MBTI Type: ISFJ

Josie has fallen into a rut of consistent behavior, which is always playing second fiddle to her sister. She’s so stuck in this habit, it’s hard for her to imagine stepping away from it to establish her own life or forge a new path, by asserting herself. She’s somewhat trapped in her own head and experiences, and resistant to other people attempting to change her mind about them. She meets Penelope’s criticisms with stubborn resistance, preferring to keep things as they are. In so doing, she repeats a cycle many ISFJs fall into – playing a supporting role in an unhealthy relationship, rather than taking a risk and leaving what they know in order to establish their own identity. This is partly the fault of inferior Ne, which is so poor in her, she can’t imagine any other life than the one she has right now. It’s always about Lizzie’s feelings, and never about what she wants. Josie constantly puts herself aside for her sister. Even her crush, she doesn’t pursue, because “Lizzie called dibs.” Another example of this is agreeing to sabotage herself in the Miss Mystic Falls competition, so that Lizzie’s choice (Hope) can win, even though winning herself would have held personal significance for her. She becomes angry on Lizzie’s behalf more than on her own behalf; it’s as if she is living for Lizzie, rather than for herself – something that drives her away from Penelope, who hates to see it happen. Josie wants to air her feelings, but often doesn’t, because it might inconvenience someone else. As her sister says, “I am not a mind reader, Josie… you have to tell me what you want.” She will rationalize it, and make herself disappear. But as the series goes on, Josie does start to break away and assert herself more, as she sees opportunities slipping away through her fingers. Penelope (and others) help her to start using her thinking function more to make sense of things, admit that her usual methods aren’t always working, and realize that she has to take a stand for what she wants.

Enneagram: 9w1 so/sp [926]

Josie is afraid of being strong, because that means hurting people, including her sister. She builds her life around not allowing herself to take up space or assert herself; she assumes that her sister is going to win the merge, because she isn’t powerful enough, and refuses to agree to win the merge if it means her sister would be absorbed and disappear. She has no room for herself in her life, because she’s always taking care of everyone else. She has to leave the school in season four in order to avoid caring too much about other people and going along with their agendas, and feels guilty about asking her girlfriend to come with her, because it’s unfair to take her away from the life she has built. Josie simply allows her to stay behind when she decides to do so, rather than trying to convince her to come along. As time goes on, she becomes more assertive and self-confident; she tells Hope that she needs to step back, and let other witches handle things, that she cannot think objectively when it comes to her boyfriend. She doesn’t talk to her sister when she’s angry with her, until she has endured so much she can’t take it anymore. Josie falls into the roles Lizzie casts her in, and even though she’s mad about it, she denies it – and it takes a lot for her to admit to any feelings of anger. Most of the time, she just resigns herself to it, because it feels like “the right thing to do” (avoiding conflict, 9; doing the right thing, her 1 wing). She has some strong views about right and wrong, and believes in living in accordance to them. She can sometimes get angry with others and confront them, but these spells never last long. It’s only when ‘Dark Josie’ surfaces that she is unlike herself, and has confidence, assertiveness, and becomes aggressive.