ISFJ

Be prepared, work hard, and hope for a little luck. Recognize that the harder you work and the better prepared you are, the more luck you might have.

Ed Bradley

Overview of “the Protector”

ISFJs are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging.

  • Introverted because they are energized by time spent alone and connect most with the inner world.
  • Sensing because they explore practical details of the physical world and focus primarily on the past and present.
  • Feeling because they prioritize personal values and emotions when making decisions.
  • Judging because they prefer to have things organized and like control in their outer environment.

ISFJs are dedicated, loyal people. They have an overall gentle and helpful energy and they are not afraid of a little hard work. Their tenacity and willingness to sacrifice themselves for others cause them to be a rock for their loved ones who lean on them in times of trouble. These types are detailed-oriented and talented at following through, especially when the going gets tough.

ISFJs are devoted to their family and often hold traditional values. They are respectful of others, especially elderly or vulnerable people groups, and hope for affection in return. These types are keenly aware of their own status in society and trust the safety and stability of conventional systems. ISFJs want to do things the “right way” and guide others by-the-book. They are fiercely protective, tenderhearted, reliable, responsible, and sincere.

Cognitive Functions

In the Myers-Briggs personality system there are eight cognitive functions. Your unique personality is a road map pointing to the four cognitive functions that you access consciously. Every personality will have two extroverted functions and two introverted functions. Every personality will also have one feeling function, one thinking function, one intuitive function, and one sensing function. For more help and practice identifying cognitive functions for the sixteen Myers-Briggs personality types check out this worksheet. All eight functions are as follows:

  • Extroverted Intuition
  • Introverted Intuition
  • Extroverted Sensing
  • Introverted Sensing
  • Extroverted Feeling
  • Introverted Feeling
  • Extroverted Thinking
  • Introverted Thinking

Si (Introverted Sensing) – Dominant

An ISFJ’s dominant cognitive function is Introverted Sensing, abbreviated as Si. Dominant cognitive functions are used approximately 80% of the time by an individual and are hardly noticed by the user. This function will feel like second nature and “drives” an ISFJ.

10 Signs You’re Si-dominant

  1. You enjoy reliving past experiences
  2. You learn quickly from your mistakes
  3. You notice when something’s “off”
  4. Trust facts over inspiration
  5. Probably have a good sense of humor
  6. Comfortable with traditions
  7. You pay attention to detail
  8. Often fairly resourceful
  9. Dislike being pushed outside your comfort zone
  10. You compare and contrast a lot

Positives of Being Si-dominant

  • Being optimistically influenced by past experiences
  • Focusing on remembered facts
  • Seeking cozy, pleasurable comfort based on past information
  • Learning quickly from your mistakes

Struggles of Being Si-dominant

  • Getting stuck in old ways and resisting new thinking
  • Being trapped in the past and missing the big picture
  • Holding grudges and making it difficult to rebuild your trust
  • Missing new opportunities

A note to the ISFJs reading…

Ever wonder why you have an uncanny ability to remember the past? That’s Si. Ever catch yourself telling a story with incredible accuracy as you remember small details that others miss? That’s Si. Ever noticed that it’s hard to “forgive and forget” and move on with someone has seriously violated your trust? That’s Si.

Introverted Sensing is the reason you can relive past experiences with such accuracy. It’s the reason you prize facts over inspiration and trust tradition over novelty. Si gives you a good sense of humor, helps you remain attentive to detail, and keeps you fairly resourceful. It might be difficult to understand how much Introverted Sensing is driving your action because dominant cognitive functions are like the air we breath: it’s invisible but it enables life… on a day-to-day basis you don’t see it but every once in a while it makes itself known as wind. Introverted Sensing can be your secret weapon and your Achilles heel if it isn’t properly balanced with the other cognitive functions.

Fe (Extroverted Feeling) – Auxiliary

An ISFJ’s secondary function is Extroverted Feeling/Fe. If someone is an extrovert, their dominant function will be extroverted and their auxiliary function will always be introverted. Balance is necessary — especially in the brain! Fe helps bring new information to Si.

10 Signs You’re Fe-auxiliary

  1. You naturally keep the peace
  2. You like to “talk out” your decisions
  3. Naturally expressive and sincere
  4. You live your life based on your values
  5. You are a master-sympathizer
  6. Strong response to feedback (good or bad)
  7. Outwardly caring
  8. Susceptible to guilt
  9. Caught up in the emotional state of environment
  10. Very sacrificial (almost to a fault)

Fe takes a backseat to Si. Because Si is the driver, Fe goes out into the world to gain more information when Si feels ready to receive it. This is why ISFJs need such personal connection after long periods of alone time. Si compares and contrasts known information and Fe wants to gather new experiences after human interaction.

ISFJs may look extremely introverted or incredibly extroverted depending on how close you are to that person. To an acquaintance or a stranger, ISFJs appear very reserved and quiet. To a family member or close friend, they often swear that their ISFJ is an extrovert based on how enthusiastic, talkative, and bold are. This is because Introverted Sensing (their dominant cognitive function) draws on what the ISFJ knows, so with close family and friends they have inside jokes, funny references, and amazing stories already established. With a new person or a new social situation, an ISFJ will feel uncomfortable and outside of their element. For this reason, ISFJs usually identify themselves as being introverted.

Ti (Introverted Thinking) – Tertiary

An ISFJ’s tertiary cognitive function is Introverted Thinking/Ti. This position as third in the “cognitive stack” often means that SiFe is running the show the vast majority of the time. Because of this, Ti is a bit underdeveloped and starts to show up in an ISFJ’s mid-20s. Tertiary functions usually have the maturity level of a ten-year-old child — they can serve as a strength or a weakness depending on how the user responds to it.

Tertiary Ti is why ISFJs are more comfortable explaining things through their passions and ideals rather than through logical data. This function is part of what makes strategizing so fun and its why they like to analyze and categorize things. Ti makes an ISFJ enjoy brain games and strategy board games as a way to unwind. This function helps them practically back up their experiences and makes for more well-rounded opinions and arguments.

Ne (Extroverted Intuition) – Inferior

An ISTJ’s inferior cognitive function is Extroverted Intuition/Ne. This function is typically concerned with new ideas, innovative thought, and future possibilities. Inferior functions develop in midlife. Because of this late-blooming, there will be many time Ne pops up in uncomfortable, weak, and even self-destructive ways.

Healthy Ne-inferior looks like

  • Being open to new ideas
  • Seeking out new experiences
  • Adding variety to one’s life
  • Giving space for other perspectives

Unhealthy Ne-inferior looks like

  • Shutting down new ideas
  • Resisting new experiences
  • Refusal to deviate from routine
  • Closed mindedness