The Myers-Briggs Personality Types of Parks and Recreation Characters

One of the best ways to deal with the cold outside is to make some hot cocoa, get under your coziest blanket, and watch something that makes you feel warm inside. Few sitcoms will give you the warm-and-fuzzies like Parks and Recreation, which is just a big old hug of a show. Besides great writing and comic timing, it features earnest characters who, whether on the surface or buried deep down, want the best for the people in their town and for humanity as a whole.

These characters each have a unique personality that is both larger-than-life and relatable, likely reminding you of a friend, coworker, or even yourself. Check out our breakdown of the Myers-Briggs personality types of the citizens of Pawnee, Indiana to find out which character you’re most like.

Leslie Knope – ESFJ: The Provider

A natural leader and warm-hearted friend, Deputy Director Leslie Knope of the Parks and Recreation department fits the ESFJ personality type to a T. She is a ball of energy (sometimes aided by sugar-filled Sweetums NutriYum bars) who spearheads projects like the Harvest Festival that produce more impressive results than anyone could have dreamed of. She is also a championship gift-giver who always knows just what to get her friends that will make them feel touched and loved.

Like other ESFJs, Leslie struggles to overcome fixed ideas and be flexible. She has a habit of “steamrolling” people according to how she thinks they should behave, rather than what they actually want. She also has trouble accepting criticism, like during her campaign for City Council, when she fixates on a man who makes a negative comment about her in a focus group.

Ron Swanson – ISTJ: The Inspector

As an ISTJ, Parks Department Director Ron Swanson prefers to be left alone by his coworkers and Pawnee citizens seeking solutions to their problems. When he actually cares about a project, like grilling a quality hamburger or crafting a fine wooden chair, he is passionate and takes pride in his work. He is not a fan of change and is known to eat the same foods regularly and avoid travel.

Despite acting annoyed about doing so, Ron is a dependable friend for Leslie to lean on. He often acts as the voice of reason in other characters’ conflicts. This includes the time some of the characters get stuck on a Ferris wheel, and Ron resolves several arguments between them in one curmudgeonly speech. Throughout the series, Ron’s soft side comes out more and more until he ends up happily married with two stepdaughters and an infant son.

Tom Haverford – ESTP: The Dynamo

Tom Haverford is a man who appreciates comfort and style and living in the here and now, aka an ESTP. He can improvise when the situation calls for it, like when he pivots in a business presentation from a boring, dry-cleaning transactional holding company idea to a classy restaurant. He’s fun-loving and turns Ann’s awkward Halloween party into a blowout that all her friends enjoy.

Living in the moment makes Tom fun and spontaneous, but it also means that he often fails to think ahead. He jumps into quitting his job to form Entertainment 720, Pawnee's premier entertainment conglomerate, without formulating a real business plan. He does grow throughout the show, though, and finds success with his much more well-thought-out idea for his restaurant.

Jerry Gergich – ISFJ: The Protector

Unlike Tom, an ISFJ like Jerry Gergich prefers to work behind the scenes. He is steady about meeting his work obligations and prefers doing things consistently and in the same way. Despite his coworkers’ poor treatment of him, Jerry is unfailingly kind and supportive of them, as shown when the other characters send Jerry’s emails to spam and later discover invitations to his Christmas party and other friendly messages.

Jerry has found a balance with his home and work life, and clearly adores his wife and daughters. He takes great pride in caring for his family and serving as their protector.

Donna Meagle – ENTJ: The Commander

ENTJ Donna Meagle is a charismatic problem-solver. When April accidentally deletes all the Parks Department files, Donna reveals that she backed everything up and saves the day. She can sometimes be blunt or critical, like when she insults Leslie on her Twitter account.

ENTJs like Donna tend to be ambitious, as she is when she pursues a real estate career. She also thinks long-term about her future with her husband, Joe.

Ann Perkins – INFJ: The Counselor

Ann Perkins, Leslie’s BFF, is an idealistic and empathetic INFJ. After her boyfriend falls into a pit behind her house and Ann goes to a public forum to complain, she believes in Leslie when Leslie promises to build a park in the pit’s place despite all the red tape in the way. Ann is always there to provide support for her friend and clearly values the deep connection they share. Her profession as a nurse also demonstrates her genuine care for others.

INFJs like Ann are so empathetic and loyal that they sometimes leave themselves open to being taken advantage of. This is clearly the case when Andy is living with Ann rent-free while she waits on him hand and foot. The “door slam” Ann gives Andy when she finally dumps him is also characteristic of an INFJ personality.

Ben Wyatt – INTJ: The Mastermind

Ben Wyatt, Assistant City Manager and Leslie’s love interest, is an INTJ with an analytical mind and a passion for Game of Thrones (a show full of scheming and strategizing). When he first walks into the Parks Department, he bluntly informs the employees about their local government’s budget problems. He can see the big picture and what terrible shape Pawnee is in when he arrives.

Ben is sharp and able to keep up with Leslie, whose mind goes a mile a minute. When running her campaign for City Council, Ben is meticulous and expects excellence from both himself and others. Like other INTJs, he is fond of strategic board games. He even invents an incredibly complex board game in his free time that captures the interest of the employees at Gryzzl, an internet service provider.

Chris Traeger – ENFJ: The Teacher

ENFJ Chris Traeger, City Manager and Ann’s love interest, is an expressive idealist who is committed to helping others grow. He’s excited about life and great at motivating others. At one point, he’s shown comforting a crying woman, and later reveals that he didn’t know her but wanted to help. He helps Andy and Ben as well when they struggle with uncertainty in their lives.

ENFJs expect the best out of everyone, which can make their standards unrealistic. This definitely applies to Ann and Chris’s breakup. Chris is so determined to help Ann grow that he turns her into a copy of himself. He also tries to eliminate red meat in the commissary, which Ron (who eats a commissary hamburger every day) will have none of.

April Ludgate – INTP: The Logician

April Ludgate is an INTP who begins the show as an intern. She prefers to be alone and doesn’t buy into conventional thinking. She’s always looking outside the box, whether it’s her musical taste or artistic instincts. She shows her abilities as an innovator when she solves the Parks Department’s water fountain conundrum.

April is generally quiet and reserved, and tends to express skepticism or criticism when she does speak up. She’s often a step ahead of everyone else and uses her intelligence to build her career over the course of the show.

Andy Dwyer – ESFP: The Performer

Andy Dwyer, Ann’s ex-boyfriend and April’s eventual husband, lives in the moment, just like other ESFPs. He’s the life of the party and always tries to look on the bright side. He’s delighted by a crummy temporary office job, and when his band sells a cumulative 100 records after years of playing together.

Andy struggles with long-term planning, which results in him living in the pit for an extended period. He also gets bored or distracted when people are trying to tell him important information. Like many other characters, he matures over time, but remains the silly ESFP we all love.

What Parks and Recreation character are you? Take our free TypeFinder® assessment to find your personality type and learn your strengths.