ISFP Personality Types

This page provides a description of ISFP personality types. If you would like to find out whether you are an ISFP, and what makes you unique and different from other ISFPs, then complete our personality test:

ISFPs direct their energy towards the inner world of thoughts and emotions. They give importance to particular beliefs or opinions, particularly those that relate to people that they know and current experiences. They tend to take a caring and sensitive approach to others.

What makes an ISFP tick?

The Dominant function is the judging one of Feeling. Characteristics associated with this function include:

• Makes decisions on the basis of personal values
• Is appreciative and accepting of people - enjoying company and seeking harmony
• Assesses the impact of decisions on others, being sympathetic or compassionate
• Takes a personal approach

The judging Feeling function is introverted. That is, Feeling is used primarily to govern the inner world of thoughts and emotions. The ISFP will therefore:

• develop an inner emotional life that is often unseen to others, but is experienced as intense
• retain a strong sense of values, which are often not expressed
• emotionally accept or reject various aspects of life - for example, deciding whether praise or criticism received is valid and, at extreme, ignoring whatever is unacceptable
• feel appreciation towards others, but not express it

The Feeling function is primarily supported by extraverted Sensing perception, That is, Sensing perception is used primarily to manage the outer world of actions and spoken words. This will modify the way that the Feeling is directed, by:

• focusing the (inner world) Feeling on current relationships and people, e.g.: through one-to-one discussions and fact-based conversation
• seeking to enjoy the company of those they know, and being concerned for their well-being and happiness
• helping people in practical ways

The classic temperament of an ISFP is Dionesian, or Sanguine, for whom freedom from constraint is a basic driving force - seeking to enjoy the present.

Contributions to the team of an ISFP

In a team environment, the ISFP can contribute by:

• solving problems as they arise, especially ones concerning people
• generating team spirit through promoting co-operation, and engendering a quiet sense of fun
• ensuring the well-being of team members
• being accurate and observant about facts, without putting too much interpretation on them
• modelling flexibility - e.g.: suggesting his/her own ideas, but being considerate of others points of view and going with the majority
• paying attention to the people side of the problem

The potential ways in which an ISFP can irritate others include:

• being too concerned with harmony in the group
• not pushing the ISFP's own ideas and contribution enough
• being stubborn over issues the group did not anticipate being a problem
• avoiding conflict and not giving forthright criticism when it is needed
• focusing so much on interpersonal issues that cost and other impersonal considerations are not adequately addressed
• perhaps failing to take a longer term view
• taking people at face value and not recognising underlying motives

Personal Growth

As with all types, the ISFP can achieve personal growth by developing all functions that are not fully developed, through actions such as:

• being prepared to declare the ISFP's personal values
• interpreting the facts they observe to reveal hidden meanings
• undertaking a critical appraisal of a situation or person, and expressing disagreement or criticism when it could be of value to the recipient
• establishing a long term goal, developing a outline plan for achieving it, and working towards it
• listing options and undertaking a formal process of evaluation against criteria, including a cost benefit analysis

Recognising Stress

As stress increases, 'learned behaviour' tends to give way to the natural style, so the ISFP will behave more according to type when under greater stress. For example, in a crisis, the ISFP might:

• concentrate on what the ISFP sees as important
• work alone if possible
• act impulsively and take risks
• fail to consider the cost implications

Under extreme stress, fatigue or illness, the ISFP's shadow may appear - a negative form of ENTJ. Example characteristics are:

• being very critical and finding fault with almost everything
• becoming bossy and ignoring others' feelings
• having a very pessimistic view of the future
• see hidden meanings that are not really there

The shadow is part of the unconscious that is often visible to others, onto whom the shadow is projected. The ISFP may therefore readily see these faults in others without recognising it in him/her self.

Develop Your Potential

Our personality questionnaire can help you:

• become much more self-aware;
• develop your leadership, management or influencing skills;
• find a career that matches your personality;
• Improve teamwork and team relationships.

You can either do the personality test yourself, or administer multiple questionnaires for use in team building and leadership development.