The Way Each Myers-Briggs Type Handles Guilt

Everyone processes guilt in their own unique way. Some people feel guilty over the smallest things, while others learn to brush it off rather easily. Here is how we believe each personality type copes with feelings of guilt.

INFJ

INFJs process feelings of guilt by often internalizing those feelings. They may feel guilty over the smallest actions, finding it very important to be a good person. They may feel guilty for the smallest of things, wanting to do what they can to right their injustices. It is important for the INFJ that they attempt to make things right with their mistakes or the harm that they cause against others. The worst thing for an INFJ is not knowing what they have done to upset or hurt someone. They need to be able to fix the problem and make some kind of amends. They want to be able to fix their mistakes, since doing the right thing is important to an INFJ. They care about others, which can sometimes make them feel guilty for things they should not feel guilt for. It is challenging to be such a caring person sometimes, the INFJ often face this struggle.

ENFJ

ENFJs often process their feelings of guilt by internalizing them. The ENFJ often feels guilty if they cannot live up to their high expectation for themselves. They want to be able to do everything in their lives with excellence, especially when it comes to caring for others. The ENFJ often attempts make up for their mistakes by overcompensating when it comes to the people around them. If they feel guilty about something they will find ways to make this right by going above and beyond, even more so than usual. ENFJs may feel guilty when they have done nothing wrong, simply feeling like they could be doing more. They apply a lot of pressure on themselves, often feeling like they could have done better.

INFP

It is extremely important to INFPs that they do the right thing in their lives. They have a very strong sense of morality and often know exactly what they believe is right and wrong. INFPs hold themselves to higher standards than most people are aware of, causing them to experience guilt very often. They may feel guilty for the smallest of actions, wishing they could be doing more to help people. The INFP strives to make a difference, wanting very deeply to be a good person. They constantly feel like they could be doing more for others and the world in general. Most INFPs apologize often, wanting to be sure that they make amends for any possible wrongdoings.

ENFP

ENFPs often place a strange amount of guilt upon themselves, for things that aren’t really their fault. If something is going wrong in their lives, or if someone around them is upset, the ENFP may blame themselves. They will feel immense amounts of guilt when a friend is angry with them, or if someone reacts to them strangely. The ENFP wants people to like them and they may blame themselves for discord that is not their fault. They are often capable of seeing the many possibilities in a situation, which can cause them to consider the many ways that they could have navigated a situation better. They often feel a lot of pressure to be better, which causes them to feel guilty for things that they cannot control.

INTJ

INTJs are logic minded individuals, which causes them to approach guilt differently than most types. INTJs would much prefer to accept their mistakes and learn from them, rather than feel guilty for them. They will often use the mistakes to analyze how they could better approach the situation in the future. If an INTJ feels they have wronged someone they will often apologize or search for a way to make it right. They do want to be fair, but that doesn’t make them feel unnecessary guilt for making an error. INTJs often have a strong set of internal morals and they work hard to follow these morals. If they feel they have done something wrong the INTJ will logically analyze the situation rather than harbor useless feelings of guilt about it.

ENTJ

ENTJs experience guilt in their own way, but they often attempt to avoid these feelings. ENTJs are not strongly connected to their emotions, making it hard for them to take notice when they feel guilty about something. If they have wronged someone the ENTJ would prefer for that person to openly tell them and explain to the ENTJ what they did wrong. When this happens the ENTJ is capable of working towards a way to fix this wrongdoing and learn from it for the future. ENTJs aren’t strongly attached to their emotions making it hard for them to process guilt. It is easier for the ENTJ to be around people who explain things clearly to them instead of passive aggressively hiding their hurt from the ENTJ.

INTP

INTPs aren’t strongly in touch with their own emotions, but this does cause them to feel guilt from time to time. They often place a lot of pressure on themselves to do the right thing. The INTP may look back on their actions and analyze them until they consider that they could have done something better. The INTP often needs an outside perspective to help them figure out where they truly do right or wrong. INTPs like to be able to apply logic and understanding to every situation, which can make them sometimes feel guilty when they truly should not. Eventually the INTP is often capable of dissecting the situation and finally coming to the right conclusion about how they should react to their guilt. When they realize where they should have done better the INTP will attempt to make changes in the future.

ENTP

ENTPs rarely feel a strong sense of guilt over their actions. ENTPs hold onto the ideal that everyone is flawed and everyone makes mistakes in life. Because of this the ENTP often does not feel guilty when it comes to their actions. They often push their feelings aside, struggling to face their own emotions. ENTPs do not want to hurt the people that they care about, but they often work to consciously avoid this. They prefer when people are open and honest with them, this makes it easier for the ENTP to read where others boundaries are. When the people close to the ENTP explain what bothers them, the ENTP will make sure to avoid doing those things. Otherwise, the ENTP will probably not blame themselves for harm done, since they could not have done anything to avoid it.

ISTJ

ISTJs have very strong internal morals, wanting to strive to do what is right. ISTJs may feel guilty if they feel like they are not accomplishing their goals to their own high standards. When the ISTJ is fulfilling their duties and getting the job done, they will rarely harbor feelings of guilt. They know what they believe is right and wrong, striving to make sure that they follow those guidelines. The ISTJ often weighs their feelings of guilt internally, rather than depending on others to decide for them. This makes it easy for the ISTJ to do what they consider right, which makes them handle guilt fairly well.

ESTJ

ESTJs are not strongly in touch with their emotions, which may cause them to repress feelings of guilt. ESTJs want to be able to do right by the people that they care about, striving to work hard for them. If the ESTJ feels like they are failing the people around them, they may feel guilty about this. Instead of focusing on this guilt the ESTJ may become unhappy, or they may work even harder to compensate. They have a strong sense of duty, wanting to care for others and do what they believe is right.

ISFJ

ISFJs often feel a strong sense of guilt if they are not maintaining harmony in their environment. The ISFJ often takes the needs of others upon themselves, wanting to make sure that everyone is taken care of. If the people around the ISFJ are not happy, they will probably blame themselves for this. ISFJs often feel a strong sense of guilt when they truly should not, making it hard for them to let go of this. They will work hard to make others happy and keep everyone around them at ease. When the ISFJ cannot live up to their own high standards they will feel truly guilty.

ESFJ

ESFJs may not outwardly show that they experience guilt, but it is something that they feel on an almost constant basis. ESFJs take the needs of others upon themselves, wanting to be everything to everyone around them. The ESFJ holds themselves to impossibly high standards, wanting to be something close to perfect. When they cannot accomplish this goal of keeping everyone happy, they will feel immensely guilty. The ESFJ often feels like it is their fault if everyone is not properly cared for, making them feel guilty when they truly should not. ESFJs will often internalize their own guilt, failing to acknowledge it fully. They will find ways to compensate when they are feeling guilty about their own failings.

ISTP

ISTPs often handle feelings of guilt in a very logical manner. Instead of being upset when they do something wrong, the ISTP often accepts their own failings. The ISTP will analyze their mistake and finds ways in which they can make it right. Once they have atoned for their mistake the ISTP will be more than capable of moving on, seeking ways to improve in the future. They take life as it comes at them, believing that everyone makes mistakes and that is simply part of life. They often do not hold onto these guilty feelings, believing that they are a waste of their time.

ESTP

ESTPs often internalize their own feelings of guilt rather than facing them directly. ESTPs may blame themselves for things that they shouldn’t, but often fail to see where they are truly making mistakes. ESTPs are not strongly aware of their own emotions, preferring to live life in the moment rather than focus on feelings. ESTPs may feel guilty but they will push those feelings aside, finding ways to move on from it. They do not want to harbor those negative emotions, preferring to enjoy life as it comes at them.

ISFP

ISFPs are very internal and sensitive individuals, who may feel guilty over things that they shouldn’t. ISFPS have strong internal morals, making them desire to do what they believe is right. If the ISFP feels like they have harmed someone in some way they will feel very upset over this. The ISFP will attempt to make things right, often apologizing for the tiniest things. They want to be a good person, working hard to follow their own morals. They may stray from this path sometimes, but they always find ways to make up for their mistakes. ISFPs truly care about others, making them experience guilt when they do something to affect the people around them. ISFPs sense of consideration for others often makes them very easy to forgive.

ESFP

ESFPs often repress their own feelings of guilt, preferring to enjoy life rather than focus on negativity. ESFPs dislike harming others, but may struggle with facing their own mistakes. They may attempt to convince the people that they hurt that they never intended to do so. The ESFP doesn’t want people to believe they are a bad person, it is a strong concern for them. They care about the people around them and truly do not want to harm anyone. Sometimes the ESFPs lifestyle of living in the moment can cause them to upset others, but this is never their intention. When the ESFP feels like they have done something wrong they will definitely try to atone for this wrongdoing.