http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp ISFP You have distinct preference of Introversion over Extraversion (66%) You have slight preference of Sensing over Intuition (12%) You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (38%) You have marginal or no preference of Perceiving over Judging (3%) Your Type Preferences Introvert(66%) Sensing(12%) Feeling(38%) Perceiving(3%) Because you appear to have marginal or no (3%) preference of Perceiving over Judging, characteristics of more than one personality type may apply to you: ISFP and ISFJ . ISFP Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving by Joe Butt ISFPs are the first to hear the different drummer. Many eagerly plunge into new fashions, avant garde experiences, 'hip' trends--some even setting the trends. More in touch with the reality of their senses than their INFP counterparts, ISFPs live in the here and now. Their impulses yearn to be free, and are often loosed when others least expect it. The ISFP who continually represses these impulses feels 'dead inside' and may eventually cut and run. (One ISFP friend has become nonambulatory within the past few years. He will still, on impulse, leave home in the middle of the night and go to Las Vegas or wherever, regardless of the difficulties of his physical condition.)
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http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
ISFP
You have distinct preference of Introversion over Extraversion (66%) You have slight preference of Sensing over Intuition (12%) You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (38%) You have marginal or no preference of Perceiving over Judging (3%)
Your Type PreferencesIntrovert(66%) Sensing(12%) Feeling(38%) Perceiving(3%)
Because you appear to have marginal or no (3%) preference of Perceiving over Judging,
characteristics of more than one personality type may apply to you:
ISFP and ISFJ.
ISFPIntroverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving
by Joe Butt
ISFPs are the first to hear the different drummer. Many eagerly plunge into new fashions, avant
garde experiences, 'hip' trends--some even setting the trends.
More in touch with the reality of their senses than their INFP counterparts, ISFPs live in the here
and now. Their impulses yearn to be free, and are often loosed when others least expect it. The
ISFP who continually represses these impulses feels 'dead inside' and may eventually cut and
run. (One ISFP friend has become nonambulatory within the past few years. He will still, on
impulse, leave home in the middle of the night and go to Las Vegas or wherever, regardless of
the difficulties of his physical condition.)
ISFPs may be quite charming and ingratiating on first acquaintance, flowing with compliments
which may (or may not) be deserved. On other occasions, the same individual may be aloof and
detached. Some ISFP males are fiercely competitive, especially in sport or table games, and may
have great difficulty losing. This competitive nature, also seen in other SP types, sometimes
fosters 'lucky,' 'gut' feelings and a willingness to take risks.
Organized education is difficult for the majority of ISFPs, and many drop out before finishing
secondary education. Their interest can be held better through experiential learning, at which
many excel. ISFPs will practice playing an instrument or honing a favored skill for hours on end,
not so much as practice as for the joy of the experience.
INFP personalities are true idealists, always looking for the hint of good in even the worst of people and events, searching for ways to make things better. While they may be perceived as calm, reserved, or even shy, INFPs have an inner flame and passion that can truly shine. Comprising just 4% of the population, the risk of feeling misunderstood is unfortunately high for the INFP personality type – but when they find like-minded people to spend their time with, the harmony they feel will be a fountain of joy and inspiration.
Being a part of the Diplomat (NF) personality group, INFPs are guided by their principles, rather than by logic (Analysts), excitement (Explorers), or practicality
(Sentinels). When deciding how to move forward, they will look to honor, beauty, morality and virtue – INFPs are led by the purity of their intent, not rewards and punishments. People who share the INFP personality type are proud of this quality, and rightly so, but not everyone understands the drive behind these feelings, and it can lead to isolation.
All that is gold does not glitter; not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither; deep roots are not reached by the frost.
J. R. R. Tolkien
We Know What We Are, but Know Not What We May Be
At their best, these qualities enable INFPs to communicate deeply with others, easily speaking in metaphors and parables, and understanding and creating symbols to share their ideas. The strength of this intuitive communication style lends itself well to creative works, and it comes as no surprise that many famous INFPs are poets, writers and actors. Understanding themselves and their place in the world is important to INFPs, and they explore these ideas by projecting themselves into their work.
INFPs have a talent for self-expression, revealing their beauty and their secrets through metaphors and fictional characters.
INFPs’ ability with language doesn’t stop with their native tongue, either – as with most people who share the Diplomat personality types, they are considered gifted when it comes to learning a second (or third!) language. Their gift for communication also lends itself well to INFPs’ desire for harmony, a recurring theme with Diplomats, and helps them to move forward as they find their calling.
Listen to Many People, but Talk to Few
Unlike their Extraverted cousins though, INFPs will focus their attention on just a few people, a single worthy cause – spread too thinly, they’ll run out of energy, and even become dejected and overwhelmed by all the bad in the world that they can’t fix. This is a sad sight for INFPs’ friends, who will come to depend on their rosy outlook.
If they are not careful, INFPs can lose themselves in their quest for good and neglect the day-to-day upkeep that life demands. INFPs often drift into deep thought, enjoying contemplating the hypothetical and the philosophical more than any other personality type. Left unchecked, INFPs may start to lose touch, withdrawing into "hermit mode", and it can take a great deal of energy from their friends or partner to bring them back to the real world.
Luckily, like the flowers in spring, INFP’s affection, creativity, altruism and idealism will always come back, rewarding them and those they love perhaps not with logic and utility, but with a world view that inspires compassion, kindness and beauty wherever they go.
Famous INFPs
William Shakespeare
J.R.R. Tolkien
Björk
Johnny Depp
Julia Roberts
Lisa Kudrow
Tom Hiddleston
Homer
Virgil
Fictional INFPs
“Frodo Baggins” from The Lord of the Rings
“Anne of Green Gables”
“Fox Mulder” from X-Files
“Deanna Troi” from Star Trek
“Wesley Crusher” from Star Trek
INFP STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
INFP Strengths
Idealistic – INFPs' friends and loved ones will come to admire and depend on them for their optimism. Their unshaken belief that all people are inherently good, perhaps simply misunderstood, lends itself to an incredibly resilient attitude in the face of hardship.
Seek and Value Harmony – People with the INFP personality type have no interest in having power over others, and don't much care for domineering attitudes at all. They prefer a more democratic approach, and work hard to ensure that every voice and perspective is heard.
Open-Minded and Flexible – A live-and-let-live attitude comes naturally to INFPs, and they dislike being constrained by rules. INFPs give the benefit of the doubt too, and so long as their principles and ideas are not being challenged, they'll support others' right to do what they think is right.
Very Creative – INFPs combine their intuitive nature with their open-mindedness to allow them to see things from unconventional perspectives. Being able to connect many far-flung dots into a single theme, it's no wonder that many INFPs are celebrated poets and authors.
Passionate and Energetic – When something captures INFPs' imagination and speaks to their beliefs, they go all in, dedicating their time, energy, thoughts and emotions
to the project. Their shyness keeps them from the podium, but they are the first to lend a helping hand where it's needed.
Dedicated and Hard-Working – While others focusing on the challenges of the moment may give up when the going gets tough, INFPs (especially Assertive ones) have the benefit of their far-reaching vision to help them through. Knowing that what they are doing is meaningful gives people with this personality type a sense of purpose and even courage when it comes to accomplishing something they believe in.
INFP Weaknesses
Too Idealistic – INFPs often take their idealism too far, setting themselves up for disappointment as, again and again, evil things happen in the world. This is true on a personal level too, as INFPs may not just idealize their partners, but idolize them, forgetting that no one is perfect.
Too Altruistic – INFPs sometimes see themselves as selfish, but only because they want to give so much more than they are able to. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, as they try to push themselves to commit to a chosen cause or person, forgetting to take care of the needs of others in their lives, and especially themselves.
Impractical – When something captures INFPs' imagination, they can neglect practical matters like day-to-day maintenance and simple pleasures. Sometimes people with the INFP personality type will take this asceticism so far as to neglect eating and drinking as they pursue their passion or cause.
Dislike Dealing With Data – INFPs are often so focused on the big picture that they forget the forest is made of individual trees. INFPs are in tune with emotions and morality, and when the facts and data contradict their ideals, it can be a real challenge for them.
Take Things Personally – INFPs often take challenges and criticisms personally, rather than as inspiration to reassess their positions. Avoiding conflict as much as possible, INFPs will put a great deal of time and energy
into trying to align their principles and the criticisms into a middle ground that satisfies everybody.
Difficult to Get to Know – INFPs are private, reserved and self-conscious. This makes them notoriously difficult to really get to know, and their need for these qualities contributes to the guilt they often feel for not giving more of themselves to those they care about.
INFP RELATIONSHIPS
INFPs are dreamy idealists, and in the pursuit of the perfect relationship, this quality shows strongest. Never short on imagination, INFPs dream of the perfect relationship, forming an image of this pedestalled ideal that is their soul mate, playing and replaying scenarios in their heads of how things will be. This is a role that no person can hope to fill, and people with the INFP personality type need to recognize that nobody's perfect, and that relationships don't just magically fall into place – they take compromise, understanding and effort.
Love All, Trust a Few, Do Wrong to None
Fortunately these are qualities that INFPs are known for, and while it can be a challenge to separate long-fostered fantasy from reality, INFPs' tendency to focus their attention on just a few people in their lives means that they will approach new relationships wholeheartedly, with a sense of inherent value, dedication and trust.
INFPs share a sincere belief in the idea of relationships – that two people can come together and make each other better and happier than they were alone, and they will take great efforts to show support and affection in order to make this ideal a reality.
But INFPs aren't necessarily in a rush to commit – they are, after all, Prospecting (P) types, and are almost always looking to either establish a new relationship or improve an existing one – they need to be sure they've found someone compatible. In dating, INFPs will often start with a flurry of comparisons, exploring all the ways the current flame matches with the ideal they've imagined. This progression can be a challenge for a new partner, as not everyone is able to keep up with INFPs' rich imagination and moral standards – if incompatibilities and conflict over this initial rush mount, the relationship can end quickly, with INFPs likely sighing that "it wasn't meant to be."
As a relationship takes hold, people with the INFP personality type will show themselves to be passionate, hopeless romantics, while still respecting their partners' independence. INFPs take the time to understand those they care about, while at the same time helping them to learn, grow and change. While INFPs are well-meaning, not everyone appreciates what can come across as constantly being told that they need to improve – or, put another way, that they're not good enough. INFPs would be aghast to find that their intents were interpreted this way, but it's a real risk, and if their partner is as averse to conflict as INFPs themselves, it can boil under the surface for some time before surfacing, too late to fix.
Better Three Hours Too Soon Than a Minute Too Late
This aversion to conflict, while contributing greatly to stability in the relationship when done right, is probably the most urgent quality for INFPs to work on. Between their sensitivity and imagination, INFPs are prone to internalizing even objective statements and facts, reading into them themes and exaggerated consequences, sometimes responding as though these comments are metaphors designed to threaten the very foundations of their principles. Naturally this is almost certainly an overreaction, and INFPs should practice what they preach, and focus on improving their ability to respond to criticism with calm objectivity, rather than irrational accusations and weaponized guilt.
But that's at their uncommon worst – at their best, INFPs do everything they can to be the ideal partner, staying true to themselves and encouraging their partners to do the same. INFPs take their time in becoming physically intimate so that they can get to know their partners, using their creativity to understand their wants and needs, and adapt to them. People with this personality type are generous in their affection, with a clear preference for putting the pleasure of their partners first – it is in knowing that their partners are satisfied that INFPs truly feel the most pleasure.
INFP FRIENDS
The true friends of people with the INFP personality type tend to be few and far between, but those that make the cut are often friends for life. The challenge is the many dualities that this type harbors when it comes to being sociable – INFPs crave the depth of mutual human understanding, but tire easily in social situations; they are excellent at reading into others' feelings and motivations, but are often unwilling to provide others the same insight into themselves – it's as though INFPs like the idea of human contact, but not the reality of social contact.
How Poor Are They That Have Not Patience
In a lot of ways, this limits the potential pool of friends to other Diplomat (NF) types, who are able to pick up on the subtle clues left by their INFP friends, and who are more likely than not to enjoy something of a human enigma. A friendship with an ESTJ on the other hand, governed by social conventions and community participation as they are, would almost be a non-sequitur – though INFPs may find the idea of being paired with their opposite fascinating enough to outweigh the practical challenges to such a friendship.
To top it all off, ideas like networking and "the friend of my friend is my friend" hold little weight with INFPs. Friendships
are earned on their own merit, by dint of the intuitive respect INFPs have for those with similar principles and values, rather than more practical alignments like those of coworkers. INFPs' tendency to protect their sensitive inner cores and values from criticism, especially if they are on the more turbulent side of the spectrum, means that acquaintances will likely get nowhere near them without sustained and tactful effort.
But, if INFPs' shields are properly navigated and they decide to open up and trust another person, a strong, stable friendship will ensue, marked by passionate support and idealism, subtle poetic wit, and a level of emotional insight that is hard to match. INFPs' friends will be rewarded with calm, sensitivity and depth, and an ever-present desire to help, learn, and grow. But even the most confident and assertive INFPs will only be able to keep up this relaxed and present exterior for so long.
Even as friendships grow stronger and deeper, and friends are lulled into a sense of mutual understanding, INFPs' enigmatic qualities will never truly vanish.
INFPs will always need to disappear for a while, removing themselves from others so they can re-center on their own minds and feelings. Often enough people with the INFP personality type will emerge from this time alone having come to some momentous decision that even their closest friends didn't know was weighing on them, evading even the option of receiving the sort of support and advice they so readily give. Such is INFPs' way, for better or for worse.
INFP PARENTS
People who share the INFP personality type share a tendency to not only strive to learn and grow as principled, moral individuals, but to bring likeminded people on that journey with them. In their own subtle, often shy way, INFPs want to lead others forward, as kindred spirits – they will find no greater opportunity for this than in parenthood.
From the start, INFP parents are warm, loving and supportive, and take immeasurable joy in the wide-eyed wonder of their children as they explore, learn, and grow. People with the INFP personality type will give their children the freedom they need to do this, keeping an open mind and letting their children gain their own sense of understanding. At the same time, INFP parents will try to provide a backdrop to this freedom and experience, establishing a set of morals and values that guide that liberty with a sense of personal responsibility.
INFPs never stop encouraging their children to learn and grow, and they consider it their duty to inspire and motivate them, both by using their sensitivity and intuition to speak in their children's language and by leading the way themselves.
However, this sense of responsibility has a harder side – if their children fall foul of their INFP parents' values, it will not be taken lightly. People with the INFP personality type take their responsibilities in parenthood seriously, and in this measure above all others.
In some ways, INFPs' tendency to hide their inner selves from view can be an advantage in parenting, as they are able to portray themselves as good role models on the outside, shielding their loved ones not just from their own occasional anger and depression, but from the broader evils in the world as well. This helps INFPs to demonstrate outwardly the moral lessons they want their children to adopt, and at the same time to establish a sense of harmony in the household.
Modest Doubt Is Called the Beacon of the Wise
The biggest challenge for INFP parents, especially more turbulent types who often have even more trouble with self-doubt than most, is to establish more practical and day-to-day structures and rules. INFPs may be able to convey the abstract value of honesty with remarkable skill, but it's not always easy to equate that idea with the practical reality of their children being home from the movies when they said they were going to be, and it's especially challenging when
these misunderstandings result in conflict. In these situations, INFP personalities do best with a partner who is able to play a stronger hand in more administrative tasks than they can, so they can focus on the underlying spirit of those rules.
INFP CAREERS
It is perhaps more challenging for INFPs to find a satisfying career than any other type. Though intelligent, the regimented learning style of most schools makes long years earning an advanced degree a formidable undertaking for people with the INFP personality type – at the same time, that's often what's needed to advance in a field that rings true for them. INFPs often wish that they could just be, doing what they love without the stress and rigor of professional life.
Oftentimes, as with so many things, the answer lies somewhere in the middle, in a line of work that begins with passion and dedication, but which comes to require training so that the academia feels intimately linked to that passion. Too many INFPs drift in frustration, ultimately succumbing to the necessities of day-to-day life in a job that wasn't meant for them. But it turns out that, despite such exacting demands, modern economics places a premium on the very keys to INFPs' challenges: their creativity, independence, and need for meaningful relationships with individuals who need their help.
There's Place and Means for Everyone
First and foremost is seemingly every INFPs' dream growing up – to become an author. While a novel is a classic choice, it is rarely an accessible one, and there are many viable options for freedom-loving INFPs. The internet brings to the world the opportunities of blogging and freelance work – as organizations expand their reach beyond their native tongues, they will come to depend on INFP personality types, with their gift for language and written expression, to take their rougher translations and stale pitches and inject them
with a sense of beauty and poetry. Smaller organizations will need more than ever to express with elegance the value they bring to local communities.
Most any cause, idea, or field can benefit from the artful and natural expression that INFPs bring to the table, and INFPs have their pick of the world in choosing who they work with.
The real beauty here is that it takes a core interest that people with the INFP personality type share, while helping a cause they believe in, independently, through creative expression and personal growth, and makes it applicable to any interest there is. There will always be a need, and now more than ever, to win people's hearts and minds with the written word.
Some INFPs will prefer a still more personal touch, being able to work face-to-face with clients, seeing that their personal effort really impacts another's quality of life. Service careers such as massage therapy, physical rehabilitation, counselling, social work, psychology and even academic roles and retraining can be exceptionally rewarding for INFPs, who take pride in the progress and growth they help to foster. People with the INFP personality type have a tendency to put others' interests ahead of their own, a mixed blessing by itself, but when a patient takes their first unaided step in the long road to recovery after an accident, nothing will feel more rewarding than that selflessness.
If to Do Were as Easy as to Know What Were Good to Do...
Where INFPs will not thrive is in a high-stress, team-heavy, busy environment that burdens them with bureaucracy and tedium. INFPs need to be able to work with creativity and consideration – high-pressure salespeople they are not. It can be a challenge to avoid these roles, as they are the basis for so much starting work, and it's often a risk to break away into something less dependable, but more rewarding. To find a career that resonates with INFPs' values though, that's more than just a job, sometimes it's just what needs to be done.
INFP IN THE WORKPLACE
In the workplace, INFPs face the challenge of taking their work and their profession personally. To INFPs, if it isn't worth doing, it isn't really worth doing, and this sense of moral purpose in their work colors everything from how they respond to authority to how they express it. Though the way the INFP personality type shows through depends on the position, there are a few basic truths about what INFPs seek in the workplace: they value harmony, need an emotional and moral connection to their work, and loathe bureaucratic tedium.
INFP Subordinates
As subordinates, INFPs prefer latitude, and would much rather immerse themselves in a project, alone or with a close team, than simply be told what task to do and move on. People with the INFP personality type aren't looking for easy, forgettable work that pays the bills, they're looking for meaningful work that they actually want to think about, and it helps for their managers to frame responsibilities in terms of emotional merit rather than cold rationalization or business for its own sake. INFPs would rather know that their work will help to deliver a service they believe in than to know that the bottom line has been boosted by 3%.
If these standards are met, managers will find an extremely dedicated and considerate employee in INFPs. As idealistic opportunity-seekers INFPs may not always work well in technical applications, where the facts and logic really matter and critique is often necessary, but they work beautifully in more human and creative endeavors. While some types, especially Analysts (NT), respond favorably to negative feedback, taking criticism as an opportunity to not make the same mistake twice, people with the INFP personality type would much rather hear what they did right and focus on what to do, rather than what not to.
INFP Colleagues
INFPs feel most comfortable among colleagues – they aren't interested in controlling others, and have a similar distaste for being controlled. Among their colleagues, INFPs will feel freer to share their ideas, and while they may maintain some psychological distance, they will make every effort to be pleasant, friendly and supportive – so long as their coworkers reciprocate. INFPs don't like conflict or picking sides, and will do everything they can to maintain harmony and cooperation.
Most of this comes down to good communication, which INFPs prefer to conduct in person, for that personal touch, or in writing, where they can compose and perfect their statements. People with the INFP personality type avoid using phones if they can, having the worst of both worlds, being both detached and uncomposed. INFPs also like to feel like their conversations are meaningful, and while they enjoy exploring philosophy more than most, their patience for arbitrary hypothetical brainstorming or dense technical discussions is limited.
INFP Managers
As managers, INFPs are among the least likely to seem like managers – their egalitarian attitudes lend respect to every subordinate, preferring communication as human beings than as a boss/employee opposition. People with the INFP personality type are flexible, open-minded and give their subordinates the tools they need, be they responsible delegation or an intuitive and receptive sounding board, to get the job done. Keeping their eyes on the horizon, INFPs set goals that achieve a desirable end, and help the people working under them to make that happen.
There is a downside to this style, as sometimes the boss just needs to be the boss. INFPs know how they feel about criticism, and are reluctant to subject others to that same experience, whether it's needed or even welcome. Further complicating this role, when INFPs are under stress, as when someone really does warrant criticism, they can become extremely emotional – they may not show it, but it can affect
their judgment, or even cause them to withdraw inwards, in ways that can really hold back their team.
CONCLUSION
Few personality types are as poetic and kind-hearted as INFPs. Their altruism and vivid imagination allow INFPs to overcome many challenging obstacles, more often than not brightening the lives of those around them. INFPs' creativity is invaluable in many areas, including their own personal growth.
Yet INFPs can be easily tripped up in areas where idealism and altruism are more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, making friends, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder or planning for the future, INFPs need to put in a conscious effort to develop their weaker traits and additional skills.
What you have read so far is just an introduction into the complex concept that is the INFP personality type. You may have muttered to yourself, "wow, this is so accurate it's a little creepy" or "finally, someone understands me!" You may have even asked "how do they know more about me than the people I'm closest to?"
This is not a trick. You felt understood because you were. We've studied how INFPs think and what they need to reach their full potential. And no, we did not spy on you – many of the challenges you've faced and will face in the future have been overcome by other INFPs. You simply need to learn how they succeeded.
But in order to do that, you need to have a plan, a personal roadmap. The best car in the world will not take you to the right place if you do not know where you want to go. We have told you how INFPs tend to behave in certain circumstances and what their key strengths and weaknesses are. Now we need to go much deeper into your personality type and answer "why?", "how?" and "what if?"
This knowledge is only the beginning of a lifelong journey. Are you ready to learn why INFPs act in the way they do? What motivates and inspires you? What you are afraid of and what you secretly dream about? How you can unlock your true, exceptional potential?
Our premium profiles provide a roadmap towards a happier, more successful, and more versatile YOU! They are not for everyone though – you need to be willing and able to challenge yourself, to go beyond the obvious, to imagine and follow your own path instead of just going with the flow. If you want to take the reins into your own hands, we are here to help you.
ISFP PERSONALITY (“THE ADVENTURER”)
I change during the course of a day. I wake and I'm one person, and when I go to sleep I know for certain I'm somebody else.
Bob Dylan
ISFP personality types are true artists, but not necessarily in the typical sense where they're out painting happy little trees. Often enough though, they are perfectly capable of this. Rather, it's that they use aesthetics, design and even their choices and actions to push the limits of social convention. ISFPs enjoy upsetting traditional expectations with experiments in beauty and behavior – chances are, they've expressed more than once the phrase "Don't box me in!"
Happy to Be Who They Are
ISFPs live in a colorful, sensual world, inspired by connections with people and ideas. ISFP personalities take joy in reinterpreting these connections, reinventing and experimenting with both themselves and new perspectives. No other type explores and experiments in this way more. This creates a sense of spontaneity, making ISFPs seem unpredictable, even to their close friends and loved ones.
Despite all this, ISFPs are definitely Introverts (I), surprising their friends further when they step out of the spotlight to be by themselves to recharge. Just because they are alone though, doesn't mean people with the ISFP personality type sit idle – they take this time for introspection, assessing their principles. Rather than dwelling on the past or the future, ISFPs think about who they are. They return from their cloister, transformed.
ISFPs live to find ways to push their passions. Riskier behaviors like gambling and extreme sports are more common with this personality type than with others. Fortunately their attunement to the moment and their environment allows them to do better than most. ISFPs also enjoy connecting with others, and have a certain irresistible charm.
ISFPs always know just the compliment to soften a heart that's getting ready to call their risks irresponsible or reckless.
However, if a criticism does get through, it can end poorly. Some ISFPs can handle kindly phrased commentary, valuing it as another perspective to help push their passions in new directions. But if the comments are more biting and less mature, ISFP personalities can lose their tempers in spectacular fashion.
ISFPs are sensitive to others' feelings and value harmony. When faced with criticism, it can be a challenge for people with this type to step away from the moment long enough to not get caught up in the heat of the moment. But living in the moment goes both ways, and once the heightened emotions of an argument cool, ISFPs can usually call the past the past and move on as though it never occurred.
Meaning Is in Every Expression of Life
The biggest challenge facing ISFPs is planning for the future. Finding constructive ideals to base their goals on and working out goals that create positive principles is no small task. Unlike Sentinel types, ISFPs don't plan their futures in terms of assets and retirement. Rather, they plan actions and behaviors as contributions to a sense of identity, building a portfolio of experiences, not stocks.
If these goals and principles are noble, ISFPs can act with amazing charity and selflessness – but it can also happen that people with the ISFP personality type establish a more self-centered identity, acting with selfishness, manipulation and egoism. It's important for ISFPs to remember to actively become the person they want to be. Developing and maintaining a new habit may not come naturally, but taking the time each day to understand their motivations allows ISFPs to use their strengths to pursue whatever they've come to love.
ISFP STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
ISFP Strengths
Charming – People with the ISFP personality type are relaxed and warm, and their “live and let live” attitude naturally makes them likable and popular.
Sensitive to Others – ISFPs easily relate to others' emotions, helping them to establish harmony and good will, and minimize conflict.
Imaginative – Being so aware of others' emotions, ISFP personalities use creativity and insight to craft bold
ideas that speak to people's hearts. While it's hard to explain this quality on a resume, this vivid imagination and exploratory spirit help ISFPs in unexpected ways.
Passionate – Beneath ISFPs' quiet shyness beats an intensely feeling heart. When people with this personality type are caught up in something exciting and interesting, they can leave everything else in the dust.
Curious – Ideas are well and good, but ISFPs need to see and explore for themselves whether their ideas ring true. Work revolving around the sciences may seem a poor match for their traits, but a boldly artistic and humanistic vision is often exactly what research needs to move forward – if ISFPs are given the freedom they need to do so.
Artistic – ISFPs are able to show their creativity in tangible ways and with stunning beauty. Whether writing a song, painting an emotion, or presenting a statistic in a graph, ISFPs have a way of visualizing things that resonates with their audience.
ISFP Weaknesses
Fiercely Independent – Freedom of expression is often ISFPs' top priority. Anything that interferes with that, like traditions and hard rules, creates a sense of oppression for ISFP personalities. This can make more rigidly structured academics and work a challenge.
Unpredictable – ISFPs' dislike long-term commitments and plans. The tendency to actively avoid planning for the future can cause strain in ISFPs' romantic relationships and financial hardship later in life.
Easily Stressed – ISFPs live in the present, full of emotion. When situations get out of control, people with this personality type (especially Turbulent ones) can shut down, losing their characteristic charm and creativity in favor of gnashing teeth.
Overly Competitive – ISFPs can escalate small things into intense competitions, turning down long-term success in their search for glory in the moment, and are unhappy when they lose.
Fluctuating Self-Esteem – It's demanded that skills be quantified, but that's hard to do with ISFPs' strengths of sensitivity and artistry. ISFPs' efforts are often dismissed, a hurtful and damaging blow, especially early in life. ISFPs can start to believe the naysayers without strong support.
ISFP RELATIONSHIPS
ISFPs are quite mysterious and difficult to get to know. While very emotional individuals, they guard this sensitive core carefully, preferring to listen than to express. People with the ISFP personality type focus instead on their partners, with little interest in dictating the mood of a situation with their own feelings. While this can sometimes be frustrating, if they are accepted for who they are, ISFPs prove to be warm, enthusiastic partners.
Things are unlikely to ever grow stale – even the longest-term partners can be surprised by the secrets ISFPs keep.
As their relationships grow, ISFPs' partners come to find vibrancy and spontaneity to be par for the course. ISFPs may not be great long-term planners, preferring to let their partners take the lead when it comes to logic and strategy, but they almost never run out of things to do in the present. Also caring and loyal, ISFPs love finding ways to surprise their partners in fun little ways.
There's also a sense of practicality to ISFPs' unpredictability – if anyone is going to cancel a planned trip to stay home with a partner who suddenly got the flu as a gesture of affection, it is ISFP personalities. Spending time with their partners is something ISFPs really enjoy, and they want their partners to know that they are cared for and special.
Knowing You Are Loved, You Can Do Anything
It's important for their partners to make it clear that this love and attention is valued. ISFPs would never ask for such thanks, but it can really hurt their feelings if they don't hear it. Such expressions don't have to be verbal – ISFPs believe in actions, not words – but it's crucial that they know their feelings are shared. On the other side of the spectrum, there are few types more vulnerable to criticism and conflict, and it's necessary to provide a certain level of emotional support.
If they do feel appreciated, ISFPs are more than happy to reciprocate in any way they know how. People with the ISFP personality type are very sensual, and in no aspect of their lives is this clearer than in their sex lives. Intimacy is an opportunity for ISFPs to satisfy their partners, and they involve every sense available in enjoying these moments. ISFPs may be shy in public, but alone with a partner they trust, the masks come off – few people get to see this side, and it's always a pleasant surprise.
Love From the Soul
Feelings and emotions underpin every aspect of ISFPs' relationships, alongside not just a tendency towards, but a need for, fresh possibilities. ISFP personalities are not to be forced into anything, and rushing long-term commitments is a sure way to scare them off. If ISFPs can't feel excited in wondering "what's next?" every morning, they may find themselves wondering "what's the point?"
Still, developing some skill with planning can be a healthy area of growth for ISFPs. Learning to be a little more comfortable with voicing their feelings and communicating more clearly is something their partners can also help with. In any case, sharing the Observant (S) trait usually smooths out the more challenging aspects of mutual understanding, and relationships with people who have the Extraverted (E) and Judging (J) traits helps ISFPs to learn and grow in real, attainable ways.
ISFP FRIENDS
In friendship, ISFPs are some of the most comfortable people around. Laid back and spontaneous, people with the ISFP personality type won't bog things down with arguments or structured long-term plans. Intellectually exhausting pastimes like debates over European economic policy won't hold their attention long. The here-and-now is what's important to ISFPs, and they love spending time with their friends doing casual, fun activities.
I Don't Want to Talk, I Want to Play!
ISFP personalities believe in actions, not words. They talk about what is, not what could, should or will be, and then they actually do it. This passion for action is a blessing for ISFPs, since it helps them get past their shyness in meeting new people. ISFPs are sensitive, much more so than most, and it takes time to build enough trust with new friends to open up and feel natural.
If new acquaintances start things out by explaining "You'd do way better if...", it's unlikely they will ever be close – ISFPs just take these remarks too personally for comfort. People with this personality type are happy to get along with just about anyone, but potential friends need to ease up on being too judgmental or demanding.
If their friends keep things supportive and easy-going, ISFPs are happy to return the favor with added warmth and laughter. When they're with friends they trust, ISFPs know how to relax, shedding rules, traditions and expectations in favor of just enjoying themselves.
Those who prefer safe, structured environments might end up struggling in these friendships though, especially if they lecture ISFPs on how they're living their lives. As with any criticism, those friends are free to do their own thing, and to leave ISFPs to do theirs.
ISFPs' relaxed, non-judgmental attitudes make it easy for them to get along with others, but it's not always the same way around.
Lots of personal space and freedom are essential to ISFP personalities, and it's often other Explorer types, who share their "live and let live" worldview and joy in actually doing things, that gravitate towards ISFPs. There's really no better friend than ISFPs for dropping the pretenses and enjoying low-stress fun.
ISFP PARENTS
When it comes to parenting, ISFPs often feel right at home. While no one could be said to be truly prepared for such a task, ISFP personalities' natural warmth, practicality and relaxed nature help them to settle in and appreciate every moment of joy and hardship that comes with raising a child.
Children Show the Divine in Everyone
ISFPs' greatest strength is arguably the joy they take in being with and helping their loved ones. Practical needs are taken care of from day one, and ISFPs' children can always count on something exciting to do or to learn every day. People with the ISFP personality type love fun, hands-on activities, and as their children grow, they're often encouraged to pick up extra hobbies that revolve around those kinds of activities.
Even as those extra activities grow, ISFPs often defy their Introversion (I), spending time with their children and enjoying engaging activities that center on quality time. Impromptu trips, home improvement projects like repainting bedrooms, or simply baking some treats together are all likely to being fond memories for ISFPs' children.
None of this is to say that ISFP parents are overbearing – in fact, they are one of the most relaxed personality types there is when it comes to parenting. ISFPs believe that the only way to really have their children grow up to be open-minded and well-balanced people is to let them explore and experience
new things, make mistakes and learn from them, and to always know that they'll be able to come home at the end of it.
Interventions and hardline rules just aren't ISFPs' style.
The freedom ISFPs grant their children comes with risks too, since it demands a certain level of maturity from the children themselves. Some lessons are harder than others. These can be hard lessons for people with the ISFP personality type too, since they are more sensitive than most when it comes to their lifestyles or parenting being criticized. Nothing's quite as unpleasant as "I told you so".
Long-term planning is another challenging area for ISFP parents. When it comes to things like saving for their children's college education, ISFPs necessarily rely on partners who take care of that sort of thing more readily.
Never Stop Loving
As their children grow into adolescence, ISFPs sometimes struggle as well. ISFP personalities need to know that their work and effort are appreciated, something teenagers aren't well-known for expressing. It can take a lot of practice on ISFPs' parts to learn the emotional control necessary to not overreact when things don't go the way they want. Children make an effort to distance themselves at that age, and private individuals or no, ISFPs need to know that their loved ones are by their sides.
In the end though, ISFPs are so much less likely to create the kinds of divides that other more rigid personality types sometimes drive between themselves and their children. There's always going to be some push from developing adults, but with such warm, caring parents, ISFPs' children can always rest assured that they know where home and hearth are.
ISFP CAREERS
When it comes to the career world, ISFPs need more than just a job. Wealth, power, structure, advancement and security are all lesser goals to ISFP personalities' greatest need: creative freedom. ISFPs crave a tangible outlet for their imagination, a chance to express themselves artistically.
Those placing their emphasis on predictability and long-term planning find that attempts to push those views on ISFPs are about as effective as forcing open flames to point downwards.
People with the ISFP personality type are passionate experimenters, and whether they're aware of it or not, they are renowned trendsetters. With their unique perspective and simple desire to be themselves, ISFPs are natural artists, musicians and photographers, as well as designers of all stripes. Setting up shop on websites like Etsy is far more alluring to ISFPs than the confines of 9-5 administrative work in some fluorescent cubicle.
Don't Work at Being Ordinary
ISFPs loathe sitting idle in colorless, unchanging environments. They are free souls and need flexibility, opportunities for improvisation, and immersive work that engages every sense. If they combine these needs with their competitive nature, ISFP personalities make great solo athletes. ISFPs prefer to live in the moment, believing the here and now is what matters most.
This quality does have the drawback of sometimes making ISFPs reckless and shortsighted, though those pitfalls aren't set in stone. An emphasis on practical, tangible things, objects that can be seen and touched, comes at the cost of ignoring less tangible ideas. ISFPs often feel that they have little control over processes like retirement planning – they can't predict the future, so it does no good to worry about it now.
Life's too Short for Us to Bore Ourselves
This mindset can hold them back from many of their ideal careers, such as psychology, counseling and teaching, which require long-term planning and often extensive certifications to get started. It takes a great deal of energy for ISFPs to maintain focus on a single goal like that for so long, but it can make the day-to-day so much more rewarding for the rest of their lives.
An easier route revolves around freelance and consulting work in just about any industry that ISFPs enjoy. Whether organizing charity events, working with hospitals to make patients' stays more pleasant, or laying stone to help make a house a home, ISFPs always seem to find a way to make the world a little more beautiful and exciting, and to make a living in the process.
ISFP IN THE WORKPLACE
In the workplace, ISFPs seek out positions that give them as much wiggle room as possible to do things their own way. Button-down environments that revolve around tightly held traditions and strictly enforced procedures are unlikely to appeal to ISFP personalities. Spontaneous, charming, and genuinely fun people to be around, ISFPs just want a chance to express those natural qualities, and to know that their efforts are appreciated.
ISFP Subordinates
People with the ISFP personality type don't like to be controlled, and this can be quite clear in subordinate positions – they loathe being micromanaged. At the same time, ISFPs aren't well-known for their long-term focus, but rather their adaptability and spontaneity. They'll use unconventional methods, sometimes risky ones, and existing rules are just someone else's way of doing things. Still, ISFPs find a way to make things happen. To manage ISFP personalities successfully, there need to be clearly set goals, and otherwise an open sandbox.
If this balance can be made to work, ISFPs show themselves to be eager learners and passionate problem-solvers, especially if they get to deal one-on-one with other people or to tackle a problem solo. People with this personality type are humble, even shy, and unlikely to put themselves on the spot by volunteering their help. But ISFPs do love to feel appreciated, and if assigned a task, they work hard to earn that appreciation.
ISFP Colleagues
Among their peers ISFPs feel most comfortable. Working with equals and giving some advice in order to solve practical problems is right where ISFP personalities like to be. While they may exhaust themselves if their role requires an excessive amount of social interaction, they are otherwise quite charming and have excellent networking skills.
ISFPs are tolerant and friendly, and usually just do what needs to be done regardless of whether their colleagues pull their own weight. At the end of the day though, ISFPs are sensitive and need to know that these efforts are appreciated – a well-placed compliment goes a long way. ISFPs do let their personal goals affect their approach to their work, which can make them a little unpredictable, but this is balanced by their desire for harmony and willingness to find win-win solutions whenever possible.
ISFP Managers
The position that feels most unnatural to ISFPs is management. They are not a domineering personality type, and take no joy in exerting control over others, planning long-term goals, or disciplining unsatisfactory behavior. But just because it feels a little strange, doesn't mean ISFP personalities aren't good at it.
ISFPs' sensitivity allows them to be great listeners, helping them to align their subordinates' personal motivations with the task at hand. They also give their subordinates the freedom to do what needs to be done to solve what needs to be solved on any given day, and ISFPs are likely to dig into
that work right alongside them. This gives ISFP managers a marked style of inspiration and cooperation, and they're usually well-liked.
CONCLUSION
Few personality types are as colorful and charming as ISFPs. Known for their kindness and artistic skills, ISFPs are great at finding exciting new things to explore and experience. ISFPs' creativity and down-to-earth attitude are invaluable in many areas, including their own personal growth.
Yet ISFPs can be easily tripped up in areas where their focus on practical matters is more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder, or learning to plan ahead, ISFPs need to put in a conscious effort to develop their weaker traits and additional skills.
What you have read so far is just an introduction into the complex concept that is the ISFP personality type. You may have muttered to yourself, "wow, this is so accurate it's a little creepy" or "finally, someone understands me!" You may have even asked "how do they know more about me than the people I'm closest to?"
This is not a trick. You felt understood because you were. We've studied how ISFPs think and what they need to reach their full potential. And no, we did not spy on you – many of the challenges you've faced and will face in the future have been overcome by other ISFPs. You simply need to learn how they succeeded.
But in order to do that, you need to have a plan, a personal roadmap. The best car in the world will not take you to the right place if you do not know where you want to go. We have told you how ISFPs tend to behave in certain circumstances and what their key strengths and weaknesses are. Now we need to go much deeper into your personality type and answer "why?", "how?" and "what if?"
This knowledge is only the beginning of a lifelong journey. Are you ready to learn why ISFPs act in the way they do? What motivates and inspires you? What you are afraid of and what you secretly dream about? How you can unlock your true, exceptional potential?
Our premium profiles provide a roadmap towards a happier, more successful, and more versatile YOU! They are not for everyone though – you need to be willing and able to challenge yourself, to go beyond the obvious, to imagine and follow your own path instead of just going with the flow. If you want to take the reins into your own hands, we are here to help you.