In this article, we will look into one of the personality types — ENFP’s relationships lives. Who are ENFP compatible with and how should they take care of their relationships?
Myers-Briggs Personality Types and relationships
The Myers-Briggs Personality Types is an assessment that is based on the assumption that there are different attitudes and functions of consciousness.[1] The attitudes determine the direction in which your conscious interests and energies flow. The phenomenon is based on Jung’s classification of personalities. Jung’s classification of personalities is based on two personality attitudes, (introversion and extroversion) and four functions that are divided into irrational functions (intuition and feeling) and rational functions (Judging and perceiving functions). The Myers-Briggs Personality Types helps you to evaluate and understand yourself: who you are, how you interact with other people, how you make decisions and your psychological preferences when it comes to dating.[2] For instance, you can use the Myers-Briggs Personality types to help you determine what the common thread is among your exes and crushes and consequently discover the type of partner with whom you should be spending your life.
ENFP personality type: Extrovert, intuition, feeling and perception
ENFPs account for 8% of the world’s population. The ENFPs are independent, energetic and compassionate. They make charming partners, and they readily express their reliability and devotion. They genuinely care for their partners and they are very sensitive to their partners’ needs.[3] Famous ENFPs include:
Sandra Bullock Oscar Wilde Walt Disney Keira Knightley Daniel Radcliffe Fidel Castro Mark Twain Salman Rushdle Ellen Degeneres Jeniffer Anniston Sharon Stone
Here’re some of the major traits of ENFP:
1. They are unpredictable.
ENFPs follow their inspiration wherever it leads.[4] They enjoy indulging in their imaginative and spirited side. An ENFP wants to explore every possible idea that comes to their mind. There is nothing an ENFP hates more than the feeling of being tied down, and they will not put their personal growth on the back burner. An ideal partner for an ENFP will engage them in new thoughts and ideas and expose them to scenarios that challenge them. Otherwise, the ENFP will start wondering if they should not be spending time with someone else.
2. They are good at communication.
ENFP individuals are characterized by their incredible ability to communicate. They are responsive to their partners’ emotions and constructively resolve issues since they have a good understanding of the people around them.
3. They hate conflict
For the ENFP, the process of solving conflict concerns making everyone happy.[5] Even in a tough situation, ENFPs look beyond the obvious and see various possibilities. They are profoundly empathetic and they find it difficult to punish other people.
How ENFP relationships work out with each Meyer’s Briggs Type
A good fit for an ENFP is a partner who is capable of going with the flow. Rigidity and strictness in the schedule of an ENFP partner will cause the relationship to fail. An ENFP partner should be flexible enough to travel and try new hobbies for the relationship to survive. The good thing is that since ENFPs love to make their partners happy, a partner’s efforts and sacrifices will be reciprocated. Being dumped by an ENFP is hard on some of the other personality types. They wonder if they will ever find someone that wonderful again. On the contrary, when ENFPs are rejected, they recover quickly and concentrate on new prospects. Oh, and they rebound quickly.
Excellent partners for the ENFPs
The most compatible personality types for ENFP are INTJ and INFJ. When it comes to dating and marriage, people are attracted to a partner who is strong in areas that they are weak. As such, ENFPs form very successful relationships with the INTJs and INFJs.
ENFPs and INTJs relationships:
ENFPs and INTJs will hit it off and experience a natural spark because they both thrive in the world of ideas.[6] For the ENFP, life is full of possibility and excitement, and they will have a contagious enthusiasm that will draw the INTJ in. The ENFP will also open up the INTJ’s mind to many possibilities that they may not have been previously aware of while the INTJs will harness the ideas and insights of ENFPs and give them clarity and focus to bring them to life. Since INTJs are reserved and introverted, they will find in the playful, and genuinely open-minded ENFPs comforting and delightful partners.
ENFPs and INFJs relationships:
ENFPs and INFJs also form very successful relationships. Experts say that both ENFPs and INFJs are highly intuitive individuals and that even though they have some fundamental differences, they both have pieces that each desires.[7] While on the one hand, the INFJs want to be understood and to be helped to come out of their shell, the ENFPs genuinely love meeting the needs of their partners. This creates a great balance between the two partners. Further, even though the ENFPs are extroverted, the INFJs are more introspective, and they know how to help the ENFPs with their emotional growth. In fact, the ENFPs are the only partners that are persistent enough that they will get to really know an INFJ. Neither ENFPs nor INFJs enjoy conflict. So when they disagree on something, the efforts to come to a solution will rarely turn into a fight.
Other Myers-Briggs Personality Types that form excellent relationships with the ENFPs include:
ESFJ: The ESFJs can get extremely pessimistic and discouraged under certain circumstances. As such, the ENFPs prove to be very understanding and supportive of them. ENFJ: ENFJs are profoundly perceptive and love to discuss meaningful topics. Just like ENFPs, they have excellent communication skills and therefore, ENFPs certainly enjoy their company. INTP: INTPs are thinkers, and they are into ideas and theories. Their relationships with the ENFPs work very well because the ENFPs have a natural ability for understanding people.
Reasonably good partners for the ENFPs
ENFPs and INFPs are equally passionate and yet considerably different because of how they perceive the world around them.
ENFPs and INFPs relationships:
ENFPs love to talk and can indulge in talking endlessly. INFPs, on the other hand, are calm and reserved and they like to listen. This makes the two personality types perfect for each other. ENFPs are social animals. They love to make the people around them happy. The INFPs tend to stay behind the scenes. They are creative and artistic, and they, therefore, draw the ENFPs to them. Both personalities rely on intuition, and they can have deep discussions. The ENFPs and INFPs can communicate their feelings through unconventional ways, which will keep their spark alive.
Other Myers-Briggs Personality Types that can build a reasonably healthy r elationship with the ENFP include:
ENTP: ENTPs are self-confident and can socialize with all people with uncompromising charm. They therefore make good partners with the ENFPs, who are social butterflies. ENTJ: The ENTJs are logical in their approach and love planning. They bring structure to the lives of the ENFPs. ISFP: The ISFPs are action oriented and believe in doing rather than thinking. They are a good fit for ENFPs since they can help them to achieve their goals. ESFP: Just like the ENFPs, the ESFPs love to experience new things and are often impulsive. As a result, they can get along with ENFPs. Of all the ENFPs, females are more than the males, in the ratio of 2:1
Unlikely partners for the ENFPs
The Myers-Briggs Personality Types that would find it difficult to build any meaningful relationship with the ENFPs include ISTJs. The ISTJ-ENFP relationship has zero similarities and four differences.[8]
ENFPs and ISTJs relationships:
The ENFPs may feel that the ISTJs are too quiet and find communicating with them difficult. On the other hand, ISTJs may find the ENFPs too loud. In a social situation, ISTJs may also feel neglected and unheard by ENFPs. The ISTJs may prefer to have some quiet time at home while the ENFPs will enjoy heading out for social activities and other highly stimulating activities. This difference in preference would be a bone of contention in the relationship. The ENFPs may also find the ISTJs too controlling at times while the ISTJ will find the ENFP lack of planning and scheduling irritating. In addition, the ISTJs are more focused on the present while the ENFPs concentrate on the future. This may deprive a couple of shared goals and a common future to look forward to. Eventually, the couple will not have any chemistry.
Other personality types that would find it hard to maintain a relationship with ENFPs include:[9]
ISTP: ISTPs are analytical, practical and realistic. They are also not good at handling emotions. The ENFPs might not find them appealing at all. ESTP: ESTPs are realists, and they are not enthusiastic on the emotional side. They are therefore unlikely to be compatible with the ENFPs. ESTJ: ESTJs have strong opinions, and they lack spontaneity. They are inflexible and may come off as controlling. They love traditions and routines and want to conduct the relationship the old-fashioned way. As a result, they do not get along with the ENFPs. ISFJ: ISFJs are not very future oriented. Indeed, they would rather rely on past experiences. This is a total contradiction to the ENFPs.
Final thoughts
Having said all this, you should bear in mind that Myers-Briggs Types is just an instrument that gives you more information on people’s innate preferences. While knowing your own and other people’s preferences is a huge plus when it comes to relationships, nothing is cast on stone. You cannot dismiss a potential partner just because Myers-Briggs said that you are not compatible. Also, if you do not end up with someone whom you are compatible, you can use the Myers and Briggs Relationship Type to spark a debate about how you can meet halfway to build a more healthy relationship. Again, despite what the Myers-Briggs types indicates, ENFPs can enjoy satisfying relationships with any personality type if both of the partners are committed to personal growth and communicating effectively. Remember that there is more to relationships than simply meeting ‘the one’. Though you may have great chemistry and click to the moon and back, they are never a ‘meet the right one and ride off into the sunset’ type scenario. They take work in order to last and thrive. The Myers-Briggs type indicators are only indicators and aren’t a silver bullet to long lasting relationship bliss. Featured photo credit: Unsplash via unsplash.com
