ISFJ: The Nurturer

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ISFJ (introverted, sensing, feeling, judging) is one of the 16 personality types identified on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. People who have ISFJ personalities tend to be reserved, warm-hearted and responsible. According to David Keirsey, ISFJs make up about 9 to 14 percent of the population.

ISFJ Characteristics

The MBTI identifies your personality type by looking at four main areas: 1) Extraversion vs Introversion, 2) Sensing vs Intuition, 3) Thinking vs Feeling and 4) Judging vs Perceiving.

For each of the four main dimensions, the MBTI identifies whether your personality tends to lean toward one dimension or the other. As you can see, the ISFJ personality type leans towardIntroversion, Intuition, Feeling and Judging.

    • Introversion (I): ISFJs are introverted and tend to be quiet and reserved.
    • Sensing (S): ISFJs prefer concrete information rather than abstract theories.
    • Feeling (F): ISFJs place a greater emphasis on personal considerations rather than objective information.
    • Judging (J): ISFJs are planners and tend to be very well-organized.

People with INFJ personality types tend to have the following characteristics:

  • Reliable, stable and down-to-earth
  • Enjoys order and structure
  • Dislikes conflict and confrontation
  • Kind, warm-hearted and considerate
  • Practical-minded
  • Likes concrete information
  • Very aware of other people’s feelings
  • Has a great memory for detail

ISFJs enjoy structure and strive to maintain this order in all areas of their lives. While people with this personality type are introverted and tend to be quiet, they are keen observers and are focused on other people. Because they are so perceptive, ISFJs are good at remembering details about other people. Those with this personality type are particularly well-tuned in to the emotions and feelings of others.

Because they are quiet, people sometimes misinterpret this as standoffish behavior. As Keirsey notes, this is far from the truth. ISFJs are known for their compassion and caring for others, often working to secure the safety and well-being of other people without asking for thanks or anything in return.

Because they are hard-working, dependable and rarely seek accolades for their own accomplishments, ISFJs are sometimes taken for granted by those around them. In some cases, people might even try to take advantage of this reliability.

While ISFJs are good at understanding the emotions, they often struggle to express their own feelings. Rather than share their feelings, they may bottle them up, sometimes to the point that negative feelings toward other people can result. When dealing with life struggles such as illness or the death of a loved one, they may keep quiet about what they are experiencing in order to avoid burdening others with their troubles.

ISFJs tend to have a small group of very close friends. While they may be quiet and reserved around people they don’t know well, they are more likely to “let loose” when they are around these close confidants. They place a high value on these close friendships and are always willing to support and care for the people they are close to.

Famous People With ISFJ Personalities

By looking at their lives, works and behaviors, researchers have suggested that a number of famous individuals fit in with the characteristics of the ISFJ personality type. Some of the possible famous ISFJs include:

  • Mother Teresa, nun and humanitarian
  • Louisa May Alcott, author
  • Elizabeth II, Queen of England
  • Robert E. Lee, general
  • Mary I, Queen of England
  • Kristi Yamaguchi, figure skater
  • Michael Caine, actor
  • Alfred, Lord Tennyson, poet

Some fictional characters that fit in with the ISFJ personality type include:

  • David Copperfield, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  • Ophelia, Hamlet by William Shakespeare
  • Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Bianca, The Taming of the Shrew
  • Joel Barish, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Best Career Choices for ISFJs

ISFJs have a number of characteristics that make them well-suited to particular careers. Because they are so attuned to the feelings of others, jobs in mental health or the health care industry are a good fit. They are also meticulous and orderly, making them suited to jobs that involve planning, structure or attention to detail.

The following are just a few of the career options that are a good match for people with an ISFJ personality type.

  • Social worker
  • Counselor
  • Nurse
  • Paralegal
  • Book keeper
  • Child care provider
  • Office Manager
  • Administrator
  • Teacher
  • Banker
  • Accountant