The INFJ’S Guidebook to People: Spotting Entps
So you’ve tried typing by the letters and by the cognitive functions. Now you’re looking to verify your typing makes sense. What are some key attritubes you should be looking for…?
Not super Extraverted. Like enfps, their first function isn’t about people, it’s about possibilities.
Able to be mistyped as an Extraverted thinker. They like to ‘think’ out loud, or so it seems. They’re actually just showing off. Alternatively, you’re hearing their Ne. You’ll be able tell the difference if you ask them for their opinion and then realise how much quieter they are.
Afraid of upsetting people. Can be easily manipulated on occasion.
Not sure of what they’re feeling. Able to be convinced they’re feeling anything.
Able to be excited about anything. Tell them they’d make a good doctor and watch them plan their lives as a doctor.
Usually highly intelligent.
Involved in way too many things at once.
Probably stressed because of all the things they’re doing.
Accidentally flirting with everyone. They love banter, so it doesn’t mean they actually like the person they’re flirting with. Unlikely to lead someone on though because it’s obviously playful.
Bad at remembering things. Able to throw a tantrum and then forget they did it.
Annoying. Probably the most annoying of the types in that everyone finds them annoying.
A sticky beak. They have FOMO bad.
Kind hearted. Even when they’re annoying they mean well.
Not fussy. Happy to sleep on a bed off the side of the road.
Fussy. Just because their headphones are broken doesn’t mean they’re going to get new ones. They’re still the best headphones ever. Also, their clothes may be all over the floor, but don’t you dare put them back in the wrong spot.
Pretty happy and oblivious as kids. They often get in trouble for arguing, and then make it worse by arguing why they shouldn’t get in trouble.
Rational. They like weighing up pros and cons and using reason to determine the best cause of action (Ti)
Romantic. Entps see so many possibilities and prefer not to filter their dreams through logic. You’ll find that your entp friend probably has hundreds of romantic dreams they’re keeping to themselves, whether it’s running a farm or ruling the world.
Kind of lonely. Like enfps, most people like them, but they don’t really have any close friends.
A dangerous driver. They like to speed and will justify their speeding. Just for my husband’s sake, I would like to point out that it’s not just him. I have another entp friend who likes to drive at 200km/h on Freeways, and another who ruins a car every other month. I actually can’t believe all entps aren’t dead because of their bad driving.
Sadly, a natural lawyer. They will argue about anything as if they’re in a court of law, even personal matters.
Probably not aware that they’re lonely.
Blunt without realising it. May really upset you without trying.
Often not aware of people being mean to them. People often mistakenly think they’re patient when they are just oblivious.
Oblivious. Probably won’t notice they upset you. You’ll need to tell them. They will try to argue it away, so you’ll need to be forthright. When they finally understand how upset you were they’ll probably cry. Tertiary Fe being triggered brings on tears.
Usually pretty easy to calm down if they are stressed or crying. Since they’re still rationals they like advice when they’re upset.
Over defensive. Entps are often oblivious when people are mean to them, but they’re also not good at telling when you’re NOT being mean to them. This leads them to take offence at random things and be overly defensive about it because they feel attacked.
Messy and disorganised. Usually clean. Likely to obsessively organise one drawer when stressed, ignoring the rest of their messy house (inferior Si).
Good at taking constructive criticism. Or just criticism. Entps genuinely want to grow personally.
Argumentative. But more in a bickering kind of style, in that they just LOVE arguing about anything for no good reason. Tip: if an entp starts arguing over something stupid with you, tell them they’re arguing. They will argue they’re not and won’t even realise the irony for a good five minutes. 😂
LOUD. there is no in-between for an entp. They get louder as they get more excited and happy.
Always working on some strange puzzle.
Sometimes creating weird puzzles. For example, my husband went through a stage where everything he would put in the calendar was in some code. The only problem was when he forgot one or two of them I had no clue what he had meant either. (and when I say code, it was like, ‘I have the dentist on Monday. The dentist’s name is Gordon, like the tank engine, and Gordon the tank engine is green. Green reminds me of lettuce, which is in the story of rapunzel. So imma write down rapunzel).
Soft. Even if they don’t cry in public, they might tear up easily.
A type that naturally seems to have a bit of adhd.
A good judge of character. Sometimes they can be over optimistic though, because they really want to like everyone.
Suddenly overwhelmed. Entps will take on more and more AND MORE until… MELT DOWN. This looks like tears and losing track of everything all at once. May bring about spectacular failure if damage control doesn’t occur quickly.
Things an entp might say…
'that’s a cute dog. I’d like to get a dog one day. What kind of dog should I get? I don’t know, I don’t know any dog breeds. I think I’d name it Harold though. Only if it was a boy. Otherwise it would be Charlie…’ or any other stream of consciousness monologue (Ne)
Anything that baits you into a debate. Eg, 'isn’t it great how Trump wants to build a wall?’
Anything that baits you into bickering. Eg, 'I didn’t say that’.
'I don’t know’, with regards to their opinion or feelings. This is a bad sign if it is followed by a pause, because it means they do know, they just don’t want to tell you. If they really don’t know it will be followed by a list of potential reasons.
'You say I annoyed you at precisely 2.15 pm. If this is the case, then why did you laugh at my joke at 2.16pm?’ or any other legal speak during a personal argument.
'Do you know Hitler introduced a similar law to the one I’m breaking now? This law is evil and I don’t have to follow it for that reason’ or similar.
An extremely ambitious ambition such as, 'one day I’ll own the moon’
Anything sad said cheerfully. For example, my husband once cheerfully told me about his friend in grade five. He finished with, 'anyway, he’s dead now’.
A story that they’ve started half way through. They forgot the first half was in their head.
Something sweet with heart eyes.
An example of a rational but romantic entp - Finn Wolfhard