The Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) is a personality assessment tool used by psychologists and regular people alike to develop a better understanding of how people work. The test works by measuring one’s position along four dimensions: introversion-extraversion, sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving. The resultant combination of these traits places someone into one of sixteen personality categories, described by four-letter combinations. Today, we will focus on two wonderful personalities: the ENFP, sometimes called the Campaigner, and the INFP, sometimes called the Mediator. These personalities look similar: after all, they share three of four traits. But does that mean they’re completely compatible together? Let’s get down to business and examine ENFP INFP relationship compatibility.
Myers-Briggs Overview
In Myers-Briggs speak, each four-letter personality code stems from someone’s position along the four dimensions of personality. The first initial describes where someone’s focus lies. Introverted people like to be in their inner world, and extraverted people prefer to be in the outer world. This also translates to social preferences: an introvert enjoys being alone and finds solitude refreshing, where an extrovert prefers to be around other people. The Campaigner is an extrovert, but the Mediator is an introvert. This can affect ENFP INFP relationship compatibility if the couple doesn’t learn to accept one another’s differences.
The second initial in an MBTI type describes how people process information. On one end of this axis is sensing. A sensing person is focused on current, factual details that are practical and useful. On the opposing end of this spectrum is intuition. Intuitive persons prefer to focus on the impressions and meaning behind the information they receive. They are thinkers versus hands-on persons, and they like to think in abstract terms. Both Mediators and Campaigners are intuitive.
Next is the Thinking or Feeling axis. This doesn’t mean that T-types don’t have feelings or F-types lack brains: instead, it describes one’s cognitive approach. Thinking personalities place more weight on objective facts than they do on emotions or human factors. Feeling personalities prefer to focus on human factors and the emotions of people involved in the decision. Sometimes, a difference in this axis can cause friction between people. In terms of ENFP INFP relationship compatibility, both partners are feelers, which makes for an emotionally complicated relationship!
The final axis is Judging-Perceiving, or how one interacts with their outer world. Personalities high in Judging traits tend to prefer a structured, orderly lifestyle. They likely have a calendar and value traditions. Perceiving personalities prefer to take a more flexible tack and are more adaptable in some ways. The fact that both partners are perceiving affects ENFP INFP relationship compatibility in several ways. Heaven help this duo when it comes to nailing down a household schedule!
ENFP: The Campaigner
The ENFP personality type is Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling and Perceiving. Sometimes called the Campaigner, ENFP’s are open-minded, open-hearted free spirits. They tend to be happy and upbeat, but don’t mistake their bubbly nature for airheadedness: Campaigners are deep people who value authentic connections. Their natural empathy makes them easy to befriend, and they relish the opportunity to hold a deep and meaningful conversation with someone they hold dear. This, plus their warm nature, gives them a positive vibe that makes them attractive to others. A famous example of the ENFP personality is Robin Williams: outgoing, funny, and charismatic, yet surprisingly deep and thoughtful.
Personal magnetism can be great in the workplace and make the ENFP everybody’s favorite office chum. Campaigners are naturally curious and perceptive, and they mix these intellectual traits with a sense of wonder and fun that makes them a delight to be around. However, there are two sides to every coin, and the ENFP personality has some shortfalls. They value harmony and want to be loved, which can drive people-leasing behavior or make them into a doormat. Rejection by others can be tough for them to take. Their whimsical nature can sometimes make them disorganized and unfocused, but they tend to continue taking on responsibilities regardless. In this way, the naturally optimistic spirit of the ENFP can be something of a curse.
ENFP in relationships
Campaigners might seem like a whirlwind of fun, but they tend to take their romantic relationships very seriously. Their natural charisma and good people skills provide them with a robust set of tools to help any relationship work. ENFP’s love to see their partners thriving, so they will spend time and energy encouraging their partners to follow their hearts.
When it comes to selecting a partner, the ENFP prefers to find someone in touch with their own emotions. In MBTI terminology, they prefer their fellow feelers instead of those cooly rational thinkers. Campaigners also like people who enjoy variety and admire their childlike sense of wonder and enthusiasm: a dour or serious partner will likely prove to be a massive disappointment.
No personality is perfect, and Campaigners aren’t all sunshine and sugarplums. Campaigners value their freedom and crave variety, so a partner who prefers routine may seem stodgy or boring to them. As strong perceivers, they want to find a romantic partner who shares their adaptability. They likely find judgers to be stodgy and boring. ENFP’s also tend to avoid conflict and prefer to avoid challenging conversations. This can be bad news in terms of ENFP INFP relationship compatibility, as INFP’s are also notoriously shy about conflict. This mutual desire to avoid confrontation can turn a relationship into a farce or, even worse, a powder keg.
INFP: The Mediator
The INFP shares three out of four traits with the ENFP if our math is correct. That makes the Mediator very similar to the Campaigner in a lot of important ways! We’ll dive more deeply into how that affects ENFP INFP relationship compatibility soon. For now, let’s learn more about INFP’s.
Mediators often seem like quiet and unassuming people on the surface. While they might not be as energetic or sociable as ENFP’s, INFP’s share their sense of wonder about the world. More importantly, they share the ENFP’s longing for a deep and soul-touching connection. They are compassionate, empathetic idealists who genuinely want to help other people. On this profound level, the Mediator connects to the Campaigner: they both love to see people thriving, and they’ll give it their all in a relationship. This bodes well for ENFP INFP relationship compatibility.
INFP’s possess a strong sense of idealism. This idealism can be a strength and a weakness for INFP’s. Their core beliefs and values drive them to behave in upstanding ways and dedicate themselves to principles in the best scenarios. These principles often involve helping others in some way. However, INFP’s also often compare people they meet to some internal ideal. A friend might not be quite right, or a lover might not have the precisely correct sense of humor. That, plus their distaste for conflict, can be troublesome when evaluating ENFP INFP relationship compatibility. Comparing reality to this imaginary ideal can cause a deep sense of dissatisfaction or even bitterness in Mediators. When they are unhappy but unwilling to talk about it, the INFP can suffer in silence.
INFP in relationships
While some of them might put up a cool front, INFP’s are highly sensitive and very idealistic. They are not much for casual dating. They prefer instead to look for relationships that are built to last. An INFP wants to find true love that will last them forever, not a true love that fizzles after a long weekend in Reno. While this belief in true love can make them very romantic in their way, it can also hinder them on the dating scene. If the vibes aren’t right for a long-term connection, the INFP isn’t interested.
Once they find someone with who they can share an authentic emotional connection, INFP’s are in for life. They believe in soul mates. While their idealism might make them picky about their mates, it is rarely a superficial idealism, like an optimal bust size or preferred face shape. It is instead an idealism built on core personality traits. INFP’s couldn’t care less about things like the brand of your car or how much money you made being an influencer. They want to know how you feel and think, what your values are, and what you’re all about. Once you’ve built a meaningful bond with an INFP, they will go to the ends of the earth for you. However, unlike an ENFP, INFP’s are introverts who also value private time, and they will be more than happy to give you space to do your own thing. When paired with an extroverted partner, their different social needs might lead to conflict. ENFP’s can sometimes seem smothering in their affection, which is a turnoff for the introverted Mediator. This is one of several areas where conflict can become an issue when discussing ENFP INFP relationship compatibility.
ENFP INFP Relationship Compatibility
The Mediator and the Campaigner bring unique aspects to a relationship. Both of these personalities love to help their partners succeed and thrive, and both of them value helping others. This couple enjoys a mutual ability to sense emotion and a tendency to think in big-picture terms. However, ENFP INFP relationship compatibility is affected by the different needs of the partners. INFP’s enjoy alone time, and while they can socialize, they often prefer not to. ENFP’s, on the other hand, need social interaction to be happy. This is just one potential conflict that may arise in an ENFP INFP relationship, but remember, no real relationship can exist without some conflict.
ENFP INFP Relationship Compatibility – Communication
Communication is the foundation of any functional relationship. We must understand one another to build a meaningful connection, and that requires clear communication delivered in an accessible way. A highly rational “thinking” person may not understand a subtle message from a more emotional “feeling” personality. One of the best markers of ENFP INFP relationship compatibility is the couple’s mutually agreeable way of communicating. Both are abstract, big-picture, emotionally-oriented thinkers who love to have a long conversation about grand ideas. This couple will communicate effectively in terms of getting along and socializing, but there might be a communication breakdown regarding disagreements and conflict.
Conflict is likely to be a problem in an ENFP INFP relationship. While these MBTI types are warm, loving, and engaged, they tend to back away from conflict. A relationship without conflict might sound like a dream, but that’s because you’d have to be asleep to believe in it! Every relationship will have some degree of conflict, whether it is a disagreement over parenting, arguments about household responsibilities, or differing opinions. For a relationship to thrive, the couple must be able to have a frank discussion of their needs, wants, and ideas without it escalating to a fight. One of the biggest obstacles to ENFP INFP relationship compatibility is conflict: the couple must find a way to engage with conflict without becoming emotionally upset.
ENFP INFP Relationship Compatibility – Dating
Early in the dating relationship, an ENFP INFP couple will probably spend a lot of time talking. Both of these personalities seek a deep connection bolstered by grand conversations, which is a good sign for ENFP INFP relationship compatibility. Campaigners and Mediators will likely find one another to be kindred spirits in many ways. They will probably spend a lot of time getting to know one another in a meaningful way early in the relationship.
Finding mutually agreeable dates can pose a challenge for ENFP INFP relationship compatibility. INFP’s are far more private and introverted than ENFP’s. While an INFP might find an evening in with takeout and a movie to be a delightful date, an ENFP is likely to prefer to go out and about. Campaigners need social interaction to thrive, and they feel recharged and energized when engaging with people in the world. An ideal date for an ENFP might be something like going to pub trivia, watching a sports game, or heading out on the town. Mediators do not need people in the same way and often find group activities to be exhausting. The couple will need to find a way to balance their competing social needs. Fortunately, INFP’s are good at giving their partners the space they need, and they do not feel a need to participate in their partner’s social milieu. This helps keep ENFP INFP relationship compatibility high: the couple gets along smashingly well together but can pursue independent interests without sparking conflict.
ENFP INFP Relationship Compatibility – Lifestyle
How the partners in a couple want to live their lives is an extremely important factor when evaluating ENFP INFP relationship compatibility. As intuitive, feeling, perceiving personality types, both the ENFP and INFP enjoy shaking things up, traveling, changing up routines, and otherwise straying from the mundane. The boring daily tasks of everyday life hold little interest for either of these people and can even seem suffocating, so if life becomes too bland, this couple may find themselves floundering.
The only significant difference for this couple is on the introversion-extraversion scale. INFP will need some along time while ENFP will need time to socialize and engage with activities. This, however, is easily overcome if the couple communicates with one another openly and honestly. The INFP partner is likely to want time alone, and the ENFP partner will need time to socialize, so as long as the couple is mature enough to be able to pursue independent interests, this conflict shouldn’t pose a threat to ENFP INFP relationship compatibility.
ENFP INFP Relationship Compatibility – Sex
Sex is an important part of any adult romantic relationship. Different attitudes or opinions about sex and sexuality can become a problem in some relationships. However, in terms of ENFP INFP relationship compatibility, sex is not likely to be a huge problem. Both partners are intensely emotional people who seek a deep and meaningful connection with their lovers. Sex is not just a physical act for an ENFP INFP couple, but an act of emotional connection.
Don’t read that as “sex is boring for this couple.” In fact, both ENFP and INFP want to please their partners and enjoy taking their time with sex. This couple might be able to spend hours in bed together, teasing and touching and building up. The ENFP and INFP are also both willing to be adventurous with their partners, as the act is about trust, connection, and intimacy. Nothing says trust quite like a sex swing or a blindfold! While they can be adventurous, remember that sex for the ENFP and the INFP is about an emotional connection, so no matter what surprising twists and turns the physical sex act takes, the end result is a deeper emotional connection between the partners. Long story short: ENFP INFP relationship compatibility in the bedroom is rumored to be quite good!
ENFP INFP Relationship Compatibility – Parenting
Sex sometimes leads to parenting, another major item to consider when evaluating ENFP INFP relationship compatibility. ENFP’s enthusiasm and excitement for life can make them seem childlike to some, and their lack of attention to detail can make them feel uncomfortable in the role of parenting. After all, mundane tasks like scheduling doctor’s visits and packing lunches are like kryptonite to this personality type! That said, ENFP’s are natural nurturers who want to see their kids grow and develop. They have broad interests, and they are very flexible – these attributes can make them excellent and energetic parents who give their kids everything.
INFP’s are also very warm and nurturing people. They are also predisposed to take parenting seriously, which can cut both ways. The INFP will give everything they have to be a good parent, but they can sometimes struggle emotionally, especially if their children rebel or misbehave: the INFP’s overactive conscience can make them feel like a failure if their kids act up.
Overall, the ENFP INFP couple is a good match for the responsibilities of parenting. They will provide their kids with a warm and nurturing environment and encourage their kids to be happy and pursue their own interests. Ironically, one of the factors that makes ENFP INFP relationship compatibility so strong can be a negative when parenting: both the Campaigner and the Mediator find the everyday to be boring, so many aspects of parenting will likely feel like an unrewarding grind for this couple.
ENFP INFP Relationship Compatibility – The Verdict
So what’s the final word on ENFP INFP relationship compatibility? This couple has a lot of common ground, as both are intuitive, feeling perceivers, and they share a lot of common traits that help them bond. They are both open-minded and interested in the world. They both love novelty and new things, and they both want to provide their partner with a safe space to grow and thrive. The biggest difference that is likely to spark conflict is their different orientation to the world: Mediators are very introverted while Campaigners are very extroverted. While it is significant, this difference is easy enough to overcome for a mature, adult couple. We rank ENFP INFP relationship compatibility very highly. Individually, ENFP and INFP are super cool people. As a couple, they thrive and flourish. If you’re an ENFP pursuing an INFP or vice-versa, go for it! Your relationship is likely to take off and blossoming into something truly special for both of you.
