The CS Joseph Podcast The Four Octagram Variants of The ISTP | Season 32 | CS Joseph
Nov 12, 2025
Delve into the fascinating world of ISTP personality variants! Explore how nurture shapes their cognitive development through soft locking and neuroplasticity. Discover the four distinct variants: SDSF, SDUF, UDSF, and UDUF, each with unique traits and learning styles. From obstinate yet humble teachers to hopeful late bloomers, each variant highlights different strengths and challenges. Learn practical tips for better understanding and engaging with ISTPs in various environments. It's an insightful journey through personalities!
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Octogram Focuses On Nurture
- The Octogram isolates nurture to explain four development variants separate from the Enneagram's nature+nurture mix.
- C.S. Joseph frames octogram formation as environment plus soft‑locking shaping cognitive focus and development.
Soft‑Locking Changes The Brain
- Soft‑locking means other people's cognitive function use forces neuroplastic shifts in your brain over time.
- That pressure drives preference for one side of the mind and refines or expands the ego's expression.
Validation Is The ISTP Cognitive Origin
- ISTPs seek validation as their cognitive origin centered on accuracy, reliability, and teaching refinement.
- They want to be asked for help and to solve problems because external validation fuels their identity.