Question for other ESTJs and for people who know ESTJs: Would you describe ESTJs as being moody and volatile?
We have a reputation as being very emotionally stable and reliable, but my image/impression of myself is that the opposite is frequently true. And because strong and negative emotions can seem so foreign to us, we react to them as if it's the end of the world, even when it really isn't. It feels dramatic, and probably looks dramatic, especially to Feelers, who are used to dealing with those sorts of emotions on a more regular basis.
You know, I've never consider it, but I honestly would. However it's a very... particular moody/volatile. It comes across as very cold logical and intended. It's really hard for me to explain, but of the ones I've met (not many, but I've met a number of them). You'd never label them as dramatic, but in a strange sort of way, they are frequently.
The thing is someone can be very emotionally stable and reliable and be moody and volatile. It's sort of like there's a bunch of switches. Flip one and you'll get a volatile response, but otherwise everything else has remained the same.
To compare to myself I and almost every ENFJ I've met is dramatic and frequently moody, but it's totally different. It's the kind you'd automatically label as such. With ESTJ's you just don't think to label it as that. It's a different word that, well, just doesn't exist. It's just their way of being. I appologize for using such a crude and stereotypical example, but take a drill instructor. You wouldn't ever think of labeling them as moody or volatile, but they are.
Interesting. I think I know what you mean. Like we have the same emotional energy levels, the same volatility, channeled through a different system.
[MENTION=8244]Eilonwy[/MENTION], this question (and Hard's answer) relate a bit to what we've been discussing in our respective blogs. Curious as to what you think, based on your ESTJ experience.
MOODY
1: subject to depression : gloomy
2: subject to moods : temperamental
3: expressive of a mood
VOLATILE
1: likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way
2: having or showing extreme or sudden changes of emotion
3: likely to become dangerous or out of control
When I was very young, I perceived my mom as angry, which she was because of her and my dad's marital issues. But it was more an inner anger that came out as sharpness and impatience with a touch of frustration. It seemed pervasive to me. Which is understandable to me now as an adult. She was under a lot of stress when I was a child: working full time, taking care of 6 children by herself, dealing with the marital issues long-distance since my dad was stationed elsewhere. I might describe her as volatile then (likely to change in a sudden or extreme way), but not moody.
As an adult, our relationship had improved, and the marital issues had been dealt with. During this time, I wouldn't describe her as moody or volatile. She always seemed very steady as far as emotions were concerned. Held in. Minimal range (as opposed to wide swings). Neutral.
When she was taking care of my dad and was once again under a lot of stress, the anger and frustration would show.
As she aged, she started showing more anxiety, but not to an extreme degree.