ENTP vs INTP: The Differences

ENTP vs INTP is another typing dilemma that represents a challenge for many. NTPs often find themselves caught between the two personality types, unsure of which fits better. Of course, that’s not surprising, given the fact that the two types are very similar from a cognitive function standpoint. They have the exact same functions, only in slightly different orders.

Naturally, one might assume that differentiating them should be extremely simple. After all, an ENTP is extraverted, and an INTP is introverted. However, cognitive extraversion is different than social extraversion. An ENTP can be socially introverted, while an INTP can be socially extraverted. The distinction lies in their cognitive priorities, not in how much they enjoy the presence of other people.

So, let’s get right into this, and see if we can draw some clear lines between these two personality types.

ENTP vs INTP: Their Top Priority

ENTP

ENTPs are first and foremost an extraverted perceiving type, with Ne (Extraverted Intuition) as their dominant function. Extraverted perceiving types prioritize exploration. For the ENTP, this translates into the exploration of ideas and possibilities. They are naturally good at noticing possibilities in real time, and will feel a strong urge to test these out. This is why Ne dominants are prone to dropping projects or hobbies, and quickly switching to something new. They might be knee-deep in one project, only to perceive another, more exciting possibility. Since they derive a lot of excitement from the possibility alone, prior to application, ENTPs may end up chasing one possibility after another, unable to stick with one in the long term. However, that being said, this dominant drive makes them good at capitalizing on opportunities, especially if they can summon the discipline to keep at it for long enough. In addition, since they’re more committed to Ne rather than Ti, they are often more willing to play with faulty logic, or adjust their perspective when presented with a sufficiently logical, opposing perspective.

INTP

INTPs are first and foremost an introverted judging type, with Ti (Introverted Thinking) as their dominant function. Introverted judging types prioritize introspection and internal analysis. For the INTP, this means focusing on building an internal framework of knowledge by which to judge everything they perceive. (With this focus, often comes a stubborn obstinance to figure out everything for themselves.) Due to dominant Ti, INTPs are more closed off to possibilities, or stubbornly dedicated to their current system of thought. They may instinctually (and instantly) reject certain possibilities, options or pieces of information, before being fully aware as to why. They’ll just have a strong intuition-style feeling or conviction that whatever it is doesn’t make sense. After further evaluation, they can usually trace the reason for this rejection to a potential contradiction that it poses to something else they already know. (In other words, it contradicts what they’ve already accepted as truth within their internal framework.) But, when the rejection initially happens, it may feel like nothing more than an intuition-based reflex, due to the abstract nature of their subjective framework.

ENTP vs INTP: Auxiliary Functions

The auxiliary, or secondary functions, provide a valuable support to one’s dominant drive. Of course, as secondary functions, you must realize that they will always be in service to the dominant.

ENTP

For the ENTP, that auxiliary, or support, function is Ti. Auxiliary Ti requires real time experimentation in order to figure out where things fit within their subjective framework. This is partly why ENTPs are so willing to drop projects and move on. They’ll make sense of things while in action, and possibly realize in the process that what they’re doing isn’t going to work out. This could be due to a personal realization (IE: this occupation doesn’t make sense for me in the long term), or a knowledge-based realization (IE: This hypothesis isn’t logically or factually sound). Naturally, any newfound personal or factual knowledge will be incorporated into their framework, and then they’ll recalculate and move on.

INTP

For an INTP, the auxiliary function is Ne. Ultimately, the goal of auxiliary Ne will be to provide ideas for how to fill gaps in whatever system the INTP is currently building, internally or externally. (This can be on a global level, like their worldview, or focused on a specific interest or occupation.) Auxiliary Ne feeds ideas to the INTP that already have a high likelihood of validity, due to them having a more intricate internal framework, and thus, subjective criteria that is more developed and refined. As a result, these ideas will be much fewer in number, but more likely to pass scrutiny or the test of time. In spite of that, the INTP will probably still hesitate to choose one and launch into action. This is where the over thinking stereotype comes from. INTPs will need to figure most of it out in their head first, conceptually, before giving it a try.

ENTP vs INTP: Si Placement Comparison

ENTP

Si is an ENTP’s inferior function, and thus their greatest weakness. I touched on this briefly in the ‘ENTP vs INTP: Their Top Priority’ section. Basically, a failure to perceive the day-to-day, long term implications of an idea or decision feeds their struggle to remain consistent over time. Their struggle to form Si impressions or value Si data can make it hard for them to recognize their overarching, past patterns of behavior, instead of honing in on tiny, insignificant details or exceptions. ENTPs may also be (or claim to be) completely averse to routines (or traditions) of any kind, whilst rigidly adhering to certain, hyper-specific processes, or indulging certain, pointless habits in a very precise manner.

INTP

An INTP, with tertiary Si, is likely to recognize the value of routines. Although, they may still struggle to adhere to them, depending on age, maturity, etc. While still interested in new experiences and exploration, they’ll be better at holding or maintaining a consistent set of interests and habits over time. Their tertiary Si will also make them more averse to making mistakes (or forming new, bad Si impressions), and thus more concerned with gathering data in advance of action. Subsequently, this helps them act more consistent over time, due to having a greater understanding of the day-to-day, implications of their decisions prior to making them. However, they’ll be more prone to inaction, getting stuck in ruts, and/or repeating the same nostalgic experiences for the sake of escapism.

ENTP vs INTP: Fe Placement Comparison

Low Fe causes TPs to desire group acceptance, or desire have some sort of meaningful impact on a social group. (They often attempt to do so in a technical, skill-based way, rather than a way that’s directly emotionally impactful.) However, tertiary Fe does, on average, manifest quite differently than inferior Fe, which can make it a key distinction in the ENTP vs INTP dilemma. Although, it is possible for an ENTP to have underdeveloped tertiary Fe, causing it to manifest similar to inferior Fe.

INTP

Fe is the inferior function for INTPs, and thus their greatest weakness. Having an inferior feeling function often results in the user having emotional delays. INTPs will struggle with being disconnected from their feelings, needing time to process and figure them out. (This is far different than the typical Fe problem of confusing other people’s feelings with their own.) They’ll hit up against a new situation, feel nothing, and then later feel what they should have felt as if it was happening all over again. (A repeat scenario may not be subject to the same emotional delay.) Inferior Fe often makes them struggle to open up emotionally, even to those close to them, since they themselves struggle to understand their own feelings and prefer not to think about them. They also tend to avoid social scenarios with too many rules, often due to a fear of being socially incompetent coupled with a refusal to adapt them. They may oscillate between caring too much about their emotional impact on others, and not caring at all. Inferior Fe can also make them prone to isolating themselves from people, and cutting themselves off from all social groups.

ENTP

In comparison, a healthy, well-developed ENTP can often utilize Fe in a way that encourages harmony. A socially oriented ENTP will be quicker to encourage social gatherings, and make connections. They’ll have a more consistent concern for how their actions emotionally impact others, and be generally more in tune with the social atmosphere. This might result in a greater need for validation, or to achieve group consensus. ENTPs will also have a more consistent connection to their own feelings. Tertiary Fe users often have a general sense of what they feel, without needing to overthink it. The emotions are there, and they are aware of them on a basic level. They may or may not absorb the emotions of those in the room. This will vary based on how harmony-focused the ENTP is. Some ENTPs use Fe in a more mischievous way, like stirring up drama and watching it unfold around them. The ENTP like this will be prone to arguing and debating for the fun of it. They may use basic social manipulation to puff up their image or evoke a specific emotional response out of others.

Conclusion

I hope I did an adequate job differentiating these two personality types. Remember, as a general rule, the higher the cognitive function, the more consistently someone will use it. An ENTP may be very aware of their Si, yet still not great at using it consistently. People often have an “all or nothing” relationship with their inferior function. (See 5 Relationships With The Inferior Function.) They’re either hyper tuned into it, or have completely shut it off. The tertiary function should have a more constant presence, and the dominant is the one that is ever present, never turning off, and fueling everything the person does.