ENTP and INTP Relationships: Compatibility, Love, Marriage, and Romance

ENTPs (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Perceiving) and INTPs (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Perceiving) are both creative and intellectually-oriented personality types who dream about making a better future. They both tend to be logical to a fault and are both usually successful in their chosen career.

In spite of their similarities, they have one large difference. An ENTP is an extravert, meaning they thrive around and are inspired by other people. An INTP, on the other hand, is an introvert and feels much more comfortable when they are alone. Also, ENTPs are more whimsical, spontaneous and light-hearted than INTPs, who are more serious, rigid and hyper-focused.

Are ENTPs and INTPs compatible enough to be in a romantic relationship?

Not only would ENTPs and INTPs be romantically compatible but their unique personality traits will tend to complement one another very nicely.

ENTPs

ENTPs love to learn. They are among the most intellectually curious of the personality types and are known for having an insatiable thirst for new information. They love puzzling over theoretical problems and dreaming up solutions that could one day improve the world. They are also easy-going, whimsical and usually a pleasure to be around. Still, they can be a little too inwardly focused.

4 Characteristics of ENTPs

1. ENTPs are charming and are often charismatic.
2. They tend to be successful in whatever career they undertake because of their passion and work ethic.
3. They are not afraid of open and honest discussion or conflict.
4. They tend to talk big but may have problems following through.

INTPs

INTPs are quiet, self-reflective and logical to the core. They are motivated and will set tough goals and have high expectations for themselves. They may not appear emotionally vulnerable to the outside world but that doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings. They feel very deeply but choose to keep their emotional live very private.

4 Characteristics of INTPs

1. They love an intellectual challenge and can very often come up with unique solutions no one else would have considered.
2. When making decisions, they have no problem looking at the evidence objectively.
3. They can be hesitant and even skeptical about changes unless they’ve had adequate time to research all of the possibilities.
4. INTPs are very internally focused — so much so that some people misread them as aloof.

Because ENTPs and INTPs are both intellectually-oriented, enjoy a challenge and understand the necessity of down time, it’s not surprising that they might find each other attractive.

4 Reasons ENTPs and INTPs would mesh well romantically

1. They both are people of ideas — they love to discuss theories and philosophy and will enjoy listening to each other’s unique perspectives.
2. They both prefer straightforward and honest communication.
3. An ENTP could help the INTP get more involved in the world and the INTP could help to ground the ENTP.
4. They both tend to be flexible and willing to accept change.

In spite of their potential for romance, ENTPs and INTPs do have significant differences that could lead to relationship trouble.

4 Reasons ENTPs and INTPs might have problems in a romantic relationship

1. INTPs might have trouble letting an ENTP know that they’re romantically interested.
2. Given that ENTPs are extraverted and INTPs are introverted, socializing could be stressful for both individuals.
3. Because they both spend so much time in their own heads, they may have problems focusing on other people.
4. ENTPs value their social time while INTPs need more private time.

Romance / Love / Sex

Can a committed relationship between an ENTP and an INTP survive?

Eventually, romance may evolve into love. An ENTP and INTP relationship has just as much of a chance to survive as any other relationship if both parties are able to treat each other well and respect each other’s differences.

ENTPs

ENTPs need someone who will love them for their true selves. Being in love with an ENTP is like being in a whirlwind — there’s a lot of fun and impulsivity but there might also be frustration in having to bring them down to earth and remind them of their obligations.

3 Ways an ENTP might approach love

1. ENTPs apply their desire for growth and learning to their relationships, helping to keep things fresh.
2. As someone who likes to try new things, it may take a while for an ENTP to make a full commitment to someone.
3. They can be fun, whimsical and spontaneous when in love, living each romantic opportunity to the fullest.

INTPs

INTPs might take a while to warm up to someone but once they’re in love, they fall hard. Still, they need their personal space and independence to feel truly happy.

3 Ways an INTP might approach love

1. Their dream relationship would be a long-term, fully-committed relationship with someone they could consider to be their best friend.
2. They don’t necessarily do traditional romance very well and may be baffled by the emotional expectations of their partner.
3. Even INTPs who are deeply in love need a lot of alone time.

What would cause ENTPs and INTPs to mesh well in a love relationship?

• They are both relatively easy-going and not too demanding in terms of relationships.
• They both love learning new things.
• An ENTP’s playfulness can help to balance out an INTP’s serious side and vice versa.
• An ENTP’s ability to socialize will help to bring an INTP out of their own heads and into the world of other people.

What might cause ENTPs and INTPs to have problems?

• ENTPs love to debate and may have to remember that their INTP partner may just need to be listened to.
• Some ENTPs may be a little too honest and blunt for an INTP’s liking.
• INTPs tend to be more organized in their day-to-day life than ENTPs, which could cause friction over time.
• If the INTP’s need for private time is too great, it could eventually annoy the ENTP.

Role of Gender

In society, gender role expectations can shape how people view themselves and how they relate with the world. ENTPs and INTPs fit some gender stereotypes while being completely opposite of others.

ENTPs

Intelligent, charismatic and iconoclastic, ENTPs don’t care very much about gender stereotypes. They march to the beat of their own drummer and don’t worry about fitting into anyone’s mold.

When a male ENTP arrives at the party, everyone is happy to see them. They are captivating and have personalities that are attractive to both men and women alike. Their spontaneity and intellectual curiosity may not be stereotypical male attributes but their tendency to be reluctant to make a romantic commitment might be.

4 Characteristics of male ENTPs

1. They are intelligent and very curious about every aspect of the world.
2. They have a reputation for playing the field romantically. They will settle down eventually, it just might take a while.
3. Most of their friends would agree that there is never a dull moment with their ENTP buddy — they are creative and whimsical and a lot of fun.
4. They can be quite competitive, whether it be in a friendly game of chess or in an intellectual argument, they want to win.

The idea that good girls follow the rules is a female stereotype. Well, ENTP women have a habit of ignoring most rules. Maybe that’s why they often end up in male-dominated careers, have many male friends and love a thrill-seeking adventure.

4 Characteristics of female ENTPs

1. They are known for their charm and magnetism.
2. They tend to be adventurous. They’ll try anything once and will usually have an array of unusual and sometimes risky hobbies.
3. They are logically minded but love to challenge existing premises.
4. They are known for being blunt and even sardonic.

INTPs

Very often, INTP males and females exhibit characteristics stereotypically associated with both sexes.

Male INTPs tend to get pigeonholed as being emotionless robots who are all logic and no fun. It’s clearly not true but it does allow them to blend into typical male gender roles better than some other personality types. They can pass as the strong, silent male stereotype even though they aren’t usually hanging around with the guys or out playing competitive sports.

4 Characteristics of male INTPs

1. While they do need time alone, they also need time with a few close and trusted friends.
2. They do not like to make the first move, especially in a romantic situation.
3. They are not good with flirting and have trouble picking up on romantic cues from others.
4. INTPs can be very guarded about sharing their feelings, even with their significant other or their good friends.

Female INTPs are often considered unfeminine because they are quiet, logical and can be socially avoidant. Women are typically thought of as being highly emotional and dependent on other women for friendships. INTP women, on the other hand, are independent and hesitant to open themselves up to others. They also don’t tend to see the appeal in what would be considered silly girlish activities like shopping or gossip.

4 Characteristics of female INTPs

1. They tend to thrive in career fields that are typically considered masculine.
2. They aren’t sentimental and don’t tend to do well with heavy emotional exchanges.
3. Sometimes they feel rather hapless when trying to navigate the world of romance.
4. They often feel like outsiders around other women.

Possible relationship scenarios between ENTP males and INTP females

Scenario 1: An ENTP male must attend a work party. His INTP girlfriend reluctantly agrees to go. After two hours, she’s dying to go home but can’t because her boyfriend is everyone’s favorite storyteller. She scuttles off into the corner, trying to be invisible while he is the center of attention.

Scenario 2: An INTP female and her ENTP husband go to an animal shelter to pick out a new puppy. She’s been on their website and knows exactly which dog she wants. He gets there and runs from cage to cage, playing with all of the dogs and laughing that he can’t decide. They end up leaving with the dog she originally picked out online.

Possible relationship scenarios between ENTP females and INTP males

Scenario 1:  While on vacation, an ENTP wife has horrified her INTP husband by spontaneously entering a limbo contest. He sits at a table, head in his hand as she does round after round of the limbo in front of an intoxicated crowd. He is proud of her when she wins, though.

Scenario 2:  An INTP male is an assistant professor and it’s his duty to host a function for the graduate students. He has no idea what to do. Luckily, his ENTP wife jumps in to save him and plans the whole thing, charming everyone in the process.

Friendship

ENTPs and INTPs have different experiences when it comes to friendship. ENTPs thrive around other people and INTPs would very often prefer to be alone. In spite of this, both usually have a few trusted friends who are willing to overlook any personality idiosyncrasies.

People love ENTPs. They are charming and open and will usually make any gathering livelier. In the one-on-one emotional support department, an ENTP might not be your first choice as a friend whose shoulder you want to cry on. They aren’t strong on handling other people’s emotions, and most likely, their friends know that.

3 Characteristics of ENTP friendships

1. They love a healthy and spirited debate, so they need friends who will appreciate this part of their personality.
2. If you need an empathetic and emotionally supportive friend, an ENTP might not be your first choice.
3. They will always be up for adventures and for something new.

INFPs may require a lot of alone time but they also make very loyal friends. They tend to have a few people in their lives with whom they’ve been friends for years.

3 Characteristics of INTP friendships

1. It takes them a while to warm up and trust people.
2. They can be loyal friends but they may ignore texts, emails and phone calls while they are focusing on something else.
3. They prefer one-on-one social situations and intimate conversations over group settings or parties.

Can ENTPs and INTPs be friends?

They can make excellent friends because of their differences. The extraversion of an ENTP and the INTP’s introversion can allow them to bring out the best in each other and broaden the other’s horizons.

3 Reasons ENTPs and INTPs might mesh well together

1. They are both adept at communicating their ideas, so they should enjoy each other’s perspectives.
2. Each are willing to try new things and thus could enjoy going on adventures together.
3. They both will happily avoid exploring each other’s emotional lives.

3 Reasons there might be potential problems in an ENTP and INTP friendship

1. INTPs are very private and don’t like to be around large crowds. ENTPs get energy from being around people and may feel stifled by their INTP friend.
2. Both can withdraw when they are stressed and thus they may not be available for support.
3. Both personalities are not good at reading emotions. If there are problems with the other, they may not realize it.