How Each Myers-Briggs® Personality Type Wants to be Viewed by the World

Ever wonder how each personality type wants others to perceive them? In today’s article we’re exploring the various attributes that each personality type wants to excel at in their public and personal lives.

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our new personality questionnaire here. You can also go here to take the official MBTI®.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

The ENFP

ENFPs are visionary dreamers who want to transform the world and help it to evolve past its limitations. They want to be seen as open-minded, ambitious, and inspiring. Seeing the world for what it could be, they dream of being revolutionaries and healers, mending prejudices and helping people believe in the power of the imagination. This Walt Disney quote perfectly captures the ENFP spirit: “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ENFP, the “Visionary” Personality Type

The ENTP

ENTPs are intellectual explorers who want to experiment with technology or revolutionize the way we understand the world around us. They want to be seen as innovative, logical, and dauntless; unfettered by sensitivities or biases. Their curiosity drives them and they hope they can make new discoveries that have never been revealed before. This quote by Steve Wozniak perfectly captures the ENTP mindset: “If you read the same things as others and say the same things they say, then you’re perceived as intelligent. I’m a bit more independent and radical and consider intelligence the ability to think about matters on your own and ask a lot of skeptical questions to get at the real truth, not just what you’re told it is.”

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

The INFP

INFPs are creative idealists who want to make the world a kinder and more accepting place. While they may seem quiet and unassuming on the outside, these types have lush inner worlds of ideas, stories, and daydreams inside them. They want to be seen as creative, imaginative, and original. Deep, soulful relationships make them feel alive and helping others is often part of their calling. This quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery taps into the INFP spirit so well: “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Read This Next: What Each Myers-Briggs® Type Loves About INFPs

The INTP

INTPs tend to internalize their thoughts and ideas, mulling over things and performing experiments and innovations autonomously. Because so much of their process is internalized, people tend to underestimate them. They want to be seen as independent, intelligent, and inventive. They want people to realize that even though they may seem quiet and even quirky, they have enough insight and strategic capability to do nearly anything they set their mind to. This quote by Marie Curie perfectly captures the INTP mindset: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.”

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an INTP, the “Prodigy” Personality Type

The ENFJ

ENFJs lead their lives with a powerful vision of the future they want to achieve. They have insights into people and situations that stretch far beyond the present moment into the years and decades to come. These types want to be seen as empathetic, visionary, friendly, and inspiring. They want to motivate people to live their best lives and do something revolutionary with the time they have left. To be seen as an inspiring teacher or mentor would fill an ENFJ with tremendous joy. This quote by Maya Angelou reflects the way many ENFJs approach life: “I’m convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they’re stones that don’t matter. As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good.”

The ENTJ

ENTJs organize their lives strategically in the most effective way to achieve their goals. These types are big-picture thinkers who go for their dreams and focus on long-term rather than short-term gains. They want to be seen as dauntless, intellectual, successful, and enterprising. Rather than be weighed down by other people’s emotions and wavering feelings, ENTJs want to be impossible to manipulate or fool, completely undistracted from their goals. This quote by Napoleon Bonaparte captures the restless calling of the ENTJ: “Ambition is never in a greater hurry than I. It merely keeps pace with my way of thinking.”

The INFJ

INFJs are quietly perceptive, reading into situations and events in order to find out the truth behind them. Insight and empathy are two of their greatest gifts and inform the way they live their day-to-day lives. These types want to be seen as empathetic, fair, kind, and intuitive. Rather than be distracted by temporary experiences or enjoyments, they want to understand the deeper meaning of things and the big picture of life itself. This quote by Baruch Spinoza perfectly captures the inner desire of the INFJ: “The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.”

Read This Next: What Makes INFJs Dangerous

The INTJ

INTJs have an endless thirst for knowledge and understanding. As bold visionaries, they are able to lock onto a future dream and strategically organize their lives in order to make that dream a reality. Often quiet and reserved, they have a powerful inner world of convictions, questions, theories, and plans. They want to be seen as wise, original, inventive, and courageous. This quote by Nikola Tesla captures the thinking process of the INTJ well: “My method is different. I do not rush into actual work. When I get an idea I start at once building it up in my imagination. I change the construction, make improvements, and operate the device entirely in my mind.”

Read This Next: The Underrated Kindness of the INTJ Personality Type

The ESFP

ESFPs have a restless need to experience life to its fullest in a physical way. Bravely testing their limits and adventuring into the far reaches of the world around them gives them joy. They want to be seen as indomitable, inspiring, friendly, and down-to-earth. Rather than settle into a comfortable, routine existence, ESFPs want to test their limits and dive into the ever-changing world of nature and all it has to offer them; whether it be scaling mountains, dancing on the beach, or gazing at a brilliant orange-hued sunset. This quote by Paulo Coelho captures the ESFP mindset well: “When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat, and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way.”

Read This Next: What It Means to be an ESFP Personality Type

The ESTP

ESTPs long to be completely physically and mentally immersed in their environment; to be challenged by it, but not overcome by it. Testing themselves to triumph against the elements is something they tend to enjoy; whether that means surviving in the wilderness, thinking quickly in a crisis, or rescuing someone from a bully. These types want to be seen as courageous, clever, perceptive, and resourceful. They want to be fully interactive with the world and all life has to offer. Nothing could be worse to an ESTP than to be a sedentary observer of life rather than an active participant in it. This quote by Theodore Roosevelt perfectly captures the ESTP state of mind: “We must face life with a high and resolute courage…Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.”

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ESTP, the Daredevil Personality Type

The ISFP

ISFPs are creative individualists who want to experience each day as a completely new and surprising miracle. While they may seem quiet and even stoic on the outside, their inner world is full of intense conviction and rich feelings. They channel these feelings into physical channels; whether that be through art, humanitarian efforts, or musical expressions. These types want to be seen as original, passionate, open-minded, and kind. These quotes by Audrey Hepburn capture the ISFP mindset well: “I believe, every day, you should have at least one exquisite moment.” “People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.”

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ISFP, the Virtuoso Personality Type

The ISTP

ISTPs more than anything want to see life clearly, without biases or physical and emotional clutter. Cutting past pretense to see the truth of a situation fuels them. Experiencing the world, testing their limits, and chasing freedom motivates them. They want to be seen as sharp-minded, strong, adventurous, and autonomous. These quote by Bruce Lee capture the ISTP way of thinking: “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own.” “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

Read This Next: 12 Amazing Fictional ISTPs

The ESFJ

ESFJs believe that it’s the dozens of little things that happen in a day that add meaning and depth to life. Friendly and detail-oriented, they take a magnifying glass to the needs, emotions, likes, and dislikes of other people. Without others’ realizing it, they make life easier for the people they care about in hundreds of subtle ways. Healthy ESFJs also prioritize their own values, desires, and goals as well. They want to be seen as generous, responsible, attentive, and considerate. This quote by Gal Gadot will be relatable to most ESFJs: “Kindness and warmth and acceptance and love. If each and every one of us will have more of that, we will have a better society.”

The ESTJ

ESTJs believe that perseverance, practicality, and knowledge are the keys to success in life. They want to make a difference to their communities in tangible, organized ways. Taking leadership or making tough decisions doesn’t scare them away; they’re not afraid to take the helm, roll up their sleeves, and stand firm against obstacles. They want to be seen as hard-working, responsible, knowledgeable, and grounded. This quote by Margaret Thatcher captures the ESTJ determination well: “You persevere until you see it through…I never did any U-turns.”

The ISFJ

ISFJs believe in staying true to their values, aiding those who are hurting, and making the world a gentler place overall. These types often value the hearth and home and enjoy the little things that make life tranquil and meaningful. There’s a quiet power and warmth in their presence; they don’t have the commanding style of the ExTJ types, but a steady, patient, practical persistence in doing what needs to be done for the good of all. These types want to be seen as responsible, thoughtful, wise, and steadfast. This quote by Mother Teresa captures the ISFJ thought process well: “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do.”

The ISTJ

ISTJs are some of the most dedicated, steady people you will find. Fond of routine and order, they organize their lives so that every moment of their day flows like a well-oiled machine. They want to be seen as honest, responsible, calm, and intelligent. Through hard work and dedication they are often beacons of strength for the people around them. And while on the outside they typically appear serious and reserved, inside they have an inner sensitivity and conviction that guides them to make conscientious choices. This quote by Jordan Peterson expresses a truth that many ISTJs stand by: “No one gets away with anything, ever, so take responsibility for your own life.”

Read This Next: 7 Things ISTJs Experience in Childhood

What Are Your Thoughts?

Did you learn something new in this article? Do you have any thoughts on the particular types? Share your thoughts with other readers in the comments!

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!