What’s an ISFJ?
It’s what I am. :) You might be, too.
As a writer, the personalities of my characters play a part in how they react to certain situations. In doing my research, I ran across this site. It is a personality test. This particular type of test allows that there are sixteen different personalities.
I am ISFJ. What does that mean?
Here is the breakdown from my test:
|
Introverted (I) 78% Extroverted (E) 22%
Sensing (S) 81% Intuitive (N) 19% Feeling (F) 74% Thinking (T) 26% Judging (J) 53% Perceiving (P) 47% |
According to the site, an ISFJ: follows the rules, polite, fears drawing attention to self, dislikes competition, somewhat easily frightened, easily offended, timid, dutiful, private, lower energy, finisher, organized, socially uncomfortable, modest, not confrontational, easily hurt, observer, prone to crying, not spontaneous, does not appreciate strangeness – intolerant to differences, apprehensive, clean, planner, prone to confusion, afraid of many things, responsible, guarded, avoidant, anxious, cautious, suspicious, more interested in relationships and family than intellectual pursuits, not adventurous, fears doing the wrong thing, dislikes change
Now there are a few of these things I’m not. However, for the most part this describes me pretty accurately.
So how do you love an ISFJ?
- Listen when they speak.
- Allow them plenty of down time.
- Don’t push when they withdraw from a situation. (I am personally a passive-aggressive, so if you keep pushing, I will come to a point when I can’t take anymore, and I will explode. It’s not pretty.)
- Warn them when a change is going to happen as much as possible–even a few minutes is better than nothing.
- Don’t tease too much.
- Don’t assume they don’t understand or don’t care just because they don’t speak. They’re processing.
Do you know an ISFJ? Are you one? Or do you fall somewhere else on the spectrum?
The test is free here: http://similarminds.com/jung.html It only takes a few minutes. Take it, then come back and share where you fall, and how best we can love you. :)
Blessings,
Ginger
Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre. Even when she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, reading or writing are not far from her mind. She is president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.
Hooray for Meyer’s Briggs! I am an INTJ, but my husband is an ISFJ so yes, I am very familiar with loving an ISFJ ;) I do think that the site you got your description from is a little negative though. ISFJ’s are also generally very loyal, steady, and hardworking which are wonderful traits in a husband and father.
Took the test twice and got different results both times. I don’t think I changed my answers but I got istp 1st and infp 2nd. I think I’m a composite of both I am introverted and I do perceive well. I think the intuitive and sensing is about 50/50 and the feeling thinking is more 43/57. Guess no test is perfect. I think I may have gone into the wrong careers though. I was a band director/music teacher, JP clerk, Peace Officer, and in retail sales, so I jumped categories a lot. I never found what I wanted to do when I grew up. Now I’ve had to stop working because of MS and it’s effects on me. Still play piano and type on the computer, make plenty of mistakes but, I am somewhat content.
I, too, am an ISFJ and a lot of the descriptors you mentioned in your post apply to apply to me. As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that I definitely feel better when I’m able to have my down time. That’s a huge thing for me. I’m also usually very content to just observe a group of people rather than necessarily interact with them.
I agree, Hanna. Do you know of another site that gives a more positive outlook? If so, could you please share it?
Some of the questions were a bit confusing this time–to me anyway. :) And your right, imabrassy1, no test is perfect because imperfect humans create them. LOL
It’s great to identify those things which make us more content and productive. I am definitely a nicer person when I get some alone time. :)
I (finally) took this test & was surprised by the results I got… It said that I’m very extroverted, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth! I took some other personality tests earlier this year (I did a post about my results, check it out if you like — https://aerykah.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/of-personality-types-and-confusion/ ) and I’ve pretty much concluded that I’m most likely an INTP, though I relate to all 4 types mentioned in my post (INTP, INTJ, ISTP, ISTJ).