ESTJ

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ESTJ (Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) is an acronym used in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) publications to refer to one of the sixteen personality types.[1][2] The MBTI assessment was developed from the work of prominent psychiatrist Carl G. Jung in his book Psychological Types, which proposed a psychological typology based on his theories of cognitive functions.

From Jung's work, others developed psychological typologies. Well-known personality tests are the MBTI assessment, developed by Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs, and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, developed by David Keirsey. Keirsey referred to ESTJs as Supervisors, one of the four types belonging to the temperament he called the Guardian.

Contents

[edit] The MBTI instrument

The MBTI preferences indicate the differences in people based on the following:[3]

By using their preference in each of these areas, people develop what Jung and Myers called psychological type. This underlying personality pattern results from the dynamic interaction of their four preferences, in conjunction with environmental influences and their own individual tendencies. People are likely to develop behaviors, skills, and attitudes based on their particular type. Each personality type has its own potential strengths as well as areas that offer opportunities for growth.

The MBTI tool consists of multiple choice questions that sort respondents on the basis of the four "dichotomies" (pairs of psychological opposites). Sixteen different outcomes are possible, each identified by its own four-letter code, referred to by initial letters. (N is used for iNtuition, to differentiate it from Introversion). The MBTI is approximately 75% accurate according to its own manual.[4]

  • E - Extraversion preferred to Introversion
  • S - Sensing preferred to iNtuition
  • T - Thinking preferred to Feeling
  • J - Judging preferred to Perceiving

[edit] Characteristics of ESTJs

[edit] Myers-Briggs description

ESTJs are practical, realistic, and matter-of-fact, with a natural head for business or mechanics. Though they are not interested in subjects they see no use for, they can apply themselves when necessary. They like to organize and run activities. ESTJs make good administrators, especially if they remember to consider others' feelings and points of view, which they often miss.

[edit] Keirsey description

According to Keirsey, ESTJs are civic-minded individuals who dedicate themselves to maintaining the institutions behind a smooth-running society. They are defenders of the status quo and strong believers in rules and procedures. ESTJs are outgoing and do not hesitate to communicate their opinions and expectations to others.

[edit] Interaction Style

According to Linda V. Berens' Interaction Styles model, ESTJs fall into the "In Charge" style, being both "extraverted" (E) and "Directing" (ST). They are outgoing, yet task-oriented, which also explains the behavior described above.

[edit] Cognitive functions

Drawing upon Jungian theory, Isabel Myers proposed that for each personality type, the cognitive functions—sensing, intuition, thinking, and feeling—form a hierarchy. This hierarchy represents the person's "default" pattern of behavior.

The Dominant function is the personality type's preferred role, the one they feel most comfortable with. The secondary Auxiliary function serves to support and expand on the Dominant function. If the Dominant is an information gathering function (sensing or intuition), the Auxiliary is a decision making function (thinking or feeling), and vice versa. The Tertiary function is less developed than the Dominant and Auxiliary, but it matures over time, rounding out the person's abilities. The Inferior function is the personality type's Achilles' heel. This is the function they are least comfortable with. Like the Tertiary, the Inferior function strengthens with maturity.[5]

  • Dominant Extraverted Thinking (Te)
  • Auxiliary Introverted Sensing (Si)
  • Tertiary Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
  • Inferior Introverted Feeling (Fi) [5]

The dominant Extraverted Thinking (Te) means ESTJs use logical fact-based judgments in the outer world of people and actions. This again explains their behavior and leadership qualities. The auxiliary Introverted Sensing (Si; concrete perception in the inner world of thoughts and feelings) is connected with memory or familiarity, and thus is what leads them to defend the status quo and procedures. Extraverted iNtuition (Ne) is using abstract perception in the outer world, and gives them the ability to conceptualize. However, this is subservient to the inward concrete focus. Last, the Introverted Feeling is a value-based judgment used in the inner world of thoughts and feelings. This is associated with connection or kinship to other people when values or beliefs are "congruent", and hence is the ESTJ's weakest link.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Type
  2. ^ Preference
  3. ^ Myers, Isabel Briggs (1998). Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc.. 
  4. ^ Myers, Isabel Briggs; Mary H. McCaulley (1985). Manual: A Guide to the Development and Use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, 2nd edition (in English), Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologist Press, 52. ISBN 0-89106-027-8. 
  5. ^ a b Barron-Tieger, Barbara; Tieger, Paul D. (1995). Do what you are: discover the perfect career for you through the secrets of personality type. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 0-316-84522-1. 

[edit] External links

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