I've been taking the Jung and Meyers Briggs personality quiz throughout intermittent stages of my life just to see how much I may have changed. The results are often very interesting. My last personality type was the INFJ and that was right after I had graduated. I recently did another one and it turns out, my new personality type is the ISFJ.
If you are interested to take the quiz yourself, just click on
this link.
Detailed results can be found
here.
ISFJ - Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging
The Nurturer
As an ISFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you takes things in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system.
ISFJs live in a world that is concrete and kind. They are truly warm and kind-hearted, and want to believe the best of people. They value harmony and cooperation, and are likely to be very sensitive to other people's feelings. People value the ISFJ for their consideration and awareness, and their ability to bring out the best in others by their firm desire to believe the best.
ISFJs have a rich inner world that is not usually obvious to observers. They constantly take in information about people and situations that is personally important to them, and store it away. This tremendous store of information is usually startlingly accurate, because the ISFJ has an exceptional memory about things that are important to their value systems. It would not be uncommon for the ISFJ to remember a particular facial expression or conversation in precise detail years after the event occured, if the situation made an impression on the ISFJ.
ISFJs have a very clear idea of the way things should be, which they strive to attain. They value security and kindness, and respect traditions and laws. They tend to believe that existing systems are there because they work. Therefore, they're not likely to buy into doing things in a new way, unless they're shown in a concrete way why its better than the established method.
ISFJs learn best by doing, rather than by reading about something in a book, or applying theory. For this reason, they are not likely to be found in fields which require a lot of conceptual analysis or theory. They value practical application. Traditional methods of higher education, which require a lot of theorizing and abstraction, are likely to be a chore for the ISFJ. The ISFJ learns a task best by being shown its practical application. Once the task is learned, and its practical importance is understood, the ISFJ will faithfully and tirelessly carry through the task to completion. The ISFJ is extremely dependable.
The ISFJ has an extremely well-developed sense of space, function, and aesthetic appeal. For that reason, they're likely to have beautifully furnished, functional homes. They make extremely good interior decorators. This special ability, combined with their sensitivity to other's feelings and desires, makes them very likely to be great gift-givers - finding the right gift which will be truly appreciated by the recipient.
More so than other types, ISFJs are extremely aware of their own internal feelings, as well as other people's feelings. They do not usually express their own feelings, keeping things inside. If they are negative feelings, they may build up inside the ISFJ until they turn into firm judgments against individuals which are difficult to unseed, once set. Many ISFJs learn to express themselves, and find outlets for their powerful emotions.
Just as the ISFJ is not likely to express their feelings, they are also not likely to let on that they know how others are feeling. However, they will speak up when they feel another individual really needs help, and in such cases they can truly help others become aware of their feelings.
The ISFJ feels a strong sense of responsibility and duty. They take their responsibilities very seriously, and can be counted on to follow through. For this reason, people naturally tend to rely on them. The ISFJ has a difficult time saying "no" when asked to do something, and may become over-burdened. In such cases, the ISFJ does not usually express their difficulties to others, because they intensely dislike conflict, and because they tend to place other people's needs over their own. The ISFJ needs to learn to identify, value, and express their own needs, if they wish to avoid becoming over-worked and taken for granted.
ISFJs need positive feedback from others. In the absence of positive feedback, or in the face of criticism, the ISFJ gets discouraged, and may even become depressed. When down on themselves or under great stress, the ISFJ begins to imagine all of the things that might go critically wrong in their life. They have strong feelings of inadequacy, and become convinced that "everything is all wrong", or "I can't do anything right".
The ISFJ is warm, generous, and dependable. They have many special gifts to offer, in their sensitivity to others, and their strong ability to keep things running smoothly. They need to remember to not be overly critical of themselves, and to give themselves some of the warmth and love which they freely dispense to others.
Jungian functional preference ordering:
Dominant: Introverted Sensing
Auxilliary: Extraverted Feeling
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking
Inferior: Extraverted Intuition
Source
A High Sense of Duty
ISFJs like to work behind the scenes. Quick, easygoing, neat, orderly, and given to a higher sense of duty and obedience, they find their source of energy within (Introversion) and their reality in those things they can see, hear, feel, taste, and smell (Sensing). That energy is then focused outwardly in the service of others (Feeling), always in an orderly and timely fashion (Judging). As a result, ISFJs find meaning in life by serving human needs and making others happy.
One appropriate image of the ISFJ is that of the dependable bulwark who will always be there when needed, waiting silently. As Judgers, they might complain about being intruded upon, but ultimately their high sense of duty compels them to do what needs to be done, without complaint.
Doormats
Mates and friends of ISFJs often criticize them for letting others continually take advantage of their goodness, even though these same mates and friends may be guilty of doing so themselves. Indeed, ISFJs take commitments and obligations very seriously and often do allow others to take advantage of them. Possibly more than other types, they allow themselves to become the doormats of a marraige, family, job, or whatever situation in which they find themselves. More often than not, this is a result of their high sense of obligation and allegiance, coupled with their strong values and commitment to serve humanity.
Female ISFJs
Gender issues for ISFJs are complex for the male and almost too simple for the female. ISFJ characteristics are almost stereotypically female -- quiet, reserved, gentle, steady, dependable, caring, dutiful, obedient, neat, and tidy. In fact, ISFJ females may be quietly critical when females of other types don't behave "like the other girls." For the ISFJ female, her feminine "script" may be so tightly written that if, later in life, she exerts her individuality, the action may both surprise those around her and result in negative reactions from others.
Male ISFJs
If the ISFJ profile is a female stereotype, it's to be expected that the male ISFJ will face special problems. The gentle, caring, quiet, and dutiful attributes are the opposite of typical "male" behavior. As a result, male ISFJs may be pressured to suppress their natural behavior in order to act more typically male. In such cases, ISFJs may go overboard, becoming supermacho, drinking or smoking to excess, or becoming highly competitive to "prove" themselves.
Relationships
In relationships, as with most everything else, the ISFJ's strong sense of duty and commitment dominates. They are typically careful and exact in the words they use, words that represent bonds and contracts to be taken very seriously. Relationships may develop slowly but surely for an ISFJ and when a declaration comes, it may -- at least by the ISFJ -- be considered permanent. ISFJs, more than other types, may remain in relationships that long ago went bad, simply because of their sense of duty and obligation.
Too serious
Their sense of loyalty may make them appear quite serious. It may take another type individual to mitigate the seriousness of life's demands on an ISFJ. Some ISFJs are quietly tantalized by the bizarre and extreme. However, they give in to such longings only on special occasions or vicariously -- by way of a movie, perhaps, or a friend's tale of intrigue. Beyond those exceptions, it is generally "work first, play later" -- and then only if the work is completed. For the ISFJ, there is almost always some work somewhere yet to be completed.
Parenting
Parenting for an ISFJ is another serious responsibility, one that ISFJs more than other types may recognize as a lifetime commitment. As a consequence, they often assume a quiet, guardian-like role. Generally, as parents, they are diligent, protective, and extremely patient with the many facets of the job. While each of these characteristics is admirable, when maximized in ISFJ parents it often means subjugation of the parents' needs in favor of the childrens'. Though ISFJs never really feel like saints, that is probably the way most children of ISFJs would describe their parents.
Leisure
Because duty, obedience, and responsibility permeate all that the ISFJ does, the entire living style is marked by caring and concern for others, expressed in an orderly, well-regulated way. Relaxation can come only when all work is completed and, as stated earlier, it rarely is. ISFJs generally schedule their leisure activities; indeed, such leisure may become part of the ISFJ's repertoire of duties.
Complaining for the fun of it
It is ISFJs, more than other types, who will complain about all the work, responsibilities, or demands placed upon them, and yet be dismayed and disappointed if someone tries to spare them such agonies. Cooking a big, festive family meal, for example, or taking care of an aged parent or arranging a class reunion, may all engender a variety of protests or complaints from the ISFJ. In fact, there is nothing that ISFJs would rather be doing. Should someone try to rescue them, they would be hurt and consumed with guilt.
Growing up
As children, ISFJs are a treat that every parent should be allowed to experience. Content to play by themselves, they are relatively undemanding, neat, and obedient -- in general, model children and hardworking students. As both child and adult, ISFJs may be given to streaks of stubbornness that seem entirely out of character. But even that stubbornness will give way if authority, role definition ("I'm the teacher and I want it done this way"), or some other sense of responsibility can be appealed to. ISFJs respect authority and respond accordingly.
Schooling
As students, ISFJs prefer teachers and courses that are organized and practical. They like following outlines and doing homework and assignments that are highly defined. For them, learning, like most other aspects of life, is best when nobody makes waves and everything happens as it should -- according to schedule.
Family life
Family events for ISFJs are very meaningful occasions, a chance to gather and observe tradition and ritual, to express in action and deed the family's importance. For the ISFJ, the meaningfulness of the event is directly related to the extent he or she contributes to it -- by cooking, cleaning, whatever; such efforts are a direct expression of love. No matter how reserved the behavior, the ISFJ has depths of loyalty that should not be underestimated; to do so is to seriously miss the inner quality and strength unique to this type.
Work
Work, for the ISFJ, is fun, rewarding, satisfying, and ultimately fulfilling. If it is not, the ISFJ will likely work harder in the hopes that things will improve. It must have been an ISFJ who said of heaven, "Whatever else is there, it must involve work or it wouldn't be heaven." In general, a happy ISFJ is one who has most of the hours in the day filled in some sort of service to family, friends, or employer. For ISFJs, work builds character; it brings growth, maturity, satisfaction, and fulfillment. In fact, parenting, relating, mating, teaching, and managing are all forms of work through which ISFJs express their sense of duty and service.
Later in life
As an older person, the ISFJ employs tried and true methods in every activity. Later years may allow some relaxing of the schedule and more extraverted expressions of the self's needs. Though such expressions are still tempered by a larger sense of social responsibility, this is still a refreshingly liberating opportunity for the ISFJ to pursue his or her own needs with a bit more zeal. ISFJs may enjoy some risk-taking as they grow older; by some other types' standards, however, they may still appear to be overly cautious. Retirement, is there is such a thing in ISFJ terms, is yet another thing to be filled with meaningful activity.
Famous ISFJs
Famous likely ISFJs include Bess Truman and Nancy Reagan (whose loyalty to and defense of their respective husbands made them seem the real powers behind the presidential thrones); and "Radar" on M*A*S*H (who would spend endless hours dutifully waiting at the ham radio for an important message, despite whatever chaos might be going on around him).
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