ENTJ or ENFJ?

[Xander]

Okay how do you tell the difference between these two?

I'm thinking that an ENFJ who's had problems with people in the past, especially a bloke, would tend more towards T-ish kind of thinking. Less empathy and more guarded like the ENTJ. However would an ENTJ who'd been hurt by people tend to be more empathic as the wound would make them open up with true friends? How could you tell them apart? How do they react to such stresses as bullies and betrayals? Which one is more likely to bite your head off one minute and then be perfectly fine the next?

Oh and the other thing running through my head is that a male ENFJ would perhaps appear more ENTJ as males are encouraged to be T and such.

Thoughts people?

[Dark Razor]

I am not sure I know any ENFJs, but the difference should be rather easily visible, as the ENFJ has Fe, as their primary function, and the ENTJ has Fi, as their last function. So the ENFJ should be very people focused and care very much about personal relationships, generaly they should be very warm people , like ESFJs are too.

ENTJs should be much less focused on people, much colder and reserved and also extremely straighforward and blunt, generally not concerned with how what they say will effect others emotionally. An ENTJ is likely to speak out even when he has the whole group against him, trying to make his point and not holding back because maybe someone could be offended. At first glance they may resemble an ESTJ, or an INTJ, but probably not an ENFJ.

Though an ENTJ of course also shows feelings to others, but it is likely that he will act rather ackward, as it is his last function.

Though that is all just my personal speculation, as I dont know any ENFJs personally and I am not even completely sure wether I'm ENTJ or INTJ.

Edit: I would think that an ENTJ who has been hurt would probably not open up more to people, he would likely think that he needs to be "strong" and "hard" and not show any weakness to other people, generally become more unapproachable and distant.

You could also mistake an ENTJ for an introvert maybe, becaue he will often be misunderstood, and people usually react badly to his forceful presence, so it is possible that the ENTJ will tone down his personality to better fit into social settings.

I can not say how an ENFJ would react, maybe one of the ENFJs on this board can shed some light on that.

[wildcat]

Originally Posted by Dark Razor

I am not sure I know any ENFJs, but the difference should be rather easily visible, as the ENFJ has Fe, as their primary function, and the ENTJ has Fi, as their last function. So the ENFJ should be very people focused and care very much about personal relationships, generaly they should be very warm people , like ESFJs are too.

ENTJs should be much less focused on people, much colder and reserved and also extremely straighforward and blunt, generally not concerned with how what they say will effect others emotionally. An ENTJ is likely to speak out even when he has the whole group against him, trying to make his point and not holding back because maybe someone could be offended. At first glance they may resemble an ESTJ, or an INTJ, but probably not an ENFJ.

Though an ENTJ of course also shows feelings to others, but it is likely that he will act rather ackward, as it is his last function.

Though that is all just my personal speculation, as I dont know any ENFJs personally and I am not even completely sure wether I'm ENTJ or INTJ.

Edit: I would think that an ENTJ who has been hurt would probably not open up more to people, he would likely think that he needs to be "strong" and "hard" and not show any weakness to other people, generally become more unapproachable and distant.

You could also mistake an ENTJ for an introvert maybe, becaue he will often be misunderstood, and people usually react badly to his forceful presence, so it is possible that the ENTJ will tone down his personality to better fit into social settings.

I can not say how an ENFJ would react, maybe one of the ENFJs on this board can shed some light on that.

Showing feelings to others is Fe. The fifth function of ETJ. In the middle.
Fi is not about showing feelings. Fi is about private feelings.

[Dark Razor]

Originally Posted by wildcat

Showing feelings to others is Fe. The fifth function of ETJ. In the middle.
Fi is not about showing feelings. Fi is about private feelings.

Thank you for that correction.

Also, NTJs are usually very serious people, they dont have that "silly switch" that many NFs have.

[wildcat]

Originally Posted by Dark Razor

Thank you for that correction.

Also, NTJs are usually very serious people, they dont have that "silly switch" that many NFs have.

Correct. From my P point sometimes a bit too serious.

I am pleased to find somebody from Germany here.

[Dark Razor]

Ah damn, it's gone already, I just wanted to ask if one of the INTPs could please h4xxor and destroy the computer behind the IP of the Britney Spears porn garbage, to late now.

I am pleased to find somebody from Germany here.

[Xander]

You what now? What garbage?
Odd.

Anyhooo... ENFJs (my sister is one) can also rip you a new one just like the ENTJ. The difference between the ENFJ and the ENTJ is usually that the ENFJ will give it to you when you cross a moral boundary where as the ENTJ it's more based on their principles (the base difference between F and T) however with a background of being pushed around it could make an ENFJ more cold especially a bloke. I'm just trying to figure out what the grey areas would be like, what's the last characteristic to go and the first to be adopted and so on.

Oh and negative feedback Fs aren't necessarily warm. Some are just plain feisty!

[htb]

Originally Posted by Xander

I'm thinking that an ENFJ who's had problems with people in the past, especially a bloke, would tend more towards T-ish kind of thinking. Less empathy and more guarded like the ENTJ.

From observation, rather than theory, I recount a female ENFJ and a male ENTJ. Each grew up in a dysfunctional family, receiving from their respective parents a combination of inconsistent support and scorn. The ENFJ showed reluctance towards introversion and had a ritualistically bad temper before, in her forties, identifying and rectifying her personal problems; the ENTJ, in his mid-fifties, has only begun to abandon his maladaptive behaviors, and can still be imperious and preclusive. Opposite sex notwithstanding, the two could not be confused, as ENFJs are nothing like ENTJs.

[Xander]

Originally Posted by htb

From observation, rather than theory, I recount a female ENFJ and a male ENTJ. Each grew up in a dysfunctional family, receiving from their respective parents a combination of inconsistent support and scorn. The ENFJ showed reluctance towards introversion and had a ritualistically bad temper before, in her forties, identifying and rectifying her personal problems; the ENTJ, in his mid-fifties, has only begun to abandon his maladaptive behaviors, and can still be imperious and preclusive. Opposite sex notwithstanding, the two could not be confused, as ENFJs are nothing like ENTJs.

Imperious and preclusive.
Please expand on this. My intuition tells me it's the answer but my T doesn't know why.

[htb]

Originally Posted by Xander

Imperious and preclusive.
Please expand on this.

Essentially, what differentiates an ENTJ from any other type (except perhaps, without closer examination, the ESTJ): an overbearing manner in which calculated aggression is used to overwhelm any opposition or impediment to a set objective when and if assertive persuasion has been unsuccessful. ENTJs are inclined to settling comprehensive policy without consultation, and will systematically eliminate dissent.