Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCharacteristics of the ESFJ Personality TypeCognitive Functions of the ESFJ Personality TypeESFJs and Personal RelationshipsCareer Paths for the ESFJ Personality TypeTips for Interacting With ESFJsNext in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator GuideISTP: The Crafter (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving)
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Characteristics of the ESFJ Personality Type
Cognitive Functions of the ESFJ Personality Type
ESFJs and Personal Relationships
Career Paths for the ESFJ Personality Type
Tips for Interacting With ESFJs
Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide
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ESFJs also have a way of encouraging other people to be their best. They are good atempathizingwith others and tend to see the best in people, which means they sometimes have a hard time believing anything bad about the people they are close to.
Is ESFJ a rare personality?The ESFJ personality type is actually quite common. According to psychologist David Keirsey, approximately 9% to 13% of the population has an ESFJ personality type.
Is ESFJ a rare personality?
The ESFJ personality type is actually quite common. According to psychologist David Keirsey, approximately 9% to 13% of the population has an ESFJ personality type.
Verywell / JR Bee
ESFJs raised with high values and standards tend to grow up to be generous adults. Conversely, those raised in a less generous environment may not be as naturally in tune with giving to others and be more focused on themselves.
Those with an ESFJ personality type are naturally geared toward understanding other people. They are careful observers of others and are adept at supporting and bringing out the best in people. Because they are so good at helping others feel good about themselves, people often feel drawn to ESFJs.
Although ESFJs arepeople-pleasers, they are not pushovers. They enjoy helping others, but setting and maintaining clear boundaries allows them to protect themselves from being taken advantage of. Those with poor boundaries, however, risk being overly deferential to the needs and opinions of others.
StrengthsKind and loyalOutgoingOrganizedPractical and dependableEnjoy helping othersConscientiousWeaknessesNeedyApproval-seekingSensitive to criticismDislike changeIntolerantControlling
StrengthsKind and loyalOutgoingOrganizedPractical and dependableEnjoy helping othersConscientious
Kind and loyal
Outgoing
Organized
Practical and dependable
Enjoy helping others
Conscientious
WeaknessesNeedyApproval-seekingSensitive to criticismDislike changeIntolerantControlling
Needy
Approval-seeking
Sensitive to criticism
Dislike change
Intolerant
Controlling
The MBTI suggests that there are several cognitive functions (which are identified as thinking, sensing, feeling, and intuition) that help shape each individual’s personality. The hierarchical ordering of these functions is what contributes to the makeup of each personality type. Each function is expressed either inwardly (introverted) or outwardly (extroverted).
Dominant: Extroverted Feeling (Fe)
The extroverted feeling function (Fe) involves thinking about emotions in a way that helps people better understand their own feelings as well as those of other people. Because this is the dominant function for the ESFJ personality type, so people with this type of personality tend to consider everyone’s emotions when making decisions.
ESFJs tend to make decisions based on their emotions and concern for others. As a result, they tend to consider the personal impact of a decision more than objective criteria.
People with an ESFJ personality type tend to judge people and situations based on their “gut feelings.” They often make snap decisions as a result and are quick to share their feelings and opinions.
This tendency can be great in some ways, as it allows them to make choices rather quickly. However, on the negative side, it can sometimes lead to overly harsh judgments of others. They might rush to judgment based on their immediate impressions but then struggle to change their mind when new information comes to light.
Auxiliary: Introverted Sensing (Si)
The introverted sensing function (Si) helps strike a balance between the dominant extroverted feeling function. Rather than making rash decisions based solely on gut reactions and emotional responses, the introverted sensing function helps the ESFJ pause and consider the outcomes of their actions.
ESFJs are more focused on the present than on the future. They are interested in concrete, immediate details rather than abstract or theoretical information.
Tertiary: Extroverted Intuition (Ne)
Extroverted intuition (Ne) is the tertiary function for the ESFJ personality type. This function is important in supporting the dominant Fe function since it helps the ESFJ learn more about the world around them.
This cognitive function helps ESFJs make connections and find creative solutions to problems. ESFJs are known to explore the possibilities when looking at a situation. They can often find patterns that allow them to gain insights into people and experiences.
Inferior: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Someone with an ESFJ personality type is organized and likes to plan things out in advance. Planning helps ESFJs feel more in control of the world around them.
Introverted thinking (Ti) is the part of the ESFJ’s personality that tends to represent their weakest points. This function can help the ESFJ analyze information and make good decisions, but because this function tends to be weaker than their other functions, it means that this is an area where they might also struggle.
This aspect of personality helps the ESFJ analyze complex information, but it is often a point of weakness, especially when making sense of abstract or theoretical concepts.
ESFJs You Might KnowSally Field, actressSam Walton, Wal-Mart founderWilliam McKinley, U.S. presidentBarbara Walters, television journalistJoy, film character,Inside Out
ESFJs You Might Know
Sally Field, actressSam Walton, Wal-Mart founderWilliam McKinley, U.S. presidentBarbara Walters, television journalistJoy, film character,Inside Out
As extroverts, ESFJs love spending time with other people. Not only do they gain energy from social interaction, but they are also genuinely interested in the well-being of others. They are frequently described as warm-hearted andempathetic, and they will often put the needs of others ahead of their own.
They typically feel insecure in uncertain or chaotic situations. While this makes ESFJs well suited to positions that involve managing or supervising people, it can also lead to conflicts when they try to control people who do not welcome such direction.
Because ESFJs are so dependable and loyal, they tend tobuild strong friendshipsthat are long-lasting.
Because ESFJs enjoy helping others, they often do well in practical settings that involve taking a caregiver role. Social service and healthcare careers are two areas in which ESFJs may excel at applying their helping nature and desire for order.
ESFJs have many traits that make them ideally suited to certain careers. For example, their dependability and innate need to take care of others mean that they often do well in jobs that involve supporting and caring for people, such as nursing or teaching.
Popular ESFJ CareersChildcareNursingTeachingSocial workCounselingPhysicianReceptionistBookkeeperOffice manager
Popular ESFJ Careers
ChildcareNursingTeachingSocial workCounselingPhysicianReceptionistBookkeeperOffice manager
If you know someone with an ESFJ personality, there are things that you can do that can help strengthen your relationship and improve your interactions.
Friendships
ESFJ can be selfless to the point of overlooking their own needs to ensure that other people are happy. Being a good friend to someone with this personality type means you should express your appreciation of their giving nature and make sure that you reciprocate their kindness.
ESFJs get along best with people who value them and make them feel appreciated.Relationships are important to people with a Consul personality, and they tend to avoid relationships where they might face a great deal of conflict or criticism.
How to Maintain Friendships
Parenting
These children also have a strongneed for routine. Establish rules and stick to them. ESFJ children feel more assured andconfidentwhen they know what they can expect.
Relationships
In terms of romantic relationships, ESFJs tend to look for relationships with honest people who are open with their emotions. In addition, they value closeness andintimacy.
Takeaways
Just like all personality types, people with the ESFJ personality type have their own unique patterns of behaviors and their own preferences.Learning more about your personality typecan help you better understand some of these tendencies. This can help you build on your strengths and work on some of your weaknesses to help improve your quality of life and relationships.
What Are My Dominant Personality Traits? Take the Quiz and Find Out
7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Keirsey D.Portrait of the Guardian Provider ESFJ.Treimon S.An Essential Guide for the ESFJ Personality Type: Insight into ESFJ Personality Traits and Guidance for Your Career and Relationships(MBTI ESFJ). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2015.The Myers-Briggs Company.ESFJ: MBTI personality profile.Myers I et al.Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding Your Results on the Mbti Assessment, 7th Edition. 7TH EDITION. CPP; 2016.Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI personality types.Clark DA, Donnellan MB, Robins RW.Personality traits and parent-adolescent interactions: An observational study of Mexican origin families.J Fam Psychol. 2018;32(4):544-551. doi:10.1037/fam0000408The Myers-Briggs Company.ESFJ: The supportive contributor.
7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Keirsey D.Portrait of the Guardian Provider ESFJ.Treimon S.An Essential Guide for the ESFJ Personality Type: Insight into ESFJ Personality Traits and Guidance for Your Career and Relationships(MBTI ESFJ). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2015.The Myers-Briggs Company.ESFJ: MBTI personality profile.Myers I et al.Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding Your Results on the Mbti Assessment, 7th Edition. 7TH EDITION. CPP; 2016.Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI personality types.Clark DA, Donnellan MB, Robins RW.Personality traits and parent-adolescent interactions: An observational study of Mexican origin families.J Fam Psychol. 2018;32(4):544-551. doi:10.1037/fam0000408The Myers-Briggs Company.ESFJ: The supportive contributor.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Keirsey D.Portrait of the Guardian Provider ESFJ.Treimon S.An Essential Guide for the ESFJ Personality Type: Insight into ESFJ Personality Traits and Guidance for Your Career and Relationships(MBTI ESFJ). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2015.The Myers-Briggs Company.ESFJ: MBTI personality profile.Myers I et al.Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding Your Results on the Mbti Assessment, 7th Edition. 7TH EDITION. CPP; 2016.Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI personality types.Clark DA, Donnellan MB, Robins RW.Personality traits and parent-adolescent interactions: An observational study of Mexican origin families.J Fam Psychol. 2018;32(4):544-551. doi:10.1037/fam0000408The Myers-Briggs Company.ESFJ: The supportive contributor.
Keirsey D.Portrait of the Guardian Provider ESFJ.
Treimon S.An Essential Guide for the ESFJ Personality Type: Insight into ESFJ Personality Traits and Guidance for Your Career and Relationships(MBTI ESFJ). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2015.
The Myers-Briggs Company.ESFJ: MBTI personality profile.
Myers I et al.Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding Your Results on the Mbti Assessment, 7th Edition. 7TH EDITION. CPP; 2016.
Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI personality types.
Clark DA, Donnellan MB, Robins RW.Personality traits and parent-adolescent interactions: An observational study of Mexican origin families.J Fam Psychol. 2018;32(4):544-551. doi:10.1037/fam0000408
The Myers-Briggs Company.ESFJ: The supportive contributor.
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