ENTP

ENTPs are enthusiastic, inventive, logical, and spontaneous. They are excited about the future and the many possibilities it holds. ENTPs are rational and objective when making decisions, and are at their best when faced with a challenging and complex problem. ENTP enjoy using their intellect and constantly strive to increase their understanding of the world and how it works.

ENTPs are fascinated by new ideas and theories and are often searching for new solutions to improve systems. They enjoy debate, and tend to be precise with language and meaning. ENTPs are likely to play devil’s advocate, always analyzing every aspect of a situation logically. For this reason, ENTPs are sometimes seen as negative and argumentative. They tend to be quite optimistic, however, and simply strive for continuous improvement. An ENTP is likely to see a setback as an opportunity and adapt easily in chaotic fast-paced environments.

ENTPs are often able to articulate their complex ideas and conclusions with ease, and can be quite charming and persuasive when so motivated. They are resilient and resourceful, and may not have patience for others who do not share their independent spirit. They value competency, and appreciate working with individuals who are as forward-thinking and innovative as they are.

ENTPs prefer flexible work environments, where they are given the freedom to work at their own pace. They often plunge enthusiastically into a new project, confident that they possess the skills, abilities, and intelligence to solve any problem.

ENTP Type Dynamics

The core of the ENTP personality type is Extraverted Intuition. This dominant function guides the way ENTPs understand the world and take in information about their surroundings. When using Extraverted Intuition, ENTPs explore meaning and interpretations in the world around them. They see possibilities everywhere, and scan their environments for new ideas and people to experience.

The auxiliary function for ENTPs is Introverted Thinking. This mental function supports their dominant Extraverted Intuition to help them process and evaluate information internally. Using Introverted Thinking, ENTPs seek orderly, systematic and logical thinking. They reflect to create rational understanding within their own minds.

The tertiary Feeling function is less developed for most ENTPs, especially early in life. When this function is not well developed, ENTPs may have trouble tuning into values and considering the impact of decisions on people.

The inferior function for ENTPs, or that function which is least likely to be conscious and well developed, is Introverted Sensing. When this function is not developed, ENTPs can have trouble retaining and recalling practical, detailed information, and may ignore aspects of their physical experience.

ENTP in the Population

ENTP is one of the rarer types in the population. ENTPs make up:

3% of the general population
4% of men
2% of women

Popular Hobbies

Popular hobbies for the ENTP include continuing education, writing, art appreciation, playing sports, computers and video games, travel, and cultural events.

Famous ENTPs

Famous ENTPs include Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Lewis Carroll, Alfred Hitchcock, John Malkovich, Nikola Tesla, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Benjamin Franklin, and Richard Feynman.

For more information: Famous ENTPs [4]

Research on ENTP

Interesting facts about the ENTP:

On personality trait scales, scored as Enterprising, Friendly, Resourceful, Headstrong, Self-Centered, and Independent
Least likely of all types to suffer heart disease and hypertension
Least likely of all types to report stress associated with family and health
Scored among highest of all types in available resources for coping with stress
Overrepresented among those with Type A behavior
Among highest of all types on measures of creativity
One of two types most frequent among violators of college alcohol policy
Among types most dissatisfied with their work, despite being among the types with highest income
Commonly found in careers in science, management, technology, and the arts

Work & Careers

ENTP at Work

At work, the ENTP is concerned with applying innovative solutions to challenging problems to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of systems. ENTPs often take an entrepreneurial approach to their work and they prefer to approach tasks in a casual and unstructured way, with few limitations on their ingenuity.

ENTPs prize competency and often want to be the expert. They enjoy work that demands continual improvement in their knowledge and skills. They value power, and want a career that allows them contact with powerful people and the opportunity to increase their own influence.

ENTPs are idea people, and chafe at routine. They get bored very quickly when required to repeat a task or attend to details. They do best when their work is highly conceptual, and allows them to solve problems creatively without having to think through the details.

The ideal work environment for an ENTP is intellectually challenging without being rigid, with creative and intelligent coworkers. The ideal job for an ENTP allows them to put their creativity to work developing innovative ideas, while allowing them to delegate responsiblity for the tedious details of implementation to others.

Popular Careers for the ENTP

Top careers for the ENTP include:

Executive [5]
Entrepreneur
HR Recruiter [6]
Management Consultant [7]
Marketing [8]Manager [8]

Relationships

ENTP Communication Style

ENTPs are lively and agile communicators who speak in terms of the “big idea.” They like to explore possibilities and make connections with the information they receive. ENTPs love innovative solutions and are enthusiastic about change, but they are also highly analytical and will not hesitate to criticize ideas that don’t hold up to their logical analysis. ENTPs can be hard to keep up with in conversation; they like to play with lots of complex ideas and have little patience for explaining details.

ENTPs as Partners

In relationships, the ENTP is inventive, enthusiastic, and spontaneous. ENTPs are often exciting partners, full of ideas for new things to explore together.

ENTPs prize their ability to understand others and communicate effectively, and have an ongoing interest in improving themselves and their relationships. They want to know how their partners' minds work, and are creative in coming up with solutions to interpersonal problems.

ENTPs like to encourage their mates to pursue their ambitions. However, they may be competitive or even argumentative; they enjoy a good debate for its own sake. They typically need a partner who is emotionally resilient and doesn't take offense at their intellectual challenges.

ENTPs can be unreliable as they follow their inspiration, wherever it may lead. They have little interest in order or routine, and may neglect mundane household chores as they pursue more stimulating activities. The ideal mate for an ENTP appreciates their ingenuity, competence, and perceptiveness, and supports them in their ever-changing interests, schemes, and social pursuits.

ENTPs as Parents

As parents, ENTPs are concerned with developing their children as independent thinkers. They are fun-loving parents who want to give their children many experiences to help their young minds expand and grow. More interested in challenging their children intellectually than caring for their physical needs, the ENTP is inclined to leave the day-to-day details of childrearing up to another parent if possible.

Although ENTP parents may be distracted from their families when other interests capture their attention, they derive great joy from offering their children many and varied opportunities to develop.

For more information: Please Understand Me II [19]

Dynamics

ENTP Under Stress

ENTPs can become stressed when they are forced to spend too much time alone, focusing on details, or doing repetitive tasks that don’t engage their imagination. Because ENTPs love taking on new projects, they may commit themselves to exciting opportunities than they can’t realistically follow through on. When the ENTP fully acknowledges the time and energy required to turn their many ideas into reality, or realizes that they must complete mundane detail work in pursuit of their goals, a stress response often follows.

When under stress, ENTPs are affected by their inferior Sensing function. They often turn inward and feel isolated and unloved. They may seem picky or irritable, as they fixate on minor errors or other people’s oversights. They are prone to obsess about details and may grasp on to a single fact, insisting that it is of utmost significance. The ENTP’s inferior Sensing may also appear as an uncharacteristic focus on their own bodies. Because this inward sensory focus is unfamiliar to the ENTP, they often misinterpret physical sensations and can become hypochondriacal.

For more information: Was That Really Me? [20]

To read more about the ENTP, visit the ENTP page at Truity.com [21].