ISTP 6w5: (A Complete Guide)

In this article, we will describe a combination of ISTP 6w5 personality type i.e. ISTP personality from the MBTI types and the type 6w5 from enneagram types. We will be describing each personality separately followed up by giving an in-depth overview of a combination of both personalities i.e. ISTP 6w5.

ISTP 6w5

ISTP 6w5 shares traits of both ISTP and 6w5 personality. These people are afraid of instability and insecurity which explains their desire for stability in their life. They are cautious and skeptical in their approach to life and do not trust people easily. They are good problem solvers and get excited when faced with new challenges. They seek new experiences to keep life interesting. 

MBTI: Four Cognitive Functions

 Myer Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), based on Carl Jung’s 16 personality types, approaches personality to be composed of four cognitive functions that govern how people think, process, and make decisions. The top two cognitive functions play a dominant role in guiding a person’s personality. Whereas, the latter two play less of a role. However, they still have some impact or influence on how a person behaves in certain situations. ISTP is one personality type out of the 16 types. 

ISTP: The Crafter (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving)

The ISTP personality type from the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is based on Carl Jung’s 16 personality types. It describes people who are independent, action-oriented, prefer freedom and flexibility in their life. They are open to new experiences and like engaging in practical activities. Logic,  rationality,  concrete information, and practical application of things appeal to them more than abstract ideas.  They dislike routine and prefer newness in their life. 5.4% of people have an ISTP personality type in the world.

Four Cognitive Functions of ISTP

Four cognitive functions that guide how ISTP personality type processes information includes:

Introverted Thinking

ISTPs spend most of their time thinking and processing information which they rarely express to others.  Consequently, they prefer being quiet most of the time. Their actions are based on their strong observational and thinking skills.  You could say they are rational and logical people who like to engage in practical activities.  Furthermore, while analysing situations,  they can put their emotions aside and see things objectively.  Such personalities are hard to get to know for other people due to their action-oriented and reserved nature.

Extroverted Sensing

ISTPs are present-oriented who do not think about the past or the future excessively.  They are logical and enjoy learning about how things function and operate.  They love the practical application of concepts. So they learn more by doing than from reading theories or abstract ideas. 

Introverted Intuition

ISTPs often have gut feelings about different situations especially before making a decision. They can turn abstract concepts into actions or practical ideas.  Due to their intuitive function,  they are also able to have moments of insight about themselves and others. 

Extroverted Feeling

This is the weakest part of ISTP’s personality. They are usually calm and logical.  However,  in stressful situations, they can have emotional outbursts and lash out at others.  This is because they usually ignore their feelings till they reach a breaking point. 

Enneagrams

Enneagrams are a map or typology of human personalities. It was developed by George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, Oscar Ichazo, and Claudio Naranjo.It is divided into nine personality types that are spread across 3 triads i.e. Feeling triad, Thinking Triad, or Instinctive Triad. It describes a person’s fundamental psychological orientation in the form of good or bad traits and sees which triad quality i.e. emotion, intellect or instincts is most characteristic of his or her personality.  The Basic Personality Type is the most characteristic of a person. Whereas wings add elements to the overall personality. Type 6w5 is one of its types.

Type 6w5: ‘The Defender’

Type 6w5 has basic traits of type 6 and secondary traits of type 5 personality. Traits of type 5 and type 6 are in conflict i.e. ‘affiliation vs detachment from others’ yet both are seeking security. As a result, type 6w5 has both tendencies approaching and detaching. They are serious, ethical, and self-controlled people who can be passionate and outspoken when expressing their views.

Healthy versions of this subtype are organized, curious, perceptive, intellectual, and good speakers. They also make good educators. Fields of medicine, law, and engineering are good for them as they have established rules. They often contribute to causes, community service, and take a stand for the weak. Often, they are a spokesperson for less privileged people. These personalities possess good observational skills and perception which makes their foresight pretty strong. 

Average versions of this subtype can be anxious but mostly they try to sort it out on their own or may seek help from a mentor. They are strong, competitive, and emotionally inhibited people who like their privacy. They see the world as a dangerous place and may react aggressively upon perceiving any threat to their security. They struggle with trusting people and doubt their intentions.

Unhealthy versions of this subtype can be paranoid with regard to personal security. They can even turn to drugs or drinks to cope with their delusions, anxiety, cynicism, and feelings of inferiority. Their patterns can be self-destructive but they carefully hide it from others. Self-harm, taking ones life and physical harm can also take place.

Examples of Type 6w5: George Bush, Robert F. Kennedy, Diane Keaton, Bruce Springsteen

A Combination of ISTP 6w5

Personality: ISTP 6w5

ISTP 6w5 are afraid of security and instability. They are skeptics who don’t take things at face value. They desire stability in their lives and seek stable relationships. They also make good problem solvers who use their knowledge and skills to tackle complex challenges. In addition to that, they have a low boredom threshold and seek new problems to keep things interesting. 

Workstyle: ISTP 6w5

In the workplace, ISTP 6w5 make focused and hardworking workers. They use their knowledge and skills to solve problems and manage crises. They are focused and pay attention to details. In addition to that, they value logic and concrete ideas. They prefer freedom in what they do and dislike being constrained by routines. They like to work in jobs that are safe, stable, and allow them to learn e.g.professor, biologist, chemist, banker, financial analyst, software engineer, computer programming, electrician, law enforcement, etc.

Emotional stressors of ISTP 6w5

ISTP 6w5 are often stressed by unexpected changes and making the wrong decisions. Similarly, when they find it difficult to express themself and feel rejected by others, they are discomforted and get upset. 

Conflict: ISTP 6w5

ISTP 6w5 are ethical and fair in their conflict management. They possess skills of observation, perception, and communication that help them to express themself. In addition to that, they are good problem solvers who use logic and practicality in solving disagreements. They make sure that conflicts are resolved timely and efficiently. 

Interpersonal Skills: ISTP 6w5

ISTPs are friendly in their social interactions. However, their manner in approaching relationships is cautious and driven by practicality. They do not trust others easily and don’t open up to others. Their focus is to have stable relationships which they can trust and rely on. At an emotional level, they can struggle a bit. 

Strengths of ISTP 6w5

• They are good problem solvers
• They are detail-oriented
• They can work independently
• They are always in pursuit of knowledge
• They are logical
• They learn by experience
• They are action-oriented
• They are realistic and practical in their approach
• They enjoy new things
• They are self-confident and easy-going

Weakness of ISTP 6w5

• They withdraw from others
• They struggle with expressing emotions
• They have difficulty controlling negative thinking
• Others perceive them as aloof, detached, and cold
• They are difficult to get to know
• They can be insensitive
• They get bored easily
• They do not like commitments

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

 FAQs: ISTP 6w5

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed ISTP 6w5 personality.  We found that ISTP 6w5 shares traits of both ISTP and 6w5 personality. These people are afraid of instability and insecurity which explains their desire for stability in their life. They are cautious and skeptical in their approach to life and do not trust people easily. They are good problem solvers and get excited when faced with new challenges. They seek new experiences to keep life interesting. 

I hope you found this article interesting. If you have any queries or comments, please state them in the comment section 😊

Citations

https://www.verywellmind.com/istp-introverted-sensing-thinking-perceiving-2795993

https://www.crystalknows.com/enneagram/type-6-wing-5

Personality Types – Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery by Don Richard Riso with Russ Hudson

The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson