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Note: It should be noted that the Myers-Briggs and Kiersey ratings
do not measure a definite or concrete limit on personality
characteristics, but rather existing tendencies. An individual's
personality rating can change over time or be changed by conscious
personal decisions. |
ISFJs are
characterized above all by their desire to serve others, their
"need to be needed." In extreme cases, this need is so strong
that standard give-and-take relationships are deeply
unsatisfying to them; however, most ISFJs find more than
enough with which to occupy themselves within the framework of
a normal life. (Since ISFJs, like all SJs, are very much bound
by the prevailing social conventions, their form of "service"
is likely to exclude any elements of moral or political
controversy; they specialize in the local, the personal, and
the practical.)
ISFJs are often unappreciated, at work, home, and play.
Ironically, because they prove over and over that they can be
relied on for their loyalty and unstinting, high-quality work,
those around them often take them for granted--even take
advantage of them. Admittedly, the problem is sometimes
aggravated by the ISFJs themselves; for instance, they are
notoriously bad at delegating ("If you want it done right, do
it yourself"). And although they're hurt by being treated like
doormats, they are often unwilling to toot their own horns
about their accomplishments because they feel that although
they deserve more credit than they're getting, it's somehow
wrong to want any sort of reward for doing work (which is
supposed to be a virtue in itself). (And as low-profile Is,
their actions don't call attention to themselves as with
charismatic Es.) Because of all of this, ISFJs are often
overworked, and as a result may suffer from psychosomatic
illnesses.
In the workplace, ISFJs are methodical and accurate workers,
often with very good memories and unexpected analytic
abilities; they are also good with people in small-group or
one-on-one situations because of their patient and genuinely
sympathetic approach to dealing with others. ISFJs make
pleasant and reliable co-workers and exemplary employees, but
tend to be harried and uncomfortable in supervisory roles.
They are capable of forming strong loyalties, but these are
personal rather than institutional loyalties; if someone
they've bonded with in this way leaves the company, the ISFJ
will leave with them, if given the option. Traditional careers
for an ISFJ include: teaching, social work, most religious
work, nursing, medicine (general practice only), clerical and
and secretarial work of any kind, and some kinds of
administrative careers.
While their work ethic is high on the ISFJ priority list,
their families are the centers of their lives. ISFJs are
extremely warm and demonstrative within the family circle--and
often possessive of their loved ones, as well. When these
include Es who want to socialize with the rest of the world,
or self-contained ITs, the ISFJ must learn to adjust to these
behaviors and not interpret them as rejection. Being SJs, they
place a strong emphasis on conventional behavior (although,
unlike STJs, they are usually as concerned with being "nice"
as with strict propriety); if any of their nearest and dearest
depart from the straight-and-narrow, it causes the ISFJ major
embarrassment: the closer the relationship and the more public
the act, the more intense the embarrassment (a fact which many
of their teenage children take gleeful advantage of). Over
time, however, ISFJs usually mellow, and learn to regard the
culprits as harmless eccentrics. Needless to say, ISFJs take
infinite trouble over meals, gifts, celebrations, etc., for
their loved ones--although strong Js may tend to focus more on
what the recipient should want rather than what they do want. |
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| Famous ISFJ's |
Fictional ISFJ's |
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Louisa May Alcott
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Queen Elizabeth II of England
Robert E. Lee
Queen Mary I ("Bloody Mary") of England
Kristi Yamaguchi, US Olympic figure skater
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Bianca in Taming of the Shrew
David Copperfield
Hero in Much Ado About Nothing
Melanie in Gone With The Wind
Ophelia in Hamlet
Dr. John H. Watson, M.D. (Sherlock Holmes' faithful sidekick) |
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