ENTJ vs INTP (A Comparative Analysis)

In this article, we will compare ENTJ vs INTP personalities from the MBTI types. We will do that by initially describing both personalities in-depth including their four cognitive functions.  This will follow up by comparing and seeing how these personalities are similar and different from each other.

ENTJ vs INTP

If we consider ENTJ vs INTP  and compare them, we find that they have similarities as well as differences. Both personalities are similar as they are intuitive and thinking personalities i.e. they are logical thinkers and like to make decisions that are well thought out. They are also future-oriented. Aside from this, they are different as well since ENTJs are extroverted and like socializing and like things organized. Compared to them, INTPs are introverted and like to spend time alone to recharge. They like things without schedule and unorganized. 

MBTI: Four Cognitive Functions

 Myer Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), based on Carl Jung’s 16 personality types, approaches personality to be composed of four cognitive functions that govern how people think, process, and make decisions. The top two cognitive functions play a dominant role in guiding a person’s personality. Whereas, the latter two play less of a role. However, they still have some impact or influence on how a person behaves in certain situations. ENTJ and INTP are two personality types out of the 16 types. Their cognitive functions are discussed in detail as follows.

ENTJ: The Commander (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging)

The ENTJ personality type from the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is based on Carl Jung’s 16 personality types. It describes people who are straightforward, confident, have strong opinions, and assertive. Only 2 percent of people are estimated to have an ENTJ personality type.

Four Cognitive Functions of ENTJ

Four cognitive functions that guide how ENTJ personality type processes information includes:

Extroverted Thinking

ENTJs are quite rational, objective, and logical. They tend to think things but speak without listening. They are quick to make judgments and decisions before gathering all information. They have a tendency to focus on organized plans and have certain standards that they expect others to abide by. Setting and reaching goals is quite important to them.

Introverted Intuition

ENTJs tend to think about the future and consider multiple possibilities. They are open to change. Although they trust their thinking and judgment, sometimes they regret being impulsive when jumping to a decision too soon. 

Extroverted Sensing

ENTJs are open to new sensory experiences particularly adventure and thrill. They enjoy the beauty in life and like to keep themselves surrounded by interesting things that stimulate their senses.

Introverted Feeling

ENTJs particularly find emotions and feelings difficult to understand. They tend to keep this part separate when making any decision. Situations that call for emotional expression are pretty uncomfortable for them and they find it difficult to give the right emotional response. 

 INTP: The Thinker (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving)

The INTP personality type from the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is based on Carl Jung’s 16 personality types. It describes people who are reserved, quiet, analytical, and not very social. They like pondering on how things work and coming up with new ideas and solutions. Most of their time is spent in their inner world rather than in the external world. 1-5% of people have an INTP personality type in the world.  

Four Cognitive Functions of INTP

Four cognitive functions that guide how INTP personality type processes information includes:

Introverted Thinking

INTPs are mostly focused on understanding how things work. They think in parts rather than whole i.e. they break down complex ideas into simple parts to thoroughly understand something before taking any action or making an opinion.

Extroverted Intuition

INTPs are imaginative and able to utilize their past experiences in present decisions. They are future-oriented and think about ‘What if scenarios’. They also have the ability to identify patterns and gather insight into something by thoroughly going through it in their mind. 

Introverted Sensing

INTPs are careful, attentive to detail, and categorize all incoming information into simplified yet understandable categories. They are able to compare new information with the old one to make a judgment or prediction about how the future will play out. 

Extroverted Feeling

This is the weakest part of INTP’s personality. They can be social and connect with others if they are comfortable. However, for stressful situations, they withdraw, prioritize logic over feelings, and have difficulty connecting with others.       

A Comparison of ENTJ and INTP

Personality: ENTJ vs INTP

ENTJ personalities like change in life. They perceive things in a conceptual manner and tend to look at the big picture. It is easy for them to devise long term plans that are systematic. You can count on an ENTJ to drive towards the final goal and make sure that things reach completion. They are confident, authoritative, and straight-forward which makes them good leaders who don’t get fazed by obstacles in their way.

INTPs are reserved personalities who are not easy to know. They rely on logic, are happy with intellectual discussions, and struggle with understanding emotions.  They dislike routine, mundane tasks, and mostly do only those things that interest them.

Workstyle: ENTJ vs INTP

Both ENTJ and INTP personalities have different working styles in their workplace. 

ENTJs are usually team leaders at their workplace whether or not he/she is formally elected. An ENTJ is motivated, driven, and strategic. They lead their team members in reaching the final goal at a good pace along with tackling any hurdles in the way with ease. They are passionate about structure, goals, rules, and clarity at their workplace and expect others to follow a similar standard in their professional behavior.

In the workplace, INTPs are analytical, critical thinkers, serious, and good decision-makers which adds balance to their team. They dislike people who are not proactive and annoy them with questions. They like through arguments, independence, freedom of thought, speech, and action. They do not however like details and trivialities that are not related to the main goal.  .

Conflict: ENTJ vs INTP

Attitude towards conflict and its management by both personalities can vary.

ENTJs perceive conflict as an opportunity for discussion and getting work done. They like a good argument and usually stick by their views. However, they don’t hold on to the conflict for long and forget it soon after. Their general attitude is of dislike for any factors preventing them from reaching their final goal. Hence, their focus is to make their opinions clear and direct so that change can happen immediately. Their language during conflicts is usually direct and factual which makes them seem insensitive and inconsiderate to other people.

INTPs like rational arguments as they see it as a chance to have an intellectual discussion. They can make hard decisions when required by supporting it with logic and evidence. Generally, they are easy-going but do not tolerate anyone violating principles. Here, they shift from their quiet & reserved self to an outspoken person who enjoys the drama but never lets emotions rule him/her. So, others see them as cold and insensitive. However, at the end of a conflict, INTPs withdraw to their own world, forget the conflict ever happened and move on.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

 Interpersonal Skills: ENTJ vs INTP

The interpersonal skills of both ENTJ and INTP are similar in some respects and different in others. Particularly, the manner of relating to others, perceiving other people, and how others perceive them is distinct for both personalities. 

ENTJs are usually energetic, assertive, confident, and straightforward. Their conversation with other people is centered on good arguments, debates and discussion backed up by logic. Due to this, they can be insensitive or fail to take into account the feelings of other people. So, people get upset and perceive them to be critical. Their emotional side is pretty weak and they perceive problems in the form of concepts. Although they can share their thoughts easily and are clear in their communication but it lacks the emotional component. They are mostly concerned with getting the work done and find it hard to wait for others to reach their understanding. Nor do they accurately perceive the actual meaning of silence in a situation.

On the other hand, INTPs are quiet, reserved, skeptical, and self-sufficient type of people who do not let anyone get too close to them. Their manner of communication is direct, logical, and devoid of any emotional component. Consequently, they do not get emotionally manipulated by others. Because of this, people perceive them as harsh, cold, and aloof. 

If you’ve enjoyed the ”ENTJ vs INTP” mentioned above, I would recommend you to take a look at ”ENTJ vs ISFJ” and ”ENTJ vs ISFP” too.

 FAQs: ENTJ vs INTP

Are ENTJ and INTP compatible?

Yes, ENTJs and INTPs are compatible. They are each other’s ideal partners and can enjoy a healthy relationship. They have similarities i.e. intuition and thinking function and differences i.e. extroversion & introversion, judging vs perceiving function. Both partners can draw from each other’s opposing traits and learn. 

Who should an INTP marry?

INTP should marry ENTJ or ESTJ. This is because their dominant introverted thinking can be matched well by the dominant extroverted thinking of such partners. However, they can enjoy good relationships with other personality types as well.

Who should an ENTJ marry?

ENTJ should marry an INTP or the ISTP. This is because their dominant function of extraverted thinking can be matched well by the dominant introverted thinking of such partners. However, they can enjoy good relationships with other personality types as well.

Is INTP a rare personality?

INTP is a rare personality especially among women where it is the fourth rarest.

Conclusion

In this article, we compared ENTJ vs INTP  personality types.  We found that that they have similarities as well as differences. Both personalities are similar as they are intuitive and thinking personalities i.e. they are logical thinkers and like to make decisions that are well thought out. They are future-oriented. Aside from this, they are different as well since ENTJs are extroverted and like socializing and like things organized. Compared to them, INTPs are introverted and like to spend time alone to recharge. They like things without schedule and unorganized. 

I hope you found this article interesting. If you have any queries or comments, please state them in the comment section 😊

Citations

https://www.verywellmind.com/entj-personality-type-2795981

https://www.verywellmind.com/intp-introverted-intuitive-thinking-perceiving-279598

https://personalityatwork.co/types/entj/vs/intp

https://www.crystalknows.com/personality-type/relationship/intp-entj#:~:text=ENTJs%20and%20INTPs%20are%20Thinking,are%20people%2Doriented%20and%20organized.

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