ISFP

(Official Disclaimer) 

It’s really hard to hate on the ISFP. It really is. Okay, here goes.

I hate that you aren’t outgoing at all. Like you would rather not have anyone to talk to than go outside your comfort zone (aka your predetermined circle of friends).

I hate that you tend to avoid conflict rather than confront it. Your first instinct would never be to directly face the problem; you would rather avoid, dodge, delay and block out the source of the conflict. This can be incredibly frustrating.

I hate that you don’t collaborate well. Communicating clearly and being a team player aren’t your strongest skills as you would usually prefer to work alone. Wanting to work alone is totally fine and understandable, but you need to work on being a better team player.

(Official Disclaimer)

Oh my god how does any one person get to to be so cute all by themselves. How. how. Doesn’t your own adorableness strangle you in your sleep? Gacck.

You might be a little weird, but your chill acceptance of that makes it cool. You don’t exactly confront people who get in your way, but somehow you find a way around them without causing major drama (teach me your ways, please.) You don’t get up in people’s faces, but you have a quiet confidence that really works well for you. I love that you’re secure in whatever you’re doing, whether it’s expressing your adoration, fomenting  a quiet rebellion, having fun or sitting by yourself.

The artsy creative thing you’ve got going is really very awesome. I’m the one in the corner, totally in awe of cool your painting or sculpture turned out.

I love that you have excellent control of your emotions and rarely get angry; even if you do get angry you don’t generally allow yourself to express that. I also love that you generally know what you’re doing, don’t need much feedback, and can be trusted to do your job.

Poor Analytical Skills: Let’s face it, not everyone is good at analyzing but, on the bright side, typing people is a good chance to practice analytical skills. Two very obvious signs of bad analysis: 1) incorrect attribution of cause and effect (addressed in the last point below), and 2) not providing adequate support or evidence for your claims. It’s fun to discuss freely but it’s not very useful if all you can say is “That person seems Si dom” and then not provide any reasoning or evidence for it. Who knows whether your conception of Si is correct or the same as others’? Different people are at different places in understanding the concepts, so it’s necessary to clarify what you mean.

Type Dynamics: The whole personality is greater than the sum of the individual functions. Sometimes people get too bogged down in identifying a function and forget that functions are connected and behave differently according to their position in the stack, e.g., someone claims “This person is certainly dominant xy” but then they overlook the fact that the person’s behavior is entirely inconsistent with the corresponding inferior function. Let’s say you’re trying to type someone who often wants validation from others - you may jump to the conclusion that it is only Fe (based on stereotypes) but there are several combinations of functions that could potentially produce the desire for validation. If you can do a holistic analysis that clarifies the role of all four functions, your case will be much stronger.

Type Development: People who don’t know enough about type development are liable to treat all four functions as being relatively equal because of just using simplistic function descriptions as their basis for analysis, and this will result in them getting the functions correct but messing up the order. For example, I’ve seen some characters typed as IxTP who seemed much more likely to be unhealthy IxFJs. It helps to have a good grasp of negative cognitive-behavioral patterns because, if you can be certain about which two functions are low in the stack (loop/grip), you get much closer to the correct answer simply through the process of elimination.

Te users don’t gravitate towards what is quick on merit of the fact it is fast. They prefer a working system that is organised and if you think they work quickly, it’s because they have planning and systems that help them to be good at what they do. I also don’t believe Te is ‘obvious’ so much as it is ‘straight-forward’. 

Ti users are able to intake information and analyse things down into cleverly segmented and accurate parts, like a talented surgeon. Getting to the root of the problem is only a part of the process - information and perfecting analysis are also important aspects. 

Fe users don’t necessarily value the outcome for everyone equally, but they do care that everyone is able to coexist in a positive manner, and generally want and can understand what is best for those around them. 

Fi users are not driven by comfort. They care for their comfort, but that is a category of what is within their likes. They are driven by self expression and what is right, and if these two factors do not align it can cause great distress. Saying Fi is driven by comfort is like saying Fi is driven by cats because a lot of Fi users really care about cats. 

Ne users generally don’t care to fit in with the broader picture. Ne looks to expand the broader picture, and use the information from the broader picture that they are already aware of to create more ideas, and then apply these ideas and general theoretical principals to their situation. They connect problematic factors with far-fetched ideas for what can solve them, and are skilled at this.

Ni users are compelled by a purpose to accomplish their goals, and are willing to work hard to accomplish them, both for themselves and for the people they know it will affect. They care a lot about the process it takes to get them there, and if the process does not comply with what they feel is right for their person, they will find unconventional tactics to accomplish goals that may not take them to where they want to be, but will line them up appropriately to chase their end-game. (also, some of their end games may not be exact concrete just yet. INxJ’s are very capable people, but the stereotype that they have every detail planned out to the last in their lives is unfair and untrue.)

Se users do not just look for the easiest way out, they prefer to enjoy themselves. In the pursuit of enjoyment, Se users can employ very creative tactics to help make their tasks worthwhile. They find quick, and possibly not long-lasting, ways to do things that can only be described as creative and extremely resourceful.

↳ The Artisans (SPs) are the temperament with the natural ability to excel in the art of anything.

misusing counterpart function as defense mechanism 

I was reading my notifications and came across my old post being angry about something one of the “Introverts are magical delicate beings AND EVERYONE ELSE IS LOUD AND STUPID”* sites, and wanted to cover the basic bias criteria for a couple common MBTI issues in a post of its own. Apply these standards to see if someone is just trying to convince themselves they’re the best, or if they actually have something worth saying.

I can’t promise I’m innocent of all of these. I try, and I’m open to constructive feedback.

THE INTUITIVE BIAS

1. The assumption that intuitive types use their judging functions more effectively. To use an example, on average, INTPs and ISTPs should have equivalent use of Ti.

2. The assumption that intuitive types can use sensing functions, but sensors can’t use intuition functions in the same position. Or in other words, an unbiased portrayal would show an ESTJ using Ne just as well as an ENTJ uses Se.

3. The assumption that intuitive functions themselves are inherently more complex or special than sensing counterparts. In other words, both Si and Ni are future focused, using a worldview that is personalized based on either past experience (Si) or conceptual reflection (Ni). That’s it. Se and Ne are both pretty present-focused and divergent. One is concrete, and one is conceptual.

THE INTROVERT BIAS

1. The assumption that ‘extroverted’ activities are somehow more of a burden to introverts than ‘introverted’ activities are to extroverts. Introvert refusal to go to parties is just as hard on extroverts as extroverts inviting introverts to parties.

2. Failure to take responsibility for rudeness.

3. The assumption that intelligence is tied to introversion/extroversion. Honestly, this applies to every MBTI bias, while we’re at it, but it’s I think at its worst with the introvert bias.\

THIS FUNCTION IS THE BEST/WORST!

Can be for any function. If it’s for both Ne and Ni being the best/Se and Si being the worst we’re dealing with intuitive bias.

1. The idea that any function is itself possessing in an inherent morality. For example, there are some super manipulative Fe users or ruthless Te users. There are also some amazingly loving and nurturing Fe users and considerate and just Te users. The functions are the syntax through which the person expresses themselves. They are not good or bad on their own.

2. Failure to acknowledge the limitations of functions. In short: all feeling functions are based in morality and not logic; all thinking functions are based in logic and not morality; all intuitive functions are based in personal reflection and not concrete experience; all sensing functions are based in concrete experience and not personal reflection; all extroverted functions come from external standards; all introverted functions come from internal standards. So all introverted functions do not automatically make sense to anyone else, all extroverted functions assume some level of shared reference, and so on. If you think a function is all-knowing or universally the best way to approach life….it’s not.

3. This bias often goes hand in hand with a belief that functions are set in stone. And while I do believe that it’s pretty much impossible to change type, at least once you’re in early adulthood (also…why would you? Seems like a lot of work for not much difference) it’s definitely possible to improve and change as a person.

IN GENERAL

if someone uses personality theory to excuse bad behavior without consequence, to write off swaths of the population without knowing them based solely on personality type, or credit unrelated skills and traits like intelligence or creativity to certain types, they’re doing it wrong.

ISTJ: The Courthouse ~ organized, decisive, strong, prominent influence from past designs, detail oriented

ISFJ: The Welcoming Inn ~ caring, attentive, provides comfort and familiarity, inviting

ESTJ: The Fortress ~ strong, powerful, commanding, in tune with sensory environment, hosts power

ESFJ: The Suburban Family Home ~ welcoming of guests, good host, attentive to all needs of family members and friends 

ISTP: The Houseboat ~ experimental, adventurous, functional, aware of and works with physical environment

ISFP: The Mountain Cabin ~ solitary, peaceful, surrounded by inspiring physical environment

ESTP: The International Airport ~ bustling, full of diversity and many people, the starting place for countless adventures 

ESFP: The Expansive Mall ~ endless possibilities for sensory excitement, great for social fun, inviting

INTP: The House on Wheels ~ creative, experimental, open for endless changes and search for a perfect spot

INTJ: The Castle ~ commanding, solitary, full of endless interesting corridors, decisive

ENTP: The World Trade Center ~ a place of debate and diverse possibilities, many varying people, and a big picture, global view

ENTJ: The Skyscraper ~ high reaching, central in bustling and thriving cities, pushes limits of building technology

INFP: The Extensive Library ~ holds intricate maze of knowledge and imagination, many cozy and unique areas, endless exploration

INFJ: The Old Mansion ~ mysterious and hard to see behind gates, caring and protective of few residents, deep concern for quality, creative grounds

ENFP: The Expansive Museum ~ wide variety, invites discovery and thought, offers glimpses into many different times and cultures

SUBMITTED by rainismyfavouritecolour

When reading about descriptions doesn’t help anymore, I start observing and talking to people. My mother is the only other Ni-dom I know, and I frequently discuss MBTI with her. Today, I picked her brain on how she perceives ‘patterns’ applied to systems, as she called it once. To skip over all the confusing bits, it comes down to the conclusion that it’s not necessarily ‘patterns’ but information accumulation.

What we have in common, her Ni-Te and my Ni-Fe, is that we both 'collect’ information from anywhere for future usage. Not all of it used everywhere, only the bits relevant to a specific situation, but no information screening or discard happens. It all stays in our heads to be used when we need it.

These often seemingly separate pieces of information string together to give a single, most likely conclusion, culminating in the so famously named 'hunch’. The common denominator for us both is that these pieces aren’t put together with any effort, but simply connect with one another. It’s like watching it happen while standing on the outside, out of the corner of your eye. Like collecting puzzle pieces and the last one slotting into place, resulting in a 'finished’ idea/conclusion/etc, even though we may not have been able to see the puzzle collecting until the last one.

A difference I have observed between us, is that she’s much more conscious of when this 'slotting into place’ happens. With me, I can often trace back where these pieces came from and how they connect, even if I cannot say why they must go together. It’s like I’m half in my subconscious while the other half of me looks outward to scan for more clues. My 'hunches’ aren’t much of a surprise because I can usually see the process happening, despite not actively pushing for anything to connect. I also, and this I forgot to compare with her, need to concentrate/pay attention for this process to happen. Some information simply strikes me as significant in some way and is written on a 'mental sticky note’ to refer back to later.

Applied to people, a kind of 3D model made up of perspectives enters my mind. I can clearly see, based on the information I’m given, what a person is likely to be motivated by, what hides behind what they say. A new piece of perspective is added for each person involved, and I can turn the whole model any way I wish, identifying the disconnect in communication, the 'weak spot’, that is likely to present the problem between them. It very much is perspective-shifting, dynamic and ever changing with every new piece of (relevant seeming) information.

When I say, I can trace back where my ‘hunches’ come from or why a piece of information seems significant, I mean that when I say 'I have a feeling X will happen’, I can go back to these specific pieces of information. I can say 'X will happen because this kicked off this chain of events’ etc. I’d describe it as piecing it together by going backwards, using the 'hunch’ as origin and then tracing it to all the clues that lead to it.

I don’t seem to have the kind of innate understanding that past patterns dictate future ones (in behavior) which is a technique my mother seems to use; ask questions to assess someone’s reaction and build Te patterns from there to predict future behaviors. I can merely say what may be in character for some people, but am not particularly great at predicting how people will act in the long term. I’m better at planning for myself in long term and must be deliberate; the future isn’t clear, only the end goal, if I have one, and it may modify based on what will happen between now and then, to accommodate for any changes.

On a side note, I once voiced something to my sister that I also told my mother today, and which I suspect may have to do with Ti, since neither can relate; my close family are all Fi/Te-users. When talking to people, I can tell when their thoughts disconnect, like a system that forgets to run smoothly and experiences a hiccup. In a nutshell, inconsistency in people’s stream of thinking. I do seek consistency of thought and quickly notice disconnects everywhere, so I am considering having typed myself wrong as INFJ. But, I’m interested in whether you can relate to this, Ti user and non-Ti user alike.

ISFJ: Floating on your back in the ocean: The sounds of the people on the shore vanish as your ears slip beneath the waves. You lose track of where your body ends and the water begins. 

ESFJ: Going back to a place from your childhood: Your mind waters back to when you were there last, but it’s all a blur of shapes, colors, and sounds. It all seemed so much bigger then. 

ISTJ: The sudden realization that you’re actually a human: Out of nowhere, it dawns on you that you aren’t just some entity, but an actual person like everyone else around you. You feel so connected but so disconnected. 

ESTJ: Being the first one down on Christmas day: You know that in a little bit, you’ll be engulfed by joy, but for now, it’s just you, and something seems missing. 

ISFP: Doodling in class: The teacher may be droning on, but you’re none the wiser. The only thing on your mind is the soft curves of the fifth flower you’re etching onto the page.

ESFP: Being separated from your friends at a party: You find yourself surrounded by people you’ve never met. The alcohol and the bass muddle your senses. 

ISTP: An early morning shower: Your mind blossoms with thoughts you’re fully aware you won’t be able to remember anyway, but you enjoy them in the moment. You turn your face into the steady stream of water.

ESTP: Ziplining alone: The wind whips through your hair as you slowly lose grasp of the rational human fear of being suspended on a thin rope on the edge of peril. 

INFJ: Your room at any time between 1 and 5 am: Your mind is filled with both deafening sound and utter silence all at once. Everything seems so familiar yet so foreign. 

ENFJ: After sending a risky text: You stare at the screen, your entire being screaming at you to look away. A breath remains trapped in your lungs, never to be released until you see a reply. 

INTJ: Driving on a highway after sundown with one of your favorite songs playing: Though there are thousands of other people in thousands of cars around you, you feel like the only person on Earth.

ENTJ: When you wake up 5 minutes before your alarm goes off: You know you should be productive and get up, but something about this moment feels so safe, nighttime on the cusp of day. You curl back up under your covers. 

INFP: The moment after zoning out: After finally coming back to Earth, you can’t wrap your mind around how you were feeling just seconds before. You wonder how you can make it come back. 

ENFP: Waking up from an afternoon nap: There are indentations on your arms from the things you forgot to take off your bed. Sunlight streams through the blinds, casting a yellowish haze throughout the room. 

INTP: Being alone in an empty aisle at a library: Thousands upon thousands of other worlds on either side of you separate you from the one you know. 

ENFJ:

ENFP:

ENTJ:

ENTP:

ESFJ:

ESFP:

ESTJ:

ESTP:

INFJ:

INFP:

INTJ:

INTP:

ISFJ:

ISFP:

ISTJ:

ISTP:

Heyyy guys it’s your favorite ENTP! So I thought of something cool I’d like to do. I might be pretty great at typing using MBTI, but I still suck at understanding and identifying certain things about each type. So here is a question of mine for each type! Please comment or reblog to answer–and feel free to ask a question of your own and have someone else do the same thing! And feel free to steal another type’s question for yourself, these are pretty broad questions.  INTJ: We all know the INTJ™ is arrogant, self-centered, very intelligent, and will cut you if you get in their way. How much do you act like that? Are you as “mean” as the stereotype?

ENTJ: How extroverted do you really see yourself? I’ve met ENTJs that act like stereotypical extroverts and then some that are basically INTJs  but slightly less unfriendly. 

INFJ: How do I pick you out from INFPs and ENFJs and the like? Who do you usually hang out with? And where do I find male INFJs!?!?!

Cute on the outside serious on the inside ENFP ESFJ ISFJ ESTP INTP

Serious on the outside serious on the inside INTJ ENTJ ESTJ ISTJ

My ex was an ISFP :) Care tips for ISFPs:

1. Perform small acts of service for them. Help with practical tasks like washing the dishes, picking them up from work, cleaning the bathroom, etc

2. Nourish their Se. Give them massages, play soothing music that they like, open windows to let light stream into their dwelling, give them clean clothes fresh out of the dryer, light some beautiful aromatic candles

3. Treat them outside. Go for a walk. Go sit in a tree. Go jump in the lake. 

4. Engage their tertiary in a positive way. Hone in on some positive outcomes that their current predicament may result in. 

Word of caution: Typing by letters is not recommended by most people who possess some knowledge of mbti (including myself). But if you still wish to do so here are some helpful tips in identifying which letter you have. Still, please stay reminded that functions play a much bigger role than the letters and depending on the function stack of each type some characteristics of the letters may be diminished or exaggerated. So take the guide with a grain of salt!

I vs. E (Introversion vs. Extroversion)

Has nothing to do with the number of friends you have or liking your friends (or people in general).

Introverts

¬ Tend to prefer the company of a couple of people over a big group

¬ Can feel overwhelmed in a crowd because they’re primarily “programmed” for one-on-one conversing

¬ Feel energized by solitary activities

¬ Prefer to reflect on things by themselves before turning to others

Extroverts

¬ Can focus their energy on multiple people at once

¬ Can struggle with one-on-one conversing because they are more natural navigating through a large amount of people

¬ Feel energized by social activities

¬ Prefer to talk things over with someone else before reflecting alone

So which one do I have?

Try asking yourself the following questions:

°When something unexpected (good OR bad) happens to you, do you feel the need to share it with others as soon as possible (extroversion) by e.g posting about it on Facebook or calling your friends? Or do you prefer to reflect on it by yourself (to for example conclude how you feel or think about it) and “prepare” yourself for sharing it with others (introversion)?

°After a fun social gathering with your best friends do you appreciate the fact it was fun but look forward to going home (introversion)? Or do you wish you could keep going and already think about the next time you can gather and have fun (extroversion)?

°Do you think you can reach an understanding of another person’s point of view by primarily listening (introversion) or by primarily conversing (extroversion)?

N vs. S (iNtuition vs. Sensing)

Has nothing to do with intelligence, creativity or uniqueness.

Intuitives

¬ Prefer taking in information by first gaining a general understanding and then focusing on details

¬ Try to find connections and general principles in data

¬ Can miss crucial details because they primarily focus on the big picture

¬ Prefer relaying information and ideas in metaphors and using abstract language and terms

Sensors

¬ Prefer focusing on singular pieces of information and constructing an overall understanding with them

¬ Focus on finding inconsistencies and exceptions in data

¬ Can be too focused on details to see the big picture

¬ Prefer to communicate using “layman’s terms” and concrete examples

So which one do I have?

Try asking yourself the following questions:

°When studying a book about a new issue, do you take time to glance through first to get the general idea (intuition) or do you delve right into it and trust you’ll get the idea just by reading from the beginning (sensing)?

°Are you often criticized for simplifying complex issues to make it understandable with the cost of making things too black and white (sensing)? Or are you more often criticized for explaining things in a manner too complex and abstract, refusing to simplify issues for the sake of making them easier to understand (intuition)?

T vs. F (Thinking vs. Feeling)

Has nothing to do with whether or not you have feelings or are capable of logical soundness. Also has no correlation to being smart or having empathy.

Thinkers

¬ Are more comfortable dealing with issues that don’t involve strong feelings from self or others

¬ Trust their intellect when judging things

¬ Can struggle with showing or using their sentiment

¬ Can thrive for sole logical consistency without regard for subjective feelings

Feelers

¬ Are more comfortable dealing with people’s subjective experiences and feelings as opposed to hard facts

¬ Trust their heart and “gut feeling” when judging things

¬ Can struggle with accepting facts they don’t feel are right

¬ Can disregard facts when seeking emotional comfort and security

So which one do I have?

Try asking yourself the following questions:

°When gathering information about something new, are you more curious to hear about it from someone with no personal involvement (thinking) or from someone with personal experience and insights (feeling)?

°Are you more frustrated by insensitivity to people’s feelings and suffering (feeling) or by hypersensitivity to people’s feelings with the cost of facts (thinking)?

°Which one do you feel more threatened by: emotional instability that leaves no room for rationality (thinking) or inflexible factuality without any regard to subjective experience and feelings (feeling)?

J vs. P (Judging vs. Perceiving)

Has nothing to do with being lazy or messy.

Judgers

¬ Prefer to know what to expect and to plan things in advance

¬ Feel anxious in situations that lack plan, schedule, structure or a desirable end result

¬ Can struggle in situations that require improvising or “playing by ear”

¬ Tend to organize themselves and their surroundings

Perceivers:

¬ Enjoy situations that require improvising and can have unpredictable end results

¬ Prefer doing things spontaneously when they feel like it

¬ Can struggle and feel bored in situations that follow a set schedule or structure

¬ Tend to struggle with making and following long-term plans that require commitment

So which one do I have?

Try asking yourself the following questions:

°Do you tend to feel more anxious in unpredictable turns of events (judging) or situations where you’re expected to follow a set schedule or etiquette (perceiving)?

°When working, do you work in bursts of energy (perceiving) or diligently bit by bit (judging)

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