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41K views 64 replies 24 participants last post by  Powermetal101 
#1 ·
Does it bother anyone else that ESFPs are generally the comic relief in fiction? Both books and movies alike. I might be biased, because I obviously look at my own more than any other MBTI type, but it seems to me, that if someone is shallow, irresponsible, and a kind smiley prankster, it means they are ESFP. There might be some characters, that are typed differently elsewhere, nevertheless...

Notably:
Homer Simpson - Simpsons
Philip Fry - Futurama
Joey Tribiani - Friends
Sookie St. James - Gilmore Girls
Serena Vanderwoodsen - Gossip Girl
Jonathan Carnahan - The Mummy
Samantha Jones - Sex and the City
Random Weasleys - Harry Potter

There are plenty.

I've actually found a list with a bazillion characters in fiction sorted by MBTI, and there are a couple better developed ones. Which well-developed ESFPs in fiction are your favorites?

This is the list: Character List - Funky MBTI in Fiction
 
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#2 ·
The ones I actually like as characters, and think have more essence to them:

Finnick Odair - Hunger Games
Ron Weasley - Harry Potter
Sirius Black - Harry Potter
Theon Greyjoy - Song of Ice and Fire
Xena - Xena Warrior Princess
Éomer - Lord of the Rings
Steve Harrington - Stranger Things

They aren't all likeable, but they are more complex, and defy some of the stereotypes.
 
#3 ·
I'm not sure I would agree with all of the list (I would say that Princess Anna is INFP and Calvin is INTP), but I am a huge fan of

Harley Quinn
Jesse Pinkman
Hoban Washbourne, Kaylee Fry, Mal Reynolds
Amy Pond
Merida
Matt Murdock

I would also say that Darth Vader is ESFP :wink:



The biggest stereotypes for people who look at MBTI and Dungeons/Dragons Alignment together seem to be

Judging = Orderly = Lawful
Perceiving = Disorderly = Chaotic

Feeling = Cares about people = Good
Thinking = Doesn't care about people = Evil

so the blatantly Lawful Evil Darth Vader of the original trilogy is assumed to be ESTJ, and the blatantly ESFP Anakin Skywalker of the prequels is assumed to be Chaotic Good.

Thing is, even in Attack of the Clones, the blatantly sensitive and spontaneous Anakin already shows the same authoritarianism ("People don't always agree" "They should be made to") and ruthlessness ("Not just the men, but the women and children too. They were animals, and I slaughtered them like animals") that Darth Vader is famous for.

I wouldn't say he went from being a Chaotic Good ESFP to a Lawful Evil ESTJ, I'd say he was Lawful Evil ESFP from beginning to end.

Lawful Perceiver = authoritarian about what s/he needs to do, spontaneous / flexible about how to do it
Chaotic Judger = antiauthoritarian about what s/he wants to do, organized / rigid about how to do it​

Same for Don Salvatore Maroni from the first couple seasons of Gotham. He ran a tight ship, but when his boys were doing their jobs, he wanted to be their best buddy. And when he found out that Penguin had betrayed him, Maroni took it very very personally.

... Plus, with these two role models in mind, I'm actually writing my own Urban Fantasy about a Lawful Evil ESFP narrator.
 
#4 ·
@Simpson17866 I agree that not everyone on the list will actually be ESFP. There are inconsistencies everywhere, and even with some of the most popular and real people, there is no consensus. It will be more pronounced with fictional characters, because not all of them are written with character consistency.

You make a good point with Anakin/Darth Vader. Most people imagine the 'bubbly' ESFP stereotype. However, by far not all are like that. There are plenty walking this earth who are not obvious. And an ESFP that is looping will be authoritarian, and will force others to accept his truth, if they don't volunteer to do so.

You've nailed it with with the feeler versus thinker prejudice. But there is any amount of villains that are feelers. I can imagine a spurned Fi reacting as "You have hurt my feelings. Now I will show you what real pain is! I will make you feel like I feel."

I have mixed feelings about Matt Murdock. I've seen up to about mid-second season, but I sometimes feel he's a selfish, entitled prick (which is not necessarily inconsistent with ESFP).

Somehow, it's easier to value the tragic characters for complexity, than it is to notice this in healthy types. People have a tendency to show why someone is broken, so they will show the character's introspective side, to if not justify, then at least explain why they are the way they are. Nobody ever bothers with the healthy ones. On the list, it's Theon who is truly tragic. He has been wronged, both by the Starks, and by the Greyjoys (and let's not even mention Ramsay Snow), but he has very little redeeming qualities that help other sympathize with him. The sad part is, I can perfectly understand his motivation. I see what led him where he is and why. But I can't get past the cowardice. Maybe not so much because he is, but because deep down I don't know if I'd be better, and never will unless I face relatable situations.

ESFPs' Se is the goofy, or competitive, or adrenaline junkie side. However, Fi is often serious.
 
#5 ·
You've nailed it with with the feeler versus thinker prejudice. But there is any amount of villains that are feelers. I can imagine a spurned Fi reacting as "You have hurt my feelings. Now I will show you what real pain is! I will make you feel like I feel."
Plus the heroic Thinkers. I think it's actually easier for people to accept an extreme Evil Feeler than an extreme Good Thinker.

I'd take that more personally, but I'm a Thinker.
 
#9 ·
And I just remembered how much I love Princess Rapunzel as a Lawful Good ESFP: people assume that she's N because she imagines how much she wants something she doesn't have instead of settling for what she already has, but it's really the experience itself that she wants, rather than some philosophical construct of the experience representing something beyond itself.
 
#28 ·
Thank you! I have always thought I related to Rapunzel, but couldn't figure out why. And seeing everyone assert she was an ENFP made me back down. I really relate to how she yearns for sensory experiences, feels trapped in her tower, and how Mother Gothel affects her...she is also quick thinking in times of crisis. Meanwhile, it is Ariel that often is stated as ESFP...but I can see more of ENFP...especially her collection of items (Si) which spark her interest (Ne).
 
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#14 ·
I'll add a bit for GoT.

Theon Greyjoy is ESFP. Possibly ENFP, but I'd put my bet on ESFP. Not a Thinker.

Oberyn Martell is ESFP. At the very least a Se dom.

Jaime Lannister. Yup, I said it. Bite me.

Oh, and Loras Tyrell. Can imagine several of the "honorable knights" in Westeros to be SFPs. Trying hard to remember a female ESFP right now, but it's tough. I'm thinking Arya, but she's more of an ISFP, possibly ISTP. Most highborn women in that series seems like Fe users to me.
Maybe Shae?

In The Wheel of Time series, there are two ESFP gems among the key characters: Elayne Trakand and Thom Merrilin.
 
#16 ·
I just watched The Accountant today – so much better than Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic give it credit for – and the whole time, I kept thinking "this rival assassin antagonist is exactly how I've been writing the Lawful Evil ESFP in my own book."

Has anybody else watched that yet?
 
#18 · (Edited)
I think Luffy D Monkey is an ESFP 8w7



When he wants to make a friend he just goes up to them and is like "HEY, Join my crew! You're cool"
He does what he wants... NO EXCEPTIONS.
He's goofy as hell and acts like a kid all the time.
You always know what he's feeling.
He never gives up and will overestimate himself.
Fails to see the consequences of his actions.
Never gives up on his friends.

Always goes "WOW THAT THING IS SHINY AND COOL!"
He sees things for how they are. In the below video he makes the obvious statement "WOW Thats a giant turtle" - No shit Luffy... no shit my little retarded friend.



Arrogant and while he sees the power structure, he doesn't recognize himself as having to obey the power structure.

"I'm going to be the best!" "You're strong? Lets compete"
 
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#19 · (Edited)
Here we also have Gon Freecs. Who I believe is an ESFP 2w3.



He shares a lot in common with Luffy, such as the overt friendliness and slight retarded behavior. They freely follow their whims, and their whims matter more than your whims. "Actually lets find out whose whims REALLY matter more. You go do you and I'll do me and we'll compare notes."

They are also embarrassingly good with the opposite sex but also embarrassingly oblivious to the attraction of the opposite sex. (We don't know until you outright tell us or someone tells us they have a hunch that you do and sites their reasoning"






Both Luffy and Gon also display a few traits of ESFPs that might not be so obvious.

1. It doesn't matter if you like them or not, what's important to them is if THEY like you. This can lead to those we once considered enemies to us becoming friends. This also works in the opposite direction, those we once cared about and considered friends becoming mortal enemies. This can reverse multiple times throughout life and is dependent on how the ESFP feels about you.

2. The goofy and fun exterior is just that. Inside they can be dark and brooding and full of negative emotions. This is actually a lifelong insecurity. sometimes you will see in the the description of ESFPs the "No one knows how I really am" and "Things aren't as bright as they seem" and herein lies why I believe we are called the performers. The subconscious over time realizes that the individual needs to come off a certain way to maintain social relationships and so you get the goof exterior. But the conscious understanding of the darkness they feel so vividly inside themselves leads to an obliviousness of how the darkness can seep through. The darkness wants to be expressed without judgement so that it can pass.





They also overestimate themselves. When the ESFP realizes how much they overestimate themselves this leads to either an extreme depression OR the drive to wipe away their weaknesses to overcome their deficiencies. One of the darkest moments of my life a friend once said to me "Will power is not enough sometimes". The realization and the devastation of the truth of this statement drove me to say... "Well then I have to direct this will power to the things that make it enough"


Both luffy and Gon utterly lose for the first time




Okay lets not forget how fucking fat they both should be too.





Yeah i know I watch a lot of anime. You'll get over it.
 
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#21 ·
Ohh we are discussing Game Of Thrones / A Song Of Ice And Fire?

I see Daenerys as an ESFP (used to see her as an ENFJ- but she doesn't use Ni that much, and there is alot of Fi plus she adapts so well to circumstances and is about current issues than future issues so ESFP), I also see Oberyn as well.

Other ones I love...
Matt Murdock (Daredevil)- I can see ISFP though.
Negan (The Walking Dead)- No, he's not an ENTJ. He's very unhealthy, but he's all Se with the toxic Fi attitude.
Charlie Pace & Kate Austen (Lost)
Finn & Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars)
Ron Weasley (Star Wars)
Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)
Wash & Kaylee (Firefly)

I've seen ESFP typings for Sarah Manning (Orphan Black) and Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly). I don't know whether I agree or disagree but I love those two characters.
 
#23 ·
Do you guys think that Buddy the Elf is an ESFP?

View attachment 614202
lawl nah Iunno what he is but he clearly doesn't have much "Sensing" to him

1. Doesnt pay attention to his surroundings or how loud hes being
2. Doesnt know automatically that perfume isn't going to taste good
3. Doesn't realize zoe is tottaly into him the entire movie

 
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#24 ·
People seem to have this perception that ESFPs are automatically not as intelligent as characters, or that there are no intelligent ESFPs, and my favorite counterargument is Alexander Hamilton, specifically the version in Lin-Manuel Miranda's play because it's kind of hard to accurately type historical figures.

I mean, he's clearly very, very intelligent, but he's driven by an Se passion for the world around him and his Fi personal morals. People try and type him as an ESTP, probably because of the perception that ESFPs are stupid, so he must be an ESTP, but honestly I don't know how anyone can hear what he did in relation to the Reynolds Affair and think he uses any semblance of Ti-Fe. There are other ESFP characters I love, but I really wanted to talk about Hamilton because he's such a great example of a smart ESFP, and people seem to have trouble finding one.
 
#27 ·
Some ESFPs in fiction I know would be:
Naomi Clarke (90210)
Serena van der Woodsen (Gossip Girl)
Penny (The Big Bang Theory)
Hanna Marin (Pretty Little Liars)
 
#30 · (Edited)


Here is a fanvid I made recently. Just got obsessed with Pride and Prejudice only now.
I don't know if Elizabeth Bennet is an ESFP (often typed as some INFJ), but Keira Knightley is an ESFP (according to Cognitive Type), so I think that plays out in her character. My vid focuses more on Mr. Darcy, though. haha.

But if you do watch the movie, she is often at one with her surroundings (unless she is distracted by her feelings/thoughts), she is comfortable at parties, sometimes offends people unintentionally, kind of oblivious to the romantic intentions of others until they spell it out for her, very true to her own heart, but can give people second chances.
 
#31 · (Edited)


Here is another fanvid I made of my two favorite Disney movies. There is a lot of parallels I discovered while making it.

I want to say Beast is an unhealthy ESFP who becomes more well-rounded at the end. He reminds me of my dad, who I think is an ESFP, too. Poor Beast, probably wants to leave his castle, but because of his looks, he is ashamed. Perhaps that is an Se thing. Very focused on outer appearances and Se-street smart enough to know that the village would probably try to kill him if he revealed himself. Yet, he probably is also lonely and lacks excitement in his life. He is often being served, advised, feared, but not befriended which led him to become so resentful, making Fi more tinged with sorrow and angst. Plus that enchantress cursing the entire castle because of his mistake probably fuels that shame (like I must be a bad person who deserves this). Because of Belle, he accesses his more healthier Fi and Ni. He is able to become softer, to understand true beauty behind superficial exteriors, to understand the hidden joy of falling in love and making that person your whole world, and accepting himself more in the process too.

And like the poster said earlier, I now claim Rapunzel is also an ESFP. I relate to her a lot. I don't know, but my whole life I was sheltered by both parents (but especially my Mom), who I love, but sometimes makes me scared of the world with her own overblown anxieties (enneagram type 6?). There is so much I sometimes want to try and do, but always felt held back. Then when I had my first internship experience I literally ran in Mother Gothel like preceptors who told me and made me feel I was naive, not so smart, wouldn't amount to anything, chipping away at my spirit everyday. I swear, all the saying that society favors extroverts I think is BS. There are plenty of people in the world that want to snuff away the light from extroverts, too. People claim that they want you to talk and be confident, then judge you easily for speaking so much and say shut up so quickly. (look up the research article that shows introverts consistently de-value/rate extroverted employees lower than introverts despite similar performances :dry:) Anyways, I feel like Rapunzel is a repressed ESFP.
 
#49 ·


Here is another fanvid I made of my two favorite Disney movies. There is a lot of parallels I discovered while making it.

I want to say Beast is an unhealthy ESFP who becomes more well-rounded at the end. He reminds me of my dad, who I think is an ESFP, too. Poor Beast, probably wants to leave his castle, but because of his looks, he is ashamed. Perhaps that is an Se thing. Very focused on outer appearances and Se-street smart enough to know that the village would probably try to kill him if he revealed himself. Yet, he probably is also lonely and lacks excitement in his life. He is often being served, advised, feared, but not befriended which led him to become so resentful, making Fi more tinged with sorrow and angst. Plus that enchantress cursing the entire castle because of his mistake probably fuels that shame (like I must be a bad person who deserves this). Because of Belle, he accesses his more healthier Fi and Ni. He is able to become softer, to understand true beauty behind superficial exteriors, to understand the hidden joy of falling in love and making that person your whole world, and accepting himself more in the process too.
That's actually a valid observation, and I think you might be right! I would have to watch it again to say for sure. When I was small, Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite Disney movies. Because of the Beast. I loved his character, and found it easy to understand why he is the way he is. Belle as a character wasn't that awesome for me, but she was a brown-eyed brunette Disney princess, which alone carried weight, as well as yellow and blue are my two favorite colors and she wore them all the time.
 
#48 ·


Just watched Penelope again and I want to claim her as an ESFP, too. She is similar to Rapunzel (Tangled) and Beast's (Beauty and the Beast) story. Full of energy, wanting to go out there to explore the world, but circumstances (a curse, overprotective mom) hindering her.
 
#50 · (Edited)
Some more fictional characters I came across that I think are ESFP. Some of them I am more sure about than others.

Michael Smyth - Frontier (definitely)
Ross Poldark - Poldark (possibly. quite certain he is Gamma)
Moana - Moana
Pochahontas - Pochahontas (she doesn't spend all that much time with people, but she chats with animals, Grandmother Willow, and the Johns. She's also a master improviser, and is more fluid with her Fi. Which other Disney princess in the history of forever got two romantic leads, without one of them turning out to be a villain? She just gets to change her mind).

And a character I'd like you to hear me out on, is Dean Winchester, from Supernatural. He is definitely Enneagram 8, and most commonly, he is typed as ESTP. He is most definitely an Se-dom. However, I'm not sure how I feel about his judging axis. So far, he came across like possible ESTP, but could be ESFP. Season 4, which I'm now watching, he is definitely ESFP. However, I'm not sure what he fits better in the grand scheme of things, so there will be plenty of people who watched all 12 seasons and will have a bigger portfolio to work off of.
His Se-dom isn't much for discussion, he is master improviser, live in the moment kind of guy, very physical, a doer. His Enneagram is almost certainly 8, and I think he's sp/sx. However, still not sure about the Ti vs Fi. I can see a lot of Fi, and some of what could be Fe... so, I'm not sure.

 
#52 ·
Hachi from NANA though she can prolly be an ENFP...idk. I relate ditzy to the N.
 
#53 · (Edited)
I like people typing Anakin Skywalker as an ESFP. I have many similarities to Anakin/Darth Vader, figured everyone did but the special significance makes sense now. I similarly grew up in a rural place until I was ten and left most of my friends and family to live in a city. Sometimes I get bitter and fearful, wonder if people love me and lash out. I've found the best word for myself for coming out of one of these moods/periods is "taking off the mask", like Vader takes off his mask at the end of Return of the Jedi.

I would add Dmitri Karamazov from The Brothers Karamazov (Dostoeyevsky) and Malachy McCourt (Frank's Dad) from Angela's Ashes (Frank McCourt). Both are characterized by their simultaneous optimism and the dreadful conditions they create/in which they live.

I've known some other ESFPs. This last point, the optimism vs. bad life, is the leading sign. ESFPs will amaze you with what kind of terrible life can still be lived. One friend in particular I had was always laughing, smiling, full of energy but had been kicked out of his parents' house in middle school, never graduated highschool, worked 50+ hours as a delivery biker in Chicago (with its notoriously bad weather) and ate ramen noodles for every meal. A coworker ESFP friend of mine hadn't seen his parents since he was 18 (probably ~37 when I met him), and worked for 11 years 12 hours a day with 15 minutes break at a coke plant near the Mexican border where he made 60 pallets in an hour by himself. That's one pallet per minute, one man, one nailgun. He was also one of the most carefree and grateful people I've met.
 
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