ESFP Characteristics

 Strengths

• Optimistic and gregarious

• Enjoys people and socializing

• Focused on the present, spontaneous

• Practical

Weaknesses

• Dislikes abstract theories

• Becomes bored easily

• Do not plan ahead

• Impulsive

Cognitive Functions

The MBTI suggests that individual personalities are marked by many different cognitive functions (sensing, thinking, feeling, and intuition). Some of these are more dominant than others and the hierarchical order of these functions influences how people perceive and relate to the world.

These functions are focused outwardly (extraverted) and in other cases, they are focused inwardly (introverted). Extraverted functions are focused on interacting and acting within the world around you, while introverted functions are centred on internal reflection and analysis.

Dominant: Extraverted Sensing

• ESFPs prefer to focus on the here and now rather than thinking about the distant future. They also prefer learning about concrete facts rather than theoretical ideas.
• ESFPs don’t spend a lot of time planning and organizing. Instead, they like to keep their options open.
• When solving problems, they trust their instincts and put trust in their own abilities to come up with a solution. While they are reasonable and pragmatic, they dislike structure, order, and planning. Instead, they act spontaneously and do not spend a great deal of time coming up with a plan or schedule.

Auxiliary: Introverted Feeling

• ESFPs place a greater emphasis on personal feelings rather than logic and facts when making decisions.
• People with this personality type have an internal system of values on which they base their decisions. They are very much aware of their own emotions and are empathetic towards others. They excel at putting themselves in another person's shoes, so to speak.