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.