Introverted
Feeling with
Extraverted Sensing
STRENGTHS
ISFPs are warm, supportive and loyal
to their friends and colleagues. However, being inner-directed, they may keep
their great interpersonal warmth hidden from those they do not know well. Thus,
they may feel most at ease when working with a small group of close, supportive
colleagues. Using their Sensing function directly to perceive the known facts
in a given situation, they will approach problems in a pragmatic, realistic
and down-to-earth way. Having little interest in theoretical debate and discussion,
they will be concerned to find practical solutions to concrete, real-world problems.
Moreover, when addressing such problems, they will want to bear in mind the
effects their decisions will have upon those around them. Independent-minded,
they are tolerant and flexible, and do not like being regimented or rule-bound.
Having a quiet sense of fun, they are accepting of other people¹s idiosyncrasies.
Neither judgmental nor opinionated, they will not needlessly cling to traditional,
out-moded ideas.
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Being orientated towards the Introverted
domain of feelings and mental events, ISFPs may sometimes need to be drawn out
when in the company of others. Thoughtful and introspective, they may resist
being the first to express their own views and opinions. Sensitive to others¹
feelings, they will not needlessly criticise colleagues in meetings and discussions.
Understanding and considerate, they will be concerned about the welfare of others.
They are likely to resist organising colleagues, preferring instead to work
alongside people in an egalitarian manner. Disliking conflict and discord, they
will work to resolve disagreements by actively seeking compromise and consensus.
Not inclined to express their inner-most thoughts and feelings to people they
do not know well, others may not always fully appreciate the strength of their
deeply held core values and ideals. They will be at their best communicating
on a one-to-one basis with colleagues who value their practical, open-minded
approach to problems.
THINKING STYLE
Not inclined to engage in abstract debate
and discussion, ISFPs are known for their pragmatic approach to solving problems.
They tend to reject the purely theoretical, in favour of focusing on the known
facts and practical realities in a given situation. However, their pragmatism
and down-to-earth realism does not cause them to be closed minded, as they are
open to new methods and ideas, particularly when they can see the practical
advantages of adopting new approaches. Attuned to the feelings of others, they
will carefully consider the impact their actions will have upon those around
them before deciding on a course of action. Focusing on the 'broader picture',
they may not always see the point of closely adhering to set procedures and
systems. Similarly, attending to the detailed requirements of a task may not
come naturally to them. Flexible, open-minded and tolerant, they will be concerned
to understand others¹ points of view, even if these are radically different
from their own.
HOW OTHERS MAY SEE YOU
Open and accepting of others, they will
be supportive of their friends and colleagues. Quietly introspective, they are
more likely to express their genuine concern for others through their actions,
than through their words. Co-operative and egalitarian, they will be happy to
help their friends and colleagues. Thoughtful and considerate, others may on
occasion try to take advantage of their altruism and good-will. If colleagues
try to take unfair advantage of their genuine offers of help, then this may
generate feelings of resentment or even anger. Willing to listen, and sensitive
to others¹ feelings, their colleagues will value the quiet support and encouragement
they offer. However, their egalitarian style, and desire to manage by consensus
may be misinterpreted by some as indicating an inability to take unpopular decisions.
Modest, and not usually outspoken or opinionated, colleagues who are more assertive
than them may at times mistakenly overlook their quiet, insightful observations.
After publishing his seminal work on psychological types in 1921, Jung did little further work in this area. However the importance of his work was recognised by the mother and daughter team, Elizabeth Myers and Catherine Briggs. Realising that if Jung's ideas were to have any practical application it would be necessary to develop an easy method for assessing a person's psychological type, Myers and Briggs published the first type indicator in 1949. Moreover, they developed the now famous four-letter type code as a short hand way of describing a person's type.In addition to providing a short-cut route for describing a person's psychological type, the four-letter code also reveals a set of complex personality dynamics which provide insights into the order in which the preferred psychological processes are likely to manifest themselves in the person's daily life.
The way to discover the dynamic relationship between these psychological processes is by examining the middle two preferences; SN for perceiving, and TF for judging, types. These are referred to as functions. For any type, one of these functions is dominant and this dominant function is used in the preferred world (external or internal as indicated by the EI preference), with Extraverts using their dominant function in the external world and Introverts using their dominant function in the internal world. Moreover, the function which the type code indicates is not preferred is called the auxiliary function. Thus, if either the S or N function were indicated as being the preferred function, then either the T or F function would be the auxiliary function.
So, introverts are more likely to exhibit their auxiliary function when relating to the outer world, whereas their dominant function will be used mainly when relating to the inner world, and will thus not be readily accessible for others to see. In contrast, because Extraverts use their dominant function in the outer world, it will be available for all to see.
