ESFP Academics--16 Personalities

Following my piece on INTJ hobbies, 16 Personalities asked me to complete an article on ESFPs and academics with no further input. As a result, this one has looser formatting, but I was still paid for it.

            Each type of the 16 personalities has qualities in varying degrees that makes them unique. These qualities affect them in every aspect of their lives including how they approach and how they handle school. School and proper study are generally regarded as being important in every major society on the planet, and there are some personalities who excel at academics making everything they do into an independent study. Then there are some who are more reluctant than others, one being ESFPs, the entertainers and people persons of the 16 personalities. An ESFP is more likely to seek a good time, either a party or giving a performance, and as such, they’re not likely to spend a lot of time focusing on reading, writing, and arithmetic.

            ESFPs are individualistic doing what they can to stick out in a crowd either with their actions or fashion sense. The core subjects like history, math, science, and writing don’t offer ESFPs much in the way of entertainment or fun. That isn’t to say that they can’t be good students, they’re just not likely to be effective in the classroom. The subjects best suited for an ESFP would include music and drama which enable them to stand out.

            However there are subjects that even the most outgoing ESFP would likely find interesting. Due to their very social nature, ESFPs like to relate to people, feel what they feel, and preferably, make them happy. Because of this empathetic nature, this makes ESFPs naturals for psychology and politic sciences enabling them to be among and serve the people as counselors, therapists, social workers, and politicians in their careers.

            But an academic career cannot be built on only one or a couple of subjects. So, how does one teach the core subjects to an ESFP? Since ESFPs are the life of the party, they need to have fun. So if an instructor can make a subject fun and exciting, an ESFP will take an interest in it. And because ESFPs are good at perception, they need to learn in a concrete, visual way with practical examples meaning that they’re not interested in ideas and theories.

            ESFPs do have one amazing advantage in education though—they’re social learners making them prone to forming study groups. While not everyone benefits from a group study session, like INTJs, there are many who do especially if they’re having trouble in a subject. And because an ESFP can get along with nearly anyone, they’re natural hosts. Debates, contests, and educational games also appeal to ESFPs satisfying their desires to be around people and in the lime light.

            However, ESFPs do have a few very important weaknesses. ESFPs tend to put things off to the last minute. While they do have a high stress tolerance, they don’t make good long-term plans meaning that they often struggle with large, ambitious, and detailed projects. Another weakness is that ESFPs are sensitive and averse to conflict. So giving an ESFP criticism on a project can make them feel singled out and are unlikely to be receptive to help that they may desperately need.

            In conclusion, while ESFPs aren’t known for their academic prowess, they can still be good students. Their social nature gives them a natural disposition for psychology and politics while also giving them the tools to form successful study groups that everyone is likely to have fun and excel with. ESFPs however do put things off and don’t make good long-term plans, but if an instructor can make learning fun with a lot of practical examples, then an ESFP will learn and enjoy the theoretical and determinate subjects.

INTJ Hobbies--16 Personalities

This is a short piece that I wrote for the English website 16 Personalities on the personality type INTJ and their hobbies. They seemed impressed with it.

             Every type of the 16 personalities has qualities in varying degrees that makes them unique. These qualities affect the individual in every aspect of one’s life from family to friends, to romantic relationships and business associates. It is no surprise then that these qualities would affect the individual’s hobbies. Everyone does something that they love purely for the fun of it, but what may seem like a good time to one personality may not seem like fun to another. INTJs for instance are likely to be a victim of misunderstood interests. But as an INTJ myself, I can tell you that there are activities that we do like to do. It is just that due to our analytical and complex nature, we are often looking for an activity that stimulates our minds. Therefore, most INTJs are likely to be seen as intellectuals, or in a less decorous label, nerds. So allow me to set the record straight as I tell you about the likely interests of INTJs and why they find these activities so appealing.

            1. Reading: INTJs love it when a plan comes together. And what’s more, they love it when they can predict what will happen next. Being able to draw conclusions from character action and desire, and being able to make connections between two seemingly unrelated instances makes the INTJ feel superior to other audience members who may not have seen a twist coming. Such a position allows the INTJ to put himself on equal ground with the author and be able to understand him, and to an INTJ, knowledge is empowering. Also, an INTJ doesn’t need to interact with anyone in order to enjoy reading as INTJs tend to keep to themselves.

            2. Strategy Games: If an INTJ loves anything more than when a plan comes together, an INTJ loves it when his plan comes together. And for those times when an INTJ must socialize, he’d much rather socialize through a game that requires strategy like Chess instead of talking. There are other games that an INTJ might enjoy such as Blackjack or Poker, but because these games have icky mechanics like luck and probability involved, an INTJ isn’t as likely to enjoy them as much because an INTJ must be in control—INTJs don’t like to lose and will only submit to a superior opponent with a superior mind, not a lucky idiot with destiny on his side. Chess is the kind of game where it comes down to who can out think whom. It also offers an opportunity to manipulate and fool the other player into falling into a trap which is appealing to some INTJs who do desire to control everything they can.

            3. Video Games: Despite the fact that video games haven’t been around for long, INTJs are being constantly born over and over. And so, video games offer an easier diversion for younger INTJs who aren’t as likely to be as analytical as older INTJs. With video games, an INTJ can slowly learn the mechanics of the game while learning strategy and testing their own strategies in a safe, risk-free environment. An INTJ is also likely to be enamored with a complex and well-written story, and the possibility of gathering rare items to constantly tip the odds of survival and success in their favor. Some INTJs really dig deep into a game’s mechanics even trying to solve and “break” the mathematical formulas that have been designed by the game’s programmers that rule the outcomes of conflict based on variables of a player’s characters. When the INTJ player can “break” the game, no baddie in the game, or even other players that he may come across through online interaction can pose a threat to him.

            Despite the fact that I’ve mentioned games twice, please keep in mind that these are only possible hobbies for an INTJ. INTJs can have varying interests from sports to cooking to even sewing. Regardless of the activity, an INTJ is always looking to satisfy his intellect. He’s analyzing the intricacies of the activity and trying to decipher how to turn those intricacies to his advantage, even if it is only slightly. To an INTJ, it’s always about analysis and control.