Dunno, you do sound a lot like me. That desire of novelty I think is very healthy and not tied to any functions whatsoever, it is only natural to want to grow imho. There are some people who are content, I know I never will on a personal level if I don't do it all

That fear of not hurting people is just some awful noise you got in mind as well as expectations you're imposing on yourself. Do not be that person, live your truth, explore, dive into what makes you happy and make it extra meaningful. I use Fe in a caring kind of way with people who do have that disposition, the rest can honestly sod off

 

Like, everything?
I mean it's a question you only ask when you take a look at their function stack but you would never ask that question in real life.
The difference is night and day.

 

This won't be a popular answer but ISTPs tend to be a very masculine type and INFJs a very feminine type. So I think it's normal for a female ISTP to feel INFJ-ish and vice-versa.

 

I am ISTP so my answer will mostly be focused on the ISTP perspective and what I've observed from INFJs I know.

▪I can be future-oriented. I try to predict the long-term consequences of my actions or words. I also have long term goals. (Ni).

I think my Ni is fairly strong. I have pretty good insights into the future, and particularly how it applies to me based on what I do. While I am capable of thinking into the future and making long-term goals, neither is what I typically resort to, I'm much more situated in the present.

I feel like what you have written is a pretty "surface level" description of Ni that could apply to either type, though.

▪I can be into sensory and exciting things and get bored without new sensory motivation or stimulation I wish I had an active family. I love things like hiking, camping and travelling, but my family members aren't into these things and without their company, I can be a bit lazy on my own (Se or Ne?).

What I bolded doesn't sound very inferior Fe. Pretty much every ISTP I know is completely satisfied (and often prefers) doing activities, particularly physical, on their own.

▪Idk if it's high or low Fe. But I don't know how to connect with people (especially people my age) or make friends. I also fear conflict and confrontation a lot. So I "try" to be polite and reserved most of the times. And I try to avoid making friends because I get tired around others cause I act differently around different people and according to how they would like me to be. I try not to cause drama or repulse/annoy ppl, so I might seem aloof or independent to some people.

First thing I think about when reading this section is enneagram 9. But you're not asking about that, so I'll get back to MBTI, lol.

Anyway, I lean more toward INFJ. They are introverts and lead with the mysterious Ni despite having high Fe, so it wouldn't at all be strange for them to appear as aloof/independent. You seem more aware of social dynamics (acting differently around different people and according how they would like you to be) than I do. Or other ISTPs for that matter, I don't think this is in most of their minds.

What are some INFJ vs ISTP differences according to your experience?

To me, it's more useful looking at Aux Se vs Fe and Inf Fe vs Se, rather than the Dom and Tert functions. These articles aren't perfect, but I did find them helpful.

https://mbti-notes.tumblr.com/post/120780540952/how-functions-work-auxiliary-se-istpisfp
https://mbti-notes.tumblr.com/post/121692868877/how-functions-work-auxiliary-fe-isfjinfj

https://mbti-notes.tumblr.com/post/135002965032/how-functions-work-inferior-fe-istpintp
https://mbti-notes.tumblr.com/post/127263303957/how-functions-work-inferior-se-intjinfj

Do I seem like an INFJ or ISTP?

Not enough information from this post, but I would guess INFJ.

If you've done a questionnaire, I wouldn't mind looking at it if you link it.

 

Just because they share the same functions does not mean those personalities will act the same. ISTPs and INFJs I know have distinct characteristics that make them seem like night and day or apples to oranges. It's not even a sister type meaning take for example an ENFP and INFP, we act similarly because of our two lead functions. Still, an INFP and ENFP can be distinctive to tell the difference but an ISTP and INFJ or even more contrasting than that.

There was one post I saw where someone asked if they could easily trade the P for J in an ENFJ and I had to explain the functions to them, they were looking at the four-letters representing them with too broad of a viewpoint. That you can't compare the MBTI when looking at changing the functions around from an ENFJ to an ENFP because fe and fi are so different. The same could be applied to only narrowly looking at just the functions as individuals but not the order in which they land. The directionality of the functions is just as important in shaping you into your preferences.

Your Ni term is very vague. I can be future-oriented too. I try to predict the long-term consequences of theories and equations. I also have a lot of long term goals stacking up to be completed. You mentioned goals and not goal. I have tons of goals. I know I'm Ne lead.

I adore hiking, camping, and traveling but I know I'm intuitive lead because I love theory over anything. My hiking might including discovering and finding new insects to study and analyze in their environment for a new fictional novel. It could also be just staring up at the stars and theorizing over the vastness of space and scribbling ideas of a jump quantum magnetic drive by flashlight.

Also, Ne is never lazy. Think of a hummingbird twittering about their day doing multiple tasks all at once while drinking in all the nectar. We're never able to stay focused on just one but it would never be described as lazy. If anything I'm too energetic.

I fear conflict and confrontation but that has more to do with being a 2w3 enneagram. Think of Fi as individualized morality and Fe as broad ethics on rules for the entire group.

From what you've written, I don't have much to go on. You lean intuitively to me over sensor? You certainly sound more like an INFJ.

I try to predict the long-term consequences of my actions or words.

This is not Ne or Ni, this sentiment is Fe orientated or at least feels that way. This would not be Se lead at all or even Se second function. This is a very weak SE statement. My sister is an ESFP, the last thing I would ever say is that she looks at long-term consequences of her actions. She's extremely impulsive and is like a live wire on pure instinct. At least we can narrow down your last function could be Se.

 

I think you sound more like an INFJ if its down to those two choices. I relate with that stuff you mentioned. Can you offer more info though?
You fear conflict? Based on my experience with a certain ISTP I knew he couldn't get enough of conflict and trying to start arguments and drama with me over stuff I often found entirely trivial and meaningless to squabble over, but I think he got enjoyment just seeing me get irked by him. It was quite annoying since I'd rather not fight anyone if it isn't necessary.


Your profile says you're an enneagram 5 sp/sx. I am too, it's pretty common for us to find it hard to connect with others because we're typically trying to keep the world out. But the Fe stuff still comes pretty naturally.


Honestly, these two types are very different. One's strengths are the other's weaknesses . But if you find it hard to see the differences then I'd recommend get some INFJ and ISTP acquaintances and you'd see the differences pretty quickly.

 

Based on my experience with a certain ISTP I knew he couldn't get enough of conflict and trying to start arguments and drama with me [...]

This is something I've noticed too. I'm not able to type people IRL with any certainty yet, but from what I've seen of the ISTPs on PerC, and even more so on the ISTP forum (which I stumbled upon today), they (anyone please reply if you have counter-examples - I still haven't found any) are the type of person to find joy in others' pain, distress or discomfort, physical and mental.
(This is one of the reasons I still don't know my type, ISTP has been suggested by several PerC members and occasionally by the tests, but looking through the ISTP section, there are plenty of similarities but a few things are very off, and this is one of them. I'm not like that.)

 

There are huge differences between the two. The most striking difference between them is that INFJ's obsess over control and order while ISTP's obsess over asserting their personal identity at the expense of others.

ISTP's will quip at the INFJ's obsession with control and scorn their lack of understanding of what they want in life. INFJ's will loath the ISTP's contempt of other people and feel outraged at their complete and utter disregard for others values.

 

There are huge differences between the two. The most striking difference between them is that INFJ's obsess over control and order while ISTP's obsess over asserting their personal identity at the expense of others.

ISTP's will quip at the INFJ's obsession with control and scorn their lack of understanding of what they want in life. INFJ's will loath the ISTP's contempt of other people and feel outraged at their complete and utter disregard for others values.

Their individual values, yes. When it comes to ethics, much less so. It's not like we're machines ourselves...
8th slot Fi: If I think someone's religious opinion is bs, I cannot help but treat it as bs (also because religion is not a good source for morals).
4th slot Fe: But I'd try not to disadvantage people as I would consider it selfish. It can be a hit or miss, but with time it becomes a hit more often.