An Overview of the ESTP Personality Type
By Julia Simkus, published April 27, 2022
ESTP (extraversion, sensing, thinking, perceiving) is a four-letter code acronym used to represent one of the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types.
ESTPs are sometimes referred to as “the Persuader,” “the Dynamo,” “the Adventurer,” or “the Entrepreneur.” INFJ is the opposite personality type of ESTP.
People with this personality type tend to be action-oriented, taking logical approaches to obtain results and solve problems quickly. They are energetic, charming, and outgoing individuals who enjoy spending time and pursuing adventure with wide circles of friends and acquaintances.
They enjoy living in the present moment and do not spend a lot of time looking ahead at the future. They are practical thinkers who place a higher value on objectivity rather than personal feelings.
It is believed to be one of the most common personality types. ESTPs make up:
Famous ESTPs include Donald Trump, Miley Cyrus, George W. Bush, Madonna, Thomas Edison, and Eddie Murphy.
Strengths | Weaknesses |
---|---|
Personable | Impatient |
Energetic | Impulsive |
Influential | Easily bored |
Observant | Judgmental |
Independent | Difficult to please |
They love to be the center of attention and tend to have a good sense of humor, amusing everyone around them with their captivating personalities.
They prefer to lead a fast-paced lifestyle where they can live in the moment and act on impulse.
They are able to read people well, assess their surroundings, and adapt quickly, keeping their interactions exciting and engaging.
They use these detailed observations to help create connections with others.
They place a higher value on objectivity and fact rather than personal feelings and emotion when making decisions.
They appreciate straightforward and rational information and are bored by abstract theories or concepts.
They carry themselves as bold, powerful, and determined, often getting what they are after and fearlessly taking risks along the way.
The MBTI suggests that the four different cognitive functions (thinking, feeling, intuition, and sensing) form a hierarchy where each function is either directed outwardly (extroverted) or inwardly (introverted). The order of these functions determines one’s personality.
The dominant function is the primary aspect of personality, while the auxiliary and tertiary functions play supportive roles.
People with the ESTP personality type tend to thrive in jobs that involve working with others. Because of their strong people skills, natural boldness, and social intelligence, they tend to do well in careers in sales, business, and marketing.
They are also fast-thinkers who act quickly in a crisis, making them well suited for emergency responder positions such as paramedics, police officers, or soldiers.
ESTPs are concrete and hands-on workers who like a tangible product, so working as a contractor, mechanic, or architect is also well suited for an ESTP.
ESTPs also find success in careers that involve sports, whether on the field as an athlete or coaching on the sidelines. They enjoy the thrill of the competition and pushing themselves to their physical limits.
Popular hobbies for an ESTP include a wide variety of hands-on, physical activities, especially team sports and risky or adventurous activities like race car driving, boxing, or flying.
ESTPs work best in fast paced, active environments. They dislike routine and monotony and tend to have trouble sitting still or being stuck behind a desk.
They want the flexibility to solve problems without having to follow strict guidelines or plans and the freedom to explore without being micromanaged.
ESTPs are well suited for work environments where they can live on their own terms and set small, measurable, and attainable goals to keep them on track day-to-day.
They are usually the most comfortable in management or freelance positions.
As highly extroverted individuals, ESTPs gain energy from being around others. They have strong people skills and tend to be easy going, charming, and friendly in social settings.
ESTPs can get along with just about anyone and make new friends wherever they go. They crave adventure and spontaneity and will attract friends who share a similar zest for life.
They are masters at negotiating with others and influencing their friends to join in on their explorations. They sometimes struggle with commitment as they prefer to live in the moment rather than thinking about their long-term plans.
They also have little desire to engage in serious or emotional discussions about feelings as they prefer topics that can be explored through action and adventure.
ESTPs are great at interacting with other people and have charismatic personalities that make them naturally popular.
As ESTPs crave thrill and adventure, they get along best with friends who are always ready for a new experience.
They appreciate excitement and novelty and love exploring interesting ideas, so when interacting with an ESTP, it is important you are prepared to have fun and join in on these adventures.
As partners, ESTPs are fun-loving and flirtatious, always looking for fun ways to keep their relationships exciting. They grow bored with routine, and want a partner who will appreciate their willingness to explore and allow them the freedom to pursue novel adventures.
It is important to be aware that ESTPs struggle with making long-term commitments.
When in a relationship with an ESTP, try and take things day by day while also helping them strengthen these neglected traits like emotional sensitivity and future planning.
ESTP parents are often described as playful and flexible. They connect with their children through a shared appreciation for spontaneity and hands-on activities.
They encourage their children to take risks and seek adventure by giving them the children to explore and follow their hearts.
ESTP parents struggle with emotional connection but rather bond with their children through shared activities and experiences.
Julia Simkus is an undergraduate student at Princeton University, majoring in Psychology. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology upon graduation from Princeton in 2023. Julia has co-authored two journal articles, one titled “Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Addictions During the COVID-19 Pandemic and COVID-19-Related Restrictions," which was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry in April 2021 and the other titled “Food Addiction: Latest Insights on the Clinical Implications," to be published in Handbook of Substance Misuse and Addictions: From Biology to Public Health in early 2022.
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