Here’s What You’re Like as a Friend, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

Have you ever wondered what the different personality types are like as friends? In today’s article we’re going to look at some of the amazing qualities each type brings to the table in a friendship setting. Keep in mind, these descriptions describe the types in their healthy states. Individuals who are operating at an immature level may  not exhibit these same tendencies.

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our new personality questionnaire!

Here’s What You’re Like as a Friend, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

The ENFP Friend

ENFPs are extremely supportive, encouraging friends who believe in fostering the dreams of their loved ones. They are strong believers in personal growth, human potential, and future possibility and they are good at sparking ambition and vision in the people they encounter. Expressive, enthusiastic, and curious, they are eager to explore novel ideas, theories, and experiences. They pair their vivid imagination with an authenticity that inspires the people around them to be honest and to think beyond the bounds of convention.

Characteristics of ENFP Friends:

• Imaginative
• Sincere
• Warm
• Enthusiastic
• Supportive
• Spontaneous
• Flexible
• Improvisational
• Expressive
• Humorous

Read This Next: The Best and Worst Parts of Being an ENFP Teenager

The ENTP Friend

ENTP friends are mentally stimulating and are willing to challenge the thoughts of anyone they encounter. They are natural skeptics, troubleshooters, and innovators. They live to stretch the limits of the imagination, showing people ideas and possibilities that will shake up traditions and conventions. Bored by routine, ENTPs like to invite their friends on spontaneous experiences.  They are fun-loving and always on the lookout for something new to try or think about. They are also extremely competitive and will appreciate a friend who is ready for some good-natured mental sparring.

Characteristics of ENTP Friends:

• Ingenious
• Stimulating
• Outspoken
• Argumentative
• Logical
• Strategic
• Spontaneous
• Adaptable
• Enthusiastic
• Humorous
• Imaginative

The INFP Friend

Sensitive and caring, INFPs have great empathy for their friends and are often very nurturing and comforting to those they love. However, if you haven’t reached a deep level of friendship with them they can appear aloof and unreadable at first glance. It can take a long time for INFPs to feel comfortable sharing their innermost thoughts. They tend to look for friends who share their deeply-held values or are at least willing to have an open-mind. INFPs are creative and enjoy exploring novel ideas and possibilities with their friends. They enjoy artistic expression, discussing movies, music, and books. Because INFPs like to spend a great deal of time alone they may not always seem to be as available as certain friends would like them to be. They need friends who can understand their need for quiet time and who are sensitive to their feelings and values.

Characteristics of the INFP Friend:

• Loyal
• Imaginative
• Curious
• Empathetic
• Sensitive
• Need Regular Alone Time
• Supportive
• Individualistic
• Reflective
• Creative
• Spontaneous

Read This Next: 3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets of the INFP Personality Type

The INTP Friend

Creative and often ingenious, INTPs are the friends who see possibilities where others do not. They enjoy theorizing, debating, and challenging their friends with thought-provoking questions. They tend to switch between being quiet and contained and playful and energetic. If friends are discussing gossip, celebrity life, or more superficial matters then INTPs will tune out and find a more stimulating mental landscape. However, if the subject matter gets more abstract or mentally challenging the INTP can become surprisingly outspoken, energetic, and verbally quick. INTPs like a lot of autonomy and independence so they will shy away from individuals who are especially clingy or overbearing. They enjoy friendships where beliefs and rules are challenged and debated in a friendly, understanding way.

Characteristics of the INTP Friend:

• Curious
• Imaginative
• Flexible
• Innovative
• Skeptical
• Critical
• Analytical
• Playful
• Creative
• Idea-Oriented
• Independent

Read This Next: Are You an INTP or an INTJ? 7 Ways to Tell Them Apart

The ENFJ Friend

ENFJs understand other people’s feelings and perspectives in a sometimes uncanny way. They are highly empathetic friends who seem to radiate warmth, compassion, and friendliness. They tend to anticipate the needs of their friends and are excellent at helping them solve personal problems. Being confided in and trusted gives ENFJs immense joy, so they place high importance on being trustworthy and attentive. Tactful and diplomatic, ENFJs are skilled in the art of peacemaking and will go to great lengths to ensure their friends feel good and have the support and solidarity that they need. When it comes to conversation, ENFJs are good at juggling several thoughts or ideas at the same time. They enjoy planning or working cooperatively with their friends to realize shared goals.

Characteristics of the ENFJ Friend:

• Empathetic
• Friendly
• Warm
• Organized
• Imaginative
• Future-Oriented
• Idealistic
• Understanding
• Supportive
• Attentive

The ENTJ Friend

Honesty and long-term vision are two key aspects of the ENTJ personality type. ENTJs are the friends who will “give it to you straight” and call out manipulative or harmful behavior right away. At first glance they may seem intimidating with their outspoken, decisive, and confident demeanor. However, if you are honest and intellectually curious you’ll find them to be steadfast friends. They are deeply loyal to the people they care about and will go to great lengths to help them solve problems and find innovative long-term solutions. They are usually hard-workers who like to keep busy, but they also enjoy discussing philosophy and theoretical topics in-depth.

Characteristics of the ENTJ Friend:

• Blunt
• Decisive
• Intellectual
• Philosophical
• Hard-Working
• Independent
• Outspoken
• Analytical
• Logical
• Loyal
• Challenging
• Unflinching

The INFJ Friend

Gentle and reserved, INFJs care about their friends in a deep and empathetic way. They use their vision and creativity in the service of others, either providing support for personal problems or creating unique strategies for coping with the problems life inevitably presents. INFJs will go the extra mile to maintain harmonious relationships with their friends, but they simultaneously are fiercely independent. They are willing to go to great lengths or subject themselves to criticism to achieve their vision. Sometimes when they do this they lose sight of their relationships and can “disappear” from social life for long periods of time. This on-again-off-again aspect of INFJ friendships can be frustrating for friends, but if they’re willing to be patient they will find the empathy, loyalty, and support of their INFJ friends worthwhile.

Characteristics of INFJ Friends:

• Insightful
• Creative
• Visionary
• Empathetic
• Supportive
• Warm
• Independent
• Reserved
• Patient
• Future-Oriented

Read This Next: 3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets of the INFJ Personality Type

The INTJ Friend

Ingenious and innovative, INTJs make mentally stimulating friends. Their global thinking and originality sparks the curiosity of people and makes them deeply insightful about life itself. INTJs are the friends who will challenge your way of thinking, help you solve problems, and remind you of the big picture and what really matters in life. If you have a theory you want to unpack or a complex technical problem, INTJs will be there for you, working through the problem from the ground up. INTJs are fiercely independent individuals who hold very high standards for themselves and others. They spend a majority of their time in the inner world of thoughts and ideas and can struggle to open up emotionally to others. Friends who push them to stay in the emotional sphere and criticize them for their reserved nature will find themselves on the wrong end of the INTJs irritation.

Characteristics of INTJ Friends:

• Intellectual
• Complex
• Abstract
• Strategic
• Logical
• Independent
• Loyal
• Curious
• Original
• Philosophical
• Insightful

Read This Next: 10 Things You Should Never Say to an INTJ

The ESFP Friend

Enthusiastic and fun loving, ESFPs are the friends who remind others of the joy each moment has to offer. Usually easy-going and optimistic, these types look for ways to amplify each moment to its fullest potential. This can mean swapping stories, jokes, or embarking on new and exciting experiences with their friends. While at first glance ESFPs might seem full of energy and charisma, if you stick with them for the long-haul will see that there is more to them than meets the eye. Beneath their charismatic persona resides a deeply empathetic, thoughtful, and compassionate heart. ESFPs believe in helping their friends experience the dizzying thrills of adventure and the gratifying simple pleasures of everyday life. They enjoy helping out in hands-on ways and bringing a smile to the face of friends who are struggling.

Characteristics of ESFP Friends:

• Friendly
• Outgoing
• Accepting
• Spontaneous
• Flexible
• Resourceful
• Realistic
• Empathetic
• Charismatic
• Compassionate
• Humorous

The ESTP Friend

Energetic, playful, and impulsive, ESTPs are the friends who challenge you to push yourself to the limit. They seek out adventure and impact wherever they go and enjoy creating an exhilarating experience for their friends. Through humor, recreation, storytelling, and hands-on experiences, ESTPs show they care by making your day more thrilling and memorable. When the atmosphere gets too tense or uptight ESTPs are the ones who break the tension with an irreverent (but perfectly timed) joke. They’re not all about laughs and excitement, though. ESTPs are excellent problem-solvers and they know how to buckle down and help their friends find pragmatic solutions to immediate problems or catastrophes.

Characteristics of ESTP Friends:

• Exciting
• Fun-Loving
• Humorous
• Energetic
• Spontaneous
• Adaptable
• Logical
• Clever
• Resourceful
• Responsive
• Loyal

The ISFP Friend

ISFPs are gentle, pragmatic, and empathetic individuals who will go to great lengths for their friends. Deeply sincere and observant, ISFPs pick up on aspects of other people’s motivations that they may be blind to themselves. At the beginning of friendships ISFPs may seem hard to get to know, but the more someone proves their loyalty the more ISFPs will open up. Over time they will reveal their deeply-held values, emotions, and passions. Exceptionally patient and flexible, ISFPs don’t like to impose their lifestyle or beliefs on everyone else. In fact, if someone is being pushy towards one of their friends they will quickly come to their defense. They hate bullying or people who try to overpower or patronize others. Kind, thoughtful, and realistic, ISFPs want to support their friends in practical as well as emotional ways.

Characteristics of ISFP Friends:

• Supportive
• Empathetic
• Pragmatic
• Adventurous
• Observant
• Easygoing
• Humorous
• Sensitive
• Spontaneous
• Curious
• Compassionate

The ISTP Friend

ISTPs are usually self-contained, pragmatic, and resourceful. They are very responsive to the needs of their friends and enjoy supporting them in immediate, hands-on ways. They have an adventurous streak and tend to pursue recreation or competitive games with their friends. ISTPs are extremely independent and can take a while to get to know on a deep or emotional level. They don’t necessarily see their emotions as relevant to their friendships and can feel put on the spot if a friend tries to extract feelings or emotions from them when they’re not ready. They are usually even-tempered and resilient, able to solve problems when life gets chaotic and messy.

Characteristics of ISTP Friends:

• Straightforward
• Logical
• Adventurous
• Pragmatic
• Private
• Independent
• Helpful
• Resourceful
• Spontaneous
• Playful
• Humorous
• Analytical

Read This Next: Why ISTPs Make the Best Action Heroes

The ESFJ Friend

Friendly, pragmatic, and helpful, ESFJs want to make a real difference in the lives of their friends. They are extremely attentive to the needs and comforts of the people around them and like to ease the burden of their loved ones in tangible ways. Generosity is a hallmark of these personality types and it can be all too easy for them to give too freely of their energy. Sometimes this leads to burnout or people who take their kindness for granted. It’s important for friends of ESFJs to make sure they show appreciation for the acts of service they naturally take on. ESFJs tend to be hard-working and conscientious and often put other people ahead of themselves. They also tend to have a strong moral code and may become argumentative with people who are unwilling to see eye-to-eye with them on values and ethics. As long as respect is maintained, ESFJs are extremely loyal to their friends.

Characteristics of ESFJ Friends:

• Down-to-earth
• Realistic
• Friendly
• Hard-Working
• Empathetic
• Compassionate
• Supportive
• Sensitive
• Organized
• Generous
• Responsible

The ESTJ Friend

Loyal and down-to-earth, ESTJs make dedicated and industrious friends. Strongly opinionated and usually talkative, it’s easy for friends to know where they stand on things. Their “tell it like it is” honesty paired with their loyalty makes them refreshing friends for people who like those who care enough to “keep it real”. ESTJs are hard-working, but they also enjoy going on adventures with their friends and embarking on hands-on projects together. They like recreational pursuits and are highly competitive, so whether they’re throwing a football or playing a game of Monopoly they’re sure to be engaged. ESTJs prioritize being reliable, trustworthy and helpful and they appreciate when their friends acknowledge their efforts.

Characteristics of the ESTJ Friend:

• Dedicated
• Responsible
• Pragmatic
• Logical
• Hard-Working
• Loyal
• Direct
• Blunt
• Outgoing
• Competitive
• Helpful

The ISFJ Friend

Thoughtful and conscientious, ISFJs make devoted and loyal friends. You will be hard pressed to find a friend so attentive and detail-conscious, and ISFJs use their awareness of people’s needs to help in pragmatic, actionable ways. Although ISFJs are generally quiet and reserved, they tend to have an offbeat sense of humor and a strong sense of fun once you get to know them. ISFJs enjoy sensing-related activities when they’re with their friends, whether that means trying a new restaurant, going to a concert or movie, or doing something creative like painting or gardening. Having a plan is important for friends of ISFJs, they tend to get stressed if they’re forced to be spontaneous on a regular basis.

Characteristics of the ISFJ Friend:

• Gentle
• Detail-oriented
• Conscientious
• Responsible
• Empathetic
• Pragmatic
• Planful
• Routine-oriented
• Attentive
• Observant

Read This Next: 10 Things You Should Never Say to an ISFJ

The ISTJ Friend

Straightforward, logical, and dependable, ISTJs are far from fair-weather friends. They are deeply committed to the people they care about and enjoy helping them in practical, hands-on ways. Extremely down to earth, ISTJs are capable of handling the “messy” aspects of life and are rarely surprised or shocked by anything a friend has to tell them. ISTJs value friends who are authentic, loyal, and keep their commitments. As time-conscious people ISTJs appreciate friends who show up on time and don’t flake on their plans. They are also very reserved and can take a while to get to know on a deep or emotional level. It’s important not to pressure them to share overtly personal details right away because this can make them feel really uncomfortable. With time and loyalty ISTJs will open up more about their emotional world and their offbeat sense of humor and quirky tastes.

Characteristics of the ISTJ Friend:

• Dependable
• Down-to-earth
• Logical
• Humorous
• Planful
• Intellectual
• Helpful
• Responsible
• Focused
• Detail-Oriented

Read This Next: 10 Things You Should Never Say to an ISTJ

What Are Your Thoughts?

Does this article resonate with you? Do you have any thoughts to add? Let us know in the comments!

Find out more about your personality type in our eBook, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type.