The personality of Santa Claus

Posted to the Personality Blog on December 14, 2012

Santa Claus is known the world over, yet what character type is he? We know him essentially from descriptions in stories and songs. Let’s start by looking at the lyrics to “Santa Claus is coming to town:”

“He's making a list 

And checking it twice; 

Gonna find out

Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake!”

Wow quite judgmental, but kindly and boy does he like his lists! Let’s break it down a little further:

“Ho, ho, ho” is definitely the laugh of an extravert; no reticence there! Sure he only comes out once a year but when he does it is ‘big’ extraversion. So we’d say an ‘E.’ Santa Claus is an extravert: http://www.preludecharacteranalysis.com/learn/typeinteraction/extravertsvsintroverts

He likes his lists and is extremely factual and practical. Just look what the lady expected in “Santa Baby:”

“Come and trim my Christmas tree With some decorations bought at Tiffany's”

So probably an ‘S’ we’d say. Santa Claus is a Sensing Type. http://www.preludecharacteranalysis.com/learn/typeinteraction/sensingvsintuitive

For all his judging and knowing if children are “good or bad” he is intensely caring and his whole purpose is giving, that’s why he exists. So we’d say an ‘F,’ Santa Claus is a Feeling Type. http://www.preludecharacteranalysis.com/learn/typeinteraction/thinkingvsfeeling

Lastly we don’t think he could get round the world without a plan, a schedule. He is also extremely organised and has ‘a place for everything and everything in it’s place. So definitely a ‘J,’ big time! Santa Claus is a Judging Type. http://www.preludecharacteranalysis.com/learn/typeinteraction/judgingvsperceiving

So we’d say Santa is a super example of… Santa Claus is an ESFJ!

What do you think? http://www.preludecharacteranalysis.com/types/ESFJ