Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCharacteristicsCognitive FunctionsPersonal RelationshipsCareer PathsInteraction TipsFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator GuideISTJ: Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Characteristics
Cognitive Functions
Personal Relationships
Career Paths
Interaction Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide
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If you’re an ENFP, people have probably described you as enthusiastic, charismatic, charming, energetic, and independent. ENFPs are also creative, so they typically do best in situations where they have the freedom to create and innovate.
Verywell / JR Bee
There are two subtypes of ENFPs: ENFP-A and ENFP-T.
Is ENFP a Rare Personality?An estimated 5% to 7% percent of the population has an ENFP personality type.
Is ENFP a Rare Personality?
An estimated 5% to 7% percent of the population has an ENFP personality type.
Key ENFP Characteristics
Having an ENFP personality means that you likely have the following strengths and weaknesses:
“This personality type places are good amount of focus on emotions and values and relationships are very important to them,” says Hansen.
StrengthsWarm and enthusiasticEmpathetic and caringStrong people skillsStrong communication skillsFun and spontaneousHighly creativeWeaknessesNeeds approval from othersDisorganizedTends to get stressed out easilyCan be overly emotionalOverthinksStruggles to follow rules
StrengthsWarm and enthusiasticEmpathetic and caringStrong people skillsStrong communication skillsFun and spontaneousHighly creative
Warm and enthusiastic
Empathetic and caring
Strong people skills
Strong communication skills
Fun and spontaneous
Highly creative
WeaknessesNeeds approval from othersDisorganizedTends to get stressed out easilyCan be overly emotionalOverthinksStruggles to follow rules
Needs approval from others
Disorganized
Tends to get stressed out easily
Can be overly emotional
Overthinks
Struggles to follow rules
Rizz: What It Is and How to Get It
ENFP Cognitive Functions
Each personality type is composed of four cognitive functions that relate to how they process information and make decisions. The first two functions (dominant and auxiliary) play the most obvious role in personality. The latter two (tertiary and inferior) also play a role, although their influence may only arise in certain settings or situations.
Here are the dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior cognitive functions for the ENFP personality type.
Dominant: Extraverted Intuition
Extraverted intuition means that ENFPs generally focus on the world of possibilities. They are good at abstract thinking and prefer not to concentrate on tiny details.People with this personality type are also inventive andfocused on the future.
Because of this dominant function, ENFPs are good at seeing things as they could be rather than focusing on what they are. They have a natural tendency to focus on relationships and are skilled at finding patterns and connections between people, situations, and ideas.
Auxiliary: Introverted Feeling
When making decisions, ENFPs place a greater value on feelings and values rather than logic and objective criteria. They tend to follow their heart,empathize with others, and let their emotions guide their decisions.
ENFPs have a strong desire to be true to themselves and their values. In an ideal world, there would be congruence between that world and their values.
Tertiary: Extraverted Thinking
This cognitive function is centered on logically organizing information and ideas. The ENFP may use this function to sort through disparate data to efficiently spot connections. For example, an ENFP might “think out loud” when working through a problem, laying out all the information to create an easily followed train of thought.
Inferior: Introverted Sensing
ENFPs You Might KnowFamous ENFPs include:Robin Williams, actor and comedianDr. Seuss, children’s authorSalvador Dali, artistEllen Degeneres, comedian and talk show hostRon Weasley,Harry Pottercharacter
ENFPs You Might Know
Famous ENFPs include:Robin Williams, actor and comedianDr. Seuss, children’s authorSalvador Dali, artistEllen Degeneres, comedian and talk show hostRon Weasley,Harry Pottercharacter
Famous ENFPs include:
Personal Relationships With ENFPs
ENFPs areextraverts, which means that they love spending time with others.As extraverts, they are also naturally upbeat and gregarious. Socializing actually gives an ENFP more energy, helping them to feel more renewed, refreshed, and excited about life.
While other types of extraverts tend to dislike solitude, ENFPs do have a need for some alone time. This gives them space to think and reflect.
ENFPs tend to be warm and passionate in relationships. They are alwaysseeking growthand ways to make their partnerships stronger. ENFPs also tend to be attentive and spontaneous. Their willingness to take risks can sometimes be stressful for those who love them.
ENFP CompatibilityPersonality types most compatible with an ENFP areINTJandINFJ, potentially making these good relationship or marriage prospects. ENFPs tend to be least compatible with anISTP, also sometimes having issues with anESTJ,ISTJ, andISFJ.
ENFP Compatibility
Personality types most compatible with an ENFP areINTJandINFJ, potentially making these good relationship or marriage prospects. ENFPs tend to be least compatible with anISTP, also sometimes having issues with anESTJ,ISTJ, andISFJ.
Career Paths for an ENFP
People with an ENFP personality do best in jobs that offer a lot of flexibility.Because they are empathetic and interested in people, ENFPs also do well in service-oriented careers. They may benefit from avoiding careers that involve completing a lot of detailed, routine tasks.
When choosing a career path, it can help to understand the potential strengths and weaknesses of your personality type. At the same time, you should not base your career decisions solely on your MBTI results as this test’sreliabilityandvalidityare unclear when applied to certain groups.
Popular ENFP Careers
Tips for Interacting With ENFPs
If you regularly interact with an ENFP personality, here are a few tips based on your relationship type.
Friendships
Parenting
Because ENFPs dislike routine and may struggle with structure and limits, their children may perceive them as being inconsistent. That said, ENFP parents typically have strong, loving relationships with their kids and are good at imparting their sense of values.
Parents of ENFP children may find that their child has a strong sense of imagination and a great deal of enthusiasm for life. Your ENFP child’s energy may seem overwhelming at times, but looking for ways to help themexplore their creativityhelps put these personality traits to good use.
Parents of ENFPs should encourage their kids to be creative, while also providing rules and guidelines.
Relationships
ENFPs tend to be passionate and enthusiastic in romantic relationships. But long-term relationships can sometimes hit a snag because people with an ENFP personality type are always thinking about what is possible rather than focusing on the good in things as they are.
To keep the romance alive, look for new ways to keep things fresh andbring excitement into your relationship. Travel and new experiences can help with this and keep the ENFP partner engaged in the relationship and connected to their partner.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is no personality type that is better or worse than the others. Like the other MBTI types, the ENFP personality type has both strengths and weaknesses. Among their strengths, people with this type of personality have great people skills, high levels of creativity, and a strong sense of spontaneity.The ENFP personality type can be disorganized, easily stressed, and emotional. They crave approval from others and tend to overthink situations.
There is no personality type that is better or worse than the others. Like the other MBTI types, the ENFP personality type has both strengths and weaknesses. Among their strengths, people with this type of personality have great people skills, high levels of creativity, and a strong sense of spontaneity.
The ENFP personality type can be disorganized, easily stressed, and emotional. They crave approval from others and tend to overthink situations.
8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shen S-T, Prior SD, White AS, Karamanoglu M.Using personality type differences to form engineering design teams.Engineer Educ. 2007;2(2):54-66. doi:10.11120/ened.2007.02020054Center for Applications of Psychological Type.Estimated frequencies of the types in the United States population.Jessee SA, O’Neill PN, Dosch RO.Matching student personality types and learning preferences to teaching methodologies.J Dent Educ. 2006;70(6):644-651.Amos SP, Homan GJ, Sollo N, Ahlers-Schmidt CR, Engel M, Rawlins P.The relationship of personality style and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.Kans J Med. 2017;10(2):26-29.Fishman I, Ng R, Bellugi U.Do extraverts process social stimuli differently from introverts?.Cogn Neurosci. 2011;2(2):67–73. doi:10.1080/17588928.2010.527434Randall K, Isaacson M, Ciro C.Validity and reliability of the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Best Pract Health. 2017;10(1):1-27.Juckel G, Heinisch C, Welpinghus A, Brüne M.Understanding another person’s emotions-an interdisciplinary research approach.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:414. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00414Nieman P, Shea S.Effective discipline for children.Paediatr Child Health. 2004;9(1):37-50. doi:10.1093/pch/9.1.37Additional ReadingHeiss, M. M. (2011). Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving.TypeLogic.The Myers & Briggs Foundation. The 16 MBTI Types.Myers, I. B. (1998). Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc.
8 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shen S-T, Prior SD, White AS, Karamanoglu M.Using personality type differences to form engineering design teams.Engineer Educ. 2007;2(2):54-66. doi:10.11120/ened.2007.02020054Center for Applications of Psychological Type.Estimated frequencies of the types in the United States population.Jessee SA, O’Neill PN, Dosch RO.Matching student personality types and learning preferences to teaching methodologies.J Dent Educ. 2006;70(6):644-651.Amos SP, Homan GJ, Sollo N, Ahlers-Schmidt CR, Engel M, Rawlins P.The relationship of personality style and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.Kans J Med. 2017;10(2):26-29.Fishman I, Ng R, Bellugi U.Do extraverts process social stimuli differently from introverts?.Cogn Neurosci. 2011;2(2):67–73. doi:10.1080/17588928.2010.527434Randall K, Isaacson M, Ciro C.Validity and reliability of the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Best Pract Health. 2017;10(1):1-27.Juckel G, Heinisch C, Welpinghus A, Brüne M.Understanding another person’s emotions-an interdisciplinary research approach.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:414. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00414Nieman P, Shea S.Effective discipline for children.Paediatr Child Health. 2004;9(1):37-50. doi:10.1093/pch/9.1.37Additional ReadingHeiss, M. M. (2011). Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving.TypeLogic.The Myers & Briggs Foundation. The 16 MBTI Types.Myers, I. B. (1998). Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Shen S-T, Prior SD, White AS, Karamanoglu M.Using personality type differences to form engineering design teams.Engineer Educ. 2007;2(2):54-66. doi:10.11120/ened.2007.02020054Center for Applications of Psychological Type.Estimated frequencies of the types in the United States population.Jessee SA, O’Neill PN, Dosch RO.Matching student personality types and learning preferences to teaching methodologies.J Dent Educ. 2006;70(6):644-651.Amos SP, Homan GJ, Sollo N, Ahlers-Schmidt CR, Engel M, Rawlins P.The relationship of personality style and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.Kans J Med. 2017;10(2):26-29.Fishman I, Ng R, Bellugi U.Do extraverts process social stimuli differently from introverts?.Cogn Neurosci. 2011;2(2):67–73. doi:10.1080/17588928.2010.527434Randall K, Isaacson M, Ciro C.Validity and reliability of the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Best Pract Health. 2017;10(1):1-27.Juckel G, Heinisch C, Welpinghus A, Brüne M.Understanding another person’s emotions-an interdisciplinary research approach.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:414. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00414Nieman P, Shea S.Effective discipline for children.Paediatr Child Health. 2004;9(1):37-50. doi:10.1093/pch/9.1.37
Shen S-T, Prior SD, White AS, Karamanoglu M.Using personality type differences to form engineering design teams.Engineer Educ. 2007;2(2):54-66. doi:10.11120/ened.2007.02020054
Center for Applications of Psychological Type.Estimated frequencies of the types in the United States population.
Jessee SA, O’Neill PN, Dosch RO.Matching student personality types and learning preferences to teaching methodologies.J Dent Educ. 2006;70(6):644-651.
Amos SP, Homan GJ, Sollo N, Ahlers-Schmidt CR, Engel M, Rawlins P.The relationship of personality style and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.Kans J Med. 2017;10(2):26-29.
Fishman I, Ng R, Bellugi U.Do extraverts process social stimuli differently from introverts?.Cogn Neurosci. 2011;2(2):67–73. doi:10.1080/17588928.2010.527434
Randall K, Isaacson M, Ciro C.Validity and reliability of the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Best Pract Health. 2017;10(1):1-27.
Juckel G, Heinisch C, Welpinghus A, Brüne M.Understanding another person’s emotions-an interdisciplinary research approach.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:414. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00414
Nieman P, Shea S.Effective discipline for children.Paediatr Child Health. 2004;9(1):37-50. doi:10.1093/pch/9.1.37
Heiss, M. M. (2011). Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving.TypeLogic.The Myers & Briggs Foundation. The 16 MBTI Types.Myers, I. B. (1998). Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc.
Heiss, M. M. (2011). Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving.TypeLogic.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation. The 16 MBTI Types.
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