7 ENFP Stereotypes
As with every personality type, there are plenty of ENFP stereotypes to go around. Unfortunately, stereotypes can create confusion, causing people to make inaccurate assumptions about ENFPs. Granted, some stereotypes are worse than others. Some stereotypes may even be accurate for a subset of ENFPs out there. However, stereotypes should never be used as a basis for identifying someone as an ENFP, nor should they be used to box an ENFP in to certain surface level behaviors. Everyone is different. No one will fit into their type’s mold 100%, so you need to be careful what you assume about others.
Each of the 16 personality types are based on a grouping of cognitive functions. Cognitive functions determine thought process, not behavior. That is ultimately the downside of stereotypes. Generally speaking, some might be legitimate tendencies, but tendencies are just that. They are not absolute; they are potential symptoms of a certain thought process.
In this article, I’m going to cover the most well known ENFP stereotypes that I know of, and explain why they may or may not be true. Hopefully, by reading this, you’ll be able to gain a more grounded and realistic understanding of the ENFP personality type.
7 ENFP Stereotypes
1. ENFPs are always happy and optimistic
ENFPs have Ne, or Extraverted Intuition, as their dominant function. Most people like to assume that high Ne will make someone extremely optimistic, especially if that person also happens to be a feeler. After all, Ne is great at generating possibilities, realistic or not, so people typically describe the stereotypical ENFP as someone who sees a world of endless, exciting opportunities. However, optimism is a frame of mind that any personality type can technically possess. An ENFP with a positive outlook on life can definitely be extremely optimistic, fitting this stereotype to a tee. However, an ENFP who is perhaps more cynical or in a darker place in their life may only ever generate negative possibilities.
2. ENFPs all suffer from a lack of focus or ADHD
First off, ADHD is a legitimate disorder, not specific to a personality type. (See Typing Those With Neuro Differences: ADHD.) With that being said, I understand why this stereotype exists. (No, I’m not validating it.) Basically, perceivers are known for being scattered and disorganized. The ENFP has dominant Ne, which makes them prone to jumping from one exciting idea to another without ever actually choosing one to bring to fruition. However, ultimately, this is a discipline problem, rather than an attribute that ENFPs are doomed to suffer with. Young ENFPs may struggle more with a lack of focus, but mature ENFPs are more than capable of buckling down when saomething is important, and dedicating all of their time and energy to it. In fact, ENFPs can be quite focused and determined when it comes to something they value, or something that piques their interest.
3. ENFPs are all social butterflies
The typology community often confuses cognitive extraversion with social extraversion. However, the two are not the same. In other words, someone can be one of the eight extraverted types without actually being socially extraverted. Cognitive extraversion is simply a focus on the external world. (See Extraversion in Typology.) The ENFPs are specifically known for being extra people-oriented. Now, some ENFPs may fit this stereotype, but others may not. Some may choose to outlet their dominant Ne via their projects, the internet, online communities, etc. In addition, decently developed Fi (or Introverted Feeling), which is the ENFP’s auxiliary function, should cause the ENFP to be introspective, and closely connected to their personal feelings and values. After all, Fi is an identity function, which by nature, requires self-introspection. (See Exploring Introverted Feeling (Fi).)
4. ENFPs are always hyper, overly excitable and energetic
ENFPs have gotten this reputation for being hyper, quirky, and zaney. They’re supposed to be very obviously energetic and excited constantly as they jump from idea to idea, possibility to possibility. It’s as if the child-like wonder that many of them are known for translates to actually be young forever. Obviously, this is not realistic. From my personal observations, young ENFPs can fit this stereotype rather well (but not always), but then they often mellow out as they get older. (When I say “young”, I’m thinking teenager or younger… maybe early 20s.) In my opinion, personality type descriptions (which often propagate this stereotype) often describe unbalanced versions of each type, which are more applicable to teenagers. (See Why Don’t I Fit My Personality Type Description?)
5. ENFPs are flaky and irresponsible
As with many perceivers, ENFPs are often known for being flaky and irresponsibly. Supposedly, they can’t finish anything, or get anywhere on time. They lack follow through, and will back out of a prior commitment at the last minute. As with point #2, this is more of a discipline or character problem. Yes, ENFPs may be prone to running slightly late, or losing track of the time, but to say that they’ll be irresponsible and inconsiderate of others isn’t fair. If it matters to them, they are more than capable of being responsible and doing what needs to be done.
6. ENFPs are afraid of commitment
This is similar to some previous points. Perceivers are often known for struggling to make long term commitments, or be tied down to one thing. They like flexibility, and don’t like to close off options. In spite of that, they won’t necessarily be afraid of commitment. Some ENFPs may avoid commitment, while imbalanced ones may freak out at the last moment, and “flake”. However, the healthy and balanced ENFP will just take commitment extremely seriously, not wanting to make the decision on whim, since they want to be absolutely certain that they won’t change their mind later.
7. ENFPs are shallow flirts
Being a shallow flirt has absolutely nothing to do with personality type. Stereotypes like this annoy me, because it has more to do with someone’s character. Any personality type can technically fall into this trope if that is how they choose to be or are taught to be. Many ENFPs do make friends and connect with others easily, which is not the same thing as being a shallow flirt. Regardless, they often desire intimate and lasting relationships, and will pursue deeper bonds with those whom they believe can fulfill this desire.
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🔥 as always!
It kinda looks like you discarded these ENFP stereotypes with just less extreme ENFP stereotypes. It’s fun to see how the article starts with a very correct thought: “Each of the 16 personality types are based on a grouping of cognitive functions. Cognitive functions determine thought process, not behavior.” And then you disapprove the stereotypical behaviour assumptions with describing your experience of how most ENFPs you met BEHAVE. Now as I’m thinking more about it, it isn’t completely bad. I would describe that too, to some extent. I wish you put more emphasis on the variety of ways to act for many individual ENFPs. Some may not make friends and connect with each other easily, as you said about ‘’many” of ENFPs. Not all are more hyperactive even in their teens. What clicks me is.. you tie an ENFP type with behaviour too, while saying, that congnitive functions define thought process, not the way a person acts. In some of these 7 points you clearly point out that even though a stereotype is untrue for most ENFPs, there is such tendency (this part is ok), and most ENFPs ACT “…”. What you describe then insinuates basically sanguine temper. It’s like the same stereotype, but reduced to ‘normal’ size. This sanguinity behavioural tendency isn’t cognitive extraversion or even high cognitive Ne.
Despite my criticism, which I still consider valuable, I want to admit, that I’m glad you have written an article that disapproves stereotypes about ENFPs, and for the most part I actually agree with you. It’s important to show, that ENFPs are not shallow-deep hyperactive umcommitted extroverted golden retriever freaks, and is just another type, that has its own behavioural tendencies and people of this type are often pretty moderate. Overall, I’d give it a like, if there was such an option.
You can’t completely separate behavior/tendencies from the cognitive functions, because it would make the theoretical information hard to relate to or impractical, so my goal is always to show how behaviors might manifest given the way the type’s cognitive functions operate. In these stereotype articles, I often rationalize how the stereotype may or may not be true, given different ways the type develops. For the record, in point 1, I did mention that some ENFPs are cynical and negative, while others are optimistic, so I didn’t focus solely on the sanguine temperament. In point 3, I also focused on how ENFPs could be introverted, rather than people-oriented and outgoing. In point 4, I said that young ENFPs can fit the hyperactive stereotype, but not always, and when they do fit it, they usually mellow out as they get older. I never said this was an absolute, just a possibility. I can’t very well say it never happens, because that would be untrue. The whole point of this article was to address and explain whether or not these stereotypes have any legitimacy.