SJ - PROTECTORS (47%)
Here are the four Protector personality types (with somewhat random assignation of male/female pronouns, along with fictional examples):ESTJ - The Overseer (9%)
The Overseer (also called the Implementer-Supervisor) lives in a world of facts and concrete needs. At work he is the stereotypical administrator, military leader or law-enforcer, providing structure and routine with a commitment to excellence, and expecting high standards from others. He is happiest in a leader position, motivating a team. He can be somewhat domineering and unimaginative, preferring that everyone toe the line. He has a clear vision of the way things should be.
Socially, he belongs to lots of clubs, plays and watches sport, and is concerned with image and popularity. He is gregarious, talkative and frank (but not always tactful), and enjoys the simple pleasures of life. He is loyal, committed to family life, and appreciates long-lasting friendships.
In the extreme, he's obsessive-compulsive - inflexible, needing to be in charge, and a perfectionist.
It's easy to make the Overseer an annoying by-the-book character in genre fiction, always butting heads with our independent-minded or seditious hero.
Sound like Haller from Song of Scarabaeus to you? (Despite this group's high frequency in the population, Haller is the only one of the 7 main characters in my first book who's a Protector.)
Example of Overseer: Dwight Schultz from The Office
The Supporter (or Facilitator-Caretaker) is the super-organized "hostess" of the world. Extremely sociable, she needs an altruistic career to be happy - nursing, teaching, medicine, clergy. Her organizational skills also make her an excellent bookkeeper or administrator. She creates a warm and friendly team work environment, always does the right thing, and honors commitments. She even takes the blame for others. She wants to be appreciated and dislikes conflict.
Socially, she's generous, popular, passionate, and has genuine concern for others. She has impeccable manners and never gets into trouble. Like the Overseer, she is concerned with social standing, needs to belong and wants to be liked. She makes decisions with her heart. Her focus is on family and friends, and she's gifted at reading people and bringing them together.
On the bad side, she's prone to being vain and histrionic, becoming overly emotional and sensitive to what others say.
This personality can come across as annoyingly goody-goody and conformist in novels. If she's the heroine be sure to give her some not-too-fatal flaws - for example, she's very subjective and lacks analytical skills because her feelings always get in the way. Taking the blame for others is another forgivable flaw that she can learn to overcome.
Example of Supporter: Mrs Weasley from Harry Potter
The most persevering and dependable type is the Examiner (or Planner-Inspector). He does everything by the book, taking his responsibilities very seriously. He's thorough, practical, always has a plan. Duty before pleasure is his motto. Careers in finance, law enforcement, medicine, the military, and small business owner suit him. He uses logic to decide what to do, then works steadily in an organized way, paying attention to every detail. He prefers to work alone, values integrity, works hard and makes sacrifices when necessary. But he can become too rigid and uncreative and miss the big picture.
Among friends he values tradition and loyalty, lives in the present, and thinks before speaking. He can come across as controlled, impersonal and firm. In relationships he's dependable, but isn't in touch with his feelings.
He may have a paranoid personality disorder.
This personality type has rather boring weaknesses and I imagine makes for quite a boring main character in fiction unless he has as many roguish flaws as this gentleman...
Example of Examiner: Don Draper from Mad Men
ISFJ - The Defender (14%)
The Defender (Protector-Supporter) is a loyal servant with a great need to serve others without recognition for her work, and often in low-paying jobs - the nurses, educators, child care workers, clergy, paralegals, even interior decorators of the world. She likes routine and wants a stable job and secure future. She follows the rules but is more forgiving than the Examiner of others who don't. She's responsible, meets her obligations, and works hard with painstaking accuracy.
This is the least hedonistic type - she's unlikely to enjoy video games, art, sport or a lot of TV. She's quiet, loyal, friendly, considerate of others' feelings, and can easily identify their needs - and meet them selflessly. She can't abide conflict, is always striving for harmony, and has a great sense of humor. For her, love means caring and support. She's utterly dedicated to her relationships, and seeks deep connections and lifelong friendships.
Unfortunately she may display dependency traits or be excessively shy, leading to social isolation and feelings of inadequacy. And she worries too much!
A sympathetic main character, although probably not your alpha male. She's just plain nice and even her weaknesses aren't that bad. Marge is a foil for Homer, and that's why we love her. By herself, I'm not sure she can carry a show.
Example of Defender: Marge from The Simpsons
Unfortunately she may display dependency traits or be excessively shy, leading to social isolation and feelings of inadequacy. And she worries too much!
A sympathetic main character, although probably not your alpha male. She's just plain nice and even her weaknesses aren't that bad. Marge is a foil for Homer, and that's why we love her. By herself, I'm not sure she can carry a show.
Example of Defender: Marge from The Simpsons
1 comment:
I can totally see Rainn Wilson playing Haller in the movie. He's a bit smarter and less bungling than Dwight Schrute but he has the same mentality.
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