High on MBTI

ENFP vs. ESFP: What’s the Difference? 

ENFP: Ne-Fi-Te-Si

ESFP: Se-Fi-Te-Ni

The other day I was on the phone with my ESFP friend going on and on about black holes and how weird and incomprehensible they are. She was engaged in the conversation for a bit, but then added “this is cool and all, but wouldn’t it be great if this applied to real life?” 

This exchange nicely illustrates the difference between ENFPs and ESFPs. Both perceive through an exploratory lens and judge primarily according to what feels right to them personally (Fi), but the CONTENT of the information they like to explore is different. ENFPs are more interested in concepts and possibilities (Ne), while ESFPs are more interested tangible, practical information and experiences (Se). 

Ne dominance (ENFP) vs. Se dominance (ESFP)

ENFPs are primarily attuned to and engaged with possibilities. These possibilities are conceptual in nature, prompted by the question “what if?”. This perspective allows them to be great at generating ideas, perceiving connections, and entertaining abstract theories, though these theories can be somewhat impractical and unrealistic.   

ESFPs on the other hand are primarily attuned to and engaged with the tangible, practical, and concrete information available in the here and now. Unlike ENFPs who are so caught up in “what if” that they can get lost in theory and hypotheticals, ESFPs, above all, are present. The Se perspective makes them observant, adaptable, down-to-earth, and reactive, as well as in tune with aesthetics, sounds, etc. Above all, they are interested in “what is”, sometimes living in the moment to a fault.

Inferior Si (ENFP) vs. Inferior Ni (ESFP)

Of course, no human perceives only sensory or only intuitive information, and this is true for both ENFPs and ESFPs despite being dominant perceivers. However, ENFPs grasp on the concrete and ESFPs grasp on the conceptual is generally somewhat immature and manifests in the form of inferior functions. 

Since ENFPs lead with Ne, which is both intuitive and exploratory, they have more trouble with Si, which focuses on sensory information from a subjective, conclusive perspective. On the one hand, this means that the ENFP can be surprisingly good with specific details or fine arts like drawing, but this also means ENFPs generally have trouble with attention to detail, respect for tradition, learning from their mistakes, and being truly present. Under stress, ENFPs can fall into an Si grip, where they become fixated on details or past experiences, overly sentimental, obsessively worried that something is wrong with them physically (i.e. developing a terrible rare disease), or stuck in a behavioral rut. 

On the other hand, since ESFPs lead with Se, which is both concrete and exploratory, they have more trouble with Ni, which focuses on intuitive information from a conclusive perspective. This means that ESFPs can have out of the blue, “I just know” moments that are surprisingly astute, but this also means they have trouble planning ahead, making generalized conclusions without clear evidence, appreciating metaphorical language, perceiving the “essence” of things or ideas and having a clear “vision” of what they want or what’s meant. When under stress, ESFPs can fall into an Ni grip, where they become paranoid, overly existential or hopeless, no longer perceiving options for action and experience in their life. 

Further observed differences 

ENFP intuitive perceptions are exploratory, more focused on “what if this?” or “what if that?” whereas ESFP intuitive perceptions are more conclusive, more focused on what they “just know” is going to happen.

ESFPs constantly take in and engage with sensory information, noticing details and truly “being” in the world around them, while the ENFPs relationship with sensory information is more subjective, focusing on what a certain object means to them or how it makes them feel. 

ESFPs are much more physically observant than ENFPs, noticing subtle changes in people’s behavior or appearance, while ENFPs tend to be more perceptive about people’s hidden motivations.  

Because ESFPs see people for who they are in the present rather than their hidden motivations, they tend to be somewhat less judgmental than ENFPs. 

Both types are open, but in different ways: For ENFPs this is about openness to ideas, while for ESFPs this means openness to experience. 

ENFPs are generally more optimistic than ESFPs, because they can see multiple possibilities and solutions to any problem. Since ESFPs are focused on what’s real and tangible, these alternate positive possibilities are more slightly difficult for them to perceive. 

ENFPs are much more likely to entertain a hypothetical concept than ESFPs, even if it has no direct practical application on real life. 

ENFPs are more likely to help a friend in trouble through motivational talks that hope to shift that person’s perspective to perceive alternative possibilities, while ESFPs are more likely to help friends out in more tangible ways, like doing a fun activity to get their mind off things. 

To summarize ENFPs are more engaged with concepts and possibilities and struggle with attention to detail, while ESFPs are more engaged with tangible reality and real life experience and struggle with attention to meaning and significance. 

Yes, if you perceive that as the situation you’re likely correct. It sounds like you could be in a Si grip.

An Si grip can occur for an ENFP if some obstacle inhibits positive use of Ne. If the possibilities Ne perceives feel constrained or confined, Si steps in and manifests in withdrawal, obsessiveness, stagnancy, and perhaps hypochondrial behavior and/or a focus on the body.

Ne is an extroverted, objective function, which means that it constantly needs ideas and possibilities to engage with in order to feel alive. If Ne has nothing to engage with and cling onto, it’s basically grasping at an abyss, hitting a concrete wall that prevents it from doing its job.

Yep, sounds like she’s in a Ni-Fi loop. This loop occurs when the INTJ feels inhibited in her usual Te objectivity by a feeling of powerlessness, inadequacy, rejection, uncertainty, or other negative emotion. I’ll bet she’s also defensive and temperamental, which is the result of a relentless power struggle between Te and Fi.

Unhealthy ISFJs

Unhealthy Upper Functions: Check out the Si and Fe unhealthy function descriptions here

Si-Ti loop: An ISFJ in an Si-Ti loop begins to bypass the external connection emphasis of Fe in favor of the withdrawn analysis of Ti. This ISFJ becomes overly analytical and perhaps chronically anxious. They overthink most things, especially other people’s intentions and perceptions of them. They may become fixated on past mistakes and distrusting of reassurance from others. They find it more difficult to “let loose” and perhaps overcompensate, overwork themselves, and/or check-out from interacting with people entirely. This state is likely caused by perceived social rejection, a lack of confidence, or some sort of prolonged interpersonal conflict.

Yes, it might! Especially if this association between songs and memories is more infrequent, occasional, random and/or intentional, such in as the situation you’re describing.

In contrast, a dominant Si user is more likely to automatically experience song-memory associations across a broader variety of both songs and associations, since their dominant function deals in subjective sensory perceptions.

That’s totally normal. INTPs are Ti doms, and Ti and Fi work in very similar ways. They’re both subjective and focus on analysis, causing the user to form self-referential, personalized judgments. INTPs need things to make sense to them personally, so they’ll end up forming uniquely personal values, opinions, etc. in a way that resembles Fi, despite Fi not being present in their stack. 

It’s common to relate to functions that have the same structure (e/i) as your dominant or auxiliary functions but that deal with different content (F/T, N/S). As a Fi user myself, I originally related more to Ti than to Te. I strongly relate to the idea of introverted judgment, (e.g. that things need to make sense to me personally, the importance of critical thinking, and not taking things at face value) but as a Fi user the analysis I’m most interested in is related to people. Understanding people’s motivations and personal introspection is much more intriguing to me than the intricacies of, say, how to code or engineer an airplane. 

As an INTP, you have Fe in your stack because it represents a perspective that your Ti focus often causes you to overlook. If you’re most interested in personalized logical analysis when making decisions (Ti), you’re going to spend less mental energy looking outward to consider the values and emotions of people in the group (Fe). However, you can’t be a healthily functioning human being without taking non-logical elements (F) or external information (e) into consideration when making decisions - so you’re somewhat forced to use Fe. Your Fe perspective will be inconsistent, incomplete, and underdeveloped, but it’s still there, playing an important role in your behavior, particularly in regard to your weaknesses or anxieties. This Fe may not sound like the Fe in the descriptions, but that’s because it’s restrained and manipulated by Ti - often resulting in thoughts and behaviors that resemble those of Fi users. 

So yeah, it makes sense that you found Fi more relatable than Fe, particularly since your dominant function (Ti) and Fi share the same structure. 

Accepting yourself for who you truly are, especially in the face of external judgment, is difficult no matter what your MBTI type. This problem is definitely not exclusive to Fe users. 

However, I’d imagine that an IxFJ in particular might have trouble with this because: 

Fe naturally looks outward at others/the group/society, and Fe users tend to think they “should” be a certain way based on accepted societal standards. Accepting that you’re gay, which you might perceive as alienating yourself from what society approves of, is generally not an appealing thought to someone who is afraid of rejection and/or alienation by a social group. 

Plus, Fe fundamentally understands that it’s easier to get along with people than to cause disruption or friction, so something like accepting that you’re gay forces you to confront the fact that you have no choice but to interact with the world in a way that could potentially cause conflict, friction, or rejection, which is generally anxiety provoking for Fe users. 

Fe is not as introspective as Fi, so Fe users often find that they dont know themselves as well as Fi users, particularly if they feel like they can’t talk about it with anyone. Therefore, it’s somewhat easier for Fe users than Fi users to trick themselves into believing that they’re something that they’re not. 

Yes, it definitely could be! 

Being an Ni dom means that you’re naturally inclined to be somewhat removed from (and therefore less comfortable with) the physical world around you. This can make it harder to naturally know what to do with your body, be physically present, and/or be effortlessly reactive. As you develop Se, you start to become better at these things, but Ni (convergent intuiting) will always be your dominant perspective - which means that while physical connection may be something that you desire, being fully present is fundamentally more difficult for you than for someone who has unfiltered Se. 

Oh man, the struggle is real!

As an Ne dom I find that part of the procrastination problem isn’t directionlessness necessarily - it’s too many directions. Ne pulling me in multiple places at once, which makes it difficult to focus. There are always more interesting possibilities to explore! 

For example, I’ll be trying to reply to a ask on this blog, and then I’ll think of something I could reply to another ask, and then some interesting topic I want to research, and then 2 hours later I have 5 half filled out ask responses but nothing complete to post. And then I’ll go back and look and what I already wrote and think of a completely new way to write it and feel compelled to start all over… it’s a miracle I ever get anything done TBH. 

But then there’s the opposite extreme where I’m hyper focused - this happens when the topic I’m learning about or writing about gets more and more intriguing and stimulating as I think more about it. There has to be idea after idea to play with in order for me to stay naturally engaged. Once we get into the executional phase, I quickly feel bored and stifled. ESPECIALLY if there’s lots of details and precision involved. 

I think this is why Ne doms usually have so many diverse interests - we end up having a wide breadth of knowledge, because we’re more interested in ideas and possibilities than digging deep into execution and implementation. I find that I know a little about a lot of things, while a high Si user is predisposed to knowing a lot about fewer things. 

ENTP vs. ENFP: Quick Comparisons

Hmm ok none of those things necessarily indicate ENFP or ENTP. The difference is Aux Ti-Tert Fe vs. Aux Fi-Tert Te. The best way to figure it out is to read about cognitive functions, but for a quick sense of which you are ask yourself these questions: 

Is it more important that you make sense of things logically (ENTP), or that things feel right to you personally (ENFP)?

Are you more interested in accuracy (ENTP) or authenticity (ENFP)?

Do you analyze first empathize second (ENTP), or introspect first implement second? (ENFP)

Do you empathize through proximity to someone, feeling their emotions just by being around them (ENTP), or empathize through introspection, intentionally putting yourself in that person’s shoes in order to understand their pain (ENFP)?

Are you more likely to withdraw to analyze (ENTP) or to introspect (ENFP)?

Are you more interested in using logic to play with (ENTP) or to standardize, categorize, and implement (ENFP)? 

Which are you more interested in: understanding and dissecting a system logically (ENTP) or morally/ethically/emotionally (ENFP)?

Do you have a hidden soft, gentle side (ENTP) or a hidden blunt, cold side (ENFP)? 

Are you more interested in acceptance (ENTP) or validation (ENFP)? 

Are you more likely to offend someone accidentally (ENTP) or have trouble with pure objectivity, efficiency, and organization (ENFP)?

Are you more confident in your understanding systems and puzzles (ENTP) or your understanding of people (ENFP)?

Cognitive Function Dynamics: Unhealthy Function “Switching”

Great question! Functional “switching” can only happen between opposite functions. This is because these are the only functions that have completely codependent relationships. 

Your perceiving functions and your judging functions, though dynamic and interactive, exist in two separate codependent, symbiotic systems. Reliance on one perceiving function automatically means less reliance on the other perceiving function, just as reliance on one judging function means less reliance on the other judging function. 

Unhealthy states are caused by disturbances in the balance of your two judging functions or your two perceiving functions. The rise of a lower perceiving function has no automatic, inherent effect on an upper judging function, and vice versa, because perceiving functions and judging functions are’t competing to preform the same task. 

I’ll use my type (ENFP) as an example. The ENFP dominant function is Ne, which means that ENFPs default to perceiving through an exploratory, intuitive perspective. This automatically means that ENFPs will be less comfortable perceiving in the opposite way - conclusively and concretely (Si). 

Therefore, weakening Ne means more reliance on Si, and vice versa. Ne and Si are yin to each other’s yang - two sides of the same coin. 

However, weakened Fi or strengthened Te have no direct effect on the strength of Ne. Fi and Te exist in their own judging function equilibrium, and the relative health and balance of that equilibrium exists separately from the relationship between Ne and Si. An ENFP in a loop may FEEL like their Te is taking over because they’re not used to using it this much, but this change in judging perspective does not have an effect on your perception preferences. An ENFP will still lead with Ne regardless of whether Fi or Te is currently taking the lead on the judgment process. 

Therefore, there can only be “switches” in power between the dominant and inferior function (a grip) and between the auxiliary and tertiary function (a loop).

No problem! I’ve written about Ni vs Ti before, but here’s a brief overview of both comparisons.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) vs. Extroverted Thinking (Te)

Ne is a method of objective perception, while Te is a method of objective judgment. Ne explores conceptual possibilities, while Te explores existing logical standards and truths. 

Ne focuses perceiving possibilities. It generates ideas and makes intuitive connections between them. It deals with concepts and theories, and is more interested in ideas than tangible reality. 

High Ne users are conceptually exploratory. They’re open to ideas and great at perceiving connections. They’ve usually got a variety of random interests and skills. They’re more interested in the ideas than the execution of those ideas, which can cause them to be scattered or multi-directional. Generally, they’re more interested in “what if” than “what’s known”. 

High Ne users: ENFP, ENTP (dominant), INFP, INTP (auxiliary)

Te focuses on purely objective judgment. It evaluates according to what’s objectively true, logical, or efficient. It deals with black and white logic, and is more interested in what’s efficient than values or human emotions. 

High Te users use pre-existing logical standards make judgments quickly and with confidence. They are decisive and action oriented, looking to use logic as a tool rather than as something to play with. They’re usually straightforward, direct, and loathe inefficiency. This can cause them to be overly objective and overlook the importance of subjectivity, individuality, and human emotion. 

High Te users: ENTJ, ESTJ (dominant), INTJ, ISTJ (auxiliary)

Introverted Intuition (Ni) vs. Introverted Thinking (Ti) 

Ni is a method of subjective perception, while Ti is a method of subjective judgment. Ni creates personalized understanding of essence, vision, or meaning, while Ti creates personalized understanding of logical accuracy and consistency. 

Ni focuses on perceiving essence. It synthesizes intuitive impressions in order to come to a singular understanding or view. It deals in intuitive meanings, vision, and implications, and is more interested in what’s meant than what is.

High Ni users are intuitive and singularly focused. Their intuition naturally forms perceptions of meaning, essence, vision, purpose or truth that gives them a sense of confidence in their perception process. They’re more comfortable with what they “just know” than when they’re asked to point to details or alternatives. They often have a clear vision of how things are or how they’d like things to be, which may make them appear somewhat inflexible to others. 

High Ni users: INTJ, INFJ (dominant), ENTJ, ENFJ (auxiliary)

Ti focuses on judging logical accuracy. Ti needs to make sense of things personally. Unlike Ni, which synthesizes ideas together to form a singular understanding, Ti is more likely to pick ideas apart, needing to evaluate logical consistency from the bottom up. Ti is more interested in accuracy than maintaining harmony or consensus. 

High Ti users are analytical and skeptical. They don’t like to accept things at face value - they like to figure things out for themselves. They are discerning, precise, but often overly analytical or nit picking. They see logic as something to play with and refine and are therefore a much less straightforward and decisive than TJ types. They’re generally more interested in “what makes sense” than “what’s best for the group”. 

Any type can mistype as another type. I’d say the most likely mistypes for unhealthy ISTPs are INTP or INTJ (if in a Ti-Ni loop), and ISFP or ISFJ (if in a Fe grip), but any mistyping is possible, as MBTI indicates thought process rather than behavior.