ENTP vs ENFP: Key Differences Between These Two Personality Types

Even though the ENTP personality type and ENFP personality type share some similarities, it is essential to remember that the two personality types are not interchangeable. Both ENTP and ENFP personalities have their fair share of unique traits.

For example, one of the differences that stands out between these two personality types is the variation in social skills between the two personalities. The ENFP allows nothing to hamper their social interactions, yet the ENTP will work to have a bit of alone time.

What are the Main Differences Between ENTPs and ENFPs?

ENTPs and ENFPs have similar perspectives and may even, at first glance, be indistinguishable. However, these personality types have several irreconcilable differences: due to the ENTP’s Thinking in place of the ENFP’s feeling, their methods of exploring the world are totally different.

Dominant Cognitive Functions

Each of the 16 Myers-Brigg personality types has four dominant cognitive functions. The functions address four preferences in people’s lives and give insight into how individuals:

• Get their energy
• Learn
• Make decisions
• Order their lives

The ENTP and ENFP share extroversion as well as intuitive thinking. They are energized by people and tend to trust their gut when looking at situations.

The two types also share perceiving as a way of ordering their lives. Flexibility is vital to both personality types, and neither is likely to make detailed lists to guide their days.

Shared Cognitive Functions

• Extroverted Intuition– The ENTP and ENFP personality types approach situations from the emotional side. Neither is prone to put much effort into logic when considering a course of action. They tend to put relationships ahead of details, and they are exceptionally skilled in abstract thinking.
• Introverted Feeling– Both ENTP and ENFPs place the need to be true to themselves over logic and facts when it comes to making decisions. The values and relationships that they hold dear will determine their ideas for the future. Their ability to read people and situations as well as that of spotting patterns and making connections, ensures that they usually make excellent decisions.
• Introverted Sensing– ENTP and ENFP personality types rely on their ability to recall and link past experiences to present events. They will be able to predict outcomes and temper future expectations from this skill set.

Divergent Cognitive Functions

Introverted Thinking– ENTP personalities rely on introverted thinking. This is where they part ways with the ENFPs. Hallmarks of their thinking include adding logic to their assessments of data around them. The tendency to lean on more empirical data can lead ENTPs to come across as insensitive.

Extraverted Thinking– The ENFP relies on their extraverted thinking skills to sort through data and organize information. They excel at finding commonalities in what others see as unrelated facts or occurrences.

Skills of Each Personality Based on Their Divergent Cognitive Functions

ENTPs do well in the role of visionary. They possess a somewhat detached curiosity that pushes them to create ways to leave things better than they found them.

ENTP personalities thrive when they have a steady stream of new projects. Their typical good nature and focus on ideas allow ENTPs to create solutions and innovations in numerous areas.

ENFP personalities excel at inspiring others. They carry with them an almost irresistible enthusiasm for the causes they find meaningful and can easily draw others to them.

Doing good as well as exposing falsehoods and ill intent are two common themes that surround the issues ENFPs find essential. They read situations impeccably and can diffuse tension and add pleasantness to difficult situations.

Strengths of Each Personality Type

ENTP Personality Strengths

• Not judgmental
• A great deal of curiosity
• Learn new information quickly
• Skilled in conversation and drawing out others
• Enjoy interacting with others
• Typically pleasant and laid back
• Innovative ideas
• Straightforward and self-sufficient
• A solid creative side
• Enjoys a good debate
• Values knowledge

ENFP Personality Strengths

• Exceptional people skills
• Flexible and laid back
• Abundance of enthusiasm
• Can inspire others
• Sincere and caring
• Strong empathic skills
• Fun-loving and spontaneous
• Great communicators
• Clever and creative

Weaknesses of Each Personality Type

ENTP Personality Weaknesses

• Dislikes routines
• Bores easily
• Looks to the future but leaves present tasks unfinished
• Can be indecisive
• Tends to argue
• Resists control
• Often unfocused
• Comes across as insensitive
• Can lose sight of present relationships because they prefer to look at the big picture

ENFP personalities’ weaknesses

• Dislike schedules and routines
• Seeks the approval of others
• Tends to procrastinate
• Frequently disorganized
• Easily distracted, especially when bored
• Often emotional
• Following rules does not come naturally
• Can become stressed out easily
• Lacks focus
• They are easily hurt by what others think of them
• Often fails to see ideas through to completion

Similarities and Differences in Five Key Areas of Life

Speaking abstractly regarding MBTI personalities gives us a framework for how the various personality types function. The most accurate understanding of personalities comes within the context of daily life. Here is a look at how ENTP and ENFP personality types are similar and dissimilar in five essential areas of life.

Romantic Relationships and Friendships

Being extroverted and charismatic, both ENTP and ENFP personalities generally attract others with ease. Once a part of these personalities’ inner circle, it is easy to see that the approach to their relationships will vary from each other.

ENTP’s Relationship Style:

If you are looking for a friend or romantic partner who will delight, surprise, and push you towards being the best version of yourself, the ENTP is a perfect candidate. However, if you seek emotional support, a shoulder to cry on, or someone content with the status quo, ENTPs may disappoint.

ENTPs enjoy fun and spontaneous activities and lively debates. Because they do not invest in what others think about them, they often come across as insensitive. ENTPs do not take criticism to heart and do not see how their suggestions and criticisms directed at friends and partners can be hurtful.

Often, ENTPs become so engrossed in their project du jour that they offer little to people in their lives. ENTPs are not setting out to wound or abandon others, but tender hearts may not see it that way.

ENFP’s Relationship Style:

Enthusiastic, devoted, and uninhibited are just a few words that describe how an ENFP acts in the context of a friendship or romantic relationship.

The fact that ENFPs generally go all-in on relationships and friendships can overwhelm partners and friends. This is especially true early in relationships. ENFPs do not adhere to the socially acceptable notion of gradually developing a relationship, which opens them up to confusion and misunderstandings.

Although blessed with infinite charm and the ability to read and relate to others, ENFPs are easily wounded and often struggle when they do not sense their affections returned. This self-doubt comes out as neediness that can push friends and partners away.

Work/Career

When it comes to career paths, both the ENTP and the ENFP excel in areas where they can use their creativity and avoid a repetitive and mundane work life, however, the differences between the two types drive each towards specific careers.

Best ENTP Careers

Art and Design: The expressive and visionary nature of the ENTP makes them a great fit for several careers in the areas of art and design. This includes working as:

• A photographer
• A game designer
• A copywriter
• A film producer

Science and Engineering: With their natural curiosity and need for problems to solve, ENTP personalities can do particularly well in various disciplines within the realm of science and engineering. Here are a few apt careers:

• Environmental scientist
• Architect
• Market researcher
• Political researcher

Business and Technology: Using a hands-on approach to creating optimal products or circumstances makes the ENTP an excellent candidate for various roles in business and technology:

• Software Developer
• Computer programmer
• Systems analyst
• Public relations specialist
• Business Consultant
• Financial planner
• Stockbroker

Best ENFP Careers

Healthcare and Social Services: The genuine concern for others and the ability to empathize and connect with people open the door for many opportunities for ENFP personalities in the health and human services arena:

• Counselor
• Social worker
• Personal trainer
• Physical or occupational therapist
• Chiropractor
• Massage therapist

Education: Because ENFPs love to make a difference as well as enjoy personal connections, education offers an opportunity for the ENFP personality type to experience fulfilling careers:

• Elementary, Middle, or High School Teacher
• Professor
• Guidance Counselor
• Instructional Coordinator
• Childcare center developer

Arts and Humanities: For ENFPs who are willing to take big risks, the arts and humanities offer some of the best career paths for the personality types:

• Writer
• Actor
• Musician
• Performer
• Screenwriter

Commercial Media: Many ENFPs find rewarding careers within the commercial media industry. These careers generally require a great amount of creativity as a regular part of the job:

• Web designer
• Graphic designer
• Copywriter
• Journalist
• Reporter
• Public relations specialist

Sales and Service: The consistently changing landscape of these industries can provide the ENFP with a perfect work environment:

• Real Estate
• Account management
• Customer support
• Entrepreneurship
• Sales

What ENTPs and ENFPs Love, What They Hate, and How They Spend Their Time

ENTP

ENTP personalities get joy and energy from those around them. Specifically, the ENTP loves the following:

• The camaraderie within their circles
• Feeling understood
• A lively debate
• The opportunity to make a difference
• Opportunities to grow and help others achieve growth
• Freedom to express their passionate sides
• -Planning and making significant changes

ENTPs have very definite feelings about negative aspects of their lives. They harbor an intense dislike for:

• Feeling stagnant
• Limitations, especially those with no sensible reasoning
• Someone trying to control them
• Being or feeling ordinary or mediocre
• Ignorance
• Boredom

ENTPs enjoy spending their time in intellectual and creative pursuits. Additionally, this personality type enjoys travel and adventurous activities that test their abilities and foster growth.

ENFP

While ENFPs want (and need) happiness in their lives, this personality sometimes struggles with how they define the things they love. However, among these things can safely be counted:

• Affirmation and appreciation
• Making a difference
• Justice
• Loyalty and devotion
• Strong connections with others
• The inspiration from a new idea

ENFPs have a strong dislike of:

• Criticism
• Stagnation
• Insensitivity
• Repetitive tasks that feel meaningless
• Victimization of others
• Betrayal

ENFPs struggle with the desire to be everywhere, doing everything at the same time. They love activity and spontaneity and enjoy spur-of-the-moment adventures. Time alone to decompress is necessary, but too much time alone can lead ENFPs to depression.

How Emotional and Logical are ENTPs and ENFPs?

ENTP

ENTPs are typically very intelligent. They favor using logic and analytics when they seek to solve problems or create innovations.

Sometimes ENTPs are labeled cold or unfeeling. Although they are extroverts who crave interaction and camaraderie, they can become lost in their intellectual pursuits and neglect those around them.

ENTPs are not emotionless, but they do tend to deny, repress, and avoid dealing with their emotions. They prefer a spirited logic-based debate to a discussion of feelings, as this helps satisfy their natural curiosity.

ENFP

The ENFP personality is most divergent from the ENTP when it comes to emotions and logic. Although most ENFPs are highly intelligent, they can come across as flighty because they can jump from topic to topic with ease. They possess boundless energy for a project that interests them until they become bored and abandon it.

Emotions definitely rule the ENFP’s thinking. However, they are not opposed to logic as long as it does not disrupt their plan to improve the lives of others.

ENTP and ENFP Preferred Communication Style

ENTP

ENTPs love discussions and debates about nearly unlimited topics. Because of this trait, ENTPs are often labeled argumentative. They are not looking to argue: they are energized by the exchange and enjoy learning new points while strengthening their own skills.

ENTPs will balk at the notion that they are somehow misinformed or, worse, wrong about the topic at hand. Additionally, because they look at the big picture, the ENTP finds communicating about details boring.

They stand behind their assessments and fearlessly offer critiques of others. This can be a source of tension as well as hurt feelings depending on the ENTP’s audience.

ENFP

Being naturally charming and friendly allows ENFPs nearly limitless opportunities to communicate with others. They enjoy encouraging others as well as being a supportive sounding board.

This personality type prefers to speak about big ideas as well as about the concepts that are on their radar at the present time. Minute details and topics that constrain them will bore or agitate an ENFP. However, they tend to focus on keeping the peace, so it is likely you may not be aware of how the ENFP feels.

Infringing on the deep values of an ENFP is a surefire way to draw their ire. When pushed past the point of reasonable flexibility, an ENFP will shock those those around them with a firm stand or an outburst of emotion.

Using the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator can help you unlock interesting sides and motivations in your personality and those of your friends, family, and coworkers. Remember to take into account the fact that there are individual influences over personality traits. Environment, family, and events also shape our personalities and are essential pieces to consider.