which hints at a strong / dominant Si-tendency to filter everything through her perception of what happened, rather than what happened.
Margaery… I have seen good Ne/Te loop arguments, but I think she uses Fe so convincingly she must have it in her stack, so ESFJ seems right. She has a plan to sit on the throne, yes, but she goes about it through the traditional channels – unlike Dany, who decides to just TAKE it, Margaery thinks, “How does one become powerful? How have others done it? They married the king and became the queen, and won over the populace. I’ll do that.” Unlike Cersei, she does not invent a new path to the throne, she just walks in the time-honored one established by centuries of queens – to great success. There’s a sensor for you: they get things done, because they don’t need to reinvent the wheel to get what they want, they just go get it.
I’m open to discussion about type, and recognize that you can’t always get it right the first time, but often the Sensor function in the new type is often explained in very lazy ways – Si is linked to a grudge, bad memories and someone staying with someone past the time they should leave; Se is basically they implement their plan in the real world through observation and they like to be active.
Sadly, yes, this has become the case… because a lot of N’s are into typology due to it being an abstract theory, and because their own sensing is so poor, they are just describing ‘behaviors’ they see in people they ASSUME are sensors rather than having a deep understanding of how healthy, normal, high-functioning sensory functions work.
Si is a perspective of reality that focuses on bringing inner meaning from sensory experiences and a desire not to deviate from personal experience, which then feeds into a greater collective understanding of something (Ne).
Se is an objective perception of reality that focuses on the events themselves, unfiltered except to form intuitive (Ni) conclusions based on hunches or to take actions calculated for future impact.
Si/Ne axis wants to be meticulous and construct knowledge in a way that could be included in future text books, it is that detailed. Se/Ni axis wants to take swift action for future impact, and focuses intently on the object to derive personal meaning from it.
I’m not certain of my own type as yet, but I’ve been stuck on the idea that I’m a Sensor because I feel that sense of doom when things start to get stressful, and I become paralyzed and unsure what move to make to leave the situation. I’ve struggled through anxiety, and admit that that may color my interpretation of my type, but it is difficult to be sure when there seems to be a lack of consistency in the information about sensors, and, while there may be more of them in the world, there does not appear to be the same quantity of them online.
General anxieties about the future do not always have to be a low intuitive function; rather, you should focus on whether you are more inclined to perceive the details of an object, concept, or idea (S) before you consider the broad implications, or more inclined to focus on the broad picture than the details (N). S types are more interested in DOING, whereas N types often just THEORIZE. This is why an ISFP would probably get in their boat and go help the flooding victims from the hurricane (affirmative action) while an INFP would be more likely to raise money for their relief (concern conceptualized through sharing the idea of people’s suffering) – that’s a broad example.
It becomes frustrating when examples of characters of a certain type, notably Si-doms and Sensing-Feelers, suddenly seem to change in the eyes of some people because their character has a goal or has been allowed to develop. The remaining characters at the end of type discussions that often remain Si-doms in the eyes of the group are the side-kicks, the personal assistants or the character that is eventually ‘saved’ from their situation by someone else and never by their own means. Se-doms are the badass side-kicks or the friend who never plans anything and comes in as comic relief at random intervals. I enjoy providing practical help to the people around me, but… Seriously?
Instead of changing their type, you should consider that the character is developing lower intuitive functions. Sansa, for example, was not cunning or intuitive on her own merit, but learned how to think that way from Littlefinger (God rest his poor, angst-ridden soul)… and she will never reach his levels. Just sayin’. When people assign intuitive types to characters based on very small margins or details, it says more about them and their negative bias against sensors than it does the character.
Though, I will take issue with Se-doms as the sidekicks. They are most action heroes… in… well, everything from cop shows to big-screen blockbusters. ESTPs are the most popular go-to in those formats. ;)
Would it be possible for you to write a little about differences in character development for Sensor/ Intuitive dominants, where the character makes changes themselves? Also, I know that you’re a bit of a history buff, so I was wondering whether you know of any Si-/Se-dom leaders that subvert this trend? That were able to take charge and make change through their own agency, for a goal or vision.
In real life, healthy people learn from their mistakes. In good fiction, characters should learn from their mistakes, grow, and be different at the end of the series or film than at the first, provided it allows for character development. This is why James Cameron is a good filmmaker; he does not write the best scripts, but his characters are never quite the same at the end of the story as the beginning. They overcome hangups, learn to put aside their prejudices, or connect to a deeper truth and abandon their old life for something new.
These are not all sensor dominants, but they are worth mentioning:
Jake (ISTP) in Avatar learns to connect to his Ni, through interaction with the deeply spiritual natives; he comes to respect their beliefs and yearn for a deeper connection to nature. He chose this, once he encountered it. (Neytiri (ESFP) must also overcome her prejudices toward Jake.)
Elijah (ISFJ) in The Vampire Diaries and The Originals must learn to put the past behind him in order to embrace a greater future; he comes to acknowledge that his blind devotion to his ‘family’ endangers himself and them, and he makes the choice to sever some of those ties so he can find happiness. At the same time, Hayley (ESTP) learns to put aside her roaming nature, and find comfort in having a stable ‘family’ unit – both with Elijah and the wolf pack; and Klaus (ENTJ) finally comes to terms with his volatile emotions and learns that a knee-jerk violent reaction (poor Se/Fi) is not often the right answer.
Probably the most visionary, influential Se-dom leader that comes to my mind was Winston Churchill, who foresaw the perils of Hitler and went out of his way to protect his nation, recruit foreign aid (he popped a bottle of champagne open when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, because he said “We have won the war… the Japanese have awakened the sleeping giant”), and to enforce what he believed were positive policies after the war ended. People need to remember that Se/Ni can have a vision, and anyone can have goals, regardless of type – how they achieve their goals defines their cognition.
I’m afraid I can’t think of a Si-dom leader offhand that entirely bucked tradition, but I’ll be on the lookout for one.
Thank you for reading :-) Your time and effort put into this blog is really appreciated, and has helped me greatly in my own typing journey, as I’m sure it has many others.
“For far too long, it’s been my plan to get the work done, then rest, have friends over for game night, or take time for myself. You name it, I’ve been putting it off until the work is finished.
The work is never done.
There is always something more to finish, someone needing something, or someone who isn’t happy, no matter what you do. Taking time to take care of yourself makes you more productive and better able to care for those you love in the long run. Life is too short not to enjoy it a little!”
Is there any cognitive process or function (I'm guessing Ne in some position?) that makes you jump from idea to idea as a means of distraction, similar to how Se might engage in short-lived, fickle sensory or physical experiences and pleasures when depressed / under stress or without direction / outlet? And what position would this be in? How could you best correct this or at least deal with it more healthily, if the original stressor cannot be altered, or at least not for a long time?
(Gif: Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow TV. ISFJ.)
If the distraction is natural because your brain wanders between topics and switches direction quickly, it could be higher Ne; but if this tendency only activates under stress or without direction, it is probably lower Ne.
High Ne operates on a continual basis of seeking potential from the ideas and possibilities in the environment. Ne in conjunction with the judging functions wants to bring these possibilities into reality through action, by leaping on that idea / philosophical thought / concept and reshaping or guiding it. This is why a lot of high Ne users wind up writers; because if you can capture a thought, concept, theory, or idea on paper, it becomes “real” in an abstract way; you can communicate it to others and perhaps even make it non-conceptual, as it manifests through decisive action or shapes public opinion.
The tendency of a high Ne is to explore the idea as long as it holds potential to the Ne user, then put it aside in pursuit of another idea; it will only revisit the earlier concepts and ideas if it finds NEW potential in it or a different angle by which to approach it. (For example: an NP discovers Game of Thrones when it’s the big, new thing. Becomes fascinated for awhile. Reaches the end of the books. Has no further discussion on it. Quits. Then the NP learns MBTI theory. Suddenly, there’s a NEW way to look at GOT. It revisits it! Discusses it! Theorizes on it! And when it gets to the end of that interest / figures out all the characters’ types… it finds a new obsession and moves on.) When there is no new angle / no growth on an old interest, the NP may not revisit it. It’s dead.
Lower Ne does not operate this way; it sees possibilities and potentials either as a method of daydreaming / problem solving or as a formula to achieve S ends (what purpose does this theory serve and how can I apply it to real life?). Higher N’s are interested in the theories for their own sake, and real life application is secondary; it is the reverse in higher S’s.
Since you seem to suggest this distraction / abandonment of focus happens under stress, I imagine this is Ne in an inferior position. ISXJs often report a loss of focus / distraction from their usual comfort level with details / feeling lost and/or overwhelmed under stress, due to inferior Ne “taking over.” Your best coping mechanism is to take a deep breath, calm down, and try to activate your first two functions. Reconnect with Si. How realistic are these distractions or fears? Which one is the BEST idea? Which one has the most potential, both now and in the long term? Pick one and pursue it. Get into the details of it. Use your aux/tert functions to figure out how you can make it real.
You could also put some time into studying how higher Ne operates, in order to better understand the potential of your own Ne (it will never be as good, but you can learn to focus it in more specific directions and use it in innovation) so that you can recognize when you are falling into Ne grips and take control over them. (Admittance is half the problem solved.)
How would an inferior Ne present in an individual? I hear a lot on what high Ne looks like, but not how an inferior one appears.
(Gif: Cinderella. ISFJ.)
ISXJs find the changeability of higher Ne’s troubling (one day, an NP believes this; the next, it believes the opposite), because to them it indicates a lack of being grounded / secure in who they are and what they believe; they tend to cling more firmly to established belief systems (their own) and keep Ne as a creative function through which they explore novel ideas, live vicariously through fictional characters or worlds. Their tendency can be to displace novelty and fantastical (unrealistic) ideas in favor of practicality; the inferior Ne believes many of their dreams are just that – dreams, impractical in reality and maybe unattainable (unlike the higher Ne, who willingly / naively believes they can succeed at anything, due to Ne overestimating its own talents, until they rapidly lose interest or the world teaches them otherwise). Inferior Ne’s pursue dreams as “outlets,” “hobbies,” and through art and creativity (instead of “living a life of Ne”).
Si/Ne approaches everything with detail first, so the ISFJ writer, for example, will be meticulous, detailed, and careful as they establish a writing world / attentive to the smaller things in the characters’ lives and then allow their Ne to carry the story in unexpected directions. This is the same approach they can have to life – careful, meticulous, and detailed, with a Ne eager to experience new things and ideas (especially ideas that do not conflict with Si). The healthy ISXJ wants to expand their worldview, to learn more, and to be able to think in unusual directions, but can sometimes doubt their ability to choose the right idea. (Ne, at its best, sees a multitude of ideas and selects the one with the most potential for positive outcomes.)
While they do have multi-directional thinking capabilities, external ideas can hit a barrier of former reference before they ever are fully analyzed by Ne. For example, an ISXJ raised in a strict particular religion might take an interest in a different religion / atheism or change their core theological beliefs but they must first reconcile these new ideas / perspectives (Ne) with their Si upbringing / former experiences to embrace them. Sometimes the Si aids in building up a grudge toward a certain belief system, way of life, religion, etc., because it is tied directly to the high Si’s memories, experiences, and negative associations.
Once Ne becomes more active, ISXJs can fall into two camps: one has little tolerance for abstract / philosophical / thinking or theorizing for its own sake (preferring “uses” for abstractions and examples for real-world application), the other is aware this can sometimes be difficult for them and often admires it in or is drawn to others who do it with greater efficiency. I’ve seen a tendency in ESFJs to idolize certain ENTP celebrities, because the celebrity uses efficiently two functions the ESFJ admires – strong Ne and strong Ti. The polar opposite is the ISXJ who has no patience for NP types; and believes them scattered, nonsensical, and erratic, with no interest in reading between the lines.
Because Ne is so low, the ISXJ is not always adept at seeing the “big picture” and may not notice how one idea contradicts or changes another. If the ISXJ is more of a “free spirit,” they may adopt a bunch of different, contradictory belief systems under which to operate (this is more common in NPs and ESXJs). This is because Ne is simply “adding onto” Si rather than replacing old ideas.
Under stress and in the grip, inferior Ne becomes clumsily active – it starts generating all negative potential outcomes, sprawling in all directions, as the ISXJ loses touch with their natural ability to sort details and becomes lost in a world of abstract, vapid, frightening possibilities. The best example of this on screen is Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls whenever she’s under stress – she starts spouting all the horrible things that can happen as a result (she won’t get into college, she’ll never get a job, she’ll be homeless on the street, and wind up eating out of garbage cans, all because she failed ONE TEST).