The Showboats

ESFP Heroines

Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Popclaw, The Boys

Princess Jasmine, Aladdin

Aphrodite (Greek mythology)

Dionysus (Greek mythology)

Penny, The Big Bang Theory

Merida, Brave

Jessie, Toy Story

Daisy Buchannan, The Great Gatsby

ESFP Female Villains

Bellatrix Lestrange, The Harry Potter Saga

Harleen Quinzel “Harley Quinn,” DC Universe

Ellaria Sand, Game of Thrones

Roxie Hart, Chicago

Alex Forrest, Fatal Attraction

ESFP Heroes

Jaime Lannister, Game of Thrones

Mr. Incredible, The Incredibles

Billy Batson “Shazam,” Shazam!

A-Train, The Boys

Aladdin, Aladdin

Peter Griffin, Family Guy

Green Lantern, Green Lantern

Andy Bernard, The Office

Robert Baratheon, Game of Thrones

Freddie Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody

Pvt. Hudson, Aliens

Loras Tyrell, Game of Thrones

Oberyn Martel, Game of Thrones

Peregrin Took, The Lord of the Rings

Jack Dawson, Titanic

Ash, Pokemon

Marty McFly, Back to the Future Trilogy

Homer Simpson, The Simpsons

Steve Harrington, Stranger Things

ESFP Male Villains

Joffrey Baratheon, Game of Thrones

Erik Killmonger, Black Panther

Hacebolus, Far Away Bird

ESFP – The Showboat

What do ESFP characters all have in common?

Certitude. Expertise. Presentation.

Fire the fog machine, start the light show, and blast the music! You’re about to take the stage! You live for this. Heroic action is needed, and you’re the perfect one for the job, Outgoing and effortlessly theatrical, you never hesitate to say it like it is. Aww, did someone’s feelings get hurt while you were kicking ass? Get over it, people. Instead of feeling insulted, try marveling at the Showboat’s successful result. I mean, right? There’s real star power in your style. You also possess the dangerous combination of pragmatic thinking combined with an expressive nature. This means you command a flair for the dramatic. You don’t simply get it right, you put extra effort in; you dress it up a bit, and everyone loves your final product. And why not? You’re phenomenal. Take your scene-stealing ways and combine with your practical nature and impulsive behavior, and the world truly gets an amazing show.

Besides perhaps a bit of healthy narcissism, the Showboat does have a remarkable serious side. These heroines and heroes carry a deep sincerity out into the world. Their sincerity is often matched with an almost child-like innocence that never completely goes away. They are big kids at heart. They like to play and like people who like to play back. Beneath all that pomp and laughter is someone who will cling fiercely and loyally to the people they truly care about. In fiction, this personality type often surprises everyone by their odd show of genuine loyalty for other characters.

Showboats also know their audience and flaunt their dramatic style when committing to a course of heroic action. They like to make an entrance and always demand the last word or the clever quip. The larger than life presence can backfire for the Showboat because sometimes they alienate their heroic partners. However, their knack for success usually inspires enough loyalty to keep complaints or personality clashes to a minor grumbling.

All that aside, people trust the Showboat as a hero or heroine because they are quick to action and never squander an opportunity to broadcast their amazing life to the world. To the wild cheering crowds, the need for applause is only proof that the hero or heroine really loves the world. He or she is trying to entertain while saving the world. This desire to entertain others while also serving is what distinguishes this heroic type and earns them extra bonus points.

Interestingly, and perhaps unusual, although the Showboat is a common personality among women, there are very few female Showboats in fiction. Why? I can’t find any reasonable explanation for the lack of female ESFP heroines.

When Showboats Become Villains

Fortunately for us, ESFP personality types don’t usually become a villain. That said, the few fictional characters who have strayed to the dark side are pretty notable. The quality that seems to turn a Showboat into a villain, at least as far as fiction goes, is the presence of an unanswered insult. The ESFP doesn’t like being slighted and so if the insult to too great, if someone crushes their outgoing spirits (or ego) too much, or if their sincerity is disrespected too harshly, the Showboat may take the path to villain-hood. Their villainous shift will be one of extreme defiance in an effort to prove that nothing can hurt the Showboat villain. They may even stray toward cruelty in putting down their opponents. The cruelest among them even put on a show in order to humiliate their foes publicly. There is a narcissism in the Showboat villain. Vengeance appears to be the recurrent theme in their villainy. The self-centered style can work against them in heroic show-downs as well. Showboats are the villains who get caught monologuing in the movies, always explaining the genius of their plans and assuring us of their inevitable victory.

Frequency

According to the “MBTI Manual” published by CPP, The Showboat accounts for 8.5% of the world population. 6.9% of men and 10.1% of women are ESFPs. This is the third most common personality type for women.