Kevin
September 6, 2023
Common Questions

Did you know that the ISTJ is thought to be the most common of the Myers-Briggs personality types? Yup, it’s true — the ISTJ personality type is attributed to more than 10 percent of the U.S. population.

Interested in learning more about ISTJ? We can help. Read on to get the scoop on this common personality type to uncover what it is, how it’s identified, and more.

What Is the Definition of ISTJ?

ISTJ is a four-letter code that stands for Introversion Sensing Thinking Judging. It is one of the 16 personality types found on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBIT) and indicates a person who:

Is energized by time spent alone (Introverted)
Focuses on facts and details rather than ideas and concepts (Sensing)
Makes decisions based on reason and logic (Thinking)
Prefers to be organized and planned rather than flexible and spontaneous (Judging)

Sometimes referred to as “the Inspector” or “the Logistician” because of their strong focus on details, the ISTJ personality type is the most common type among men.

What Are the Cognitive Functions of an ISTJ?

The four cognitive functions that make up the ISTJ personality type are as follows:

Dominant Function — Introverted Sensing (Si)
Auxiliary Function — Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Tertiary Function — Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Inferior Function — Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

What Are The Common Career Paths of an ISTJ?

ISTJs are particularly fond of concrete, factual information and tend to thrive in careers that require order, structure, and accuracy. With this in mind, here are some common ISTJ careers:

Accountant
Dentist
Supply Chain Manager
Computer Programmer
Doctor
Inspector
Librarian
Business Analyst
Lawyer
Bank Teller
Law Enforcement and/or Police Officer
Detective
Military Leader

In contrast, if you have an ISTJ personality type, you may want to steer clear of the following career paths:

Journalist
Psychologist
Artist
Bartender
Wedding Planner

What Are The Other Personality Types?

Now that you are better acquainted with the “Inspector,” let’s take a look at the other personality types, shall we?

The 16 personality types include:

ISFJ (The Protector)
INFJ (The Counselor)
INTJ (The Mastermind)
ISTP (The Craftsman)
ISFP (The Composer)
INFP (The Idealist)
INTP (The Thinker)
ESTP (The Doer)
ESFP (The Performer)
ENFP (The Champion)
ENTP (The Visionary)
ESTJ (The Supervisor)
ESFJ (The Provider)
ENFJ (The Giver)
ENTJ (The Commander)

Wondering how to determine your personality type? It’s easy! Simply set aside some time and take one of the many personality tests that are available online.

Although there are many to choose from, the most popular personality tests that are commonly used by employers include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Caliper Profile, and DISC.

What Are Some of the Well-Known ISTJs?

While ISTJs aren’t necessarily fond of the spotlight, they’re not one to step back when they have to support their opinions and ideas in front of others. With this in mind, it makes perfect sense that there are many famous people that have this personality type!

Some examples of the most well-known individuals with ISTJ personality include:

George Washington — Former U.S. President
Queen Elizabeth II — Queen of Britain
Andrew Johnson — Former U.S. President
Ethan Hawke — Actor
Condoleezza Rice — U.S. Secretary of State
Julia Roberts — Actress
Johnny Carson — Comedian and Talk Show Host
Gary Sinise — Actor
Jack Nicklaus — Professional Golfer
Malcolm Mcdowell — English Actor
Jean-Claude Van Damme — Actor and Belgian Martial Artist
Frederick the Great — King of Prussia
Jack Webb — Actor
Jamie Hyneman — T.V. Host and Special Effects Engineer
Jack Palance — Actor
Rosalynn Carter — U.S. First Lady
John Malkovich — Actor
Henry Ford — Founder of the Ford Motor Company and U.S. Inventor
Danica McKellar — Mathematician and Actress
Jeff Bezos — Founder of Amazon
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson — Confederate General
George Strait — Country Musician
Ingvar Kamprad — Founder of IKEA
Christy Mathewson — Professional Baseball Player (pitcher)
John D. Rockefeller — Co-Founder of Standard Oil
Mitt Romney — U.S. Governor
Thomas the Apostle
Christopher Lee — English Actor
Sigmund Freud — Austrian Psychoanalyst and Neurologist
Xenophon — Greek Military Historian
Robert De Niro — Actor
Pope Benedict XVI
Denzel Washington — Actor
Martina McBride — Country Musician and Songwriter
Elizabteh Holmes — Founder of Theranos
Kris Kristofferson — Actor
Peter Thiel — Co-Founder of PayPal
Natalie Portman — Actress
Anthony Hopkins — Welsh Actor
Kirk Douglas — Actor
Jackie Joyner-Kersee — U.S. Track Star
Alan Jackson — Country Musician and Songwriter
Arthur, Duke of Wellington — British Prime Minister and General
George H. W. Bush — Former U.S. President

Conclusion

ISTJ stands for “introverted, sensing, thinking, judging” and refers to one of the sixteen personality types of the Myers-Briggs Indicator (MBTI). Those with this common personality type tend to be reserved, quiet, and practical. They are self-sufficient and work hard to meet their obligations.

ISTJs are usually blunt and to the point rather than dreamy with their goals and ambitions. They often seek solutions to problems without delaying themselves and are pretty hesitant to take risks. In other words, ISTJs are strong in their beliefs, which can make them stubborn.

Also known as the Logistician or Investigator, INTJs are planners. They love preparing for things in an orderly fashion and pay a lot of attention to detail. They’re typically comfortable in familiar surroundings and often rely on conventional means and proven methods.

Think you might have an ISTJ personality type? Consider taking a personality test to find out!

Sources:

ISTJ Women: Perceptions and Realities of Women with the Duty-Fulfilling Personality Type – Online Personality Tests | Online Personality Tests

Logistician (ISTJ) Personality Type Meaning | Simply Psychology

ISTJ “The Logistician” Personality Type – Meaning, Traits, Functions | The Career Project

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.