6 ESFP Stereotypes

The ESFP stereotypes play a major role in people failing to identify themselves as an ESFP. This personality type honestly gets very poor representation within the typology communities because of how misunderstood they are. The resources often describe a very specific version of the ESFP, one which lacks any kind of depth, intelligence, and foresight. As a result, the mature and successful ESFP often mistypes as one of the other 16 types.

In this article, I aim to identify the most prominent ESFP stereotypes, and discuss how they line up with reality. Bear in mind that stereotypes are often rooted in at least a tiny kernel of truth. In other words, some ESFPs may relate to the stereotypes. However, many others might not.

Remember, each of the 16 personality types are based on a grouping of cognitive functions. Cognitive functions determine thought process, not behavior. That is ultimately the downside of stereotypes. Generally speaking, some stereotypes might be legitimate tendencies, but tendencies are just that. They are not absolute; they are potential symptoms of a certain thought process.

Unfortunately, some people like to use personality systems as a way to put people in a box. However, everyone is different. No one will fit into their type’s mold 100%, so you need to be careful what you assume about others.

6 ESFP Stereotypes

1. ESFPs are always dumb jocks or athletes

People often misunderstand Extraverted Sensing (Se), which is the ESFP’s dominant function. They assume that Se users will always love physically strenuous activities, like sports. This misconception has become a prominent theme among ESFP stereotypes, as you’ll see. However, Se is not specifically about physical ability; it is a focus on the objective world as it currently is. Other personality types might allow stored sensory impressions to heavily filter what they see, or project into the future based on what they see. The ESFP, however, prefers to see the world as it is, and adapt accordingly.

ESFPs excel at responding to the moment, unbiased by future or previous moments. Sometimes this spurs in them a desire to get involved in athletics, where quick reaction is a key requirement. However, others choose to indulge in the moment in other ways. Everyone has different interests, hobbies, and desires. The ESFP will actively chase whatever their desires are, wanting to enjoy every moment as much as possible.

READ MORE: What Extraverted Sensing Really Is

2. ESFPs only get into hands-on or manual labor type careers

Similar to the previous point, people often want to pigeonhole ESFPs into very specific careers, based on the idea that Se should be physically oriented. To broaden this problem slightly, people often condense a sensor’s preference toward concrete information down to an inability to do anything that involves theorizing or abstract information. This is not true. Sensors can be theoretical; they usually just need to have a real world application in mind. Subsequently, sensors may prefer career choices that are more application oriented, like being an engineer rather than a theoretical physicist. Regardless, ESFPs can excel in whatever they put their mind to, whatever they’re genuinely interested in. Part of the reason why ESFPs often fail to type accurately is because their potential to be legitimately intelligent is often downplayed or overlooked, by focusing too heavily on physical ability.

3. ESFPs are always fearless daredevils

Anyone with high Se, like the ESFP, is often described as action-oriented, in the most literal, thrill-seeking sense. These types are made out to be fearless. Unfortunately, one’s personality type does not automatically imbue them with character traits such as courage, nor does it prevent conditions such as anxiety. An ESFP can be cowardly, fearful, or anxious. They’ll just find less thrilling ways to indulge their Se. Remember, living in the moment is not the same as being willing to free climb up the side of a mountain, or skydive out of a plane.

4. ESFPs are always party animals

Out of all the ESFP stereotypes, this is probably the first one that comes to people’s mind. However, ESFPs are not always going to enjoy partying. It is true that they’ll desire activity, which may involve people, if they are socially extraverted. (Remember, cognitive extraversion and social extraversion are not the same thing.) That activity doesn’t have to be a party, though. Of course, the definition of what a party is will vary based on the values of the ESFP.

5. ESFPs are shallow

There are a variety of ways in which someone can be shallow. They can be shallow in regard to relationships, being unwilling to form deep connections. They can be shallow in the sense that they only ever look skin deep, seeing people only for how they look rather than who they are. Unfortunately, ESFPs often get both of these shallow behaviors attributed to them, but that is unfair. Every personality type is capable of being shallow. It’s a character flaw, not a personality type attribute. Some introverts also like to assume that social extraverts, who excel at making casual connections, are incapable of deep ones. That’s also not true; they’ll just have to pick and choose which connections will go deeper, since there is a limit to how many significant relationships someone can manage.

Remember, ESFPs have Introverted Feeling, or Fi as their auxiliary (or second) function. Fi is known for giving people a desire for a deep, lasting, and intimate connection. ESFPs are no exception to this.

6. ESFPs are irresponsible and can’t think beyond the moment

Inferior Ni can make someone afraid to think about the future, afraid to lock themselves into a specific outcome. I’m not going to deny that. This can result in some of the impulsive and avoidant behavior that often gets associated with ESFPs. Some ESFPs need to “explore” and gain life experience before they’re willing to settle on a specific, longterm path. However, other ESFPs, early in life, may gain a solid understanding of exactly what they want and who they are. ESFPs who know what they want, can tap into their tertiary Te and summon the discipline needed to achieve their goal. Once they set their sights on a goal, they can become extremely ambitious and singularly minded.