What You’d Never Be Caught Dead Doing in Public, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

Today we’re going to explore the one thing each of the 16 personality types would rather wrestle a grizzly bear over than be caught doing in public. Brace yourselves; this might be uncomfortable.

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our in-depth personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.

The ENFP

They’d never be caught dead correcting someone’s fashion choices and urging them to be more “mainstream.”

To an ENFP, telling someone their outfit is “too weird” is like telling Da Vinci his paintings are “too artsy. It’s just not in their DNA. These champions of individuality cheer for the underdogs and celebrate being different; even being “weird”. So, if you’re ever with an ENFP and your outfit is more Lady Gaga than Kate Middleton, don’t worry. They’re not just tolerating your eccentric style – they’re probably admiring it.

The ESFP

They’d never be caught dead telling their group to “stick with the plan” on vacation.

The ESFPs are the spontaneous, live-in-the-moment, make-it-up-as-we-go types. To them, a vacation is a grand adventure waiting to be discovered, not a meticulously planned operation. They’d rather ride an elephant, eat strange food, or dance with locals than adhere to a rigid itinerary. So, if you’re on a holiday with an ESFP, put that plan away. The real fun lies in the unexpected, and the ESFPs know it all too well.

The ENTP

They’d never be caught dead loudly and rigidly enforcing arbitrary rules.

Seriously, if you’re looking for a strict rule-enforcer type, ENTPs are about as suitable as a fish is for herding sheep. To them, rules are more like friendly suggestions – they’re there, but they’re open for interpretation, negotiation, and, let’s face it, blatant ignoring. Think of it this way: if rules were strict parents, ENTPs would be the rebellious teenager constantly sneaking out of the house.

The ESTP

The ESTP would never be caught dead leisurely sauntering through a supermarket aisle, oblivious to the fact they’re blocking the entire aisle.

You see, for an ESTP, shopping is a high-speed, high-stakes race – not a sightseeing tour. Their motto? “Get in, get what you need, get out, and get back to the good stuff.” They’re the ones who see grocery stores as a battlefield, the shopping list as their mission, and themselves as the James Bond of produce. So, if you ever see someone zooming down the pasta aisle with a trolley full of stuff, making sharp turns at cleaning products, and skidding to a stop at the checkout – that’s your ESTP. Because in the world of ESTPs, shopping is not a marathon. It’s a sprint!

The ENFJ

An ENFJ would never be caught dead loudly criticizing someone in public (think “Karen got the whipped cream on her Starbucks order when she specifically stated she did not want it”).

ENFJs are the tenderhearted mentors of the Myers-Briggs community, and they’d most likely rather walk barefoot over a field of LEGO bricks than create really obvious tension and conflict in their environment. In fact, if an ENFJ were to publicly criticize someone, it would probably sound like a compliment wrapped in a motivational speech, served on a bed of encouragement. Imagine something like, “You know, I think your unique approach to time management is really inspiring! It’s like you’re redefining the concept of tardiness and turning it into a lifestyle choice!”

The ENTJ

An ENTJ would never be caught dead crying in public…not on purpose, anyway.

It’s not that they don’t cry – they do, but you’d have a better chance of spotting a polar bear lounging around on the beach in Florida than seeing an ENTJ in full tearful glory. They’d prefer to express their emotions through a well-reasoned PowerPoint presentation, complete with pie charts and bar graphs, than be physically seen crying. So, if you’re with an ENTJ and something happens that could trigger tears, fear not. They’ll probably disappear for a moment, only to return later with slightly red eyes and a perfectly plausible explanation about a sudden bout of hayfever.

The ESFJ

An ESFJ would never be caught dead loudly criticizing a waiter, even if they brought him cold soup, mistaken sushi, and a live lobster all in a single meal.

ESFJs are the harmony-seeking, nurturing souls of the world, and they understand that everyone has off days. So, even if their waiter trips and their Filet mignon ends up on their lap, they’d probably tip generously and leave a positive review about the “interactive dining experience”.

The ESTJ

An ESTJ would never be caught dead stopping smack-dab in the middle of a bustling city street, causing a pedestrian traffic jam.

To an ESTJ, that’s like a seasoned conductor abruptly halting the orchestra mid-symphony to deliberate whether it’s a French horn or a trombone he’s hearing in the background. It’s just not done. Efficiency is their mantra, order their holy grail. So, if you ever find yourself in a bustling city with an ESTJ, fear not. They’ll maneuver you through the crowd with the precision of a military general and the grace of a ballet dancer. Because in the world of ESTJs, the sidewalk is not a place for dilly-dallying or soul-searching. It’s a strategically planned, crowd-avoiding sprint to the finish line!

The INFP

An INFP would never be caught dead telling someone to abandon their creative career for a more predictable, mainstream job.

Imagine telling a bird to stop flying and take up underwater basket weaving – that’s about how absurd it would sound coming from an INFP. These are the dreamers, the idealists, the poets of the personality types. They’re the ones who would encourage you to paint that portrait, write that novel, or start that indie band even if you can’t tell a G chord from a tea chord. They’d probably be more horrified at the thought of you spending your life in a vanilla, nine to five job than they would be of a clown materializing from their closets at midnight.

The ISFP

An ISFP would never be caught dead walking past an injured animal without helping them.

Picture this: the ISFP strolling down the sidewalk, earbuds in, jamming to the latest indie folk album – and then they spot a pigeon with a limp. The music would come to an abrupt halt as if the universe itself hit the pause button. They’d approach the pigeon with the caution of a bomb-disposal expert and the tenderness of a first-time parent. They might not know the first thing about avian first aid, but dammit, they’ve got a smartphone and the heart of a lion. The next five hours would be a blur of Google searches like “how to splint a pigeon leg” and “vet open near me now”. Following this, they’d probably adopt the pigeon, name it something like “Bob”, and set up an Instagram profile detailing its recovery.

The INTP

An INTP would never be caught dead telling a waiter it’s their birthday and inviting the impending spectacle of attention

For INTPs, the idea of having an entire restaurant’s attention focused on them, even for a brief moment, is about as appealing as a root canal without anesthesia. They would rather decipher quantum physics while blindfolded than have a room full of strangers serenading them. So, if you’re dining out with an INTP on their birthday, and you feel the urge to announce the special occasion to the waiter, look deeply into the INTP’s terrified eyes and reconsider. Save them from the ordeal and enjoy your meal in peace.

The ISTP

An ISTP would never be caught dead telling their whole life story to a stranger they just met.

If ISTPs had life mottos, “Strangers don’t need my autobiography” would be in their top three. Enigmatic and cool, they believe that their life story should be as inaccessible as the top shelf of a kitchen cabinet to a toddler. So, if you’re a stranger who’s just met an ISTP, don’t expect a riveting tale of their past. Instead, brace yourself for a thrilling conversation about the art of blacksmithing or the intricacies of their favorite video game. You might leave knowing little about them, but hey, at least you’ll have new insights into the importance of a sharp blade or the strategic value of a well-timed power-up.

The INFJ

An INFJ would never be caught dead aggressively demanding to speak to a manager.

For the INFJs out there, condescendingly pulling out a “I need to speak to your manager” is about as likely as a sloth winning a 40 yard dash. In the rare occasion they receive subpar service, their approach is more akin to a diplomat navigating peace talks than a disgruntled customer. They’d probably start off apologizing for the inconvenience they’re causing, follow it up with a thoughtful, constructive critique sandwiched between compliments, and wrap it up with a heartfelt thank you. Their method is so effective, it wouldn’t be surprising if the manager ends up giving them a discount, a free meal, and a job offer to head their customer service department.

The INTJ

An INTJ would never be caught dead promoting a pyramid scheme.

As the chess masters of the personality types, INTJs are all about strategy, logical analysis, and planning ten moves ahead. They can see the pitfalls of a pyramid scheme from a mile away, with their eyes closed, while juggling flaming swords. If they were somehow roped into one of these “business meetings” (you know, the ones where your old high school friend suddenly wants to catch up over some exciting business opportunity), their skepticism would be in full gear. They’d probably spend the entire meeting debunking the scheme using complex mathematical equations and strategic arguments, leaving the presenter regretting their life choices and questioning their understanding of basic economics.

The ISFJ

An ISFJ would never be caught dead shouting it out on a reality TV show or talk show.

Visualize this: an ISFJ, the epitome of tactfulness and composure, forced into the chaotic vortex of reality TV, where controversies are as common as morning coffee and the decibel level of conversations is just shy of a jet engine. The likelihood of this happening is right up there with the chances of a goldfish summiting Everest. They’d rather spend their time gently nurturing their indoor plant collection or honing their sourdough bread recipe than navigating the turbulence of reality TV. Forget the shouting matches – the mere thought of airing their laundry (clean or otherwise) in public would give them more chills than a winter night in Antarctica.

The ISTJ

An ISTJ would never be caught dead spontaneously giving a speech at a dinner party.

Imagine the scene: everyone’s enjoying their dessert when suddenly, the host stands up, clinks their glass, and points to the ISTJ for an impromptu toast. For an ISTJ, this is about as comfortable as riding a unicycle over a tightrope suspended over a pool of hungry sharks – while juggling chainsaws. ISTJs are the epitome of the phrase “proper planning prevents poor performance.” To them, spontaneity is a foreign concept best left to thrill-seekers and reality TV contestants. They’d rather master the art of invisibility than be thrust into the spotlight without preparation.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you agree or disagree with what I’ve written here? Have any thoughts for other readers? Let us know 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!

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