As the caring, empathetic, and emotionally-tuned pair of the 16 personality types, the ISFJ and ISFP share many characteristics at first glance. They have a support system they’ll trek mountains for, live with a dedicated purpose, and will happily offer assistance to people in need.
But how can we tell them apart? Or better-yet, what if you aren’t sure if you are an ISFJ or ISFP? Let’s contrast the ISFJ vs. ISFP personality types and see what really sets the two personality types apart.
Before we jump in, you should know this post is part of a series dedicated to answering the question: Am I a judging or perceiving personality type? Check out the main post on this topic here.
However, the two share zero cognitive functions in common, although they share the first three letters (i.e. I, S, F). Read on to find out how the two arguably kindest personality types differ.
A High-Level View
ISFJs live and breathe empathy. They will adjust their lifestyles to make room for their loved ones. Sometimes, they can develop codependent behaviors or attitudes (e.g. the need to feel needed), but with careful self-reflection and growth, they can flourish into steady, patient, and individualistic helpers.
ISFPs prefer a more spontaneous lifestyle, with friends they can go on exciting adventures with. They often have a creative portfolio of work they take pride in sharing and love to experiment with tangible forms of art. ISFPs can appear “lost in their own world” when they become immersed in their work or hobby.
Functions Stack: ISFJ vs. ISFP
The functional stack is a model that arranges the different cognitive functions according to preference for each personality type.
ISFJ:
- Introverted Sensing (Si)
- Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
- Introverted Thinking (Ti)
- Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
ISFP:
- Introverted Feeling (Fi)
- Extraverted Sensing (Se)
- Introverted Intuition (Ni)
- Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Serving Others vs. Self-Expression (Fe vs. Fi)
ISFJs put others’ needs before their own and will go out of their way to make someone else feel heard and appeciated. They can make excellent nurses, social workers, counsellors, and mental health advocates. With their auxiliary extraverted feeling (Fe), they possess high empathy and find meaning in making others happy. Sometimes at the expense of their own energy, ISFJs will burn out or develop a dependency to be depended on—which can lead to unhealthy attachement styles.
ISFPs value self-expression through their (often tangible) creative works: paintings, digital art, pottery, sculptures, so on and so forth. They’re generally charismatic and non-chalant, and hold a strong identity—which is reflected in their primary function, introverted feeling (Fi). ISFPs may experiment with different styles and personas until they find one that suits them best and reflects their personality, to which they’ll proudly display to the world.
Tradition vs. Experimentation (Si vs. Se)
ISFJs uphold tradition and enjoy serving others; this gives their lives a sense of purpose. They love all special holidays and celebrations: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and of course—Valentine’s Day. ISFJs keep their loved ones dear to their heart and value family and loyalty above everything else. Most notably: ISFJs will stand up to bullies and threats if they have to if the situation calls for it—even though they are usually soft-spoken and agreeable.
ISFPs are much less focused on traditions (most rebel against them or find a way to remix them, think “Galentine’s Day”). They find creative energy in experimentation, usually with a form of art. Maybe a new melody with a different scale would sound better this time. How about mixing two types of paint? Can contemporary dance can mesh with modern dance? ISFPs relish in finding new ways to express their feelings and are proud of their creations.
Duties vs. Tasks (Ti vs. Te)
ISFJs focus on their larger duties and mindsets that they’ve accumulated internally, with the help of their tertiary introverted thinking (Ti). Although people-focused, they can spend long periods of time thinking about their morals and how this fits in to a wider frame of reference. More developed ISFJs can become very philosophical and inquisitive—and search for the “Why?” behind their daily lives. ISFJs often experience a mid-life crisis with tertiary Ti—as a roadblock or detour may set them up to ponder the greater issues outside of their immediate circle.
ISFPs work well in small bursts of energy and can find comfort in to-do lists thanks to their extraverted thinking function (Te). Their creative process can get messy sometimes, so a good app or planner can help get their gears going. ISFPs, although free-spirited and relaxed, can be extremely productive. They have the ability to tap into their “flow” state with ease when they’re working on a project they’re passionate about. ISFPs work best alone with their vivid mind, or with a creative partner they can bounce positive energy from (usually another Feeling personality type).
Ideas vs. Inspiration (Ne vs. Ni)
ISFJs have a secret scattered side they keep hidden from the world, which is seen in their inferior extraverted intuition (Ne). Under extreme stress, they can come up with far-fetched and unrealistic ideas of what should be done. ISFJs may surprise their loved ones with a new partner, haircut, job, or pet seemingly out of nowhere. They may go through a period of time where their mannerisms and style do not match their personality at all (just a phase?).
ISFPs seek inspiration constantly and their introverted intution (Ni) allows them to piece together information unconsciously, and end up with an overwhelming “a-ha!” moment later. They may have trouble explaining to others why or how they arrived at a certain decision, but they may attribute it to luck, practice, or the classic inspiration they thrive on. ISFPs may be taking a long stroll around their park or sitting in the subway. Suddenly, their new idea hits them like a truck.
Career Differences: ISFJ vs. ISFP
ISFJs value tradition, loyalty, and the opportunity to help others. They are caring and patient in their work and have a keen eye for detail. They excel as nurses, dieticians, massage therapists, midwives, occupational therapists, and speech therapists. (view more ISFJ careers here)
ISFPs, in contrast, want to express themselves unapologetically through their work. They fit best with the world of work as artists, hairdressers, fashion designers, daycare workers, veterinarians, and kindergarten teachers. (view more ISFP careers here)
