Extraversion, iNtuition, Thinking, Perceiving (ENTP) one of 16 personality types which is used in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and this is me. I took a personality test and this was the result.
“Clever” is the word that perhaps describes ENTPs best1
Well I’m not going to argue with that!
ENTPs are logical, innovative, curious and downright inventive. They see possibilities for improvement everywhere and possess the ability to understand complex concepts. ENTPs are introspective and carefree nonconformists. They often neglect the more common areas of life while pursuing new solutions. ENTPs can be good conversationalists and exciting company. 1
Still can’t argue with this!
ENTPs are usually verbally as well as cerebrally quick1
In the most part yes, however there are times when I think of all the things I could have said after the fact.
Generally love to argue–both for its own sake, and to show off their often-impressive skills.1
I am not showing off!
They tend to have a perverse sense of humour as well1
Is that what you call it?
And enjoy playing devil’s advocate. 1
I do. I was having a debate with someone a few days ago and while I could see all of the valid points of his argument, I couldn’t help prodding and poking at his comments to keep him getting more and more heated. I found it thoroughly enjoyable and luckily he didn’t take it offensively, but I do find sometimes that during a debate I have to let the other person know that I agree with them and I’m just trying to test the strength of their opinion to calm them down a bit. I lose interest after that though so those people are no fun.
They sometimes confuse, even inadvertently hurt, those who don’t understand or accept the concept of argument as a sport. 1
I guess I do (see above). I’m not trying to hurt people but what’s the point in having a conversation with someone who you agree with on all issues? It’s ok sometimes but a bit boring.
Mental “gymnastics” appeal to ENTPs. They love good, challenging repartee! 3
See J
Why? Well, they are ingenious. And analytical. 3
That’s right!
but it can become tiring and nettlesome for those in constant contact with them. It can appear that they are their own best audience and that they applaud themselves. 3
Alright, point taken.
ENTPs have been known to cut corners without regard to the rules if it’s expedient 1
Guilty as charged, but I have reasons for this. Sometimes you just need to get a job done or a decision needs to be made and I hate waiting while people are dogmatic about something which can be easily done.
Their optimistic attitudes prod themselves and others to “overcome” the humdrum, the traditional, the expected, the methodical with innovation and energy. 3
I’m not always optimistic for myself, but when I’m in a situation where an individual or group is down and negative I must admit I am skilled at jollying them up. I’m always able to counter their negatives with positives even if I don’t believe it myself. I’m convincing. I’m always able to come up with ways to see the bright side and ideas on how they can improve their situation. People who meet me feeling down usually leave me saying “Thanks, I feel much better now”.
It’s a shame I can’t do it for myself so easily.
they tend to become extremely petulant about small setbacks and inconveniences. 1
Ah, maybe that’s why.
Major setbacks they tend to regard as challenges, and tackle with determination 1
Yes usually when the small setbacks become bigger and therefore major because of my grouchiness, I bounce back determined to overcome it.
ENTPs have little patience with those they consider wrongheaded or unintelligent, and show little restraint in demonstrating this. 1
My mother has been vindicated!
However, they do tend to be extremely genial, if not charming, when not being harassed by life in general. 1
I can only laugh. These evaluations are like a window into my soul.
ENTPs tend to be oblivious of the rest of humanity, except as an audience — good, bad, or potential1
Yeah, whatever. What do you know.
They can be dismissive of those they feel are intellectually inferior1
Lol
Some appear to be deceptively offhand; 1
First impression of some people who meet me is that I’m stern, unfriendly, authoritarian and sometimes scary!
Others are so demonstrative that they succeed in shocking co-workers who’ve only seen their professional side. 1
After getting to know me people tend to be shocked by what they see, it totally discounts what they first thought.
Typically good-natured, upbeat and laid-back, ENTPs can be delightful people to be around. 4
See, if they didn’t judge the book by its cover, they would never have gotten the wrong idea of me.
They are generally fun-loving and gregarious, and can be quite charming. 4
Hear hear! Do you need any more proof?
It can appear that they are their own best audience and that they applaud themselves. 3
This is a clear example of raining on someone’s parade.
They have a problem with sometimes neglecting their close relationships when they become involved in the pursuit of a new idea or plan. 4
Some people just don’t like seeing others happy. Sigh.
ENTPs as Lovers
ENTP’s goals for their intimate relationships are similar to their other personal goals: improvement and growth. 4
What’s the point of being with someone if you can’t help each other to be better?
They constantly ask themselves questions such as: How can the relationship be improved? Where is the relationship headed? Am I growing in the relationship? 4
Shouldn’t we all ask ourselves this?
I once had a relationship where I was so drained of my energy, creativity and ability to develop myself because the other person just kept taking and gave nothing in return. I met him as a loser and left him as someone who was becoming successful and “decent”. Someone his mother could be proud of (why the hell she didn’t do this herself I’ll never know! Well I do but anyway). The only way I could “survive” was by taking breaks from him so I could be myself again, be selfish, do what I wanted when I want to, be silly, be serious, be creative, be nothing, just be.
I asked myself during the full course of the relationship why I didn’t just drop him forever, and even though I was still fairly young (but already too “wise” for my own good), I knew it was because he represented a challenge for me. The chance to turn an ugly duckling into a swan was too much of a challenge for me to walk away from. So maybe in some ways I shouldn’t resent him (I don’t know if I do actually because he didn’t hold me hostage), he did help me develop as a developer and nurturer, a carer and a counsellor and he helped me to have a better idea of what to avoid in the future. An innocent baby face, sweet smile (oh so sweet!) and clever sweet words can mask untamed demons and now I try to see what is under a person’s surface before I take too much interest of the outside. I analyse people’s words and try to hear what they’re not telling me and tend to shock people when I’m able to give them semi accurate evaluations of themselves.
Maybe I should be thanking the ex.
Another potential problem area is the ENTP’s general tendency towards “wildness” and willingness to take risks4
Well if you can’t take the heat….
Every now and again I sit and revise the previous period of my life and I always (without fail) ask myself as part of self evaluation “Ya setti (oh woman), why does your life always have to be filled with so much drama? Why can’t you just live a normal life like everyone else? Why do you end up being the one who has stories to tell, some of which you won’t be able to tell your grand children (or maybe I will just so I can be an eccentric granny!)?” I guess it’s because I like taking risks. I have become a bit more conservative as I get older (or so I like to kid myself) or maybe my risks have just taken a new course. I’ve stopped wondering why people are surprised when I relay certain of my experiences. I’m not normal J
They need to watch out for their tendency to be unaware of what others are feeling, and to inadvertently neglect their relationships when faced with exciting possibilities that are external to their personal life. 4
Am I supposed to send out an invitation?
Ok, that was insensitive and I shall bear this in mind for the future. “Include my partner in all exciting possibilities and don’t neglect him”
The ENTP’s dominant function of Extraverted Intuition is best matched with a personality that is dominated by Introverted Intuition. 4
Does that mean guys who need mothering?! I’ve had enough of those L
ENTPs as Parents
With their fun and upbeat natures, there’s a little bit of kid inside all ENTPs. 4
Isn’t that the truth!
They approach parenthood with a fun-loving attitude which has a serious underlying goal: to make everything a learning exercise (for themselves as well as for their children) which promotes the child’s growth into an independent, logical thinker. 4
This is so true. I don’t have children of my own, but I can’t stand to watch children play with toys, play games or watch TV shows which have no purpose. When I buy gifts for children I always try to find ones which I think they would enjoy and that they will learn from. If possible I use their questions or actions as an opportunity to learn something useful.
I’m looking forward to having my own.
The ENTP is likely to be somewhat inconsistent about spending quality time with their children. 4
That’s not nice. L Another thing I’ll need to be careful of in the future.
ENTPs as Friends
ENTPs can get along with almost all other types of people. 4
This is very true, although it can be a bit awkward at times. Not everybody is willing or able to get on with all types of people, so when I want to arrange group activities with all my friends, I find I have to pick and choose which ones would be able to get on together. Not easy. Until now I just keep my various groups of friends separate.
I remember in secondary school especially, I had different groups of friends. I was part of the “in” crowd, but I was also friends with the “odd bods”, the “nerds” and anyone else I found interesting. Of course this would elicit shock from the “in” crowd and exclamations of “Why would you want to speak to them!?”
The ENTP’s conclusion
I was prompted to take this test because I was writing a series of careers advice emails for a friend. I stated in one of the emails that a good way to decide on an appropriate career was to know yourself and to do that you could take a personality test. I’d never taken one before and I needed to be sure that I selected one which would be useful and as accurate as possible. I took the test and I’m still quite surprised by the results. I don’t consider myself as the type of person who can be categorized. What you see is rarely what you get with me. I have a multifaceted, multilayered personality which I can adapt to suit any given situations and it usually works to my advantage because it provides me many opportunities to learn and be part of varied experiences. I’m not intimidated by the most senior manager (or at least I won’t show it) and I can easily be found sitting laughing, joking and drinking tea with an office boy (An employee in Egypt who is something like a messenger, makes tea and coffee etc ). I have friends with high status whose fathers eat with kings and I will go and have dinner in the home of people who most in the society would consider unworthy. It doesn’t matter to me. People are people.
If I am completely honest with myself I would say that all of the ENTP summaries I have read by various different people have all been 99% correct. It’s not easy for me to see my supposed personality laid out on a computer screen including all the good and bad qualities I know I have (but don’t highlight to all and sundry). At some points during my reading (when I wasn’t laughing or groaning) I felt a bit vulnerable.
I’m happy I took the test and I will look into it more because it’s been useful to see that some of the things that I consider in myself as faults can actually be seen as positives. It’s also given me pause for thought on some of my negative qualities (as viewed by an eternal body) and will be something I’ll be trying to be careful of in the future.
Here is the test I took: http://www.personalitytest.net/cgi-bin/q.pl
I plan to follow this post with an evaluation of the careers selected for ENTP’s and the famous and fictional people and characters who have been assigned the same categories as me.
Outplacement consultant? Venture capitalist? Interesting
Alexander the Great? Mercutio, from Romeo and Juliet? Hmmm
References:
1. http://typelogic.com/entp.html
2. http://www.mypersonality.info/personality-types/entp/
3. http://members.tripod.com/~PersonalityInstitute/ENTPs.htm
Growing Pains 