^ The ENTP in a nutshell.

But if you want a more complicated explanation, keep reading.

One common misconception is that ENTPs have a never-ending stream of ideas running through their heads at all times; actually, because Ne is their dominant function, and thus they use it most unconsciously and have a lot of experience with maturing it, ENTPs have great control over it and use it in far more powerful ways than the other types (excluding ENFPs). Random connections, references, and bursts of thought might go on in their head, but they aren’t always inclined to share their ideas, so the 10th/11th Doctor stereotypes are ENTPs taken to extremes.

Dominant Ne is about making connections between things, discerning the punch line, plot twist, or villain before the big reveal (frequently, ENTPs solve the crimes before Sherlock does, because their Ne is quicker than Moffat’s reveals), and having lots of ideas over a span of time. They tend to write novels somewhat haphazardly and their ideas and plans for the ending change and evolve as better ideas come to them. Primarily, their focus is on building a worldview through constant connections; every piece of information the ENTP encounters is processed and added to a greater picture of humanity, the world, the people in their life, etc., at large.

They crave new ideas and experiences because it enables them to continue building their knowledge database; it excites them to encounter new thoughts, philosophies, and ideas. Their minds are swift, constantly scanning for potential ways to see things in a new light. They never let up on their search for mental stimulation (which means they are easily bored) but are able to process things quickly. Plus, because they are seeing the big picture and its variables all at once, it’s common for them to entertain different interpretations of one thing as being possibly true (what is the meaning of this film? there are five different things going on under the surface, and the director/writer might have intended them all, or none of them, but all the different perspectives have merit). Ne works so fast that one thought might be gone before they have time to share it — and they no longer remember what it was! Ne also means they “cherry pick” the philosophies they like most, and hold onto them; so their search for truth and ultimate conclusions may come from a much wider array of sources than other types.

Ne also enables them to read situations and instinctively know what is happening beyond superficial interactions; since it is paired with Fe, which reads the EMOTIONAL aspect of a room, ENTPs have a remarkable insight into other people — their intuition reads between the lines and their Fe gives their intuition information about the emotions involved. This information is then sent quietly to their Ti, which takes a totally objective, impartial standpoint on all information being processed — even other people. The ENTP can love someone and still see and admit to their flaws. Ti gives them an intense desire to understand… everything. How people work. How systems work. How politics works. It is never enough simply to like something; they want to know why they like it, why they respond the way they do, and even whether or not their own emotional response is logical and/or valid given the situation. It’s not uncommon for them to discuss their own previous emotional responses as if they are talking about someone else.

ENTPs who have matured their Fe are locked in a struggle between detached logic and high emotionality, which invests in whatever is in front of them and mirrors others’ emotions. They can be frustrated at their own emotions, because they feel out of control and unnatural when pressed up against their ability to tear apart even the things they like and point out its flaws.

Inferior Si plays both a positive and irritating role in their life; it fails them when it comes to remembering details that the ENTP considers “boring,” but is great for accessing previous stored images, dialogue, and “references” that pop into their head whenever Ne encounters something similar to something it has seen before (that’s why ENTPs are so great at having “a movie quote for every occasion”; their brain accesses stored information, zips to word referencing, and brings an image, sentiment, or line of dialogue relating to the topic at hand into their mind).

ENTPs are excellent at thinking up creative ways around problems, improvising on the spot, entertaining other people with their rapier wit, coming up with pop culture references at the drop of a hat, and pointing out all the logical errors in just about anything. Their Ne-Fe combination makes them highly entertaining (with a love for amusing other people) and gives them a natural flair for drama, which they can enhance for comedic effect. Despite their brilliance, and even though they can be quite serious when the situation calls for it, they are also hard-wired to see the funny side of life and can point out the humor in just about any situation.