#pensive five

Pensive Fine presents an alternative type.

I would argue Jinbe is an ISTJ. Yes he does want do strongly adhere to a moral code and being authentic but that doesn’t necessary indicate Fi-dom. Consider the way in which he helped Luffy recover after Ace’s death. He does not hesitate to fight back if Luffy attacked him. He says “Don’t count everything is lost, what’s gone is gone! But ask yourself what remains?”. 

He is directive and upfront, with a strong emphasis on laying down the facts. Again he shows this after Pedro dies, telling the crew to focus on the opportunity Pedro provided for them to escape and to not waste it. Whilst Jinbe has shown great empathy, he became that way through his experiences. In flashbacks he is portrayed in quite a gruff and blunt in his speech, skeptical that there was evidence that fisherman would be ever treated with respect for it is not supported by the facts nor past history/interactions with humans (Si-Te). He disagreed with Otohime stems based on this point rather than a clash of opposing values. Later on his interactions with the young Koala makes him reflect upon how change can be frightening and makes him more receptive to accepting alternative possibilities to what he is used to experience (Ne development) Jinbe is quite skilled at giving detailed and specific information on the topic, never losing himself in tangents (Si>Ne). 

Where is his Ne? His feet are firmly rooted in reality- what is plausible without too much regard for meaningless abstraction. He knows how the world works. He is cautious of the future as it has the potential to threaten stability and as a result takes a very deliberate approach towards it, valuing the more secure path (inferior Ne). Although this can be attributed to his experience, he has no problems coming up with delegating tasks to people in, organizing people in an efficient manner and making plans to achieve goals and considering factual data (Te), in fact he seems quite natural at that stuff. Similar to Law, he can be baffled with the Straw Hat’s outlandish behaviour and how they can so easily disregard the cause-effect of their actions. He criticizes Luffy for his lack of responsibility as a captain- falling asleep in the middle of his story and for not keeping up with the news (vital information for anticipating future outcomes). Jinbe does like helping people but he doesn’t do it through visualizing the potential path of growth for people (the way a higher Ne would) but would rather through doing practical things for people in the moment. From observes his patterns of cognition, there is simply stronger evidence a preference of Si>Ne and arguably Te>Fi. To argue for Fi in the dominant position, stronger evidence is required. 

Special thanks to this post here (http://onepieceofmbti.tumblr.com/post/125537320493/jinbe-istj). 

Fictionalcharactermbti Reasoning:

JINBE: INFP [THE HEALER] ONE PIECE 

Introverted Feeling determines subjective values–convictions about how a life is best lived. Such values are trained by direct experience of good and bad behaviors, and they claim us from within. Source: Lenore Thomson

At the end of the day this is Jinbe’s guiding principle of judgement. It is not Te like in an ISTJ. ISTJs use Te to find a place within a system’s values. Jinbe from the start does not fit within any system. We see him slip from group to group. This is because of his Fi. Whether it is his original pirate crew, his nation, the warlords, or Luffy, his judgement guides him to not have strong allegiances to groups. His allegiance is to what is right at the time based on his experiences. That is quintessential introverted feeling.

INFP’s understanding of reality is quite nearly like the one described by mystics, who believe that spiritual energy descends to earth by way of eternal ideals–structural patterns that bring order out of material chaos. By aligning their behaviors with these ideals, mystics can, presumably, bring life into harmony with its divine potential. Source: Lenore Thomson

This is the combination of secondary Ne with the dominant Fi. Jinbe does not get his information from hard facts and concrete realities. Yes, his Fi leads him to be guided by experience, but this is added to more abstract thought. Jinbe is incredibly forward looking and this is seen best in how he plays politics and how he assists Luffy. He is always thinking of the possibilities of the future. How the actions today can create great change within the entire pirate community and way of life. This is what inspires him to teach Luffy. He isn’t convinced by some hard evidence that Luffy is the future Pirate King. An ISTJ would be much more skeptical of such flights of belief. There is a sense of destiny and Jinbe believing in this greater purpose and meaning in the way he helps and guides Luffy. 

Because their ideals are wholistic, INFPs feel responsible not only for their actions but their desire to take action, and they have a nearly karmic idea of balance. If they betray their ideals in either deed or feeling, they try to make restitution. Source: Lenore Thomson

This is the way Jinbe looks at his past. There is clearly guilt there. He is clearly trying to make up for his past, for mistakes whether directly caused be him or not. That doesn’t matter, just as the quote explains. This mentality is exactly why Jinbe breaks vows, breaks honor, breaks allegiances to rescue Luffy from Big Mama. Following the rules, following honor, and the way of the system/rules do not fit well with Jinbe. He will break all of the rules if they don’t sit well with him. He won’t try to navigate a way for the rules to work for him, but straight up break them. 

Contrast this with ISTJs like Fujitora. When Fujitora is faced with the rules not working, he doesn’t head on break them. That goes against ISTJ principles. Rules of the system are still important to an ISTJ. Breaking them fully could tarnish the ideals of those rules and systems in the first place that in general work and need to be upheld. Instead, he finds a way to skirt around and within rules in place. He can get around one exception to the rule while upholding the law as seen in his resolution of the Don Quixote Doflamingo arc.

Jinbe continually has huge defining moments. Moments when he doesn’t consider the rules and systems like Fujitora does. This is because Te is not his more dominant judgement, it is Fi. Everything he does is not attributed to something outside of himself, but his own internal compass. As soon as something doesn’t jive with his inner harmony, he can’t stand by. 

When INFPs spend most of their energy protecting their inner realm from attachment to an imperfect outer situation, their least-developed function, Extraverted Thinking, doesn’t get very conscious. Such types are often excellent at managing time and resources for others but have a harder time structuring and organizing their own lives. Source: Lenore Thomson

This is a part of Jinbe you admit yourself. However, where this behavior is attributed is incorrect. Jinbe is a great leader and is great at helping others. But notice his own life is a little bit of a mess. He keeps acting on his Fi, and this leaves him to having a nomadic life, with no real people to belong to. This would be torture to an ISTJ, but something this INFP is fine with. Maybe not happy, but he would much prefer it than following. 

It is always important to note that INFPs, when they get more unhealthy they look like stereotypical STJs. They can become harsh to others in their words, sharp and biting. INFPs are able to cut deep due to their deep understanding of the emotions of others. We see this when he helps Luffy after the loss of Ace. In moments like this and with typing you have to ask, why? And is this behavior typical? Jinbe is not typically direct and to the point. He can wander, jokes with Luffy’s crew, and enjoys their antics. He is amused with Luffy’s different style and in fact inspired. He becomes direct with Luffy in this crucial moment, because he understands Luffy and what he has been through. He knows what he needs. This is deliberate. INFPs, like any type, can be harsh when they need to. Especially, if harshness at the beginning leads to a decrease in conflict overall. He knows this direct approach in the moment, to force reality in Luffy’s face, is the only way to help Luffy grieve. He isn’t doing it out of an inability to read emotional cues, but because of his strong emotional understanding. He sees Luffy drowning, but showing anger instead of accepting the loss. Jinbe is deliberately confronting Luffy to help him get to the iconic moment of Luffy breaking down, letting go.

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When typing characters it is important to look at the overall pattern and not the exceptions. The exceptions brought on by different factors of a character’s arc do not speak to a character historically and as a whole. Those exceptions are typically indicative of functions lower in their stack. It is really important to look at Jinbe when he is alone, when he reflects on his life and philosophies. What brings him into these moments. That is why I give examples, but not always incredibly specific examples, because those very tiny details become insignificant when trying to type a character as a whole. They often play too much into stereotypes and lose how dynamic each type can be.