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Table of Contents Table of Contents Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide Trending Videos Close this video playerWe all have unique personalities, but according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, we tend to fall into one of 16 different "types." The ISFP personality type, for example, is an acronym that means you tend to be introverted, sensing, feeling, and perceiving. If you have this sort of personality, you probably tend to be a considerat friend who is great with details, although you sometimes have a hard time seeing the big picture.
People with an ISFP personality—the Artists—have introverted, observant, feeling, and prospecting personality traits. Unlike extroverts, who gain energy from interacting with others, introverts must expend energy around others.
While ISFPs are introverts, that doesn't mean they're closed off. If you have this personality type, people probably think you are warm and approachable, so it might even seem like you're an "extraverted introvert" sometimes. You probably love having a quiet evening alone over a good book, but you also sometimes enjoy meeting new people and embracing new experiences. While you're great at noticing the little things other people miss, you have a tendency to avoid conflict, which means you might not speak up when something is bothering you. No matter how these traits appear in your unique personality, your type can have a big impact on your relationships, career, and interactions with others.
According to David Keirsey, the creator of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, approximately 5% to 10% of people have an ISFP personality type. They typically share a few common strengths and weaknesses.
ISFP is the exact opposite of the ENTJ personality ("the Commander": extraverted, intuitive, thinking, judging).
Just like other personality types, ISFPs have many strengths:
As with all personality types, being an ISFP can also mean that you'll face some challenges. Traits that might sometimes be your personality's Achilles heel include:
The MBTI works by focusing on four key cognitive functions (thinking, feeling, intuition, and sensing). Each of those functions is then either directed outwardly (extraverted) or inwardly (introverted). But personality isn't just about whether you're extraverted or introverted each of these main personality dimensions. It's the hierarchical order of these functions that makes your personality so unique!
ISFPs care more about personal concerns rather than objective, logical information. Feelings matter more than facts.
People with this personality type deal with information and experiences based on how they feel about them. You're more likely to trust your emotions than what your logical mind is telling you.
ISFPs have their value system and create spontaneous judgments based on how things fit with their ideas. This can be great at times, because it means you have a strong internal moral compass. It can be a challenge, however, if you let confirmation biases run the show and don't consider other information that might sway your opinions.
People with ISFP personalities are very in tune with the world around them. That means you know what's going on around you. You notice things, no matter how small. This great attention to detail also means that you probably appreciate things like aesthetics and fine art.
ISFPs are always living in the moment. Awareness is your superpower, and you are always ready to jump into action and respond to even small changes. Others might overlook these things, but you have a natural knack for noticing the small things others miss.
Being attuned to the environment has other perks, too, including a vivid memory. You're able to visualize the past in rich detail. Sights, sounds, and smells trigger powerful memories associated with those senses.
The tertiary function tends to run in the background, feeding off of the extraverted sensing function. It offers support, but it's much less developed than your dominant and auxiliary functions.
As ISFPs take in details about the world, they often develop "gut feelings" about events and situations. That means that while you generally do not like abstract concepts or ideas, your introverted intuition function means that you'll sometimes have important epiphanies.
It's the kind of sudden realization that helps you put together the puzzle made up of all those details that your auxiliary extraverted sensing function has been collecting.
Your inferior function is the opposite of your dominant function, meaning it's the least developed part of your personality. Because of this, it can be one of your biggest weaknesses. For ISPs, this often emerges as a difficulty when it comes to organization, although they may use this function more prominently in certain situations.
This function is all about looking for the most efficient way to do something. As an ISFP, you might become focused on being very precise about the details and finding the most effective way to express an idea.
While you may have the classic ISFP traits that make you warm and engaging, you're still an introvert. And that means that, for the most part, you tend to have a reserved and quiet side. This is most true when you are around people you don't know well.
You might be outgoing and gregarious around your close friends, but a lot more closed off when you are in a large crowd of strangers. After a day of 'extroverting' at work, introverts usually need some time alone to recharge their mental batteries.
ISFPs are also quite private, so that means you sometimes keep your true feelings to yourself. You might hold back your thoughts, feelings, and opinions with other people in your life, even your romantic partners.
Sharing your innermost feelings can be really hard, especially if you're afraid it might cause a fight. In some cases, holding back and deferring to others might come across as people-pleasing.
ISFPs have strong values but are not concerned with trying to convince other people to share them. They care deeply about other people, particularly their closest friends and family. They are action-oriented and tend to show their care and concern through action rather than discussing feelings or expressing sentiments.
So, how do all these tendencies relate to your love life? In terms of compatibility, ISFPs tend to match best with people who are:
Working a job that doesn't vibe with your personality can be disheartening, so it pays to think about which jobs are aligned to your ISFP traits. For example, people with ISFP personalities love animals and have a strong appreciation for nature. If that's you, then you might want to seek out jobs or hobbies that put you in contact with the outdoors and with animals.
Because ISFPs prefer to focus on the present, you'll also probably prefer a job that focuses on solving practical, real-world problems. But you also don't like to feel hemmed in, so consider options that give you a lot of personal freedom and autonomy.
Knowing how to interact with an ISFP can help relationships run more smoothly. How you respond might depend on the nature of the relationship, i.e., you're going to talk to an ISFP friend a lot differently than you would a co-worker, parent, or lover. Here's a few tips that can help in each situation.
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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."
