All the typings and observations in this post are based on definitions and information presented in the aLBoP Guided Tour 😀 So if any of it bugs you, please go read that before leaving me a grumpy comment… Or, you know what? Let’s just skip the grumpy comments! Have a nice day! <3
ISFJ
The Knight
“Because the one thing I know…
some things are just worth fighting for.”
Jim Raynor, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
The ISFJ Knight is the flagship of dependability. Noble, loyal and chivalrous are words that describe these on-the-ground captains. They have the world perspective to understand why the people and ideals they serve are so important and are great at seeing in the moment plans of action. They live to serve something greater than themselves in a straight-forward, get-it-done sort of way. They don’t usually mind getting a little dirt on their hands because they don’t think they’re special enough to be looked to as an example anyway. And though they don’t expect to be thanked, they’ll get touchy when it’s suggested they weren’t doing their all.
From childhood, ISFJ’s love the wide-world they live in; they love to see it and know it and enjoy it. And yet they have a quiet contentedness that means they’re usually happy to stay within that world. They want to experience and appreciate their own world, culture and spheres of influence but, for the most part, they’re fine for everything outside that sphere to go along its way. They love to just fit in their place and fulfil their duties, helping others out of principle, for the good of the world more than for the social benefit. In a lot of ways, they’re the most live-and-let-live J’s (they’re almost reactive like P’s); that is, until their world is in peril.
While an INFJ turns inward for their quest, their intuition showing them naturally how things can be improved, a sensing ISFJ focuses on taking joy in what’s already there, going about their business, carrying out their responsibilities… until all of the sudden they see something they weren’t meant to see. Be it that their boss or fiancée is trying to take over the world, their best friend or mentor is really planning a mutiny or that the people they revered most are actually trying to destroy all life in the galaxy, ISFJ’s (IFJ’s really) are notoriously bad about making overly-positive character judgments.
When they see the curtain peeled away, what will they do? Will the ISFJ continue to protect a world, a culture or a mindset that isn’t the valiant errand they signed up for? Or will these noble beings hear the call and set out to set things right, even if it means turning on a world they previously protected?
It’s easiest for an ISFJ to go with the flow, to ignore the signs and signals of corruption that they’ve seen and just let things keep being the way they are. Can’t things just be good, like they’ve always been? Can’t they just be home and keep plodding on and being good little soldiers, regardless of the big picture? But an ISFJ will never truly be satisfied with a world where good is tainted, where they let injustice go on because they were too afraid to rock the boat.
But if they stand up in the name of the good and truth that they wanted to protect from the beginning, using their feelings of betrayal as motivation to protect others from the same injustice, an ISFJ can become a powerful force of good for the benefit of all; this is the ISFJ Knight.
If you need a tactical, self-sacrificing hero, the ISFJ Knight is on your side. Excellent soldiers and dedicated best friends, the Knight makes a great comrade-in-arms. Often the kind of protagonist a writer will turn to when they need someone who understands what they’re fighting for but is rugged enough to knock a few heads and not talk too much along the way (read: video games with a decent story). Also beloved as the straight-man to an off-the-wall companion (read: EP) or as an ever steady lieutenant to a protagonist who doesn’t have a lot that’s steady in their lives (usually INFJ).
The Knight is one of my latest favorites (I’m allowed to have those right? Especially when their letters are opposite of mine?). I love their endearing dedication despite opposition–spurred on by their introverted judgement– their subtle and yet literal S sense of humor, and the way their feeling side reigns in their full-steam-ahead dedication when they let it. I guess I shouldn’t wonder at the number of ENTP/ISFJ duos in fiction when I enjoy the contrast so much myself.
Like all IJ’s, the ISFJ feels that they must do what no one else will; in the Knight’s case, they fear no one cares enough to protect the things they love, making their persistence and dependability necessary to preserve the things most important to them. The Knight is okay to serve and protect what’s important, but they may wish there was someone else to take part of the load or at least stop making their job harder.
The Knight is sure to be a valued asset in their party, demonstrating leadership by example and reminding the others what they’re fighting for. If there’s one to be had, they’re likely to appreciate an INFJ Paladin to give them direction while keeping the big picture in mind. If possible the Knight likes to have someone else have the overall vision, but wants the freedom to move on the ground as they see fit towards that vision, knowing that they personally have the sweeping understanding to get the important things accomplished.
An ISFJ Knight turns dark… Dark Knight… crap. Stupid formulas. Evil Knight? That sounds a little “Bwahaha” but whatevs. A Knight turns villainous when they begin to spurn the principles they initially loved and espoused so deeply because they’d rather hold on to a previous world-view or character judgement and end up actually damaging the very thing they fought to protect in the first place. This isn’t truly evil so much as unhealthy, unless it’s done on purpose, the Evil Knight lying to themselves about the truth no matter who or what they hurt in the meantime.
Though ISFJ’s may not go “bwahaha,” it is extremely commonplace for them to make bad character judgments and not re-examine their worldviews, because the things they fight for are so precious to them. But a true ISFJ Knight will remember that truth will remain true, no matter how many times you examine it; so looking again will merely help rekindle truth’s passion afresh.
Knight or… -_- Evil Knight (bwahaha), a strong ISFJ knows that honor, chivalry and dependability make you strong and have their own reward.
Examples:
Male: Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Female: Kim Possible
Villain: Victoria, The Twilight Saga
Who are the Type Heroes? Read the intro here, and stay tuned to meet them all!
Want more information on ISFJ, the Knight? Read their Cognitive Orientation Guidebook here.
This is the first post I read on aLBoP, and it drew me in because there were things in it I related to on a deeper level. I want to thank Calise and Justin for creating this site that kickstarted my journey of self-discovery.