Profile:  ENFP
Revision:  1.4
Date of Revision:  30 Jun 94
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            Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving

            by Joe Butt (jabutt@sacam.oren.ortn.edu)


ENFPs are friendly folks.  Most are really enjoyable people.  Some of the
most soft-hearted people are ENFPs. 

ENFPs have what some call a 'silly switch.'  They can be intellectual,
serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they
flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming
pool, ticklers par excellence.  Sometimes they may even appear intoxicated
when the 'switch' is flipped.

One study has shown that ENFPs are significantly overrepresented in
psychodrama.  Most have a natural propensity for role-playing and acting.

ENFPs like to tell funny stories, especially about their friends.  This
penchant may be why many are attracted to journalism.  I kid one of my ENFP
friends that if I want the sixth fleet to know something, I'll just tell him. 

ENFPs tend to be global learners.  Close enough is satisfactory to the ENFP,
which has often driven me to distraction in dealing with my daughter about
such things as piano practice ("three quarter notes or four ... what's the
difference?"  Surprisingly, she's very good at math, but it's been a painful
learning process ... sees the patterns but tends to overlook the details.)

Friends are what life is about to ENFPs, moreso even than the other NFs.  They
hold up their end of the relationship, sometimes being taken advantage of by
less caring individuals.  ENFPs get energized by being around people.  Some
have real difficulty being alone, especially on a regular basis.  

One ENFP colleague, a social worker, had such tremendous interpersonal skills
that she put her interviewers at ease during her own job interview.  She had 
the ability to make strangers feel like old friends.

ENFPs sometimes can be blindsided by their secondary Feeling function.  
Hasty decisions based on deeply felt values may boil over with 
unpredictable results.  More than one ENFP has abruptly quit a job in 
such a moment.

Famous ENFPs:

Will Rogers
Theodor "Dr." Seuss Geisel
Mickey Rooney
Geraldo Rivera
James Dobson, "Focus on the Family"
Andy Rooney
Elizabeth Montgomery, actress ("Bewitched") 
Dave Thomas, owner of Wendy's hamburger chain
Lewis Grizzard, author
I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University
Robin Williams, actor, comedian (_Dead Poet's Society_, _Mrs. Doubtfire_)
Candice Cameron (D.J. on "Full House")
Dave Coulier    (Joey  "    "     "  )

Fictional:
Balkie ("Perfect Strangers")
Ariel (_The Little Mermaid_)
Cathy (comic strip character)

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            Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving

      by Marina Margaret Heiss (mmh0m@poe.acc.virginia.edu)


[The following comes partially from the archetype, but mostly from my own
dealings with ENFPs.]

General:  ENFPs are both "idea"-people and "people"-people, who see everyone
and everything as part of an often bizarre cosmic whole.  They want to both
help (at least, their *own* definition of "help") and be liked and admired by
other people, on both an individual and a humanitarian level.  They are inter-
ested in new ideas on principle, but ultimately discard most of them for one
reason or another.

Social/Personal Relationships:  ENFPs have a great deal of zany charm, which
can ingratiate them to the more stodgy types in spite of their unconventional-
ity.  They are outgoing, fun, and genuinely like people.  As SOs/mates they
are warm, affectionate (lots of PDA), and disconcertingly spontaneous. However,
attention span in relationships can be short;  ENFPs are easily intrigued and
distracted by new friends and acquaintances, forgetting about the older ones
for long stretches at a time.  Less mature ENFPs may need to feel they are the
center of attention all the time, to reassure them that everyone thinks they're
a wonderful and fascinating person.

ENFPs often have strong, if unconvential, convictions on various issues related
to their Cosmic View.  They usually try to use their social skills and contacts
to persuade people gently of the rightness of these views; this sometimes 
results in their neglecting their nearest and dearest while flitting around
trying to save the world.

Work Environment:  ENFPs are pleasant, easygoing, and usually fun to work with.
They come up with great ideas, and are a major asset in brainstorming sessions.
Followthrough tends to be a problem, however;  they tend to get bored quickly,
especially if a newer, more interesting project comes along.  They also tend to
be procrastinators, both about meeting hard deadlines and about performing any
small, uninteresting tasks that they've been assigned.  ENFPs are at their most
useful when working in a group with a J or two to take up the slack.

ENFPs *hate* bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice;  they will always
make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it.

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From: karlg@fulcrum.co.uk (Karl Greenow)
Newsgroups: alt.psychology.personality
Subject: Re: ENFP
Date: 18 Mar 93 13:53:30 GMT

In article mmh0m@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Marina Margaret Heiss) writes:

>Social/Personal Relationships:  ENFPs have a great deal of zany charm, which

Again, very accurate, especially the part about being spontaneous and having
a short attention span.  I am certainly one of the 'less mature' types (at
27!) who wants to be the centre of attention.  Also, I despise being ignored
by *anyone*.  I also use the terrible trick of putting myself down so that
people will tell me how good I am.  (Is this typical ENFP?).


>ENFPs often have strong, if unconvential, convictions on various issues related
>to their Cosmic View.  They usually try to use their social skills and contacts
>to persuade people gently of the rightness of these views;  this sometimes 
>results in their neglecting their nearest and dearest while flitting around
>trying to save the world.

I *do* have strong beliefs on a lot of subjects, but will readily back down
if I am going to upset/disagree with someone.  I would rather keep my views
to myself, instead of possibly making someone not like me by virtue of the
views I hold.


>Work Environment:

Absolutely.  Procrastination, hate of small jobs, etc.  I also have no big
ambitions, regarding job, money, power etc.  My 'ambition' is just to smile a
lot throughout my life.

Other things of relevance:  I am hopelessy romantic.  I love to be with
someone special (for a while) and then I drift off being totally selfish
until... and the whole cycle starts again.  I love giving presents, and hate
receiving them.  I do not like to be in the postion where someone has done me
a good turn and I feel in their 'debt'.  I am an avid collector of junk, that
I rarely look at shortly after I have bought it.  I am known to try to be
'different' just for the sake of it and to get people to think I am more
interesting than I actually am.

Karl Greenow (an ENFP)

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From: ruthm@cattell.psych.upenn.edu (Ruth Maas McIlhenny)
Newsgroups: alt.psychology.personality
Subject: Re: ENFP - Would like a profile
Date: 21 Mar 93 17:07:10 GMT

Marina and Karl, you are both right about the ENFP description.  Like you
Karl, I hate getting into arguments with people if I think that I will end up
hurting their feelings, or if things aren't going to be as smooth after the
argument ends.  I like to think that I am a smiley person also ;-).  The
problem is, that when you are feeling blue, it's magnified about 100 times
because you are usually so cheery.  In fact, people get more frustrated with
ENFPs when they are down because I think that the rest of the world looks at
ENFPs to cheer them up!!  My sister, an ENTP calls me "flakey" because I cry
at the littlest things, like commercials etc... I am also a hopeless romantic,
and my attention span is low when it comes to relationships, especially if
they are long distance ones! (out of sight, out of mind - there are so many
interesting people around me now!!!)  I hope that this also strikes a chord
in some ENFPs out there.

Ruth- ENFP

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From: M17257@mwvm.mitre.org (Ellie Blackwell)
Subject: ENFP Profile-Kiersey vers.
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1993 12:24:42 GMT

This is what I received as an analysis of my own type after taking the
Kiersey test.  After reading the ENTP profile, I still think I stick to
this one, but I'm definitely torn between the two.
 
For ENFPs nothing occurs which does not have some significance, and they
have an uncanny sense of the motivations of others.  This gives them a
talent for seeing life as an exciting drama, pregnant with possibilities for
both good and evil.  This type is found only about 5 % of the general popu-
lation, but they have great influence because of their extraordinary impact
on others.  ENFPs strive toward the authentic, even when acting spontaneously,
and this is usually communicated nonverbally to others who find this
characteristic attractive.  ENFPs, however, find their own efforts of authen-
ticity and spontaneity always lacking, and berate themselves for being so
conscious of self.
 
ENFPs consider intense emotional experiences vital; when they have these,
however, they are made uneasy by a sense of being there but with a part of
themselves split off.  They strive for congruency, but always see themselves
in some danger of losing touch with their real feelings, which ENFPs possess
in a wide range and variety.
 
ENFPs exercise a continuous scanning of the environment, and nothing out of
the ordinary is likely to escape their attention.  They are keen and pene-
trating abservers and are capable of intense concentration on another
individual while aware of what is going on about them.  Their attention is
never passive or casual, never wandering, but always directed.  At times
ENFPs find themselves interpreting events in terms of another's "hidden
motive", giving special meaning to words or actions.  While ENFPs are bril-
liantly perceptive, they can make serious mistakes in judgment, which works to
their discomfort.  These mistakes derive from their tendency to focus on data
which confirm their own biases.  They may be absolutely correct in their
perceptions but wrong in their conclusions.
 
Because they tend to be hypersensitive and hyperalert, they may suffer from
muscle tension.  They live in readiness for emergencies; because they have
this facility, they assume this is true for others.  They can become bored
rather quickly with both situations and people, and resist repeating
experiences.  they enjoy the process of creating something--an idea or a
project--but are not as interested in the follow-through.  People get caught up
and entranced by an ENFP.  Yet this type is marked with a fierce independence,
repudiating any kind of subordination, either in themselves or in others in
relation to them.  They do tend to attribute more power to authority figures
than is there and give over to these figures an ability to "see through them".
While ENFPs resist the notion of others becoming dependent or having power over
them, their charisma draws followers who wish to be shown the way.  ENFPs
constantly find themselves surrounded by others who look toward the ENFP for
wisdom, inspiration, courage, leadership, and so on.
 
ENFPs are optimistic and are surprised when people or events do not turn out as
anticipated.  Often their confidence in the innate goodness of fate and human
nature is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
 
ENFPs have a remarkable latitude in career choices and succeed in many fields.
As workers, they are warmly enthusiastic, high-spirited, ingenious, imaginative
and can do almost anything that interests them.  They can solve most problems,
particularly those dealing with people.  They are charming and at ease with
colleagues; others enjoy their presence.  ENFPs are outstanding in getting
people together, and are good at initiating meetings and conferences, although
not as talented at providing for the operational details of these events.  They
enjoy inventing new ways of doing things, and their projects tend to become a
cause, quickly becoming personalized.  They are imaginative themselves, but
can difficulty picking up on ideas and projects initiated by others.  Once
people and projects have become routine, ENFPs are likely to lose interest;
what MIGHT be is always more fascinating that what IS.  They usually have a
wide range of personal and telephone contacts, expending energy in maintaining
both career and personal relationships.
 
ENFPs make excellent salepeople, advertising people, politicians, screen or
play writers, and in general are attracted to the interpretive arts, particu-
larly character acting.  People-to-people work is essential for ENFPs, who need
the feedback of interaction with others.  ENFPs may find it difficult to work
within the constraints of an institution, especially in following rules,
regulations, and standard operating procedures.  More frequently, institution
policies and procedures are targets to be challanged and bent by the will of an
ENFP.  In occupational choice, ENFPs quickly become restless if the choice
involves painstaking detail and follow-through over a period of time.  Variety
in day-to-day operations and interactions best suits the talents of ENFPs,
who need quite a bit of latitude in which to exercise their adaptive ingenuity.
 
As mates, ENFPs tend to be charning, gentle, sympathetic, and nonconformist.
They are not likely to be interested in the less-inspired routine of daily
maintenance and ever will be seeking new outlets for their inspirations.  As
parents, ENFPs are devoted although somewhat unpredictable in handling their
children, shifting from a role of friend-in-need-rescuer to stern authority
figure.  They may not always be willing to enforce their implusive
pronouncements, but leave it to their mates to follow through.  A mate of an
ENFP can expect charming surprises:  extragant generosity puncuated by periods
of frugality.  Independent actions regarding money on the part of an ENFPs mate
are not ordinarily welcomed.  ENFPs generally are the ones in charge of the
home, and a conflict-free home is desired, almost demanded.  The ENFPs home may
contain extravagant luxuries, while necessities may be missing.  They are not
always interested in saving for the future.
 
ENFPs are characteristic in their pursuit of the novel, thier strong sense of
the possible, and outstanding intuitive powers.  At the same time, they have
warmth and fun with people and generally are unusually skilled in handling
people.  Their extraverted role tends to be well developed, as is their
capacity for the novel and dramatic.
 
At midlife ENFPs may need to give particular attention to their physical health
Work with various media may be pleasurable.  They also need to discipline them-
selves against beginning too many projects and making committment to too many
people.  ENFPs certainly need to relax, to decrease the number of hours invest-
ed in work, and turn to recreational activities.
