More in touch with the reality of their senses than their INFP counterparts, ISFPs live in the here and now. Their impulses yearn to be free, and are often loosed when others least expect it. The ISFP who continually represses these impulses feels 'dead inside' and may eventually cut and run. (One ISFP friend has become nonambulatory within the past few years. He will still, on impulse, leave home in the middle of the night and go to Las Vegas or wherever, regardless of the difficulties of his physical condition.)
ISFPs may be quite charming and ingratiating on first acquaintance, flowing with compliments which may (or may not) be deserved. On other occasions, the same individual may be aloof and detached. Some ISFP males are fiercely competitive, especially in sport or table games, and may have great difficulty losing. This competitive nature, also seen in other SP types, sometimes fosters 'lucky,' 'gut' feelings and a willingness to take risks.
Organized education is difficult for the majority of ISFPs, and many drop out before finishing secondary education. Their interest can be held better through experiential learning, at which many excel. ISFPs will practice playing an instrument or honing a favored skill for hours on end, not so much as practice as for the joy of the experience.
ISFJs are driven by the conventional, by 'should's and 'ought's; ISFPs internalize their Feeling (by nature a judging function) which bursts out spontaneously and leaves as quickly and mysteriously as it came.
Because of these variant expressions of Feeling judgement, ISFPs are sometimes confused with ESFJs, but keep themselves more aloof, more often concealing the feelings that ESFJs are so apt to expose.
ESFPs express thoughts more readily (and, in the main, skillfully). ISFPs can and do perform admirably in the spotlight, but generally have little to say about the performance. For example, few ISFPs would be disc-jockeys, a field strongly represented by ES_Ps.
If the individual has values greater than herself, feeling may express
itself in valiant acts of selflessness. Turned in upon self, however, it
becomes an unscrupulous, capricious enigma, capable even of heinous acts
of deception and treachery.
ISFPs cherish their impulses. Some of the most beautiful, graceful,
and artistic performances are the result of this drive for physical,
sensate expression.
Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving
by Joe Butt
Profile: ISFP
Revision: 2.2
Date of Revision: 7 Dec 99
ISFPs are the first to hear the different drummer. Many eagerly plunge into new fashions, avant garde experiences, 'hip' trends--some even setting the trends. Differential diagnosis:
ISFPs are less fantasy-oriented than INFPs. These types are often confused, however, INFPs lean strongly to daydreams, poetry, prose and more philosophical pursuits; ISFPs often live out 'id' experiences rather than writing or even talking about them.
Introverted Feeling
Feeling, unbridled by the external forces of society and substance, is
the dominant function. ISFPs spontaneously develop their own codes and
credos, about which they are quite sober and intense. ISFPs are questors,
driven to find the pure and ideal, as personally and individually defined.
Feeling may temporarily turn outward, but cannot be long sustained beyond
its cloistered home.
Extraverted Sensing
ISFPs keep a finger on the pulse of here and now. They are more
adept at doing than considering, at acting than reflecting, at
tasting than wondering. As do most SPs, ISFPs keenly sense color,
sound, texture, and movement. It is not unusual for ISFPs to excel in
sensory, motor, or kinesthetic abilities.
Introverted iNtuition
Tertiary intuition works best in the background of the ISFP's inner
world. Perhaps this is the source of the "gut feeling" SPs consult in
matters of chance. However "lucky" the ISFP may be, intuition as a
means of communication is a poor servant, evidenced in spoonerisms, and
non sequiturs and mixed metaphors.
Extraverted Thinking
The ISFP may employ Extraverted Thinking in external situations
requiring closure. As is the case with inferior functions, such
Thinking behaves in an all or nothing manner. Thus, as with other FP
types, the ISFP's Extraverted Thinking is at risk for a lack of
context and proportion. In most cases, persons of this type enjoy
greater facility operating in the open-ended style of sensing,
implying the opinions of feeling values in the indirect fashion
characteristic of introverted functions.
Famous ISFPs:
Marie Antoinette
Auguste Rodin, sculptor
U.S. Presidents
Fred Astaire, dancer
Doris Day, actress
Marilyn Monroe, actress
Liberace, pianist
Elizabeth Taylor, actress
Yogi Berra, professional baseball player ("It's deja vu all over again.")
Dan Rather, news anchor
Orrin Hatch, U.S. Senator
Ervin "Magic" Johnson, NBA basketball star
Patrick Duffey, actor
Dan Quayle, U.S. Vice President, 1988-1992
Paul McCartney, Beatle
Michael Jackson, performer
Kevin Costner, actor
Greg Louganis, U.S. Olympic gold medalist--diving
Brooke Shields, actress
John Travolta, actor, dancer