ENTP Personality Type: ENTP Careers and Traits

An ENTP is one of the sixteen personality types in the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator system. ENTP stands for “extroverted, intuitive, thinking, perceiving.” Colloquially, people refer to this personality type as “the debater” or “the innovator.” Famous ENTPs include the inventor Thomas Edison and actor Tom Hanks.

According to the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator system, the different personality types have different dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior cognitive functions. Learn more about the specific cognitive functions of the ENTP personality type.

• Dominant: The dominant function of an ENTP is Extroverted Intuition, meaning ENTPs are curious and have openness to experiences. ENTPs gather information about the world by making connections and patterns. These personality types are outgoing and tend to be great conversationalists.
• Auxiliary: The auxiliary cognitive function of ENTP personality types is Introverted Thinking, meaning ENTPs are highly logical. This function allows ENTPs to focus and process information.
• Tertiary: Extroverted Feeling is the tertiary function of ENTP personality types. ENTPs can emotionally connect with others and show empathy. ENTPs, however, are prone to miss social cues, and developing intimacy in relationships can be challenging for ENTPs unless they are with someone who shares a high level of compatibility.
• Inferior: The weakest cognitive function of ENTPs is Introverted Sensing. This function involves comparing current and past experiences.

Like all MBTI types, the ENTP has a recognizable assortment of personality traits:

• Argumentative
• Creative
• Curious
• Innovative
• Pragmatic
• Self-assertive

ENTP personality types work best in collaborative work environments. Strict routines, schedules, and supervision can be challenging for ENTPs. These personality types excel at brainstorming and enjoy debating. Their willingness to consider all sides of an issue is an excellent way to find creative solutions to problems. Good ENTP career paths include actor, lawyer, salesperson, and entrepreneur.

The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI for short) is a self-reported personality assessment. Isabel Myers and Catherine Briggs, who drew heavily on the work of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, developed the MBTI to promote self-understanding by helping people clarify their abilities and preferences in life, work, and relationships.

The sixteen MBTI types include ISTJ, ISFJ, INTJ, INFJ, ISTP, INTP, INFP, ISFP, ESTJ, ENTJ, ENTP, ENFJ, ENFP, ESFP, ESTP, and ESFJ.

The MBTI personality test organizes people into sixteen categories. The letters refer to four psychological functions or scales in human personalities:

1. 1. Introversion - Extroversion (I-E): Introversion to extroversion (or extraversion) describes how people interact with themselves and others. Extroverted people thrive on socializing and find relationships relatively energizing, while introverts need to spend more time with themselves and often find socializing draining.
2. 2. Sensing - Intuition (S-N): This refers to how people gather information about the exterior world. Some tend to be more attentive to sensory information, while others are more intuitive about the world around them.
3. 3. Thinking - Feeling (T-F): This measures how people make decisions about the world and events. Those who favor thinking tend to be rational and deliberative and prefer logical conclusions. People who lean toward feeling tend to emphasize their emotions when making decisions.
4. 4. Judging - Perceiving (J-P): This scale measures people’s overall orientation toward people and events. Those who judge tend to favor organizational structure and precise decisions, whereas people who perceive are often more accepting, nuanced, and reserved in their opinions and ideas.

Developing relational intelligence and improving communication are essential to boost the quality of your personal and professional relationships. Discover Esther Perel’s approach to resolving conflict, having difficult conversations, and building trust when you sign up for a MasterClass Annual Membership.