ISTJ Main Page
alone time; slow and steady, focus on
one task at a time; reserved & cautious
SSensor. Practical & task-oriented;
prefer action over reflection; excel at
handling details & concrete tasks
TThinker. Use logical analysis to
make decisions; attuned to facts,
consistency & fairness
JJudger. Outwardly firm, direct,
and decisive; conveying closure;
planful & conscientious
ISTJs’ Dominant Function
Stabilizes beliefs, decisions & behavior by drawing on past experience & learning; embraces the “tried and true”
ISTJs’ Auxiliary Function
Rationally structures & organizes ideas, things & processes; consults established facts & methods in decision-making
Key ISTJ Traits:
- Loyal, dutiful, reliable, and responsible in all aspects of life: as friends, parents, spouses, employees, etc.
- Embrace what’s familiar—the “tried and true”—including long-held routines, practices, and traditions
- Foster and sustain traditions that substantiate familial bonds and continuity with the past
- Faithfully carry out duties, commitments, and responsibilities
- Appreciate alone time, but also willing to partake in requisite social activities
- Turn to the past to guide and inform decision-making
- Vividly recall past experiences and their attendant responses
- Evaluate their own and others’ behavior according to firm principles and standards
- Maintain and defend core tenets regarding right and wrong, truth and falsehood
- Enjoy sharing their knowledge and lending advice to others
- Tend to downplay their own emotional needs and misfortunes, commonly exhibiting a stoic attitude toward life; find ways of “soldiering on”
- Participate in and contribute to valued organizations—religious, educational, community, or otherwise
- Prefer clear guidelines and expectations in the workplace
- Bring a careful and methodical approach to their work, including attention to detail
- Reliable team players, diligently carrying out their designated duties
- Commonly drawn to teaching, administrative, or management roles in education, ministry, business, or elsewhere; may also take interest in accounting, law, finance, medicine, or technical fields
Learn More about ISTJs in Our Books:
My True Type: Clarifying Your Personality Type, Preferences & Functions
The 16 Personality Types: Profiles, Theory & Type Development