ISFP MBTI Personality Type
Personality
What personality type is ISFP? ISFP is an ISFP personality type in MBTI, 4w3 - sp/sx - 496 in Enneagram, RLUAI in Big 5, ESI in Socionics.
The ISFP is an interesting type, often given a lot of misleading stereotypes (as with a lot of “S” types) that it is simply a shallow, surface level and concrete version of it’s intuitive typed counterpart, INFP. But the singular letter difference and same dominant function of Fi really does not do the sheer difference between these two types justice. It is a general rule that two types with a one letter difference are probably some of the MOST different types to each other on many levels, and I think that people have misunderstood this aspect, especially with the ISFP. The Fi-Ni of the ISFP makes for a person who leads with an internal subjective form of rationalisation with Fi, informed by the internal synthesis of a much more static Ni. This internal synthesis of emotions usually gives the ISFP a more “all or nothing” view of their emotions, and when they are riled up, all parts of their limbic system tend to amplify at the same time, making this type perhaps the most likely to have frequent intense, rapid mood-swings. The ISFP can easily go between an apathetic, unbothered state, and heavy motivation, excitement or even anger, sometimes within seconds. The Fi-Ni of this type can make their emotions much more ambiguous of that of the INFP or ENFP, having less ability to identify exact internal feelings than the Fi-Si-ers, and as a result the ISFP in their less intense moments can often lose sense of their feeling altogether, and sometimes becoming very logical and rational-minded, easily entering into an INTP or INFJ state, of sorts. ISFPs can often relate to the descriptions of xNTx types, as a result, due to ISFP often having that cold, analytical and detached personality which is so stereotypical of the more intuitive thinking related types. But this is often mistaken for when the ISFP’s Fi-Ni is in a calm state, when they have the headspace or room for such analysis, as even the slight bit of Se stimulus can ensue that their mood swings into more intense emotion again. Dominant Fi can often be identified as a highly fluctuating and flexible mood or identity, and with the Ni this is attached to, multiple identities tend to be viewed within the same realm to this type, and they can often easily identify what (or even who) exactly they are “embodying” at a given time. This differs from the INTJ, where their Ni-Fi tends to stick to embodying a singular archetype, or pursuing a singular mission, for a much longer period of time across their life (sometimes even throughout their entire lifetime). On the contrary to the INTJ, the ISFP tends to pursue much shorter term goals, and the highly fluctuating Fi tends to make this type far less conscientious and less able to stick to a longterm plan, even more informed by their much more compulsive Se. Speaking of Se, this is another part of ISFP which is largely misunderstood across the typology community. Se is not (always) the adventurous, risk-taking daredevil function that explores and interacts with the real life concrete world for the sake of it. This stereotype is only really true of the Se dominants, but not in the ISxP. Se in the ISFP is actually much more similar in behaviour to Se inferior than Se dominant, in the sense it tends to avoid interacting with the concrete in real time, preferring to observe it instead, using it to inform it’s Ni. But unlike Ni dominants, The ISFP’s inspiration is primarily experiential and perceptual in nature, making for a more explorative and inconclusive external world than, say, the INTJ. The INTJ observes Te-Se, rather than Se-Te, making them more naturally conclusive and decisive, and often feel that it is their “duty” to pursue this one long-term path or mission, refusing to diverge from this mission for the sake of exploration. The ISFP observes the much more perceptual and experience oriented Se-Te, adventuring into the depth and richness of the external world, often using it as a source of INSPIRATION for their Fi-Ni visions, whether for an ideal identity, or a creative vision. The richness and nuance of the external world affects the ISFP greatly, and is often the main source of these Fi-Ni mood swings. The ISFP often, for example, can randomly smell a scent that they have not smelled since their childhood, or hear an old nostalgic song playing out of a car passing them, and this one small sensory experience, even if it’s for just a second, can activate an intense internal ooze of emotion, often motivation, or heavy nostalgia, or even a sense of hopelessness that they have had a glimpse into a world that, no matter how hard they try, they will never be able to truly experience, to the fullest of their desires. This is how so many ISFPs mistype as “Se blind” types, they mistake that for a heavy idealism, a dissatisfaction in the external world not living up to their own standards. This makes ISFPs actually have a lot of trouble living in the present moment, at least in a satisfied and content way.
Biography
1. Fi - introverted Feeling Although it’s referred to as “Feeling”, Fi is not internal emotions, but rather values that come from within. FiSe’s might experience a deep well of emotions, but this is not the root of Fi. It is a decision making-process that is very interested in determining its own moral code and what the FiSe’s gut instinct tells them is right, which is often based on how they would like to be treated themselves. They tend to be very considerate of others, and may take a long time to mull over their own beliefs to make sure they seem right. The values-refining process can take quite a bit of time and requires mental solitude. Fi generally puts authenticity in high esteem and is repulsed by anything that seems fabricated or shallow. 2. Se - extroverted Sensing Se is the main way FiSe’s take in information. It means they use their senses to understand the world around them. They live in the moment and prefer dealing with things that are real and solid over the purely hypothetical. Se is the part of FiSe’s that makes them search out playful new sensory experiences. 3. Ni - introverted iNtuition Ni is the FiSe’s third function, and it allows them to pull from every area in their brain to find valuable data, to look for patterns in the information they gather, or to skip ten steps ahead and predict what will happen in the future. Ni makes the Fi-led internal world very abstract and can involve lots of jumping around on intuitive leaps. 4. Te - extroverted Thinking Te is the FiSe’s inferior function. This function may be their achilles heel, and is inherently not as strong as their other functions because their highest priority and focus is on Fi. Te is a very logic-oriented way of problem solving. It is the side of them that naturally looks to find a better solution to a problem, improve the efficiency of a process, or critique and refine what is already in place. FiSe’s generally prefer only to use Te only when necessary, rather than to make all of their decisions. Overuse of an inferior function can be very draining, and may be unhealthy when constantly given priority over other functions.
