Theories Personality Psychology Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide Overview Intuitive-Thinking INTJ INTP ENTJ ENTP Intuitive-Feeling INFJ INFP ENFJ ENFP Sensing-Judging ISTJ ISFJ ESTJ ESFJ Sensing-Perceiving ISTP ISFP ESTP ESFP ENTP: The Debater (Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving) An Overview of the ENTP Personality Type By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Facebook Twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 12, 2023 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Cara Lustik Fact checked by Cara Lustik LinkedIn Cara Lustik is a fact-checker and copywriter. Learn about our editorial process Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Key ENTP Characteristics ENTP Cognitive Functions ENTP-T and ENTP-A Subtypes ENTP Personal Relationships ENTP Career Paths Tips for Interacting With ENTPs Frequently Asked Questions Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide INFJ: Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging ENTP is one of the 16 different personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The ENTP personality type is: ExtravertedIntuitiveThinkingPerceiving People with the ENTP personality type are often described as innovative, clever, and expressive. ENTPs are also known for being idea-oriented, which is why this personality type has been described as "the innovator," "the visionary," and "the debater." Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell ENTPs are less interested in the here-and-now details than they are in generating ideas and theories. Because of this, they sometimes tend to come up with one idea after another without actually going forward with plans and actions to bring their creative notions to fruition. Is the ENTP personality type rare? According to psychologist David Keirsey, the creator of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, ENTPs are known as Rational Inventors. He suggests that the Rational personality type is rare, accounting for around five to 10% of the population. In fact, ENTP is considered one of the rarest personality types, along with the INFJ, INTJ, and ENFJ types. Key ENTP Characteristics ENTPs enjoy interacting with a wide variety of people. They are great conversationalists and love to engage other people in debates. They are more focused on the future rather than on immediate details. They may start projects and never finish them because they are so focused on the big picture rather than the present needs. ENTPs enjoy being around other people, particularly if they are able to engage in a conversation or debate about something in which they are interested. They are usually fairly laid-back and easy to get along with. However, they can sometimes get so wrapped up in their ideas or plans that they lose sight of their close relationships. They tend to reserve judgment. Instead of making a decision or committing to a course of action, they would prefer to wait and see what happens. ENTPs are immensely curious and focused on understanding the world around them. They are constantly absorbing new information and ideas and quickly arriving at conclusions. They are able to understand new things quite quickly. One common myth about ENTPs is that they love to argue simply for the sake of arguing. While people with this personality type are often willing to play the devil's advocate at times, they enjoy debates as a way of exploring a topic, learning what other people believe, and helping others see the other side of the story. Strengths Innovative Creative Great conversationalist Enjoys debating Values knowledge Weaknesses Can be argumentative Dislikes routines and schedules Does not like to be controlled Unfocused Insensitive ENTP Cognitive Functions Based upon Carl Jung's theory of personality, the MBTI categorized personality types by their cognitive functions (intuition, thinking, sensing, and feeling) which can then be directed outwardly (extroverted) or inwardly (introverted). The hierarchical organization of these functions is what establishes each individual's primary pattern of behavior. The dominant function is the most prominent, although it is supported by the auxiliary function. The tertiary function has less of an influence, while the inferior function tends to be an area of weakness. Dominant: Extroverted Intuition ENTPs tend to take in information quickly and are very open-minded.Once they have gathered this information, they spend time making connections between various complex and interwoven relationships.They are good at spotting connections that others might overlook and tend to be focused on possibilities.They have entrepreneurial minds and are always coming up with new and exciting ideas. Auxiliary: Introverted Thinking This cognitive function is expressed in the ENTPs thinking process. People with this type of personality are more focused on taking in information about the world around them. When they do use this information to reach conclusions, they tend to be very logical.ENTPs are logical and objective. When making decisions, they place a greater weight on rational evidence instead of subjective, emotional information.This function works to help the ENTP understand all the information that comes in through the extroverted intuition function. This involves imposing logic and order to help make sense of many disparate ideas and pieces of information. ENTPs don't want to just understand that something works - they want to understand the why and how behind how things function. Tertiary: Extroverted Feeling As a tertiary function, this aspect of personality may not be as well-developed or prominent.When developed, ENTPs can be social charmers who are able to get along well with others.When this aspect of personality is weaker, the ENTP may be insensitve to others and can even be seen as aloof or unkind. Inferior: Introverted Sensing The introverted sensing function is centered on understanding the past and often applying it to current experiences and future concerns.This is often a point of weakness for ENTP personalities. They are often focused more on possibilities and may fail to consider how past precedents may help predict outcomes.ENTPs also tend to overlook many of the more mundane details of daily life, especially if they are deeply involved in a project or plan. ENTPs You Might Know Thomas Edison, inventorJohn Adams, U.S. PresidentWalt Disney, filmmakerJulia Child, cookAlexander the Great, King and military leader ENTP-T and ENTP-A Subtypes ENTPs can be further categorized into two groups: ENTP-T and ENTP-A. ENTP-Ts are "turbulent debaters." They seek approval, agreement, and attention, and often feel anger, jealousy, or envy. Their behavior is more emotionally driven than ENTP-As.ENTP-As are "assertive debaters." More confident than ENTP-Ts, ENTP-As assume that people accept them and aren't as interested as ENTP-Ts in discussing their feelings. They tend to be less emotionally reactive. ENTP Personal Relationships Since they are identified as extroverts, it may come as no surprise that ENTPs have very good people skills. They are skilled communicators and enjoy interacting with a wide circle of family, friends, and acquaintances. In conversations, other people often find them quick-witted. ENTPs will often engage in debates simply because they enjoy having a good battle of the wits. Sometimes, their love of debates lead ENTPs to take on the role of the devil's advocate, which can sometimes lead to conflicts with others who feel like they are being intentionally combative and antagonistic. Who is ENTP compatible with? While the ENTP personality can successfully have healthy relationships with people of any personality type, they tend to be most compatible with people who can provide balance to their dominant extraverted intuition function. In terms of dating and marriage, some highly compatible personality types include INTP, ENTP, ESFJ, and ISFJ. ENTP Career Paths Routines and boredom are not good for the ENTP personality. They are non-conformists and do best in jobs when they can find excitement and express their creative freedom. ENTPs can be successful in a wide range of careers, as long as they do not feel hemmed in or bored. As debaters with great communication skills, careers in law can offer the challenge and diversity that ENTPs crave. Jobs in the business world that combine the ENTPs rationality, creativity, and natural leadership abilities can also be very rewarding. Popular ENTP Careers Engineer Lawyer Scientist Psychologist Inventor Psychiatrist Journalist Tips for Interacting With ENTPs If you know an ENTP, there are some strategies that can help you better understand that person and get the most out of your interactions. Whether that person is your friend, your child, or your partner, here are a few tips that can help you know what to expect: Friendships ENTPs are great at getting along with people no matter what their personality type. While they are usually laid-back, they can be quite competitive. If you are friends with an ENTP, be careful not to get into the habit of trying to out-do each other. Be aware of their love for debates and be careful not to escalate good-natured discussions into combative arguments. Parenting ENTPs have a fun-loving nature and are excited to share their sense of wonder with their children. Parents with this personality type are supportive, but they have a tendency to try to turn every situation into a learning opportunity. Parents of ENTP children should be aware that their children may seem argumentative at times, it stems from their natural love for discussion and debate. They may also seem inconsistent at times, being warm and affectionate in one moment and then withdrawing in the next as they become wrapped up in new ideas. Parents should encourage their children to focus on goals and finish the things that they start. Relationships In intimate relationships, ENTPs can be passionate and exciting. They are warm, loving, and good at understanding their partner's needs. You may find that they may struggle to follow through on promises that they have made, which can be a source of frustration at times. Be aware of your ENTP partner's need for spontaneity. You can help balance your partner's impulsiveness by helping them work toward their goals with enthusiasm and practicality. Frequently Asked Questions Is ENTP a good personality? There is no personality type that is better than the others. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. For the ENTP, their creativity, communication skills, and generally good-natured attitude means they can be successful in a wide range of situations. What are ENTP weaknesses? The ENTP personality type is creative but has a strong dislike for schedules and regular routines. They struggle in situations where they feel controlled and can be unfocused at times. They enjoy conversation and debates, but this can sometimes leave others with the impression that the ENTP is argumentative and insensitive. 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The Myers & Briggs Foundation. The 16 MBTI types. Keirsey. Portrait of a rational. The Myers & Briggs Foundation. My MBTI results. The Myers & Briggs Foundation. Extraversion or introversion. Johnston, Dan. Entp Personality - Discover Your Strengths and Thrive as the Charming and Visionary Entp: The Ultimate Guide to the Entp Personality. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016. By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit