Defender personality (A Comprehensive Guide)

Defender personality is among 16 personalities of the Myers-Briggs Typology Inventory (MBTI).

Each personality has four traits that explain the characteristics of that personality. Defender personality is also known as ISFJ personality.

This personality type is very kind and sensitive to other people. People often take advantage of them because they are sensitive by nature and often think about others more than themselves.

They try to understand other people’s situations through their perspective.

Whenever a situation occurs they weigh the situation again and again according to their perception and also try to think about the situation through other people’s perception.

Their decisions are based on empathy. Defender personality is introverted by nature but if they socialize with others they need to refill their energy.

ISFJ stands for:

Defender personality is known as ISFJ personality.

Each letter is the trait of these personalities which explains the characteristics of the personality which is described below:

I: (introvert) Defender personality has an introvert nature but they do socialize with society too. But socializing drains their energy that they need to replenish later.
S: (sensing) they use their sense to analyze the situation and make a decision by recalling their past experiences.
J: (feeling) they are very good and emotions and understanding other people feel but they bottle up their feelings and avoid sharing them with others.
F: (judging) ISFJ personality judges people through empathy and facts.

Characteristics of Defender Personality: 

Some of the characteristics of defender personality are described below:

  • They are introverted but still good at understanding other people’s emotions and feelings. Instead of keeping their memories good for general knowledge, they are more good at remembering the details of people and things related to them.
  • They do not share their personal feelings with other people. They do understand and listen to other people’s feelings and emotions but they avoid sharing and bottle up their own feelings. They think that they should not burden other people by discussing their loss and problems in their life. They are good listeners and supporters too.
  • They are interested in practical work rather than theoretical work as they are helping by nature. They appreciate those work more through which they can see real help is being provided to the world and those who are in need of it.
  • People with defender personalities are not easy to change. They are protective of their traditions. Even if they need or want any change in life they require some time to think about it before having a big change.

Strengths of Defender personality:

Every person has their own strengths and weaknesses. Defender personalities also have some strengths and weaknesses of their own.

Some of the strengths of defender personality are:

Supportive:

People with these personality types are very supportive of their family and friends.

They like to share their knowledge, experience, time, energy, and views with those who are in need of help.

Reliable:

Defender personality type people are more reliable to work with.

People like to work with them because they not only complete their task but they will go beyond the requirement to make their task perfect.

Patient:

They are highly patient; they do not get frustrated instead they finish their work with patience.

Therefore, more people are willing to do projects with them.

Imaginative:

Defender personalities are also imaginative; they try to imagine the situation of others through other people’s perspectives.

They think with empathy to understand other people’s behavior and action.

Enthusiastic:

When a defender personality is given a task and they have an interest in it they become super-enthusiastic in that project and they put all of their efforts to get that project done.

Loyal:

Loyalty is one of the most common characteristics of defender personality.

Along with their enthusiasm, they are also loyal to their work or the organization they are working with them because they get attached easily.

Hardworking:

Defender personality is well aware that their action or misbehavior can lead to emotional distress to other people so they put a lot of effort in socializing with people and getting their tasks done. 

Weaknesses of Defender personality: 

Along with the strengths of defender personality, they also have some weaknesses which can affect their success and social interaction.

Some of them are described below:

Humble:

Defender personality is too humble in nature; they would not struggle to take the credit of a project even if he has put more effort than other members of the group.

Shy:

They are shy and quiet, they would not speak up for anything to hurt other people’s feelings.

Their empathetic quality makes them shy and quiet in the group. 

Take things too personally:

ISFJ personalities are not good at taking criticism because they take it as a personal attack even if it isn’t the intention of others.

Repress their feelings:

If they get hurt over something they do not express their feeling of hurt and distress rather they repress their feeling inside them to avoid making other people uncomfortable.

Overload themselves:

If anyone asks for help from them they do not say no.

They always help the people in need even if they do not have time or enough energy to help because they always put other people before them in this way they overload themselves and take too many responsibilities. 

Reluctant to change:

Defender personality finds it very hard to have changed in their life and things around them.

They are of traditional type and are very reluctant to change.

Too altruistic:

They are unselfish and they put themselves at last. They think they can help others while doing even more than they are doing.

Relationship of defender personality:

Defender personalities are very good at keeping their relationship alive.

They are very kind and giving they will do everything to make their relationship last long.

They understand the feelings of others but repress their own feelings because they do not want to burden anyone by telling their own problems.

They often have difficulty in saying “no” because they can not refuse anyone for help so they burden themself with more responsibilities even if they are not capable of having more burden to themselves. 

Defender personality in a relationship as Lovers:

They are very faithful in their intimate relationship.

Once they develop feelings about someone it gets more intense with the passage of time but at first, they will not express their feelings because they are shy and they keep their feelings to themselves.

But if they express their feelings and relationships come into existence they remain faithful to their partners and put all of their energy in making their relationship better.

If their relationship comes to an end they find it very hard to accept instead they take all the blame that they could have done something to make it better.

They think that it is all their fault that the relationship did not last long.

They are actual lovers; they even remain faithful to their deceased partners.

ISFJ are not very good at showing love through their words but they are good at showing their love through their acts.

They are not selfish in nature, they give all the warm feelings and efforts to their partner and in return, all they want is little appreciation and love.

They are very affectionate lovers and are of the traditional type; they work hard to keep their relationship run smoothly.

Defender personality in a relationship as Parents:

The defender personality is the ideal parent. They raise their children with warmth, care and affection.

They try to fulfill all of their needs in order to structure their personality in a perfect manner.

They want their children to learn all the principles, rules, and values to live in society. They give all the appropriate guidelines to their children.

They often find it difficult to punish their children for any misbehavior but most of them overcome this because they do not want their children to be unethical towards anything.

They have a fear that their children might get into adult problems in the future so they try harder to discipline their children.in many ways, ISFJ turns out to be the best parents. 

Defender personality in a relationship as Friends:

Most ISFJ personalities put their families above their friends but they do have friends and they spend quality time with them.

If they need any suggestion they talk to their friends. As they are of a very calm and gentle nature they also give their time to their friends when they are in need of them they do not refuse them for any help.

Their friends rely on them and they have a bond of trust and sincerity with each other.

Friends of defender personalities value their presence in their lives and respect the warm they give to them in hours of need.

Defender personality in relationship with workers:

Defender personality shares their goals and puts all of their efforts whether they are subordinates, colleagues, or managers.

They accomplish their task in their time. If any project is assigned to them they go beyond their capacity to get it done and in a perfect way.

They are very calm and patient in nature therefore many people want to work with them.

They get more projects comparatively from others because of their dedication and their loyalty to work.

Defender personality helps their colleague when they ask for and all they want in return is little acknowledgement from them for their efforts.

They are very loyal, hardworking, patient, and sincere with their work. They do their work with full concentration and by making them their first priority

FAQs about Defender Personality 

Defender personality is more common in men or women?

The ratio of the Defender personality type is higher in women than men.

Are ISFJ are good at having intimate relationships?

Yes, they can make lasting relationships if they catch feelings for someone.

Does being introverted affect their relationships?

They do not express their feelings in words often but they do express them through their actions so it does not affect their relationships.

References:

16personalites.com: Defender personality

Personalitypage.com: ISFJ Relationships

Indeed.com: The “Defender”: All About the ISFJ Personality Type

Personalitymax.com: ISFJ Personality Type – The “Defender”

Verwellmind.com: ISFJ: The Protector (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging)

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