Anon wrote: Hello! I was wondering about your thoughts/typing on Ariana Grande? I’ve been thinking about it for a wihle since her personality (or lack thereof) seems super interesting to me.
She’s known to continuously “shapeshift”— going through several drastic persona changes, like sometimes altering her voice (accents) throughout these changes. Several celebrities who are friends with Ariana have commented (with a positive connotation) on how she does whatever she wants whenever — this can ‘perhaps be corroborated by the donut incident that happened years back, where she visited a donut shop and secretly licked one of the donuts lying out (caught on camera), as well as the recent backlash she’s received about continuously homewrecking multiple relationships over the years.
Currently, her persona is very sweet, innocuous, emotionally fragile, matching up with her acting as Glinda in the movie Wicked. Her mannerisms and dialogue now vary greatly from her previous ones, whether that is through what’s being said or the way she says it. It is circulating that she adapts based to whoever she hangs around.
Maybe this chameleon-ing can be attributed to INFJ, but I’ve been thinking about her being an ENTJ with an unhealthy, weak, or misused Fi. I do not sense any semblance of Fe in her, because of her alleged tendency to do whatever she wants without regard for others. A weak Fi would result in her being unable to access a "true" self, and then latching onto the personality traits and demeanors of other people?
I feel Fi function in her — she’s snappy, self-oriented and unapologetic. There’s a video where she says “I’m not [person’s] ex. I’m not [person’s] new girlfriend. I’m Ariana Grande, and if that’s not interesting enough, don’t talk to me,” another one where she says "that’s right b***h… try me.” Maybe these aren’t strong enough quotes though.
Referencing Jeanette McCurdy’s perspective as her co-star on Nickelodeon shows like Sam & Cat (this was ~10 years ago), when the two hung out, they would only do things that Ariana wanted to do. McCurdy wrote that Ariana “was fun and energetic, but I had some reservations about how much I could trust her because she seemed to be a leech for drama and gossip…being around her took my identity because everything in her world became just that…You disrespected me, disregarded me, and made me feel small by having to always make yourself seem so big.” I feel like this is a sign of unhealthy Fi.
I’m sensing that she has a strong Te function, because she’s a strong/efficient businesswoman and knows how to get stuff done, which is what some of her friends/coworkers have also brought up. Perhaps she enjoys securing authority/“power” (like gained from stealing someone from their partner)? But she doesn’t need to depend on anybody. Her songs radiate a lot of Se, often about physicality and “don’t think just do it” energy. I believe that she’s extraverted due to her outwards demeanor, she seems to love talking to people and making friends, gaining energy from doing so.
Online, it seems to be divided. When she was at the height of the homewrecking controversy, people deemed her to be a stereotypical high school mean girl. Before and after the hate died down, many people type her as ESFJ.
My typing may be too speculative and making assumptions, so I’m curious as to what you think :)
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I remember someone asked me about her years ago in a short exchange. It might've been around 2018, as the donut and bombing incidences had already happened. At the time, I didn't know much about her except whatever happened to cross my news feed, usually limited to things like promoting projects or various controversies.
My first instinct was Se dom and I settled on ESFP upon being presented with certain facts. I admittedly don't follow her very closely, but there hasn't been anything in the intervening years that has changed my mind or made me seriously doubt ESFP.
As such, I agree with your points about the particular functions, just not the order of them, since ENTJ and ESFP share the same functions. Thank you for providing your thoughts, as it gives me good information to work with. I don't think you're being overly speculative, since you're mindful of backing up with evidence.
With regard to Fi status
I don't believe her Fi is dangerously weak, misused, or unhealthy. Being the inferior function, ENTJs are largely inattentive to or unaware of Fi, so their Fi wouldn't jump out at you, let alone be a major point you notice about them (unless Fi is weirdly top of mind for you due to your own type dynamics).
I would argue that her Fi has too much influence and volume to be the inferior function. So much of her words, behavior, decisions, and artistic expression are motivated by feelings, to the point where I don't think F is in any doubt. I would describe her Fi as sometimes "unstable" and inconveniently "bratty", which is typical auxiliary Fi.
Although I don't relate to her personally, one thing I find amusing about her is the way she claps back at disrespectful people. First of all, it seems she is unable to just sit back and not clap back, which may suggest impulsive P over somewhat more restrained J. Secondly, instead of going for the jugular in the way that "mean girl" Fe or Te is capable of, she tends to prefer appealing to moral truths and providing perspective checks (Fi+Ni).
As a general point, ESFPs at their best are gifted at keeping things real yet without ripping to shreds. Secretly, healthy Fi wants so badly to destroy what one hates but ultimately doesn't allow one to become the thing one hates.
With regard to ESFJ possibility
A lot of extraverts like to perform and start young. However, ESFPs tend to be unique in that they "just know" very early on that they like performing even before they understand what applause is. ESFPs are often "born to perform". This is not in reference to their level of talent or charisma, but rather to the strong and naturally occurring devotion to pure artistic expression, as well as the capacity to be completely at one with performing.
One very subtle way to distinguish ESFP and ESFJ performers is to observe the degree to which they can own a stage. Generally speaking, ESFJs have to put out a lot of effort to own a stage (Fe seeking for affirmation), whereas ESFPs do it much more naturally, as though they simply belong there (Se going with the flow). ESFP charisma comes from simply doing whatever one instinctually feels is best (flexible Fi+Ni), whereas ESFJs are very thoughtful about presenting themselves in a way that captures attention (meticulous Si+Ti).
Which case fits her best? I don't know her well enough to say for certain. The most I can say is that I haven't seen any compelling evidence of Fe, Si, or Ti motivations.
With regard to Chameleonism
I agree with you on the point about radiating Se, not just in her music but also in everyday life. Because dominant Se is so responsive to and immersed in the external environment, it's very easy for ESFPs to get completely swept up in momentary whirlwinds. To an outside observer, this can come off like disjointedness or chameleonism, easily mistaken as Ne or Fe related, respectively.
As explained in the guides, accurate type assessment requires you to understand the underlying mechanisms of the behavior rather than just taking behavior at face value. A lot of types can display similar looking behavior on the outside, but for very different cognitive reasons on the inside.
For instance, what motivates chameleon-like behavior in ESFP vs ESFJ vs ENTJ? Part of the basic definition of "extraversion" includes a strong preference for integrating into the external environment. However, the devil is in the details. How exactly do functions like Se, Fe, and Te go about integrating? And to what end? This is why it's important to learn some theory, otherwise, you don't really know what you're looking for.
Se integrates through being highly responsive to physical stimuli. To what end? For the pleasure and intensity of experience itself.
Fe integrates through navigating collective values. To what end? To feel connected to something larger than oneself.
Te integrates through utilizing empirical knowledge of the system. To what end? To achieve a sense of mastery or control over it.
Given these cognitive function principles, what is the underlying mechanism of chameleon-like behavior in ESFP, ESFJ, and ENTJ?
ESFP gets completely caught up in a stimulating (Se) and personally inspiring (Fi) process of being/becoming something.
ESFJ adopts whatever characteristics they believe their social environment (Fe) considers to be admirable or respectable (Si).
ENTJ exhibits whatever outward behaviors are required of them (Te) in order to smoothly fulfill their goals/plans (Ni).
It's important to note that when ESFPs get caught up in a persona, it doesn't feel fake to them, though it might get judged as fake by others due to the contrast with their past behavior. From the ESFP perspective, they have taken something from the environment and integrated it into their identity (Se+Fi immersion). There is no subjective notion of putting on an act, at least until the next persona comes along (**with one exception explained below). By contrast, ESFJ and ENTJ are somewhat more aware of using a persona as a tool to achieve some other end.
Which case fits her best? I don't know her well enough to say for certain. The most I can say is that I haven't yet seen compelling evidence of ESFJ or ENTJ motivations. Watching her make decisions, I'm more inclined to believe that she goes wherever her heart happens to lead her (flighty), rather than where the hunger for power/influence leads her (calculating). This is speculation of course.
With regard to Te and ENTJ possibility
I mentioned how I don't think Fi is inferior. Fi being a higher function implies that Te is the lower function. How to explain your points about "strong" Te, then?
Entering showbiz at a young age unfortunately exposes kids to adult things and adult situations they aren't psychologically ready to handle yet. The pressure/stress of these conditions is very likely to activate tertiary loop and inferior grip behavioral patterns. For example, paranoia is a common symptom of Ni grip.
Tertiary loop is probably the most natural path for coping with stress. In the case of ESFP, Te loop typically results in them "toughening up" and appearing more "dominant" or in control. It's either that or get eaten by wolves. Showbiz is a tough career to be in. You could say Te loop is a necessary evil of being in the biz.
As I explain in the study guides, it's not unusual for people to get mistyped based on issues with the tertiary function. It can even be the first thing you notice about someone, especially if you're observing them during periods of life when tertiary loop is more common.
Since so many ESFPs are born performers, the performing arts are chock full of them. There's quite a lot of interesting Hollywood history you could mine to learn more about the type. I've found that famous ESFPs can be broken up into two rough categories:
- Category 1 is ESFP with healthy social support: Fame startles them and they go through a Te loop period as they grapple with the negative side of being in the public eye. During this period, they can come off as defensive, standoffish, combative, arrogant, or harsh. This "Te mode" is not their real personality but they naturally lean into it because it helps them get a handle on invalidation, bullying, and exploitation, or to cope with stress in general.
At this time, they are likely to take a methodical approach to their career and think about how to obtain conventional rewards/awards. **They might intentionally, perhaps even cynically, put on various personas as a means to woo the audience. Their main preoccupation is to never get called "boring" or "irrelevant", as that would signal a failure to hold people's attention, i.e., career over.
However, as they get older, they'll realize Te mode doesn't feel right. If they have even one supportive person in their life to keep them grounded and in touch with who they really are, they'll start to soften and find more authentic ways of engaging. This allows them to build a loyal following from which to have a long and fulfilling career.
Instead of thinking in superficial images, they aim to stay true to what they believe is right, even in the face of ridicule or opposition. Fi development helps them accept the bad with the good, and draw a clearer boundary between public and private life.
- Category 2 is ESFP without healthy social support: Fame startles them and turns their whole world upside down. They suffer a lot because of being sensitive and feeling isolated. They have difficulty handling invalidation and might struggle with low self-esteem and impostor syndrome despite being talented. They'll likely go through a lengthy Te loop period of trying various destructive methods of feeling more "empowered".
In terms of career, they might get used or taken advantage of because they are susceptible to flattery. Too eager for validation, they are likely to go wherever there is opportunity to get a self-esteem boost, without thinking through the consequences to their reputation. Being in Te mode, they'll believe they are fully in charge of life, free to do whatever, not realizing that they're actually being sabotaged by their own insecurities. The proof can be found in the negative consequences of their decision making.
If they are unable to get the kind of social support they need, they are likely to exhibit behaviors that increasingly come off as desperate or out of control. As mental health worsens, they might develop more serious problems such as: anxiety, depression, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, or seeking for spiritual answers in all the wrong places (Ni grip).
Best case scenario, they retreat for awhile or even leave the biz and go on to live a normal and grounded life, finally creating space for proper Fi development. Worst case scenario, they self-destruct publicly, and healthy Fi always seems out of reach.
Healthy type development is a lot more difficult in the public eye, but still possible. As you can see, in both the healthy and unhealthy groups, Te loop is practically unavoidable, so it wouldn't be surprising to detect tertiary Te and think it is dominant. I'm not saying that Ariana Grande for sure belongs to either group, since I don't know her well enough. I'm merely saying it's possible that the ENTJ qualities you're seeing are actually indicative of ESFP development issues.
I had a weird experience while watching Wicked that you might be interested in hearing about. Although I knew of the stage play because it's famous, I was not familiar with the characters until I watched the movie. As the movie progressed, I kept thinking to myself, "I could swear the script is calling for Glinda to be ESFJ, but why does she come off as ESTJ sometimes?" Perhaps it is because an ESFP actor just doesn't fully get Fe when it comes down to it, so Te filled the gap?
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When I'm doing type assessment, I always take type development into account. I look for distinct stages in ego development that, when put together, reveal a life trajectory unique to the type. This is most useful when trying to compare really similar looking types and when trying to determine the correct order of the functions.
Also, when you see the bigger picture of type development, the so-called "drastic changes" in personality make more sense in the grand scheme of things, so you won't be as easily distracted or misled by them. I've changed a lot in the past few years, haven't you? There is a tendency on the public's part to expect celebrities to always stay the same and never age. Don't fall victim to that trap. Let them be human and you'll have a better time understanding their personality.
Of course, this produces a complication when you're trying to type people because you don't always have the opportunity to observe the long arc of their lifetime development, especially when they're still quite young. Even so, if you can detect a faint pattern in the earlier stages of development (e.g. childhood and adolescence), the rest can be logically inferred. And then you wait patiently for evidence to roll in that either supports/refutes your hypothesis.
