ENFP Personality Type (Ne-Fi)

What is an ENFP Personality Type?

ENFP stands for Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving. Originally, it was a term from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (or MBTI), which was developed by Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs. The Myers-Briggs theory (which many incorrectly refer to as just “MBTI”) originally labelled 16 personality types. Myers and Briggs drew their inspiration from Carl Jung’s theory of the cognitive functions. The 4-letter acronyms have now become commonplace within various offshoots or interpretations of Carl Jung’s original work.

ENFP Meaning

The ENFP personality type is Extraverted, which does not necessarily mean that they are socially extraverted, although many may be. They will, however, be cognitive extraverts. In Carl Jung’s description of the cognitive functions, Extraversion simply means a focus on the objective or external world.

The ENFP personality type values Intuition, which means they prioritize abstract information over concrete information. Being an Intuitive does not mean the ENFP is incapable of interacting with the concrete world in an effective way, but rather they will prioritize abstract information when making decisions.

The ENFP personality type values Feeling, which does not mean they are irrational, cry babies. Rather, they will have a natural focus on emotional data, or on how decisions impact themselves and others on an emotional level.

The ENFP personality type prioritizes Perceiving, which means they prefer a spontaneous and flexible lifestyle. Perceiver types are prone to feeling smothered by too much structure or organization.

ENFP at a Glance

ENFP types approach reality with possibilities in mind. They see reality for more than what it is, whether that means constant negative possibilities or constant positive ones. Regardless, these will be very real to them, and will be a driving force in their life. The confident ENFP will act on these possibilities, wanting to explore many ideas further. However, they may quickly grow bored and jump to the next big idea. ENFPs are deeply passionate individuals, who seek personal meaning. Assuming they are socially extraverted, they often excel at forming personal connections with those around them.

Common Strengths (when healthy)

Curious
Adaptable
Authentic
Caring
Energetic
Speculative
Verbally Expressive

Common Weaknesses (when imbalanced)

Impulsive (emotionally and/or physically)
Scattered and unfocused
Judgmental
Sensitive to criticism
Indecisive
Avoidant of reality

Cognitive Functions of an ENFP

The cognitive functions for the ENFP personality type, in order, are Ne-Fi-Te-Si. Below, we attempted to break down each cognitive function and practically explain how it will surface in an ENFP. Please realize however that everyone is unique, and the entire world cannot fit into 16 personality type boxes. Ergo, it’s unlikely that an ENFP will relate to or demonstrate every single quirk or trait mentioned below. However, an ENFP should relate to the underlying principle of each function, and most of what is described below. Exceptions may occur when the ENFP is stuck in a Ne-Te loop or in the grip of Si. These scenarios may be briefly mentioned in the description below, but this page is not specifically written with those scenarios in mind. With all that said, we hope you find this description useful for self-analysis or understanding the minds of others.

Dominant Function: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

ENFPs lead with Extraverted Intuition (Ne). As dominant Ne users, the ENFP personality type primarily focus on patterns and connections in the external world. (Click here for a more in-depth description of Ne.) People with this personality will do this subconsciously, because use of one’s dominant function is natural and easy. They’ll notice how things relate and connect together, and may find vague ways to connect things that non-Ne users would never have thought of. Dominant Ne users will be the people with lots of creative ideas. They’ll love to theorize, debate, and discuss. New thoughts and ideas will excite and energize them. However, unlike the Se users, dominant Ne users, like ENFPs, will not be driven by a desire to make their ideas tangible, but rather to explore different ideas and how they connect. Therefore, because of their relationship with new concepts and ideas, ENFPs will be prone to having many different hobbies, or dabbling in many different things. They may struggle to stick to one particular interest for very long. Once something has been fully explored and they feel like they completely understand it, ENFPs will likely get bored of it and jump to something else. They may one day loop back and develop that hobby a little further, or they may never touch it again. They will have a tendency to not finish things they start, and never see their ideas through to completion. However, a disciplined ENFP can learn to fight that tendency (since one’s personality does not determine whether or not they can be disciplined and productive).

In conversation, ENFPs will probably span many subjects or deeply analyze one particular one. However, in the process, they’ll probably connect many thoughts together, making the conversation fraught with random references and “off-the-wall” comments. You or even the ENFP may end up wondering “How did the conversation end up here?” or “what was the point I was trying to make?” When telling a story or lecturing, an ENFP will be prone to rabbit trails and may struggle to stay on point. (They will probably eventually make it back to the original point… maybe. ) Ne users are especially good at ‘falling down the rabbit hole’ of YouTube, or Wikipedia, or the internet in general. They go online to look up one thing, and then several clicks later, find themselves somewhere completely unrelated. Their humor will likely be referenced based, quirky, witty, and possibly very “punny”. In general, Ne is a rather talkative trait because of it’s enjoyment of entertaining ideas and calling out patterns in the real world, so once you get some with the ENFP personality talking, you may find that they have a lot to say.

Auxiliary Function: Introverted Feeling (Fi)

The second function for the ENFP personality type is Introverted Feeling (Fi). Fi will give them an internal moral compass and will be the basis for making decisions. They will judge their own actions and others against their internal moral code and act accordingly. Fi in a sense is how they set the bar of expectations for themselves and others. Because Fi is in the auxiliary position, ENFPs are likely to seem non-judgemental. This is because Fi, rather than being their first and foremost approach to life, is being used in support of their dominant function, Ne. However, this is not to say that an ENFP will NOT be judgemental. On the contrary, oftentimes, ENFPs excel at throwing out opinions suddenly and bluntly, but doing it in such a way that it comes off more lighthearted rather than offensive. The average ENFP knows what he thinks, and what his opinions are, due to that high Fi. Some may choose to keep that Fi private, and more for personal guidance, while others may flaunt it more readily. Being a high Fi user, ENFPs will not be shy about sharing their opinions about what they feel is right or wrong,

ENFPs (or any Fi user, really) will have a strong sense of identity. A secure and healthy ENFP may actually believe himself to be a Thinker since auxiliary Fi provides more of an assurance of self, and subconsciously supports their dominant function. Aux Fi will provide the ENFPs with freedom to act in accordance with self without fear or hesitation, which is why they oftentimes do not struggle doing things that others may perceive as strange or outrageous. They will probably emphasize wanting the freedom to just be themselves, which may result in making statements like “I just want to be me.” Healthy ENFPs tend to be less bothered by opposing opinions, and will allow a lot of things to just roll off their back, so to speak. However, ENFPs may passionately or angrily latch onto a subject or opinion and attempt to convert someone to their way of thinking. ENFPs typically don’t argue purely for the fun of it or without reason, but rather to prove a very specific point or stance that they have. Note that arguing and debating are two different things, and ENFPs can enjoy debate.

Fi users tend to value authenticity so a healthy ENFP will result in a genuine, likeable individual who probably forms interpersonal connections everywhere. (However, being an ENFP doesn’t guarantee that someone will, for instance, be popular in high school.) For the most part, they will act the exact same way where ever they go. This is not to say that an ENFP will always be nice. On the contrary, a jaded ENFP can come across as an unnaturally harsh jerk that’s only out for themselves. (One’s personality type does not determine whether or not they are nice.) When their Fi is ignored, the ENFP personality will become over indulgent and look, careless, irresponsible, and foolish, always throwing caution to the wind, never focusing on any one task for very long. If their Fi is over used, ENFPs will become overly obsessed with their own personal worth and values. This will lead to an inflated ego and constant protests about people not seeing the ENFP’s true potential (think Anakin in the prequels). Fi in general will cause ENFPs to desire others to see them in the way that they have idealized themselves. High Fi users, like ENFPs, are also known for idealizing (or idolizing) those whom they greatly respect or admire.

Tertiary Function: Extraverted Thinking (Te)

The third function for the ENFP personality type is Extraverted Thinking (Te). ENFPs (since they have Te) will lean more heavily on facts, and thus be quicker to state absolutes. Users with Te in their stack will also be more prone to referencing external sources of data, like information they read on a website, in a book, or etc. They will, in general, seem more black-and-white when sharing opinions. “You’re wrong. I’m right. I don’t care that your opinion differs from mine.” Logic and information will likely be stated as facts, in addition to any value-based statements that they make. An ENFP leaning heavily on their Te may desire to enforce their opinion as a means of ordering their environment (a natural Te impulse).

ENFPs which are heavily utilizing their Te may get overly pushy in attempt to convince someone close to them to take what they’ve deemed to be the best course of action. They may readily and constantly share their opinion in an attempt to convince someone of the right course of action. ENFPs who are crutching on their Te may appear unnaturally abrasive, cold or harsh, and it will probably be intentional more often than not. An Fi user leaning on Te will appear very forceful, demanding, and possibly controlling. The healthy ENFP may demonstrate a passionate temperament when angry, but the ENFPs that are crutching on Te will mistake themselves for thinkers because they will seem cold, abrasive, and perhaps anti-emotional.

ENFPs may desire more structure in their life, or attempt to impose structure on themselves, while failing to stick with it over and over again. This is a result of tertiary Te: desiring and attempting to plan but frequently failing to do so. An ENFP may even believe/claim that they are good at planning, but just choose not to do it. As their Te matures, those with the ENFP personality may appear more structured, disciplined, and less chaotic, and may develop a stronger desire to organize and control their personal environment.

Inferior Function: Introverted Sensing (Si)

The last function for the ENFP personality type is Introverted Sensing (Si). In healthy ENFPs, this cognitive function will help them to stick with a goal that they have set for themselves and see it through. It will allow them to settle on something instead of constantly switching course, and allow them to approach it in a detail oriented way. They also use this function to create stores of information for their Ne to sift through.

When undeveloped, inferior Si may show up as a blatant disregard for the past. It may also make them seem paranoid, obsessing over one specific thing or detail. They can get tunnel vision, fixating on very specific, insignificant facts. They may lock themselves into insignificant routines that they are unable to deviate from. For instance, having a certain meal at the exact same time every day, regardless of whether or not they’re actually hungry. Weak Si use may also manifest as forgetfulness, mostly in the way of overlooking significant details. For instance, ENFPs may go take out a screw only to realize that they forgot to grab a screwdriver.

When unhealthy, inferior Si will show up as an obsession with the good old days or how things used to be. Unhealthy ENFPs may have an inability to move on from the past, and find themselves obsessing over one particular event or instance in their life.

ENFP Careers and Job Ideas

At Practical Typing, we hesitate to list specific careers, because each person is far more than their personality type. Cognitive functions do not determine skills, only cognitive preferences. However, there will be certain aspects within a given career field that play better to an ENFP’s strengths. For instance, ENFPs will enjoy a type of job that grants freedom to explore possibilities. They’ll want variety within the type of work that they do, in order to prevent boredom and avoid getting stuck in monotonous routines. They often enjoy the opportunity to rely on their imagination to come up with novel ideas or solutions. They will appreciate a job that can evoke feelings of passion, or periodically involve interacting with others on an interpersonal level. They may prefer to avoid jobs that are overly structured or regulated, overly repetitive, restrict creative exploration, or are too impersonal.

ENFP Relationships and Compatibility

Within a relationship, ENFPs value the exchanging of ideas and are always ready to share something new or exciting that they have on their mind. They can bring a lively energy to conversations and love exploring new possibilities with their loved ones. They tend to get very passionate about their current fixation, and it’s hard for them to not share it with the ones they are close to. ENFPs will bring enthusiasm and spontaneity to any relationship, and will need to be granted the flexibility to explore whatever strikes their fancy.