What Do You Expect From Your Partner During Quarantine, Based On Personality

It's a challenging time, more so because humanity hasn't seen any such thing in the past 100 years. At Least the present generations haven’t. Isolation, self quarantine and social distancing - like it or not but these things are here to stay for at least next couple months.

Since we spend most of our time working, we rarely get a chance to spend time with our own families. But since we are already locked inside with our partners, it is imperative for us to understand each other with due respect to each other’s privacy and individuality.

In this article, we will discuss some of the expectations people have from their partners during quarantine based on their Myers-Briggs® personality type.

The Myers-Briggs® Personality Type Indicator or MBTI® is a renowned assessment designed to identify the personality type, preferences and strengths of an individual. Inspired by Carl Jung's theory of personality types, the mother daughter duo of  Katherine Briggs and Isabel Myers had developed this questionnaire. At present, the Myers-Briggs® Personality Type Indicator is one of the most popular psychological instruments globally.

But, before that we would like to explain some of the basic terms used in this inventory. 

The MBTI® instrument defines four pairs of opposite personality traits called dichotomies: These MBTI® dichotomies are:

1. Extraversion E or Introversion I
2. Sensing S or Intuition N
3. Thinking T or Feeling F
4. Judging J or Perceiving P
   
   

• Extraversion E or Introversion I

It’s the orientation where we focus our attention and get energy from. For example, extroverts get their energy from the outer world and interaction with people, while introverts get it from self-reflection. 

• Sensing S or Intuition N

These categories are defined according to the way we take in information and the kind of information we like and trust. Sensing types are those who focus on verifiable facts, present realities, and their sensory experiences. On the other hand, Intuition types see the hidden element in everything, e.g. insights, future possibilities, and the big picture.  

• Thinking T or Feeling F

Thinking people make their decisions based on unbiased, impersonal, and objective logic, whereas  Feeling types of people make their decisions based on emotions, empathy, personal priorities and relationships. 

• Judging J or Perceiving P

Judging types want that the external world should be organized properly and should appear in order.  The Perceiving types seek to experience the outer world as it is. They don’t want to organize it.

I've tried to list some of the expectations people have from their partners during quarantine based on their Myers-Briggs® personality type.

INFP

INFPs are the persons, who lead by heart and are compassionate to the core. They have a tendency to stick with their idealism. They are both intuitive and perceiving and therefore, with them, there is no end to the imagination and possibilities.

The expectations INFPs may have from their partner
The best quarantine partner for INFP is INTP. These are the people who can see beyond the shell of reality. So, if you are living with an INFP as your quarantine partner, you can add some logic to his hearty imaginations and make it a winning combination.  

ENFJ

ENFJs love organising events. ENFJs are extraverted and that's the reason they can easily win teams for their project in no time. If your partner is an ENFJ, you must act as an outlet for his extraversion and listen to his thoughts with patience. 

The expectations ENFJs may have from their partner
ENFJs are highly creative and intuitive people. Apart from being good listeners, ENFJs expect their partners to be a little patient with their sense of humour. They also love the people, who have attention to details and can offer statistical and “real” insights to their Intuitive Feeling self.  

ENFP

They are not only extroverts but also extremely energetic and creative at the same time. That's the reason they might be having a tough time indoors during quarantine. They are compassionate and sensitive to the needs of others. 

They are idealistic in nature and hence they see the world in terms of what it could be. Their judging skills help them make a plan, so they can achieve what they want. 

The expectations ENFPs may have from their partner
Their best partner during the isolation period can be a person, who can help them in planning and also in execution to make the world a better place. Again they need thinking, judging, and sensing type people, who are not swayed easily by emotions and have excellent planning and execution skills. 

INTJ

By nature INTJs are problem solvers. They have an analytical bent of mind, so they are not very uncomfortable living in isolation but they expect someone to captivate their thinking mind. 

The expectations INTJs may have from their partner
INTJs love people who participate in debates and are able to analyse the endless possibilities coming to the mind. Stay invigorated and energized and soon you will reap its rewards. 

ENTJ

ENTJs have leadership qualities and are very energetic and active. They are intuitive as well and that's the reason they love strategizing and creating ideas. 

The expectations ENTJs may have from their partner
They need a partner, who is submissive and follows the rules diligently. ESTJs can be their ideal partners because they have sensing & thinking traits and they are fond of reading. The sensing details of your partner plus your own intuitive nature can be complementary for each other especially while dealing with bigger projects.

ENTP

These are the real people’s persons. They love to go for big ideas and rely on their intuition. It  makes them a highly accepted person in society. The best partner for them could be someone who can handle his gentle needling. 

The expectations ENTPs may have from their partner
ENFPs can be the best partner for ENTPs during quarantine. So you need an intuitive feeling type of personality which will match you in more ways than one. You will be able to sail through the tough times laughing off all your troubles.

INTP

INTPs are intuitive and thinking type people and therefore the idea of isolation doesn't scare them. 

The expectations INTPs may have from their partner
It would be better if your partner is also an intuitive and thinking type because he will encourage you to go on churning new ideas. So, INTJs would suit you the best. The attention of your judging partner will discourage your highly imaginative ideas and reduce it to the ones that can be implemented. Your partner must be knowledgeable and informed. It will encourage long discussions which would be beneficial for both their temperament and productivity.

ESFJ

ESFJs are quite sensitive to the emotional wavelengths of people and hence the quarantine period can be quite tough for them. They are sensing feeling types who want to bring order to the universe. 

The expectations ESFJs may have from their partner
Helping others brings you actual happiness and that is why ESFPs can be their ideal partners.

The sensing perceiving partner will help you to enjoy the present and be in the moment. Since their judging side always forces you to invest their energy in planning and details, their sensing perceiving partner would focus on fun. Their ESFP partner will bring positivity and make their time in isolation interesting and entertaining.

ESFP

ESFPs are vivacious and people's people. They are able to work with their audiences because of their sensing feeling traits and extroverted nature. 

The expectations ESFPs may have from their partner

Such people need supportive partners who can help them dream big and wild. They also like to have people who have a funny bone so that their time in isolation is spent in creative as well as entertaining ways.

ISFJ

They are quiet and introverted but their sensing feeling traits make them highly sensitive to people around them. And since they also have judging tendencies they have a sense of responsibility as well towards society in general. 

The expectations ISFJs may have from their partner
Their ideal partner in quarantine would be an ESFJ or someone who is highly energetic as well as rule following. They need an extroverted person who is vivacious and fun loving.

ISFP

These people are highly creative and artistic and therefore they will love to engage in some artistic pursuit during their time in isolation. Introverted, you will feel comfortable with social distancing. However, you like people to know you because you have a strong feeling side. 

The expectations ISFPs may have from their partner
You love meaningful relationships and hence your best partner can be an ISTP.

They also share your approach to life because of their sensing perceiving traits. ISTPs will help you in strategy making and understanding the world, whereas your artistic flair will help her add depth to her planning and approach.

ESTJ

ESTJs have a tendency to make use of every opportunity and this time in isolation is no exception. They will have a to-do-list of everything including how to rearrange their house and therefore they will not feel bored even for a single minute. 

The expectations ESTJs may have from their partner
They have a strong planning side and have the sensing judging tendencies and therefore ESTPs can be their best companion during quarantine.

Both of you have sensing thinking traits and therefore you both would like to use logic in your plans.  What works best in this relationship is that your ESTP partner will apply logic in innovative and interesting ways. 

ESTP

Such people always bring life to the party. You have strong sensing traits along with smart thinking skills and that means you can powerfully adapt to the crowds. Your sensing perceiving skills will help you to overcome any crisis in life swiftly. 

The expectations ESTPs may have from their partner
You need people who are extroverted and who can think big and think logically. You have both the dreamy and practical mindset at the same time and it makes you an excellent partner.

ISTJ

Though ISTJs are introverted, they like to be in the company of others. They have a miraculous combination of a thinking mind and sensing judging traits that help you to think clearly as well as also understand the needs of the people around you. 

The expectations ISTJs may have from their partner
Your best partner in isolation can be an ISFJ.

Your thinking mind needs a complimentary power of sensing feeling traits. This difference in approach in both of you will actually surprise you. Your sensing judging traits will help you build bigger ideas whereas your partner would always be ready to tackle an emergency situation.

ISTP

These types of people are good at analysing problems and exploring the strange ways of life even if they are introverted at heart. 

The expectations ISTPs may have from their partner

They are constantly thinking and therefore they are always looking for an ISTJ.

Her judging tendencies will not let you lose focus as a sensing thinking person. You both are inclined towards the logical thinking side and therefore what looks like tedious busy work for an ordinary person looks simple to-do list to you.

If you and your partner both have a sensing personality, you will also learn the tricks of the game especially in hand-to-hand combat. The best part of this is that you will enjoy the process without getting bored. This way, the entire time spent in isolation will act as your practice/training session to be ready to face any such problem in real life later on.