Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsKey ENTP CharacteristicsENTP Cognitive FunctionsENTP-T and ENTP-A SubtypesENTP Personal RelationshipsENTP Career PathsTips for Interacting With an ENTPFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator GuideINFJ: Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Key ENTP Characteristics
ENTP Cognitive Functions
ENTP-T and ENTP-A Subtypes
ENTP Personal Relationships
ENTP Career Paths
Tips for Interacting With an ENTP
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide
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People with the ENTP personality type are often described as innovative, clever, and expressive. ENTPs are also known for being idea-oriented, which is why this personality type has been described as “the innovator,” “the visionary,” and “the debater.”
ENTPs are less interested in the here-and-now details than in generating ideas and theories. Because of this, they sometimes tend to come up with one idea after another without actually implementing those plans. They are great when it comes to generating ideas, but less skilled at following through.
Is the ENTP personality type rare?According to psychologist David Keirsey, the creator of theKeirsey Temperament Sorter, ENTPs are known as Rational Inventors. He suggests that the Rational personality type is rare, accounting for around five to 10% of the population.In fact, ENTP is considered one of the rarest personality types, along with the INFJ, INTJ, and ENFJ types.
Is the ENTP personality type rare?
According to psychologist David Keirsey, the creator of theKeirsey Temperament Sorter, ENTPs are known as Rational Inventors. He suggests that the Rational personality type is rare, accounting for around five to 10% of the population.In fact, ENTP is considered one of the rarest personality types, along with the INFJ, INTJ, and ENFJ types.
There are a few clues you can look for to determine if you or someone you know might be an ENTP:
You’re a Great Conversationalist
ENTPs enjoy interacting with a wide variety of people. If you have this personality type, you are probably a greatconversationalist, whether you are making casual small-talk or having a serious debate.
You Tend to Focus on the Big Picture
If you are an ENTP, you might be more focused on the future rather than on immediate details. Do you ever start projects and never finish them? Do you get so focused on the big picture that you lose track of your present needs? If so, you might be an ENTP.
You’re a Social Butterfly
ENTPs enjoy being around other people. You love to have conversations and debates focused on your interests and passions.
You might usually be fairly laid-back and easy to get along with. However, you might find that you sometimes get so wrapped up in your ideas or plans that you lose sight of your close relationships.
You Sometimes Struggle to Commit
As an ENTP, you tend to reserve judgment. Instead of deciding or committing to a course of action, you would prefer to wait and see what happens.
You’re Naturally Curious
ENTPs are immensely curious and focused on understanding the world around them. They constantly absorb new information and ideas and quickly arrive at conclusions. They are also quick-thinking, so they readily grasp new ideas and concepts.
You Love a Good Debate
One common myth about ENTPs is that they love to argue simply for the sake of arguing. While you might be willing to play the devil’s advocate at times, your love of debates from a desire to explore a topic, learn what other people believe, and help others see the other side of the story.
StrengthsInnovativeCreativeGreat conversationalistEnjoys debatingValues knowledgeWeaknessesCan be argumentativeDislikes routines and schedulesDoes not like to be controlledUnfocusedInsensitive
StrengthsInnovativeCreativeGreat conversationalistEnjoys debatingValues knowledge
Innovative
Creative
Great conversationalist
Enjoys debating
Values knowledge
WeaknessesCan be argumentativeDislikes routines and schedulesDoes not like to be controlledUnfocusedInsensitive
Can be argumentative
Dislikes routines and schedules
Does not like to be controlled
Unfocused
Insensitive
Dominant: Extroverted Intuition
ENTPs tend to take in information quickly and are very open-minded.Once they have gathered this information, they spend time making connections between various complex and interwoven relationships.
People with this personality type are good at spotting connections that others might overlook and tend to be focused on possibilities. They have entrepreneurial minds and always come up with new and exciting ideas.
Auxiliary: Introverted Thinking
This cognitive function is expressed in the ENTPs thinking process. People with this type of personality are more focused on taking in information about the world around them. When they do use this information to reach conclusions, they tend to be very logical.
ENTPs are logical and objective. When making decisions, they place a greater weight on rational evidence instead of subjective, emotional information.
This function helps the ENTP understand all the information that comes in through the extroverted intuition function. It involves imposing logic and order to help make sense of many disparate ideas and pieces of information. ENTPs don’t just want to understand that something works—they want to understand the why and how behind how things function.
Tertiary: Extroverted Feeling
As a tertiary function, this aspect of personality may not be as well-developed or prominent, so how it is expressed can vary. When well-developed, ENTPs can be social charmers who are able to get along well with others.
When this aspect of personality is weaker, the ENTP may be insensitive to others. That’s why people with this type of personality are sometimes seen as aloof or unkind.
Inferior: Introverted Sensing
The introverted sensing function is centered on understanding the past and often applying it to current experiences and future concerns.
Sometimes, this can be point of weakness for ENTP personalities. They often focus more on possibilities and may fail to consider how past precedents may help predict outcomes.
ENTPs also tend to overlook many of the more mundane details of daily life, especially if they are deeply involved in a project or plan.
ENTPs You Might KnowThomas Edison, inventorJohn Adams, U.S. PresidentWalt Disney, filmmakerJulia Child, cookAlexander the Great, King and military leader
ENTPs You Might Know
Thomas Edison, inventorJohn Adams, U.S. PresidentWalt Disney, filmmakerJulia Child, cookAlexander the Great, King and military leader
ENTPs can be further categorized into two groups: ENTP-T and ENTP-A.
Since they are identified asextroverts, it may come as no surprise that ENTPs have very good people skills.They are skilled communicators and enjoy interacting with a wide circle of family, friends, and acquaintances. In conversations, other people often find them quick-witted.
ENTPs will often engage in debates simply because they enjoy having a good battle of the wits. Their love of debates leads ENTPs to take on the role of the devil’s advocate, which can sometimes lead to conflicts with others who feel like they are intentionally combative and antagonistic.
Who is ENTP compatible with?While the ENTP personality can successfully havehealthy relationshipswith people of any personality type, they tend to be most compatible with people who can provide balance to their dominant extraverted intuition function.In terms of dating and marriage, some highly compatible personality types include other ENTPs,ENTJs,ENFPs, andINTPs.
Who is ENTP compatible with?
While the ENTP personality can successfully havehealthy relationshipswith people of any personality type, they tend to be most compatible with people who can provide balance to their dominant extraverted intuition function.In terms of dating and marriage, some highly compatible personality types include other ENTPs,ENTJs,ENFPs, andINTPs.
While the ENTP personality can successfully havehealthy relationshipswith people of any personality type, they tend to be most compatible with people who can provide balance to their dominant extraverted intuition function.
In terms of dating and marriage, some highly compatible personality types include other ENTPs,ENTJs,ENFPs, andINTPs.
ENTPs tend to really struggle with anything that involves routines and boredom. They are non-conformists and do best in jobs when they can find excitement and express their creative freedom. ENTPs can be successful in a wide range of careers—as long as they do not feel hemmed in or bored.
As debaters with great communication skills, careers in law can offer the challenge and diversity that ENTPs crave. Jobs in the business world that combine the ENTP’s rationality, creativity, and naturalleadership abilitiescan also be very rewarding.
Popular ENTP CareersEngineerLawyerScientistPsychologistInventorPsychiatristJournalist
Popular ENTP Careers
EngineerLawyerScientistPsychologistInventorPsychiatristJournalist
If you know an ENTP, there are some strategies that can help you better understand that person and get the most out of your interactions. Whether that person is your friend, your child, or your partner, here are a few tips that can help you know what to expect:
Friendships
ENTPs are great at getting along with people no matter what their personality type. While they are usually laid-back, they can be quite competitive.
If you are friends with an ENTP, be careful not to get into the habit of trying to outdo each other. This can lead to conflicts that can jeopardize your friendship.
Be aware of their love for debates and be careful not to escalate good-natured discussions into combative arguments.
Parenting
ENTPs have a fun-loving nature and are excited to share their sense of wonder with their children. Parents with this personality type are supportive, but they have a tendency to try to turn every situation into a learning opportunity.
Parents of ENTP children should know that their children may sometimes seem argumentative. It’s a natural side effect of their love for discussion and debate. They may also seem inconsistent, being warm and affectionate in one moment and then withdrawing in the next as they become wrapped up in new ideas.
Parents should encourage their children to focus on goals and finish the things that they start.
Relationships
In intimate relationships, ENTPs can be passionate and exciting. They are warm, loving, and good at understanding their partner’s needs.You may find that they may struggle to follow through on promises that they have made, which can be a source of frustration at times.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is no personality type that is better than the others. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. For the ENTP, their creativity, communication skills, and generally good-natured attitude means they can be successful in a wide range of situations.The ENTP personality type is creative but has a strong dislike for schedules and regular routines. They struggle in situations where they feel controlled and can be unfocused at times. They enjoy conversation and debates, but this can sometimes leave others with the impression that the ENTP is argumentative and insensitive.
There is no personality type that is better than the others. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. For the ENTP, their creativity, communication skills, and generally good-natured attitude means they can be successful in a wide range of situations.
The ENTP personality type is creative but has a strong dislike for schedules and regular routines. They struggle in situations where they feel controlled and can be unfocused at times. They enjoy conversation and debates, but this can sometimes leave others with the impression that the ENTP is argumentative and insensitive.
5 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.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI types.Keirsey.Portrait of a rational.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.My MBTI results.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Extraversion or introversion.Johnston, Dan.Entp Personality - Discover Your Strengths and Thrive as the Charming and Visionary Entp: The Ultimate Guide to the Entp Personality. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
5 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.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI types.Keirsey.Portrait of a rational.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.My MBTI results.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Extraversion or introversion.Johnston, Dan.Entp Personality - Discover Your Strengths and Thrive as the Charming and Visionary Entp: The Ultimate Guide to the Entp Personality. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
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.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI types.Keirsey.Portrait of a rational.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.My MBTI results.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Extraversion or introversion.Johnston, Dan.Entp Personality - Discover Your Strengths and Thrive as the Charming and Visionary Entp: The Ultimate Guide to the Entp Personality. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI types.
Keirsey.Portrait of a rational.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation.My MBTI results.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Extraversion or introversion.
Johnston, Dan.Entp Personality - Discover Your Strengths and Thrive as the Charming and Visionary Entp: The Ultimate Guide to the Entp Personality. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
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