ISFP Personality Type, Strengths & Weaknesses

What are the characteristics, best career paths, strengths and weaknesses of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) type, the Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiver, or ISFP personality type? Also, including ISFP fictional and famous characters.

In temperament, the ISFP personality is reserved and generally unassertive, speaking softly and quietly. They won’t open up easily with people that they don’t know. However, when they get comfortable with someone, they can be very caring and affectionate. They are generally easy going and cooperative, they don’t try and beat others competitively or control others, they mostly just wish to get along with people.

Appearance wise, ISFPs will be well presented, their clothes will likely be well fitted and well ironed. They’re likely to wear darker colours, as they like to fade into the background. They are not naturally tilted towards tradition, which may be reflected in their personal choices, including clothing and other design preferences.   

ISFP Personality Type Careers

ISFPs suit careers that involve caring for others, so nursing, working with children and the elderly. With auxiliary sensing, they will also be suited to jobs that require a strong eye for detail, paying attention and staying alert, and generally having good observational skills. Example careers: police or security officer, firefighter, optician, carpenter, gardener, chef, social worker, and health care professional.

ISFP Personality Functions

• Dominant – Feeling (Fi)

• Auxiliary – Sensing (Se)

• Tertiary – Intuition (Ni)

• Inferior – Thinking (Te)

ISFP Personality Type Strengths

Pragmatic

ISFPs naturally take to that which is practical, practical in their thinking, and also like completing practical and physical tasks. They will be good at keeping to time scales, so likely to be punctual, due to their natural focus on the current moment.

Fun

Sensing perceivers by temperament are thrill and adventure seekers. They like having their five primary senses engaged.  

Observant

The ISFP personality type is naturally observant, as sensing is their dominant function. They’re focused on the details, with a good memory of those details. They will pick up on body language quickly, and notice and remember what people are wearing.

Compassionate

With auxiliary feeling, they are fairly in tune with their emotions, they will be considerate to the feelings of others, and naturally compassionate and caring with a strong interest in people.

ISFP Personality Type Weaknesses

Small Picture Thinkers

The ISFP personality doesn’t naturally pay attention to the bigger picture, they may suffer from short-sighted thinking. They may struggle to see patterns and connections.

Lack of Commitment

They lack conscientiousness and dutifulness, they will often delay work for play and adventure, often being distracted from their work commitments. However, they will likely develop a stronger work ethic as they get older.

Logic

ISFPs won’t naturally be the most logical people in the world. They may struggle to put aside their emotions, or to remove the subjective factor, causing them to see the world through an emotional or biased lens.

Too Soft

Their dominant feeling function can make them really avoid confrontation. They are so focused on compassion and people getting along that they can be susceptible to being taken advantage of, and not standing up for themselves.

ISFP Famous & Fictional Characters

• Amy Winehouse
• Avril Lavigne
• Marilyn Monroe
• Pocahontas
• Bella Swan (Twilight)
• John Snow (Game of Thrones)
• Harry Potter
• Hagrid (Harry Potter)
• Legolas Greeleaf (The Lord of the Rings)