ESFP in Relationships

Most ESFPs share a similar interpersonal style, and this style impacts most of their relationships, including those with friends, families, work colleagues, and romantic partners.

For comparisons between ESFPs and other types, jump straight to these personality type comparisons.

Your interpersonal style describes your social tendencies in terms of dominance, submissiveness, warmth, and coldness. This style impacts how you interact with others, and in turn, it can affect how they act around you.

The circular graph below shows the average interpersonal style of ESFPs. The vertical, up-down axis shows their style in terms of dominance, with a highly assertive style at the top (Assured-Dominant) and a highly passive style at the bottom (Unassured-Submissive).

The horizontal, left-right axis shows their style in terms of warmth, with a cold and impersonal style on the left (Cold-Aggressive) and a friendly, empathetic manner on the right (Warm-Agreeable).

Typical interpersonal style of the ESFP — How the ESFP typically falls on common interpersonal dimensions

The shaded blue area shows the average interpersonal style of ESFPs across eight dimensions. Notice the areas where the blue area extends closer to the outer edges of the circle. These are the aspects that most heavily influence ESFPs’ interactions.

ESFPs’ high agreeableness, high extraversion, and lower conscientiousness combine to create a cheerful, enthusiastic, and energetic interpersonal style.

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To summarize the graph above, four aspects most heavily influence ESFPs’ interpersonal style:

Assured-Dominant

ESFPs often manage, direct, and try to lead others.
At their best, ESFPs provide guidance and leadership, and naturally command respect.
ESFPs may be domineering, forceful, or overly direct.
At their worst, ESFPs can be overbearing and micromanaging.

Talkative-Extraverted

ESFPs often support, openly sympathize, and actively offer help to others
At their best, ESFPs are gentle sympathizers, who are easily trusted and accepted
ESFPs may be overly revealing and have difficulty being alone
At their worst, ESFPs can require too much attention and admiration from others and be excessively involved in the affairs of others

Unassuming-Trusting

ESFPs often respect others, conform to expectations, and ask for guidance.
At their best, ESFPs are loyal and reliable, and encourage others to guide and help.
ESFPs may be overly clingy, gullible, and have difficulty expressing anger, even when appropriate.
At their worst, ESFPs will try to please others too much, put others’ needs ahead of their own, and allow others to take advantage of them.

Warm-Agreeable

ESFPs often agree, trust, and cooperate with others.
At their best, ESFPs are friendly, affectionate, and bring out the warmth and sympathy in others.
ESFPs may be too agreeable and quick to compromise.
At their worst, ESFPs may seek approval and agreement too much, and be dependent on the approval of other people.