Type Matters

I was recently given a list of the last 10 presidents and their Myers Briggs Type Indicator.

FDR--ENTJ
Truman--ESTJ
Eisenhower--ESFJ
Kennedy--INTJ
Nixon--INTJ
Ford--ENFP
Carter--INFJ
Bush (41)--ISFJ
Clinton--ENFP
Bush (44)--ESFJ

The last one is most interesting. Here are some views of that Type. See if you can spot any similarities. Maybe you will…maybe you won’t.

“The ESFJ's value system is defined externally. They usually have very well-formed ideas about the way things should be, and are not shy about expressing these opinions. However, they weigh their values and morals against the world around them, rather than against an internal value system. They may have a strong moral code, but it is defined by the community that they live in, rather than by any strongly felt internal values.”

“ESFJ’s who have not had the advantage of developing their own values by weighing them against a good external value system may develop very questionable values. In such cases, the ESFJ most often genuinely believes in the integrity of their skewed value system. They have no internal understanding of values to set them straight. In weighing their values against our society, they find plenty of support for whatever moral transgression they wish to justify. This type of ESFJ is a dangerous person indeed.”

“Extraverted Feeling drives them to control and manipulate, and their lack of Intuition prevents them from seeing the big picture. They're usually quite popular and good with people, and good at manipulating them. Unlike their ENFJ cousin, they don't have Intuition to help them understand the real consequences of their actions. They are driven to manipulate other to achieve their own ends, yet they believe that they are following a solid moral code of conduct.”

And finally, “An ESFJ who has developed in a less than ideal way may be prone to being quite insecure, and focus all of their attention on pleasing others. He or she might also be very controlling, or overly sensitive, imagining bad intentions when there weren't any.”