Ok so here is something I wrote. I may have borrowed some ideas from other descriptions, but I thought it would be nice to have a description that stuck to describing, rather than including all of the technical socionics and such. Also, there were a few things I feel like I've found out about other ENTP's that other descriptions I've read have left out. Finally, I tried to keep this gender neutral, but for clarity's sake it just was easier to say "him" rather than "the ENTP".



ENTP



Clever, curious, funny and a meanderingly obsessive, ENTP's are like a disheveled mad scientist who actually took time to be social and charming, although not entirely mindful of things refined or polite.



ENTP's have a range of interests (or shall we say "obsessions"?) that span like small, personal "quests completed" throughout the ENTP's past. It is as if they have "Oo Shiny!" moments, but those moments are intellectual pursuits and last longer. ENTP's have a unique ability to make connections with almost any two items or topics. Consequently, ENTP's obsessions can often be very random. When it does happen though, many ENTP's will become so engrossed in a particular subject, that they will skip multiple meals and chase that topic well into the night, making food, sleep and basic life functions a mere afterthought in the wake of their discovery or completion of a particular item of interest. One might conclude that the ENTP would waste countless hours studying a random topic, but to the ENTP, that random topic is more important than anything that might be going on around them at the time. Surprisingly, even when homework, friends, and relationships are put on the back burner in place of the "newest, shiniest intellectual toy", the ENTP seems to be very skillful at recovering what was neglected, once the ENTP's "challenge" has been completed.



ENTP's are master's at coming up with multiple possibilities at once. Their thoughts explore every angle, through and through, while seeming to carry on only one viewpoint in a conversation. Consequently, ENTP's are very skilled at arguing, since they are exploring every facet of the topic and may be several steps ahead of their opponent. When debating, any input of knowledge is considered and weighed, although a less developed ENTP might ignore this if they consider the debate a challenge to be won, rather than a challenge to be right. In such case, the ENTP will sometimes toy with their opponent, walking them into logical traps for their own amusement. If that opponent is able to hold their own however, and even if that opponent somehow manages to win, the ENTP won't take it personally. In fact, the ENTP will most likely respect that other person and may even hold them in higher esteem.



Socially, the ENTP views much in a formula fashion. They walk a balance between being socially spontaneous, and socially rehearsed. On one hand, they will use their quick exploration into every angle of conversation to answer back with creative, witty and often humorous responses, and the other hand, they might implore social strategies the ENTP may have analyzed and concocted beforehand.



ENTP's are constantly studying their audience to see what kind of response they return. Depending on the response, the ENTP will analyze and tailor his or her approach, making the ENTP very adaptable. This can lead to some inner conflict then, where the ENTP seems overly confident in their abilities, and yet insecure in how others might picture them. Additionally, ENTP's view everything objectively. With little inner emotional or subjective responses to things then, very little offends or makes them awkward. Consequently, they may find it amusing to offend, or make others uncomfortable. This creates a second inner conflict, as the ENTP might value how others picture them overall, and at the same time lightheartedly be prone to offend or make others uncomfortable.



To an ENTP, it's much better to be admired than in control. They have little desire to lord their ideas over others, and have a suspension dynamic when under a leader. That suspension lies in the fact that the ENTP doesn't seem to have a problem going with the flow of the leadership as long as it's heading the direction the ENTP wishes to go, but ENTP's have proven to be very able leaders when called upon and furthermore, have no problem (and a mischievous knack for) "stealing" the leadership role from a leader he disagrees with. Or, if that is proven to be impossible; they will break out from under the leadership position, usually getting others to follow.



Optimism resonates with the ENTP. The idea of tackling the impossible is appealing to the ENTP, and hence will make the ENTP wish to be the first, or best at doing something. They will use this mindset then, to try and invent or figure out things that have never been done or thought of. Because of this optimism, many ENTP's will be under the impression that they can do ANYTHING if given enough time and effort and will thus be prone to coming off narcissistic or critical. Narcissistic because they think they are or will be better at something than anyone else, and critical because they are less likely to be impressed by something they believe they are capable of, if given enough time and effort. Combining optimism with a constant view of what could be, minor setbacks are seen as taking the steam out of the ENTP's adrenaline pumped ambition and be viewed with annoyance by the ENTP. Additionally, the ENTP is usually fully aware of what may stand in the way of his obstacle and may become irritated by those pointing out the negative, especially when it's obvious.



Although an ENTP's focus is turned outward and to his environment, it isn't as much in a mindset of relating to people, as it is studying and analyzing them. Like any human being, connecting with people is important, but the ENTP's extroverted nature doesn't seem to stem from connecting, but rather from being in a setting where almost endless possibilities and endless social rabbit holes await to fill their curious nature. People can be regarded by the ENTP as one more personal challenge. Can I get this group to like me? Can I figure this person out, and once I do, will I be able to influence them or get them to admire me? If not, the ENTP can become frustrated and "fall back to regroup" and try again. This might translate as the need to be liked, but it would be more appropriately looked at as a social challenge that the ENTP incessantly tries to win, and once completed, can be replaced with another if the ENTP isn't well developed. In summary, a tendency of an ENTP is that he will skillfully work for your admiration, but after the ENTP has it, he is not nearly as concerned to lose it.



It is not uncommon for an ENTP to retreat after a social setting, not because he feels drained, but because he feels energized by all of the new interactions and must take time to analyze and process all of the "data received". ENTP's are able to replay scenarios in their head and imagine what might have happened that could have improved the situation, to be logged away for use at another similar setting. Because of the optimism combined with this, ENTP's have been known to be able to spend hours in their head, creating ideal situations and conversations out of a situation that may have gone wrong or not ideal.



If an ENTP is able to have his curiosity filled by something inanimate, he would feel no obligation or need to socialize. For instance, if computer programming happens to be on the mind of an ENTP, he could lock himself away for days figuring it out before he is too tired of being shut out from the world. An ENTP may even retreat into his own head IN a social setting if the social setting has no room for fascination or curiosity. It is because of all of this that most ENTP's and friends of ENTP's would be on the fence as to whether or not the ENTP is introverted or extroverted, as they can appear to be both.



Although the ENTP often has trouble keeping his immediate surroundings organized, this isn't due to inability, as much as it is simply a focus on other things the ENTP will regard as far more important. Clutter on a desk is more a result of paying no attention to the aspects of his world that aren't directly related to his latest obsession. When it comes to his obsession however, things may very well be in order. For instance, an ENTP's computer may have every file neatly placed in it's corresponding folders and every song title in the library may be categorized and fully tagged, while his room/car etc might be in chaos. Cleaning the car might distract and waste too much time. Time he would be spending figuring out a computer programming language for instance. Once the ENTP finally does put focus on organization, many times he becomes obsessive about that as well, making every part of his room spotless, just to be neglected soon after the challenge is complete.



Romantically, ENTP's are looking for an ideal mate. Their optimistic mentality of "shoot for the stars", combined with their restless soul and constant need for a challenge makes the ENTP slow to settle down. An ENTP might be constantly believing there are better things, right around the corner and consequently, may have had many "perfect options" that he let get away. These might haunt an ENTP, but still wouldn't slow him down much. An ENTP will settle down once he finds someone who he feels with meet the strict criteria, or steal his heart faster than he could complain.



So that's what I have so far. Let me know if you find anything off here and I will edit it.