Hello ISFPs.
I am fairly new on this website and have been trying to figure out my MBTI. I have already taken a questionnaire and posted information about myself. It has been suggested that I am an ISFP or an INFP rather equally. I am about to do another questionnaire to make my final decision, as I am in a bit of a dilemma because I relate to both ISFPs and INFPs.
Your IXFP expertise would be greatly appreciated.
1. Is there anything that may affect the way you answer the questions? For example, a stressful time, mental illness, medications, special life circumstances? Other useful information includes sex, age, and current state of mind.
I am a seventeen year old female currently in a peaceful state of mind.
I'm guessing that 17 may be a bit young to actually know with any certainty what you are, but I thought that usually, the differences between Sensing and intuition would be settled, but.... as we shall see...
2. Study these two images here and here. Which one do you prefer and why? How would you describe it?
*can't post links yet sorry*
I prefer the first image. Probably because I'm more into nature photos than photos of people. I am particularly drawn to the sky, with its mix of blues, greens, purples, the stars and the sunset on the horizon. They reflect beautifully on the ocean and the wet sandy beach. For some reason, it reminds me a lot of my trip to Iceland.
3. Please describe yourself as a person if you were to introduce yourself to someone else like in a cover letter. What kind of person are you and why?
I am a talkative, yet slightly withdrawn person with many ideas running through my head. I enjoy peaceful, creative pursuits such as writing fiction, drawing and listening to music. I am interested in how people and society work and enjoy researching history, sociology and psychology. Outdoor pursuits I enjoy are hiking, camping, horse riding and archery.
Se-ish... (BTW, my daughter started archery this year--one first place in some regional contest, and got to go to the national youth olympics) ;-)
4. What kind of person would you LIKE to be? Why? What kind of person would you NOT want to be? Why?
I would like to be an independent, imaginative and intelligent author because I get to remain true to myself and exercise my talent.
I would not want to be a routined, bored businessperson because those are two things I dread the most and I just do not get business at all.
Neutral, but your talent is writing? That's more INFP than ISFP, I would guess--don't get me wrong, I'd love to be a writer, but I've never done well at it...
5. Do you think there are any differences to how you described yourself and how people actually perceive you? How do you think others would describe you? If there are any discrepancies between these two that are you are aware of; do you know why exactly that is?
I have been described as stubborn, opinionated, loud some of the time but quiet during others but also with a sensitive, gentle side. I am seen as creative and often get compliments on my drawing and writing.
Again, to me, sounds neutral, more Fi than anything else, but maybe more Se (loud some of the time)
7. How do you react to new situations in your life? Can you describe an event in your life where you were in an unknown situation? How did you deal with it?
I'd be excited and nervous at the same time. Maybe I'll need a bit of motivation at first but I usually enjoy new things once I get into them.
8. Please describe yourself when you are in a stressful situation. How do you act and why? Real life experiences are welcome.
When stressed, I usually slip into a withdrawn, idle state where I just want to stop working and isolate myself from the world.
9. Please describe yourself when you are in an enjoyable situation. How do you act and why? Real life experiences are welcome.
I just sit back and enjoy things as they come.
More Fi than anything here, but maybe your answer to 9 could be more Ne???
10. Describe your relationship to socialization. How do you perceive one-on-one interaction? How do you perceive group interaction?
I greatly prefer one-on-one to group situations. Not only am I less nervous but I tend to get my point across more easily.
11. Describe your relationship to society. What are the elements of it you hold important or unimportant (e.g. social norms, values, customs, traditions)? How do you see people as a whole?
I think people should just stay true to themselves and not let societal expectations and peer pressure drag them down. I think everyone has the potential to be the most evil or the most compassionate person on earth.
12. Describe your relationship to authority. How do you perceive authority? What does it mean to you, and how do you deal with it?
I will accept authority but from time to time, I feel an inner voice telling me to rebel.
Again, more Fi than anything, but some vagueness whether Se or Ne...
13. Describe your relationship to order and chaos. What do order and chaos mean to you? How do they manifest in your daily life?
I think order is temporary and that chaos will prevail in the end. That is nature's way. I can't really say how it comes up in my everyday life...
Sorry, here is one where I could not, as an ISFP immediately relate. I would look at this question in a purely immediate context. I'd look at my desk (chaos), and my internal need for order and be frustrated that I was unable to bring that into existence in my immediate surroundings, or how chaos around me can negatively effect me. Looking out to the future like that??? not really. That said, it sounds more Ni than Ne, so who knows??? too few words. (more on that in a moment)
14. What is it that you fear in life? Why? How does this fear manifest to you both in how you think and how you act?
My greatest fears are failure and rejection. For example when I get a bad grade at school, I pretend to not be bothered but secretly, I just want to curl up and blame myself endlessly.
15. What is it that you desire in life? What do you strive to achieve? Why? Where do you think these drives and desires stem from or are inspired by?
I desire to be an author that will have a great impact on the world because I want to share my views and outlook on life and people in general. I think this desire comes from me writing short stories at a young age and studying English literature.
Again, more Fi than anything...
16. a) What activities energize you most? b) What activities drain you most? Why?
a. My interests - I feel most at peace with myself
b. Prolonged socialisation and big parties - I start to run out of things to say and just want to be alone. I also have trouble with introducing myself to new people.
There isn't really enough here to go on. What kind of interests energize you? More doing--painting, drawing, going outdoors, walking, swimming? or more cerebral ones like reading, writing, or contemplating? In other words, more Ne activities (and I have no idea what they would look like) or Se activities (the more active and more outdoorsy ones)? This is where we need to be looking...
17. Why do you want to know your type? What type do you think you are? Why this/these type(s)? Is there a type that appeals to you, to your self-perception, that you would like to be? Why? If you know your enneagram, please post this here. If you have done any online function tests such as the Keys2Cognition, it helps if you post these results here as well.
I want to know my type so I can know myself better and feel more secure. I don't know my enneagram either. If you can take a stab at it as well then thank you.
Again, what we have here is a bit too little. I'm going to go out on a limb here... Knowing myself, and my own inability to express my innerness with words (that actually describe myself--writing fiction I could be a bit more expressive, but still...) And considering the more concrete way in which you wrote, while being vague at the same time, I suspect that maybe you could possibly be a bit more leaning ISFP. But here's a question. When you write, do you tend to spend more time describing what is happening in the real world? or what is going on inside people's heads? To you tend to write more expansively, like fantasy, describing things that could be, but aren't or do you prefer to describe what is, or even the gritty reality in negative terms? I think, to be honest, that this is where you need to look to help you nail this one... But that's just me.
