The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) categorizes personality types into 16 different categories based on preferences across 4 dichotomies: introversion/extroversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. With so many personality types, one common question that arises is: which MBTI type is the most likeable overall?
What does it mean to be “likeable”?
When determining which MBTI type is the most likeable, it’s important to first define what makes someone “likeable.” Some key factors that contribute to likeability include:
- Friendliness – Being warm, kind, and welcoming towards others
- Approachability – Making others feel comfortable and at ease in your presence
- Positivity – Displaying an upbeat, optimistic attitude
- Humor – Being able to make others laugh and see the lighter side of things
- Reliability – Following through on commitments and being trustworthy
- Good listening skills – Giving people your full attention and validating their perspectives
- Empathy – Demonstrating compassion and understanding for others’ experiences
People who exhibit these qualities tend to attract more friends and social connections. While all personality types have the capacity to develop these traits, some types may display more natural likeability than others.
The most likeable MBTI types
When looking at the 16 MBTI types, three tend to consistently rank as the most likeable:
- ENFJ – The Protagonist
- ESFJ – The Consul
- ENFP – The Campaigner
Let’s explore each of these top three most likeable types in more detail:
1. ENFJ – The Protagonist
ENFJs lead with extroverted feeling, meaning their top priority is cultivating rich interpersonal connections. ENFJs are incredibly warm, empathetic, and insightful about others’ emotions and needs. They make people feel truly seen, validated, and cared for.
ENFJs are driven to bring out the best in others. They are excellent motivators and are gifted at rallying and inspiring groups around a shared cause or vision. Their enthusiasm and positivity make them natural leaders that people want to follow.
In social settings, ENFJs have a knack for making everyone feel included and appreciated. They are great conversationalists and seem to intuitively know how to put others at ease.
Overall, ENFJs’ genuine compassion, inspiring presence, and masterful social awareness make them one of the most beloved and likeable MBTI types.
2. ESFJ – The Consul
ESFJs share the ENFJ’s zeal for people, although ESFJs focus slightly more on providing practical support. ESFJs lead with extroverted feeling and secondary sensing. They are exceptionally observant of others’ needs and remember little details that make people feel special.
ESFJs go out of their way to help and do thoughtful things for the people in their lives – they’ll bring a sick friend homemade soup or voluntarily run errands for an overworked neighbor. Their acts of service and attention to detail make them invaluable friends and community members.
In group settings, ESFJs help put others at ease with their warm, welcoming presence. They have a knack for engaging people in friendly small talk and expressing sincere interest in what others have to say.
ESFJs’ thoughtfulness, dependability, and people-centric nature make them a consistently likeable MBTI type.
3. ENFP – The Campaigner
While not always recognized for their likeability, ENFPs radiate positivity and enthusiasm that draws people in. ENFPs lead with extroverted intuition – they see possibilities everywhere and approach life with infectious excitement.
ENFPs genuinely want to get to know and understand the people around them. They ask thoughtful questions and have a talent for getting even reserved individuals to open up. ENFPs are endlessly curious about others’ passions, goals, and perspectives.
In group settings, ENFPs’ humor and playfulness helps bring out everyone’s fun side. They have a talent for getting people laughing together and bonding over joy and amusement.
Although very independent themselves, ENFPs motivate and champion the people they care about to pursue their dreams and reach their highest potential. ENFPs’ warmth, humor, and encouragement make them a delightful MBTI type.
The most likeable type by dichotomy
When analyzing likeability by the MBTI dichotomies individually, two preferences consistently rank as most likeable:
Extroversion (E)
The extroverted types – ESTP, ESFP, ENTP, ENFP, ESTJ, ESFJ, ENFJ, ENTJ – tend to display greater overt likeability than their introverted counterparts. Extroverts are oriented toward the outer world of people and activity versus the inner world of ideas and reflection.
Extroverts connect easily with others and feel energized by social interaction. They take a casual, friendly approach and have an expressive communication style that invites connection.
Extroverts’ excitement and enthusiasm can be contagious. Their outgoing, engaging nature helps put others at ease in social settings.
Feeling (F)
Feeling types – ISFP, INFP, ESFP, ENFP, ISFJ, ESFJ, INFJ, ENFJ – also consistently rank as highly likeable compared to their thinking counterparts. Feelers lead with empathy and emotional intelligence.
Feelers are praised for being compassionate, thoughtful listeners who make others feel genuinely cared for and understood. They follow their heart and are guided by their values in assessing situations.
Feelers excel at creating warm, welcoming environments where people feel accepted just as they are. Their sensitivity and emotional availability make them very likeable.
Least likeable types
While no MBTI type is inherently unlikable, some types are less naturally inclined toward overt friendliness and people-pleasing:
ISTJ – The Logistician
ISTJs are very private, reserved people who focus intently on their responsibilities. They lead with introverted sensing – carefully observing details and relying on past experience to guide them.
ISTJs aren’t the most expressive or flashy personalities. They tend to fly under the radar socially. While ISTJs are dependable and consistent in their close relationships, they likely won’t stand out as the most magnetically likeable in a large group setting.
INTJ – The Architect
Brilliant strategists, INTJs are intensely focused on developing complex systems and ideas in their minds. They lead with introverted intuition – envisioning future innovations and improvements.
While INTJs can display a quiet, charming wit with those they know well, they are often skeptical and difficult to get to know by casual acquaintances. INTJs tend to be blunt and dismissive of small talk, putting off those seeking a light, fun social connection.
ISTP – The Virtuoso
ISTPs are daring and ingenious theorists who love analyzing systems and solving problems. They lead with introverted thinking – applying logic to absorb and break down complex information.
ISTPs tend to be quiet and contained in groups, observing others from the periphery. They can come across as detached and uninterested in engaging socially unless discussing a topic of interest to them. Their independent nature makes them less concerned with likeability.
| MBTI Type | Likeability Ranking |
|---|---|
| ENFJ | 1 |
| ESFJ | 2 |
| ENFP | 3 |
| ESTP | 4 |
| ESFP | 5 |
| ENTP | 6 |
| ENTJ | 7 |
| ISFJ | 8 |
| INFJ | 9 |
| INFP | 10 |
| ESTJ | 11 |
| ISFP | 12 |
| INTP | 13 |
| ISTJ | 14 |
| INTJ | 15 |
| ISTP | 16 |
Conclusion
While likeability is complex and nuanced, the MBTI provides insight into personalities that tend to attract social connections versus those that are more reserved and independent. When considering overt markers of likeability such as friendliness, empathy, and positivity, the Feeling extroverts – specifically ENFJ, ESFJ, and ENFP types – tend to be perceived as most likeable overall. However, each of the 16 types has wonderful strengths and it’s worth looking beyond surface perceptions. At the end of the day, developing genuine compassion and interest in others can help make any personality type more magnetically likeable.