ENTP Personality Type: The Debater

Your personal growth, relationships, and career are much more likely to be successful and happy if you have a deep understanding of why you do the things you do and think the way you think. Perhaps the first step to enhancing your strengths and neutralizing your weaknesses is to learn your personality type.

In this series, we're exploring the 16 personality types based on the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator).

In the 1940s, two remarkable women, Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Myers, developed the MBTI personality self-test. Relying heavily on Carl Jung's theories, Myers-Briggs maintained that every person:

• is either an extrovert (E) or an introvert (I)

• uses either intuition (N) or sensing (S) to experience the world around them

• uses either feeling (F) or thinking (T) to make decisions

• uses either perception (P) or judging (J) to reach their goals

The various combinations of these eight different points on four different scales make up the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types.

The 16 Personality Types

Analysts: architect (INTJ), logician (INTP), commander (ENTJ), debater (ENTP)

Diplomats: advocate (INFJ), mediator (INFP), protagonist (ENFJ), campaigner (ENFP)

Sentinels: logistician (ISTJ), defender (ISFJ), executive (ESTJ), consul (ESFJ)

Explorers: virtuoso (ISTP), adventurer (ISFP), entrepreneur (ESTP), entertainer (ESFP)

Overview Of The ENTP Or Debater Personality Type

ENTP is the abbreviation for extraversion, intuition, thinking, and perception.

Extraversion: ENTPs are energized by interacting with people and objects in the outside world.

Intuition: ENTPs focus on the big picture and future possibilities; they tend to pay less attention to detail and the current situation. ENTP personality types are abstract rather than concrete thinkers.

Thinking: ENTPs are objective decision makers; the ENTP personality type uses logic to reach a decision rather than personal preferences or social considerations.

Perception: ENTPs are slow decision-makers. The ENTP personality type delays making a decision, preferring to "keep their options open".

ENTP personality types are competent and intelligent. They're quick-witted and able to see complex interconnections between people, objects, and ideas. ENTPs may have a perverse sense of humor that other personality types may not appreciate, and they may take the opposite side in a debate even if they disagree with it. ENTP personality types find original, unexpected solutions to complex problems, but they're likely to find it difficult to follow through and formulate a detailed plan. 

ENTP personality types believe that every problem has a solution. ENTPs are optimistic and relaxed; they don't sweat the small stuff. ENTPs make up between 2 and 5 percent of the population. More men than women are ENTP personality types.

ENTPs Play The Devil's Advocate

There's nothing an ENTP personality type likes more than a good debate. ENTPs don't usually argue to find a more profound truth or meaning; they argue because it's fun. ENTP personality types debate issues from every angle, quickly see a counter-argument for every opposing opinion, and leave their opponents exhausted and confused. ENTP personality types are unwaveringly honest, but for the sake of a good debate, they will argue in favor of something they don't believe in, just to keep the conversation going. Their quick wit and formidable verbal prowess make the ENTP personality type hard to beat in an argument.

ENTPs Are Life-long Learners

ENTP personality types love learning new things, especially abstract concepts. ENTPs study, not to achieve a degree or further their careers, but because they find the information interesting, and they value knowledge as a path to a higher understanding and personal growth.

ENTPs Are Innovators

The ENTP personality type will take on and solve problems that other personality types consider unsolvable. ENTPs think creatively, discarding tradition and established ideas. The ENTP personality type doesn't believe in the adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"; rather, they will determinedly set about improving methods to complete a task, or at the very least, find different ways to achieve the same result. ENTPs can quickly see the connections between people, ideas, and things and come up with original ideas for new ventures, or solve problems associated with current projects.

ENTPs Are Visionaries

The ENTP personality type sees possibilities in the world around them. ENTPs look to the future rather than the past, and they are passionate about making the world a better place. ENTP personality types get excited about their ideas, and their enthusiasm inspires others to support them in fulfilling their visions.

ENTPs And Career Options

ENTPs make good lawyers because of their verbal skills, the ability to think on their feet, and their innate desire to shred opposing arguments whether or not they agree with them. ENTP personality types also do well as architects and urban planners. ENTP personality types have many other career options as well and can be found in virtually every field; they will be successful in most of them. Careers that the ENTP should avoid are those that require them to pay attention to detail or to follow routines and procedures. ENTP personality types are happiest as idea people who can delegate mundane work to subordinates.

ENTPs And Relationships

The ENTP personality type is fun to be with, and their partners are seldom bored. ENTPs are easygoing, and they include their partners in their never-ending thirst for knowledge and personal growth. ENTP personality types bring the same enthusiasm and excitement for new ideas and challenges to their close relationships as they do to their careers.

There are some downsides for those in a relationship with an ENTP personality type: mundane housekeeping chores like washing the dishes or mowing the lawn bore them, and they're likely to neglect them. The ENTP's desire to debate every issue, no matter how big or small, can be wearisome to a partner who needs a moderate amount of quiet time. Because ENTP personality types are easily bored, they may jump into new ventures impulsively and take financial and career risks that cause stress to the family. ENTPs also have quirky types of humor and tend to poke fun at others, sometimes unintentionally hurting their feelings.

ENTP personality types never entirely lose their inner child and as a parent will create fun-loving environments in which their children can learn, grow, and think for themselves. However, ENTPs may neglect to spend time with their children if they get involved in yet another big idea to improve the world.

ENTP's Strengths

ENTPs love a challenge, and they can be counted on to never walk away from difficult situations or hardships. The ENTP personality type believes that anything is possible, and they will find a creative solution to every problem. Here are some of their other strengths: 

• ENTPs are charismatic. People are attracted to the fun-loving, optimistic ENTP personality type, and they can be good leaders.

• ENTPs encourage and embrace change. Because ENTP personality types are easily bored with routines and norms, they are continually looking for new and better ways to do things.

• ENTPs are always looking out for new things to learn. They're enthusiastic and passionate about new pursuits and ideas.

• ENTPs are knowledgeable, quick-thinking, and creative.

ENTP's Weaknesses

ENTPs are easily bored. The ENTP personality type is always looking for something new; they get bored with routines and people who have been around for a while. ENTPs tend to have shorter-term relationships than other personality types and are prone to relationship hopping. They will also leave projects and tasks unfinished when they get bored and move on to the next exciting thing; their brilliant plans are often unrealized because they move on before they've achieved anything. Here are some of their other weaknesses:

• ENTPs take risks. The ENTP personality type gets excited about a new venture and will jump in without thinking through the pros and cons, which may in some cases lead to financial hardship.

• ENTPs have a constant need to argue, and other people may see this as confrontational at worst and tiring at best.

• ENTPs can be blunt to the point of being insensitive to the feelings of others. They tend to poke fun in a way that may be misunderstood by others and hurt their feelings.

• ENTPs may be intolerant of people who can't keep up with them. ENTP personality types will dismiss not only an idea if it doesn't stand up to scrutiny, but also the person along with it.

ENTPs are innovators, continually pursuing knowledge and personal growth, and inspiring others to join them on their exciting journey of new ventures. ENTP personality types do well at whatever they choose to do, provided it's not routine or detailed. They're fun-loving, laid back, and charismatic, and other people enjoy being in their company. The ENTP personality type is quick-witted and verbally gifted.

However, ENTP personality types can be insensitive to the feelings of others and don't always recognize that their sense of humor and bluntness may be hurtful. In addition, ENTPs often procrastinate when an important decision needs to be made. The ENTP personality type also tends to leave tasks unfinished when something more interesting comes along.

Therapist-Client Relationships Based On Myers-Briggs Type Similarities

Research indicates that when therapists and clients have similar Myers-Briggs profiles, clients may be more likely to rate the quality of the therapy relationship highly. Clients’ ratings of the therapeutic relationship correlated most significantly with similarities on the Thinking-Feeling (TF) and Judging-Perceiving (JP) dimensions. Therefore, it is possible that using the results of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) testing could be helpful in matching clients with therapists.

The Benefits Of Online Therapy

As discussed above, working with a therapist who has a similar personality type is associated with greater satisfaction with the therapeutic relationship, which could lead to greater progress in therapy. But no matter what your personality, when you’re struggling with symptoms like a depressed mood or anxiety, it can be hard to find the motivation to leave home for therapy appointments. This is where online therapy comes in.  Internet-based counseling from platforms like BetterHelp can be available without ever leaving the house. In addition, online therapy may offer lower pricing than in-person therapy because online therapists don’t have to pay for costs like renting an office. 

Many people question whether online therapy is an effective means of providing mental health services. Research has confirmed that it is. One meta-analysis concluded that in many cases, internet-based counseling can be just as effective as in-person treatment. 

Takeaway

BetterHelp’s licensed therapists have helped people of every personality type. Get started with online therapy at BetterHelp. Our trained therapists will help you unlock your potential as you gain insight into what makes you the unique person you are.

Read below for some reviews of BetterHelp therapists from people experiencing similar issues.

Counselor Reviews

“Carri has been phenomenal for me. As I'm sitting and chatting with a wise friend who listens well, asks questions, and makes me dive into thoughts deeper so that I'm really doing the work. She listens to my personality needs and often gives me "homework" since I like to have checklists and things to do. She is a gift, and I'm so thankful for my time with her”.

“Jamie has a warm personality, even through the chat. It can be difficult to find a therapist you feel comfortable being open with, and Jamie has a way of making it really feel like a safe space. Sometimes connection with a therapist just feels lacking and there is no comfort level, but Jamie definitely provides this in her responses. She seems very knowledgeable about various treatments for issues that someone could be dealing with. This is comforting to have someone that is interested in helping you find what works for YOU rather than pushing an opinion. I am grateful for BetterHelp connecting us and looking forward to the doing the personal work she will help guide me on”.