Type Comparison: LII (INTj) and ESE (ESFj)

Socionics Characteristics

Observable Differences in Behavior

  1. ESE' psychic energy more often flows outwards, whereas with LII, their psychic energy more often flows inward.
  2. LII' energy levels tend to improve when they're alone whereas ESE' energy levels increase when they're interacting with larger groups.
  3. ESE' energy levels tend to decrease when they're alone whereas LII' energy levels will decrease when they're interacting with larger groups of people.
  4. With regards to energy levels, ESE tend to have higher energy levels than LII.
  5. LII are more often focused on their thoughts and feelings where as ESE are more often focused on their surroundings.
  6. ESE tend to be more active and initiating with others where as LII tend to be more passive and less initiating.
  7. LII often have a smaller, closer network of friends where as ESE often have a wider network of friends.
  8. ESE are often more cognizant of their outwards appearance and are thus better at presenting themselves than LII.
  9. LII are generally better at concentrating on specific tasks for longer periods of time than ESE.
  10. ESE often prefer to work with others in a team where as LII often prefer working alone.
  11. LII tend to be more idealistic with their heads-in-the-cloud. ESE, on the other hand, are more realistic and down-to-earth.
  12. ESE are better at noticing details than LII. LII on the other hand, are better at seeing the big picture than ESE.
  13. LII are more focused on ideas and concepts than ESE. On the other hand, ESE are more focused (than LII) on their surroundings.
  14. ESE are more naturally comfortable with physical confrontations than LII.
  15. LII are often more interested in the idea or theory of something, whereas ESE are more interested in the actual practice or implementation of it.
  16. LII are more likely to make decisions based on logical reasons than ESE, who are more likely to make decisions based on their own feelings.
  17. ESE are often better at solving and minimizing interpersonal problems, where as LII often struggle understanding them.
  18. LII are often more interested in studying systems, structures, and functionality than ESE.
  19. ESE tend to prefer using persuasion as a means of convincing others to do something, where as LII prefer to use argumentation as a means of convincing others.
  20. ESE are more vulnerable to logical manipulation than LII. However LII in contrast, are often more vulnerable to emotional or ethical manipulations than ESE.
  21. LII place greater value on their interests than ESE. For example, LII will maintain high levels of energy and focus on an interest they value, even deprioritizing their other resources to maintain the interest. For example, LII may spend a large amount of energy on an interest they value, often to the detriment of their time, sleep, relationships, money, etc.
  22. ESE place greater value on their resources than LII. For ESE, resources like their money, time, sleep, etc., fall into their "inner personal space," and the ESE will be more likely to deprioritize an interest if it starts to drain these resources too much.
  23. LII tend to perceive events in an episodic manner, i.e., they see events evolve in discrete states rather than continuous changes. On the other hand, ESE tend to perceive events in a continuous sequence; i.e., they see events evolving fluidly rather that one state to the next.
  24. When describing the stages of an event, ESE are more likely to focus on how stage A leads to stage B, how stage B leads to stage C, etc. LII, on the other hand, focus more on the stages themselves without necessarily seeing or emphasizing the transitions or causes and effects of the stages to the extent that ESE do.
  25. When describing reality, LII are more likely to talk about the properties and structure of reality. ESE are more likely to describe reality as movements, interactions, and changes.
  26. When planning to complete something, LII are more likely to focus their attention on the goal itself, overlooking and deprioritizing the individual actions needed to reach that goal. On the other hand, ESE tend to focus their attention on the each action; i.e., they're focused on how each decision and choice is being made (towards reaching the goal), in a step by step process.
  27. ESE are able to change and make adjustments to their goals more easily than LII (depending on how progress is being made, etc.). LII on the other hand, prefer to stick with their original goals.
  28. LII tend to judge their available options by how likely the option will help them reach their goal. If a choice no longer helps LII reach their goals, it will be dismissed and discontinued. On the other hand, ESE prefer to continue pursuing their current option, opting to adjust their ultimate goal in order to fit the current choice.
  29. LII are more likely (than ESE) to seek new and novel experiences rather than returning to something already lived through. They will generally only re-read a book, re-watch a movie, or revisit the same place if they have forgotten it or are hoping to learn something new from it.
  30. ESE are more likely than LII to use "emotional anchors" that resonate with their internal emotional condition. These emotional anchors could be a book, a movie, a place, a song, etc. ESE use these anchors to strengthen their inner emotional state and thus will repeat the experience: e.g., re-reading a book, re-watching a movie, continually going back to a place to experience the emotions associated with it.
  31. LII pay more particular attention to aspects of a situation or plan that are insufficient or lacking. This can be interpreted by others as LII having a negative assessment of various situations and events (.e.g, "the glass is half empty). On the other hand, ESE pay more attention to what is actually present in a situation, and this can be interpreted as an affirmative or positive manifestation of the surrounding world, situations, possibilities, and prospects (e.g. "the glass is half full").
  32. When assessing an option or available choice, ESE tend to focus more on how the choice could benefit them (what it would potentially yield) than LII would. On the other hand, LII would be more cognizant of the potential risks and potential losses that may accompany the decision that ESE may unconsciously minimize.
  33. When conversing, ESE types are inclined to communicate in the form of monologues, where each party has "its turn." Because of that they subconsciously attempt to transform a dialogue into a series of monologues. Conversely, LII tend to prefer more of a question and answer style format.

Compare/Contrast Sociotypes