[interstellar]

I was just wondering. I've heard that ESFJs can be interested in others just because they care about themselves. I thought this was kind of weird, but I just wanted to make sure. I'm an INTP and I wanted to see how the opposite, ESFJ thinks. Also, what are your interests? Do you think most ESFJs are not interested in knowing their type?

[gurlygurl]

I was just wondering. I've heard that ESFJs can be interested in others just because they care about themselves. I thought this was kind of weird, but I just wanted to make sure. I'm an INTP and I wanted to see how the opposite, ESFJ thinks. Also, what are your interests? Do you think most ESFJs are not interested in knowing their type?

Well, you could say it that way I guess. In a weird way, helping others makes me feel better about myself. Like, I'm contributing to society by making a better place. When I'm not contributing to society, it makes me feel bad. When I'm trying to contribute to society and nobody likes what I'm doing it makes me feel worse. So yeah, you could say that helping others helps ourselves.

I personally love Biology, Medicine, History, Writing, Reading, etc. I love the outdoors, and I love to cook and bake. In fact, most of my best memories are from the kitchen, so yeah. But I really think that our interests will vary to some degree.

I think that most people aren't interested in knowing their type. So yes.

I think the main reason ESFx types don't get involved in personality types though is because we tend to get busy in every day world. We just don't know that personality types exist. Not that were opposed to learning a new theory.

[Word Dispenser]

I was just wondering. I've heard that ESFJs can be interested in others just because they care about themselves. I thought this was kind of weird, but I just wanted to make sure. I'm an INTP and I wanted to see how the opposite, ESFJ thinks. Also, what are your interests? Do you think most ESFJs are not interested in knowing their type?

Hope you don't mind an impish ENTP hopping in to join the discussion!

I think it depends on the person, and what their environment brings them up into.

Some people are selfish, some people are selfless. Some people help others to help themselves, and some people help others just because.

I don't think type really has anything to do with it. It has more to do with environment, even if type can play a significant role in how we interact with that environment. (Such as people.)

[Hunny Bunny]

Yeah I really think it depends on the person. My first reaction would be to say, "Of course not! Of course we are only wanting to help others!" But... that's me. That's what motivates me to do what I do and why I want to help others and be around other people. I am genuinely interested in others, love feeding off other's energies and learning new things about people. I can't expect that every ESFJ is exactly like me (that would be ridiculous). So I'm sure it's possible that they may want to help for selfish reasons. I guess anything is possible.
However, I think many "helpers" really find personal gratification in helping others. They find a purpose and a good feeling when they do it. That's not to say they don't genuinely care, but it also is a blessing to themselves to be a blessing to others. Make sense? MHO :-)