Compatibility of INFP with ENTP in Relationships

Are INFP and ENTP personality types compatible? See how INFPs and ENTPs get along in this guide to INFP/ENTP relationships. If you're an INFP in a relationship with an ENTP, discover how you'll communicate, interact, and relate to each other in daily life.

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How INFP and ENTP Get Along

INFPs and ENTPs have some common themes that often arise when they get to know each other. As an INFP, you'll want to keep these issues in mind when you get to know an ENTP.

As an Intuitive Feeling type, you seek deep, meaningful connection in your relationships. You want to truly understand what drives the people you care about and help them to be their best selves. You are drawn to people who seem to be sensitive, thoughtful, and idealistic, and prefer relationships that help you to grow and develop.

When interacting with your counterpart, be aware that as an Intuitive Thinking type, they will primarily be looking for an intellectual connection. NT types feel close to someone when they have a meeting of the minds, particularly when they are able to have a discussion that leads them to learn something new or think about things in a different way. NT types aren't devoid of feeling—they're human just like everyone else—but they're very much in their heads, and their relationships tend to start with a mental spark rather than an emotional one.

When first meeting this person, they may seem to you to have an interesting mind. You may be drawn to their way of seeing things and their unconventional opinions. However, there is a strong chance that they will turn you off by being too blunt, too brash, or too critical. Although you like to understand ideas, you don't get any pleasure out of tearing things apart—whereas your counterpart tends to feel that they don't truly understand a concept until they've done their best to destroy it.

You are values-driven, whereas your counterpart is logic-driven. Although you both like to analyze, your interest lies more with morality and ethics—how can this work best for people? On the other hand, your counterpart likes to reason things through objectively—does this make sense? Is it the most efficient, the most even-handed option? You may find that although you are drawn into fascinating conversations with this person, those same conversations tend to end in frustration as you simply cannot agree on what's important.

However, you may benefit from perseverance in this relationship. Your sensitive, sympathetic nature may at times overtake you, leading you to make decisions that feel right but are not really the wisest option. This person, whose approach seems so cold at times, can help you to tune into your powers of objective reasoning and ensure that you are not letting emotions rule your life. In particular, they may help you to learn to be a bit less selfless, and to put yourself first when the need arises.

Conversely, you can help them learn that there are some decisions that simply defy logic. People like your friend are notorious for trying to quantify everything; this is the sort of person who might make a spreadsheet to decide who to marry. Your deep, thoughtful, and yet ultimately personal approach can show them that sometimes the best decisions are the ones that come from the heart.

This person likely has a higher energy level than you do, and you may find their enthusiasm overwhelming at times. You may find it important to set boundaries and let them know when you need space and quiet.

Although there are some common problems that can arise in INFP/ENTP relationships, it's important to remember that there's no such thing as a perfectly compatible pair in personality typing. Whether you get along with someone has more to do with your own self-knowledge and your sensitivity to your friend's needs and preferences—not some magic formula. Learning more about your own type with an in-depth assessment is a great place to start to build the self-awareness that is key to successful relationships.

Communication Between INFP and ENTP

Communication can be a challenge between any two people, and communication between INFP and ENTP personality types is not the exception. By being aware of the issues that often arise when INFPs and ENTPs communicate, you can learn how to reach an understanding more quickly.

You and your counterpart share an abstract style of communication. Your conversations will tend to focus on your impressions, ideas, opinions, and theories. You may find yourselves discussing philosophy, the arts, the latest advances in science, or your ideas about how to make the world a better place.

You are likely to find one another interesting and stimulating to talk to. Neither of you is terribly interesting in recounting events in tedious detail or sharing dry facts without any context, and since both of you probably have the experience of getting stuck in such mundane exchanges with other people, talking to one another should be a refreshing break.

Although you share a similar general style of communicating, there is still potential for misunderstandings between the two of you. When working on projects together, you may find that you tend to discuss the overall goals, but neglect to hammer out the details. You are both inclined to talk more about the general idea, and less about the facts and practicalities. When working together to create a plan, make sure you attend to any details that need to be decided, and don't just assume you're on the same page.

When talking with this person, you may fall into the role of listener by default. Because they are more extraverted than you are, they'll tend to naturally speak more quickly and have more to say. You tend to be a bit more quiet and reserved, and are often more comfortable letting others have the floor. You may leave conversations with this person feeling like you actually didn't say much at all.

This can be a comfortable dynamic sometimes. Many introverts like having friends and associates who are dynamic and chatty and keep the conversation moving. Other times, it can be frustrating. Extraverts sometimes assume that because Introverts are a bit slower to get going, they have nothing to say. Your Extravert friends may chatter on, thinking that if they don't fill the silence, no one will. In fact, you might appreciate them slowing down a bit, asking more questions, and giving you the time and space to express yourself. You may not have a talk-show-host personality, but that doesn't mean you have nothing to share.

Consider the dynamic between the two of you and ask yourself if it works for you. Does your Extraverted counterpart make space for you to share your thoughts and feelings? Or do you feel like you're being steamrolled? If you never feel you get to express yourself with this person, it's time to let them know that your relationship needs some tweaking.

INFP vs. ENTP Values

Values are intensely personal, and while an INFP and an ENTP can find common ground, there will always be some differences in what you hold dear. However, understand how your INFP approach to values compares with your ENTP counterpart's will help you to appreciate and overcome your differences.

The two of you share a passion for improvement and a belief that everything can always be made better. You both tend to analyze rather than simply accept the current state of things, and you're constantly wondering how creativity and imagination might make for a better way.

However, though you're both interested in change and innovation, you may differ somewhat in terms of where that energy is directed. For you, your interest in change comes from an interest in making the world a better place for people. You want to solve world hunger, educate the poor, and bring peace and happiness to all. Your counterpart tends to take a less humanistic approach, and is more likely to be interested in innovations in technology, the sciences, or the business world.

Though you'll often find their ideas interesting, for you, they may lack a bit of heart and and a higher purpose. When they tell you about the latest discovery in astronomy or a new way of analyzing the stock market, you may find yourself thinking, "That's all very interesting, but how does it really help anyone?" And on the flip side, they may find your ideas overly idealistic. It may seem to them that your head is full of sunshine and rainbows, and that you refuse to think about things critically or objectively.

You also have somewhat different values when it comes to relationships. You tend to be intensely interested in people and eager to find out what really matters to them. You are compassionate and emotionally engaged. Your counterpart tends to be somewhat more emotionally distant, and they'd often rather engage intellectually than emotionally. While you're likely to find this approach stimulating at first, after a while, it may leave you a bit cold. You enjoy a good intellectual debate as much as anyone, but for you, the real relationship starts when you talk about how you feel about things.

This person has the potential to help you gain a more well-rounded approach to how you see the world. Because you share a fundamental passion for interesting ideas and positive change, you can connect well on this level. However, your different approach for values creates an opportunity to learn from one another. You can help your friend to open up to the human side of things, and consider the impact of their ideas on the people involved. And your friend can help you to be a bit more hard-headed about your ideas, shoring up your creative idealism with a healthy dose of logic and reason.

INFP and ENTP in Daily Life

Lifestyle is an under-appreciated—but extremely important—element of compatibility. Your values and ideals may coincide perfectly, but if you can't agree on how to conduct day-to-day matters, your relationship will always have friction. As an INFP in a relationship with an ENTP, you can expect certain issues to arise in your daily life. Discussing these in advance, and figuring out how to deal with them, will make things go much more smoothly as you develop your relationship.

The two of you are likely to share a general intellectual curiosity and interest in learning new things. Both of you tend to appreciate the value of culture, the sciences, and the arts, and while you may not share specific hobbies, you'll probably have interests that you can at least mutually appreciate.

For both of you, discovering new ideas is a lifelong pursuit. You'll probably share a mutual interest in reading, going to museums and cultural events, taking classes for fun, and other activities that allow you to learn and improve your minds. In fact, you may find that learning new things together is a great way to bring you closer.

You also share a low tolerance for the mundane. You both find day-to-day routine somewhat toxic, and you may find that your lives together involve frequent attempts to "shake things up." You may dream of traveling around the world together or quitting your jobs to start a new business. This mutual taste for adventure is stimulating for both of you, and helps keep things exciting between you. However, during the inevitable dull periods of your life together, it's likely that you'll both be a bit cranky. Bear in mind that keeping things novel and fresh is key to both of your happiness.

You take a similarly unstructured approach to life and are fairly relaxed about schedules, plans and household systems. If you share space, it’s likely that neither of you will be motivated to take on household responsibilities. You both prefer to play first and work later, and there may need to be some discussion about getting the chores done.

Since neither of you want things to be fully planned and predictable, you’re rarely overwhelmed by disorganization. You both enjoy leaving room for creativity, and enjoy setting a pace together that will allow you to do things on the fly.

Communicating your needs is crucial, as you both have a different tolerance for stimulation and social activities. You are energized by alone time and need regular periods of solitude to recharge your batteries. Your partner, by contrast, is energized by activity and probably makes plenty of room for friends, family, and social events. They won’t appreciate you refusing to socialize with them, leaving them alone and lonely, just as you won’t appreciate them overbooking the social calendar.

Communication is another challenge, since your partner prefers to deal with issues immediately while you may try to sweep problems under the rug. You need time to think something through before having an important conversation, and can feel backed into a corner if your partner gets all pushy and naggy. On the flip side, your partner knows how to speak their mind and defend their position, and it can be frustrating for them if they’re constantly having to drag a conversation out of you.

None of these differences is insurmountable and with a little compromise you can easily meet each other’s needs. Your partner’s job is to respect your need for solitude while encouraging you to attend events that are important to them. Compromise is a two-way street, and in return you must be fine with your partner going out and getting the social stimulation they need without resenting them for leaving you alone.