One artist who’s personality type is often debated is John Lennon. It’s widely agreed that he was either INFP or ENFP. Most people arrive at one of these two types because there were a lot of clear signs that he was an iNtuitive and he favored introverted feeling to make judgements. These traits are on display in the style and subject matter of his lyrics and his statements on social issues.
So how do we tell if he was INFP or ENFP?
Fortunately there are some clues that can be easy to spot in interviews.
In his book, Neuroscience of Personality
Notice how Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, an INFP, is completely still when he’s being asked questions in an interview:
ENFPs also have access to this state, though they’ll mostly enter it only when something is especially serious or important.
By nature they’re very good at anticipating what people will say before they finish saying it, so they’re far more likely to interrupt, give quick answers and to become distracted. They’ll also tend to be much more fidgety and are far more likely to do things to mess with their interviewers. They can also be especially quick and witty.
Notice these traits on display in this interview with Rod Stewart and compare that with the Roger Hodgeson interview:
Overall, the two types tend to have a different cadence about them. INFPs will generally move and speak more slowly and have a noticeable stillness about them. ENFPs tend to move and speak at a faster pace and have a more sporadic energy.
There are times when INFPs can look like ENFPs and vice versa, so it’s important to observe people in different contexts before coming to too firm of a conclusion. That being said, you can often tell between the two types fairly quickly in interviews with some practice.
So which type was John Lennon? Check out the video below and see if you can guess. Click the link below the video when you’re done for my answer.
