#chtype:istj

[mbtiofwhys]

Makoto Niijima

ISTJ

Functional Order: Si - Te - Fi - Ne

Spoiler warning

This article will cover Makoto’s analysis, so it’ll contain spoilers from both her confidant and the main game.

Perceiving Functional Axis

Introverted Sensing (Si) / Extroverted Intuition (Ne) 

Makoto shows her dominant Si throughout the entire game. As a perceiving function, Si focuses on acquiring and storing data, especially sensory ones, and it figures them out to broad its internal, subjective ‘database’ of experiences and knowledge. 

Makoto does this incessantly with a methodical approach to problems and life in general. She relies on past experiences when making a choice, because this represents a solid cluster of information and it’s used to evaluate the present. 

When analysing Makoto, it’s clear how she carries her father’s memory and how this influences her life. However, there is a line to draw between what’s a negative past experience and how it’s perceived by a person. Makoto isn’t a Si dom because she mourns the loss of her father -this is a common and natural human reaction. Makoto is a Si dominant in regard of how she specifically perceives this past event and how she uses it as something to define her approach to problems and life in general. Since her father’s actions are part of Makoto’s experience and knowledge, she uses them as a reference model to shape the present based on what worked in the past. 

Going to the core of high Si, we noticed how Makoto is methodical and cautious. Thinking comes before acting, and details are vital. As a J, Makoto needs structure, which is mainly provided by her dominant Si, relying on a subjective cluster of knowledge. A present event or situation is compared to what happened in the past and approached following a trusted pattern. 

Her Si is tied with an underdeveloped Ne -at least at the start of her story arc.

When the Phantom Thieves meet Makoto, she lives following a known pattern. For her, things need to be done in a specific way: busting the Thieves, going to a top college, honoring her father’s memory and following her sister’s will. During her confidant though, Makoto develops her inferior Ne, helped by the protagonist. First she admits to herself how she lived with a narrow-minded view of the world, and thus she’s willing to try new experiences and be less judgemental. Healthy inferior Ne is all about supporting past knowledge and experiences with new ideas, patterns and options. Makoto starts to see how the world can’t be confined in a rigid and strict scheme and then accepts that to gain a better understanding of said world, one needs to step out of the comfort zone. As a Si dom, this is also useful to gain new data and knowledge to evaluate the present. 

Judging Functional Axis

Extroverted Thinking (Te) / Introverted Feeling (Fi)

Makoto’s methodical approach to problems and her attention to details are enhanced by her auxiliary Te - she’s rational and follows the most practical and efficient way to solve a task. 

As a phantom thief, Makoto easily becomes a powerful asset to the team, as her Si/Te paired together allow her to quickly evaluate a present situation ad to compare it to a past one (Si), finding the most practical and effective course of action to take (Te). Even if the protagonist is the leader of the group and supervises them, Makoto aids a great hand in regard of scheming and planning.

When Shujin’s principal tells her to discover the Phantom Thieves’ identity, she starts to tail the protagonist in her free time as a way to find clues -an immediate and direct approach. More importantly, the reason at the root of her behaviours are tied to Te: Makoto needs the Phantom Thieves as a way to please the principal and gain access to a prestigious college. Te comes before Fi and,at first, Makoto doesn’t think about how she feels or what she finds right, she only obeys in order to reach her goal as fast as possible. 

When we first see Makoto she hasn’t a well developed Fi. Even if tertiary, Fi should give at least a sense of right and wrong and a sense of self-identity and purpose in life. Makoto initially bypasses her emotional side, always focused on goals established by others for her. Makoto, in fact, awakens her persona when Kaneshiro puts emphasis on her obedient side and thus, when faced with reality in this dangerous situation, she can no longer escape from herself and shows her rebellious spirit.

During her confidant, Makoto not only tries to broad her view of the world by living new experiences, she also fights for a cause. Eiko’s case is something she cares about both on a moral level and on personal level, because she knows the person involved and everything is similar to past cases solved by her father. At the end of her story arc we finally see a more aware and grown Makoto, finally ables to use her Si/Te paired with a healthy Fi and Ne: Makoto knows what she’s fighting for and why, the Phantom Thieves are more than a tool to protect her sister and they become a group of friends. 

Also typed as: INFJ

Makoto is sometimes typed as INFJ. We always try our best to assess types properly and are open to discussion, so here is why we don’t think she’s an INFJ:

First we’ll focus on the dominant function. Even if Makoto finds her way at the end of her story arc, this doesn’t have to be confused with high Ni. Si must not be simplified with relying on the past and having a good memory, those are mere stereotypes. Following the same thread, dominant Ni isn’t about choosing a career or making plans for the future. Ni is about conceptualizing the future, trying to find abstracts patterns and using them as a realistic guideline to proceed in life (or in a job, or a certain situation in general). Makoto thinks about the future because she starts developing her inferior Ne, thus she evaluates new options and possibilities and, using Fi, she clears her mind and decides what she really wants to do in her life.

INFJ implies Fe. Fe, in high positions, cares about social harmony, absorbs the emotional atmosphere of social environments and is all about shared values and collective wellness. Makoto, even if initially subordinated to Sae and Shujin’s principal, lives in that situation more because of a lack of Fi development than because of auxiliary Fe. Her obedient side shouldn’t be confused with an immature Fe tendency to please people as a way to keep social harmony at all costs - it’s much more an unhealthy habit of not properly asking herself what she wants and how she feels.

[mbtiofwhys]

Sojiro Sakura

ISTJ

Functional Order: Si - Te - Fi - Ne

Spoiler warning This article will cover Sojiro’s analysis with precise reference from both P5 and P5R plot and his confidant.

Perceiving Functional Axis

Introverted Sensing (Si) / Extroverted Intuition (Ne) 

Enjoying a peaceful life may be a bit of a stereotype for high Si users, but this is to a certain extent very true for Sojiro. He retired from his work with the government to run a small café in the backstreets of Jongen-Jaya, and the man makes no secret of how much he likes his new life there. Everything he does is highly methodical (if not repetitive) and based on routine: he opens and closes his café at the same hour, serves customers, makes coffee and curry the usual way and knows every small detail of his customer’s lives and how they like their coffee. He has acquired and treasured every bit of knowledge about them and the job in general, and uses this experience to run his business. He’s not very fond of sudden changes, either, and tends to stay away from both novelties and arguments, much preferring watching everything from afar. Much like many Si doms, especially the more mature ones, it’s not like he’s completely against new things and habits, but he needs time to process the new information, adapt and accept the changes in his life, especially if they’re unpredicted. This passive attitude of his can be seen at various points in the game, starting with his initial dismissiveness towards protagonist, and following with his complete uninterest in the Phantom Thieves (at least until they become a major threat to society) and at last with the year Futaba spent as a shut in. ISTJs, being introverts, are way more cautious then ESTJs, who being E with dominant Te are more prone to take immediate action, rather than studying the situation and proceeding with little steps. This isn’t to say Sojiro has an imbalanced stack, though. He remains a middle-aged man, this meaning his functions are globally very well developed. His Ne, in fact, is way more present and working than what one could find in a teenager (e.g. Makoto, who is the same type). Being a dominant Si means that Sojiro needs time to adapt, but this isn’t to imply that he can’t confront unexpected circumstances. This happens many times throughout the game: he receives pressures both from Sae and Futaba’s uncle regarding Futaba and Wakaba, he discovers that both the teenagers he’s responsible for are Phantom Thieves (with protagonist being none other than the leader) and his life and business are threatened by Shido’s men. But despite everything, Sojiro can always stay calm and find a way to solve the situation at hand. He’s very accepting of Futaba’s abrupt change of heart, doesn’t sell the Thieves once he discovers their identities and, in the end, menages to work with Sae to find a solution for everyone.

Judging Functional Axis

Extroverted Thinking (Te) / Introverted Feeling (Fi)

Sojiro highly values practical skills and capable hands, in general. He’s very clear with protagonist that his staying isn’t for free, and that he needs to help him running the shop from time to time. He can be grumpy and bossy, especially at first, and is comfortable in giving orders and teaching as long as it’s a field of his competence. He’s initially rigid and judgemental with protagonist, and never loses a chance to remind him to follow the rules and avoid being a burden for society and the others around him (a nice combo of his SiTe). Once he learns protagonist is a guy willing to follow his lessons, though, his mind starts to change, and the more protagonist can be useful in the shop and help Sojiro out, the more trust Sojiro places in him. This is Te at its finest: a clear understanding of how someone or something may be helpful to solve a problem, and thus finding a concrete set of actions aimed to maximize the outcome. However, Sojiro isn’t a cold hearted man who uses people as a tool. His relationship with protagonist starts somewhat as a business exchange, but slowly evolves into something deeper. Sojiro’s Fi, in fact, can be clearly seen starting from after Futaba’s arc. What were hints of a hidden soft spot for protagonist and his friends, turn out to be straight and deep affection for ‘that punk’ and his group - to the point that, in the ideal bad ending of Royal, Sojiro offers protagonist to stay with him another whole year in order to let him complete his studies at Shujin. He’s not a sentimental man, yet it’s clear how much he cares for both his daughter and the Thieves, in the end practically adopting the whole group and sheltering them from danger when they most need a safe space to be in. This, though, stems from feelings that are very personal and need time to develop and come out - and even then, Sojiro doesn’t like to be overly sentimental, and tends to brush everything off and grumble about ‘these group of teens driving crazy a poor old man.’