Sunshine
New member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,040
- MBTI Type
- ABCD
- Enneagram
- 4
- Instinctual Variant
- sx/so
I think there is something funny about the isfp type. It seems like a catch all in typology systems.
Who are we REALLY? O_O
I think there is something funny about the isfp type. It seems like a catch all in typology systems.
Who are we REALLY? O_O
ISFP is not a type, it is a combination of two types, ISTP and ESFP.
About a year ago on this forum I stated that the ISFP was an odd type, in that it seemed to be some kind of exception to the rule. Of course my assertion was met with skepticism at that time, although it was only a hypothesis. But it should have been obvious all along.
The following video isn't proof of my hypothesis, but it does give a good example. Notice how the "mood" of the video changes dramatically around the 3:04 point
from "touchy-feely" to "fast cars." Since I have been married to an ISFP for almost 6 years, I can personally vouch for its accuracy.
As I said a year ago, the "ISFP" is really a true ambivert, a type not allowed for by the MBTI or Jung. This is a personality with two dominant functions, but never with both featured prominently at the same time. They war with each other, they push and pull within the psyche of the "ISFP," producing a character having a single label.
Who are we REALLY? O_O
You are like the sun.
i guess i get it infps have such a defined character compared to isfps and an isfps can seem like two incomplete personalities i personally think that se isnt too compatible with fi ,fi being so abstract ne can explore it naturally.but se is only hindered by it
wolfy said:I think there is something funny about the isfp type. It seems like a catch all in typology systems.
The problem is that every time I have analyzed the "ISFP" in terms of functions, the personality is no longer captured.
I don't see any reason to say the same thing about those 3 types (not counting the etc). I've been considering the ISTJ as another possible candidate for elimination as a type, but that's the only other one. Because that's the only other type I've always considered an ambivert, a mixture of extraversion and introversion.
It sucks to be a split type, but only if you hold the MBTI model sacred. It also sucks to be the type of person I've seen in real life: one who is in a quandary due to being split between two very different motives and having to decide between them.
If there is more explanatory power, even healing power, in revealing this dichotomy, then I think that's more than fair.
I'm not seeing this in terms of functions, that's just an assumption-based model for the MBTI. It assumes that the P or J in a type comes from the ordering of functions, for example, that the Ni/Te type has to pursue J-closure. It also breaks down where I see the ESFP/ISTP division in terms of Se/Ti, because the resulting type is more than a combination of its functions. IOW, ESFP is not equal to Se+Fi. Yet the ISFP comes across as a divided type, as if two dominant personalities, not functions, are present in the psyche.
Possibly true... e6 is a bit of a catchall in the Enneagram. I don't know if it's really a problem with the system so much as certain types might better describe a wider range of individuals. E1 is much more specific in terms of its stressors, while e6 is more broad. Similarly Ni is very esoteric, and T is pretty regulated by logic, while F is more "available" in the sense that it's more malleable personally and doesn't have to adhere to logic, and Se seems fairly broad as well, able to account for a fair range of perceptive experiences.
Couldn't that be more a problem with your analysis than a problem with the system?
I think it's interesting that you've chosen two IxSx types as "candidates", since the nature of S is to be more rooted in reality and the present while I obviously draws inwards, so I think it would be natural for them to display ambiversion, much as ENxxs tend to display ambiversion because while E draws us outwards, the nature of N is to be more rooted in mindspace and the timeless.
Being that the MBTI is an approximation to begin with, I'm not sure I understand the problem with being a "split type". Yes it's aggravating to not perfectly fit into a box, but none of us do. I definitely lean heavier to the Te and NFJ sides of ENFP, which is very different than some other ENFPs, ones who associate much more with ENTP and/or ESFP. More below --
There's a special difference between P and J and J-dom and P-dom, though. INFP is P but J-dom; ENFP is P and P-dom, and I believe those differences are very well reflected in the types. INTJ seeks J closure in terms of Te, but not in terms of Ni, and they lead with Ni. ENTJ seeks closure in terms of Te and leads with Te. I don't understand what you mean
Picking up from before, I suspect maybe this "divide" is more visible in ISFPs because outsiders tend to see their Se while only they are privy to Fi. You see more of their auxiliary, but it isn't their dominant driving force.
I'm playing Devil's Advocate mostly for the sake of playing Devil's Advocate. If you're on to something, I assume it will come through despite my points to the contrary.
Super old thread but I wanted to add my thoughts as I had been thinking similarly. This thread is actually the reason I began posting again; I was looking for information on this duality some ISFPs display and stumbled upon this.
I agree that some ISFPs appear to have two dominant functions/drives. I am in a relationship of sorts with my ex who is ISFP and the man I was with before him is also ISFP (both agree that this is their best fit type). They both tend to have a split mind, one side which is soft, sensitive, and value-driven and one which is experience-driven, hedonistic, quick, and fierce. This was the direct cause of our relationship breaking apart -- my ISFP simply couldn't decide which of these was most important for him to be and pursue. Of course normally the auxiliary is supporting the primary but in his case, as the OP said, it is conflicting with it. In my previous ex's case I thought this was simply due to him being unhealthy. Then I found myself with another who presents the same way even though on the outside appears like the artist ISFP stereotype.
That said, I do think ISFP is a real type, just one with possibly more variation than others. I've seen there is the ISFP of typical description, one with strong Ni who can seem to others and mistype as INFJ, and the one mentioned in the OP who has Se level with Fi.
Super old thread but I wanted to add my thoughts as I had been thinking similarly. This thread is actually the reason I began posting again; I was looking for information on this duality some ISFPs display and stumbled upon this.
I agree that some ISFPs appear to have two dominant functions/drives. I am in a relationship of sorts with my ex who is ISFP and the man I was with before him is also ISFP (both agree that this is their best fit type). They both tend to have a split mind, one side which is soft, sensitive, and value-driven and one which is experience-driven, hedonistic, quick, and fierce. This was the direct cause of our relationship breaking apart -- my ISFP simply couldn't decide which of these was most important for him to be and pursue. Of course normally the auxiliary is supporting the primary but in his case, as the OP said, it is conflicting with it. In my previous ex's case I thought this was simply due to him being unhealthy. Then I found myself with another who presents the same way even though on the outside appears like the artist ISFP stereotype.
That said, I do think ISFP is a real type, just one with possibly more variation than others. I've seen there is the ISFP of typical description, one with strong Ni who can seem to others and mistype as INFJ, and the one mentioned in the OP who has Se level with Fi.