ISTJ Definition of Personality Equals “Tradition + Dependability”

You may have come here from the MBTI “words to describe personality” page and you know or suspicion that your personality type is Introverted with Sensing, Thinking and Judging, because you have taken the Myers-Briggs personality assessment test. Or you may be here because someone you care about is this type. That being the case you can discover many qualities, traits or characteristics describing this personality type on this page.

BASICS

I’m going to present ISTJ qualities in a list format because I have found reading a paragraph when you are digging for some important, quick information, can be difficult, well it can be irritating! So let us take a look at a list of personality traits for ISTJs. This type:

• Is a natural realist, organizer, task oriented person
• Is normally quite serious about most things
• Is very good at remembering facts, data, has wonderful memory for detail
• Is very matter-of-fact, down-to-earth with great common sense
• Is usually very skeptical about things, if they have not seen it, heard it, tasted it, smelled it, touched it….they don’t believe it…period
• Is usually quite logical in approach to EVERYTHING
• Is going to see a task through to completion
• Probably possesses the most powerful “work ethic” of all the types
• Is normally difficult to distract….unless stressed too much
• Will work systematically….well prefers to work this way

Now do you see yourself/someone else in the above basic list of personality traits??

What we really begin to see with personality type is emerging patterns of behaving and using our brains. The ISTJ way is natural, instinctive, beautiful, created to be this way. Let us continue.

Mottos Are Fun

For the ISTJ these mottos or things to put on their battle flag might be: “Work Hard, Then Play”, “Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan”, “Take Your Time To Do It Right”, to name a few.

Let us make another list of personality traits, ISTJs:

• Are reasoning and making decisions with natural/instinctive logic
• Are frequently analytical and can be tough-minded
• Will have difficulty (sometimes great difficulty) factoring in other people’s “feelings” in a decision making situation
• Usually want decisions to be fair and very objective
• Will be more naturally “task” oriented not “people” oriented when getting things done
• Is a natural for remembering and VALUING birthdays, ceremonies, anniversaries, holidays, weddings, TRADITION, institutions
• Has a clear idea of what is good and bad, right and wrong

Now, my friend, the ISTJ not only behaves in the above manner…THEY NATURALLY EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME!!

So, what happens when they see that many others do not behave that way?? (although 12-16% of America’s population is this type....that is alot) Answer: Different levels of stress, confusion, irritation, etc. Typically nothing this type can’t handle. So, this is a NATURAL reaction on the part of this type, they are not doing anything wrong.

More Stuff The ISTJ:

• In relationships, are loyal want evenhandedness and honesty
• In relationships, are quiet, laid back, serious
• In relationships, they will show an “original” sense of humor
• In relationships, can be somewhat insensitive to the feelings or others
• In relationships, at their worst may not listen to those whom they deem as “illogical” people

Under Stress The ISTJ:

• May become even more Introverted, and withdraw from the people stressors
• May really drive themselves way too much and work to collapse
• May become inflexible with rules, restrictions
• May turn exceptionally critical of others
• May become very negative, gloomy seeing only very negative general possibilities for the future

If this type is you, wonderful, perhaps you now have a better understanding of yourself, and perhaps you can use that increased understanding in many positive ways.

If you see someone else as this type but not you, please pay attention to the differences between your personality and the ISTJ. Try to see that your way and the ISTJway are natural and just fine! Look for the positive differences, the strengthsthis type brings to your type. Celebrate that because it cannot be changed and can add wonderful diversity and truth to your life!!

Return from ISTJ Personality Basics to MBTI Page