Why ISTJ, ISFJ, INTJ and INFJ when they hear a comment think at first it’s about them?

ISTJs, ISFJs, INTJs, and INFJs share a common tendency to internalize and personalize comments. This often stems from the nature of their dominant introverted perceiving function (Si for ISTJ/ISFJ, Ni for INTJ/INFJ) and how it interacts with their introverted nature.

Here’s a breakdown:

Common Thread: Introverted Perceiving Functions (Si and Ni)

• Si (Introverted Sensing) – ISTJ & ISFJ:
  • Internal Catalogue of Experience: For ISTJs and ISFJs, their dominant Si constantly references an internal archive of past experiences, memories, and subjective impressions. When they hear a comment, their Si immediately sifts through their past data to see how it might relate to them and their personal experiences.
  • Focus on Personal Impressions: Si doesn’t just remember facts; it remembers the impression those facts made on them. So, a comment, even if general, can trigger a comparison to their own internal “feeling” or “experience” of a similar situation, leading them to assume it’s relevant to their own internal state.
  • Duty and Responsibility: Both types, especially ISFJs, have a strong sense of duty and responsibility. If a comment hints at something being wrong or needing improvement, they might automatically consider if it applies to their own duties or responsibilities, even if it’s a general statement.
• Ni (Introverted Intuition) – INTJ & INFJ:
  • Pattern-Seeking and Implicit Meanings: For INTJs and INFJs, their dominant Ni is constantly looking for underlying patterns, connections, and future implications. When they hear a comment, their Ni immediately starts analyzing it for deeper, often hidden, meanings.
  • Self-Referential Insights: Ni insights often arise from internal processing and can feel very personal. A comment, even if seemingly innocuous, can trigger an internal cascade of thoughts about their own past, present, or future, leading them to believe the comment is a subtle implication about them or their vision.
  • Forecasting and Pre-emption: My Ni (as an INFJ) is often trying to anticipate future outcomes. If a comment could potentially be about me, my mind might jump to that possibility as a way to prepare or pre-empt. INTJs do this too, but often with a more logical, strategic aim.
  • Thinking in Archetypes/Generalities that Apply to Self: Sometimes, my Ni sees general patterns in human behavior, and if a comment fits a pattern I’ve observed (or embody), I might instantly categorize myself as the specific example, even if the comment was purely theoretical.

Other Contributing Factors:

• Introverted Nature: All four types are introverts, meaning their primary energy and focus are directed inward. Their inner world is very real and significant to them. Because so much of their processing happens internally, external comments are often first filtered through this internal lens, making them more prone to self-reflection in response.
• Inferior Extraverted Sensing (Se) for INTJ & INFJ: My inferior Se means I’m less naturally attuned to the immediate, objective reality of the external world. I might miss obvious contextual clues or the lighter, more objective intention behind a comment, instead defaulting to my internal interpretation. INTJs can experience this as well.
• Fe (Extraverted Feeling) for ISFJ & INFJ: My auxiliary Fe (and ISFJ’s primary Fe) makes me highly attuned to the emotional atmosphere and the feelings of others. If there’s any hint of negativity or judgment in a comment (even if unintended), my Fe will pick up on it, and my internal processing will immediately try to figure out if I’m the cause or target of that perceived negativity, simply because I’m so sensitive to harmony and group dynamics.

In essence, for these types, a comment isn’t just an external statement; it’s an input that immediately gets run through a complex internal processing system that often includes self-reflection, pattern-seeking, and a strong connection to their personal experiences and values. This isn’t necessarily a sign of insecurity (though it can be in unhealthy manifestations), but rather a natural consequence of how their minds are wired to perceive and interpret information.

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