The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality type test has been around in some form since the 1940s and remains popular today. Benefits can include self-affirmation, entertainment, and team-building in certain circumstances. However, as an evidence-based resource, Unii must point out that the scientific community believes that this test is merely pseudoscientific. The test’s original purpose, which was to direct subjects to parts of the workforce for which they are most suited, is not used by modern educators or recruitment professionals seeking a scientific methodology, and it should not be considered an effective career diagnostic tool. Therefore, while your personality may be some indicator of the way you are likely to approach parenting, your MBTI probably shouldn’t form the basis of your parental decision-making or govern which parental style you choose. For a scientifically valid personality test that can give you more guidance on what sort of parent you’re likely to be, we suggest you try the Big Five (also known as OCEAN). Unii does not offer a version of the MBTI test for you to take, but if you already know your type, this article should give you an idea of parenting styles that are closest to it. Let’s look at the personality types of parents.

INTJ (The Architect: Introverted, Intuition, Thinking, Judgement)

This personality type is thought to take parenting seriously and approaches it with the same dedication as they do their professional pursuits. INTJs are typically in one of the traditional professions (lawyers, doctors, engineers, etc.) and have high expectations of themselves and others, which one might associate with tiger parenting or authoritarian parenting, especially as their introverted and judgemental style makes them less likely to enforce the punitive measures chosen by an authoritarian parent. INTJ is considered one of the least emotionally accessible personality types, which can indicate that they may have relationship problems with both their co-parent and their children.

ENTJ (The Commander: Extroverted, Intuition, Thinking, Judgement)

The truest version of this type is very likely to be an authoritarian or tiger parent and very given to running their children’s lives with firm structures, high expectations, and lots of rules. More dominant than the INTJ, the ENTJ parent is more likely to verbalise their feelings about a child’s performance in real-time and can seem harder to please. On the positive side, children will always know where they stand with these parents. Boundaries and consistency are known to create trust and help children feel safe. Finally, being demanding of their children and intervening quite a lot of the time are actually signs of love and interest.

INFJ (The Advocate: Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judgement)

This type is the least common to result from taking the Myers-Briggs Test, so you are a rare parent if it’s yours! You’re a naturally deep thinker. This personality type is perhaps most likely to parent authoritatively. Authoritative parenting is widely regarded as the style most likely to have positive outcomes for children, though it should be noted that we know this because it’s one of the best studied. Many modern parenting styles may have an extremely positive impact on children; we just don’t have data for them. Permissive, authoritarian, and uninvolved parenting styles are thought to negatively impact a child’s mental health, adult relationships, and self-esteem.

ENFJ (The Protagonist: Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judgement)

This personality type knows how to make you love them! An ENTJ parent prioritises family above all but is a people person generally and creates a warm, fun, and supportive environment at home. This type’s parenting is also likely to be authoritative or even close to the more modern respectful parenting style, as an ENFJ will surely take their kids’ feelings and opinions into consideration when setting their rules and tailor their expectations to each individual child’s abilities.

INTP (The Logician: Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Prospecting)

INTPs are likely to be a bit more hands-off with parenting, encouraging independence and self-sufficiency in their children from an early age. As they are also a type that enjoys doing their own thing, they will be relaxed with their kids' choices most of the time but perhaps find it difficult to cope when their children behave in a way that is illogical and inconsistent with their own beliefs. As they will also be reluctant to discipline their children and impose rules, they may find a strong connection with their children is hard to maintain over time.

ENTP (The Debater: Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Prospecting)

The ENTP is a confident and independent person who role models good behaviour in questioning information and problem solving by themselves. Their argumentative nature can be confusing to children and especially teenagers, who tend to enjoy conformity and fitting in, but their example is likely to become valuable to them in time. ENTPs are likely to embrace so-called free range parenting, encouraging independence, technology-free play, outdoor play, and responsibility through age-appropriate chores.

INFP (The Mediator: Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Prospecting)

INFPs make compassionate, highly responsive parenting choices. They are likely to be led by their child’s choices in most things, imposing few rules and expectations. In this way, their parenting style seems permissive, though as parents who feel things deeply, the guilt their disappointment inspires may be enough to prompt children to respect their values. This type’s parenting style could benefit from a co-parent more attuned to a child’s need for healthy boundaries and structure in order to thrive.

ENFP (The Campaigner: Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Prospecting)

ENFPs are typically authoritative or respectful parents. They enforce structure but are democratic about how they run their household, encouraging their children to participate in both chores and how rules and plans are made. An ENFP parent will typically be very openly affectionate and more interested in their children’s health and emotional wellbeing than school performance. This can lead to hurt feelings when their children need to naturally grow away from them. They can have trouble enforcing discipline consistently, which is confusing for children.

ISTJ (The Logistician: Introverted, Observant, Thinking, Judgement)

ISTJs are among the most traditional parents, imposing rules and high expectations on their kids. This can cause problems where strict adherence to their values means their children feel dismissed or unloved. It can also result in the development of a child who is just as stubborn as they are, leading to long-term issues with communication and complete connection. This type’s parenting style will benefit from a co-parent who is gentler and can effectively encourage more flexibility with rules and expectations when a child’s nature or a situation demands it.

ISFJ (The Defender: Introverted, Observant, Feeling, Judgement)

ISFJs have similarly high standards and expectations to ISTJs but are more likely to respect their children’s opinions and feelings. This personality type is known for loyalty and devotion and will be very much more invested in their child becoming a well-rounded, happy person than an overachiever. This personality type’s parenting style is most likely to be authoritative.

ESTJ (The Executive: Extroverted, Observant, Thinking, Judgement)

ESTJs are model citizens and rule-followers, which can make them wonderful role models for their children. Their respect for hierarchy and the law means their parenting style is most likely to be authoritarian or traditional, allowing children little room to develop in a manner that doesn’t respect their way of living. Their children are typically high achievers but can benefit from a co-parent who is more mindful of their unique strengths and weaknesses, as well as their mental and emotional health.

ESFJ (The Consul: Extroverted, Observant, Feeling, Judgement)

ESFJs believe that it takes a village to raise a child—mainly because they’re community-minded people who like to socialise. They are likely to role model excellent manners and etiquette for their children, as well as an admirable commitment to charity work and social inclusion. Their live and let live attitude combined with their respect for the collective is likely to result in authoritative or respectful parenting. ESFJs are altruistic types who can have their kind nature taken advantage of. This type’s children can benefit from a more traditional co-parent who will encourage them to prioritise their own needs where necessary.

ISTP (The Virtuoso: Introverted, Observant, Thinking, Prospecting)

While ISTPs are more likely to be permissive than other types, that doesn’t mean they’ll allow their children to behave like couch potatoes or fare poorly at school. On the contrary, this type encourages their children to be as curious about and engaged with the world as they are, promoting independent travel, creativity, and problem solving. A reliance on technology—where children are not using it to benefit these pursuits or build worlds of their own—is also at odds with ISTP parenting, which is most likely to be free-range in style.

ISFP (The Adventurer: Introverted, Observant, Feeling, Prospecting)

ISFPs are among the most relaxed and permissive parents, but this shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of responsiveness. They are typically warm and loving types without being overbearing, qualities that typically result in self-assured, helpful, and stable kids. Their flexible, open-minded nature makes them likely to support their children wherever their dreams may take them, demanding discipline only insofar as it makes it more likely that kids will get where they want to go.

ESFP (The Performer: Extroverted, Observant, Feeling, Prospecting)

ESFPs can seem a little self-involved, but make no mistake—these are passionate people rather than narcissistic parents. This personality type is outgoing but also highly sensitive to their child's needs and committed to helping them flourish as individuals. Their parenting style is likely to be permissive in the sense that they are child-led in their decision-making, yet they are also cheerleading parents, throwing themselves into supporting whatever their child wants to pursue. This type of parent can appear inconsistent at times, and their influence is best balanced by a more traditional co-parent.

ESTP (The Entrepreneur: Extroverted, Observant, Thinking, Prospecting)

ESTPs are exciting to be around and make for fun, energetic, and inspiring parents who connect well with their children through sports and other activities. They can be impatient and quick to anger, which aren’t ideal traits for coping with young kids, who are not yet neurologically capable of regulating their own emotions. However, with a calmer and more thoughtful co-parent to balance their influence and give their children’s lives structure and consistency, the ESTP can be an effective and successful authoritative parent.

What about my children’s MBTIs? Should that dictate how I parent them?

The MBTI personality test is only designed to be taken by people over the age of fourteen, but the Myers Briggs people validate the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children (MMTIC) from age seven. Again, this is pseudoscience (also known as “pop psychology"), and your child is an evolving, unique human being. Parenting should not be based on their results from this test. It is better to seek evidence-based or medical advice.

For more information on supporting your child’s wellbeing, check out Unii’s Toddler Health and Development Journey with Dr. Nisha Patel.

How does your Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality affect your parenting style?