The Most to Least Talkative Myers-Briggs® Personality Types, Ranked

A lot of people have asked me which personality types are the most talkative and which personality types are the quietest. Over the last 6 years as an MBTI® practitioner, I’ve seen a lot of people guess at this, and I think at the end of the day that’s all we can do: guess. However, based on my interactions with others, as well as the input of other MBTI® practitioners I know, this is how I would rank the 16 personality types, from most to least talkative.

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our new personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.

Start Here – What the personality types like to talk about:

Any type can appear quiet and reserved if the conversation isn’t in a territory they’re comfortable with or knowledgeable about. In the same way, anyone can seem chatty if the conversation flows to an area that they’re in love with. Here are some subjects that the different types enjoy talking about:

SFJ Personality Types: These types enjoy talking about meaningful experiences and stories from their lives. Reminiscing over favorite pastimes or people who mattered to them gives them a sense of profound joy. They also enjoy swapping practical tips and making plans for the future. The small details of life can be meaningful to these types; they usually are more patient with small talk than other types and use it as a means to build stronger bonds. Sharing their values with others, talking about relationships, and friendships tends to give them joy.

STJ Personality Types: These types enjoy conversation that has a practical purpose. Sharing how-to’s, facts, and lessons learned helps them to connect with others while gaining or giving some valuable information. They enjoy making plans, breaking down goals, or giving their opinions about things happening in the world today. These types don’t mind debating as much as other types do, and will be very forthright and blunt about their opinions (ESTJs more than ISTJs typically).

SFP Personality Types: These types enjoy talking about their likes and dislikes, as well as their feelings about various things going on in the world or in the media. As Sensing-Perceivers, they are drawn to experiences and activity. Thus they often talk about their favorite leisure pursuits, from recreation to concerts to their favorite restaurants. And like most Feeling-types, they enjoy discussions that revolve around values, emotions, and relationships. However, they are typically more private about their feelings than Feeling-Judger personality types.

STP Personality Types: These types are drawn to action and activity more than verbal dialogue, but they can become quite talkative when they are swapping practical tips, how to’s, or facts that have a real-world purpose. When it comes to conversation, the goal of the STP is to discuss something real that is actually happening in their lives or has a tangible purpose. They are less concerned with discussing their feelings or hypothesizing about a concept that is abstract in nature.

NFJ Personality Types: These types enjoy discussing big-picture concepts like life and death, religion, psychology, or any other topic that is abstract and meaningful. As intuitives, they tend to focus more on the meanings behind things than the things themselves; thus small-talk, while tolerable, can sometimes bore them because there’s no depth to dive into. They also enjoy discussing relationships and friendships, giving and receiving advice for how to deal with various interpersonal issues or dynamics.

NFP Personality Types: These types enjoy hypothesizing, exploring possibilities, and brainstorming about things that they could do. Any topic that stimulates the imagination and makes them wonder, “What if?” or “Is that possible?” gets them excited. They also enjoy sharing their likes and dislikes, whether that pertains to movies, books, or music! Typically creative, they enjoy discussing any art form that has had an impact on their lives. Like most feeling types, NFPs enjoy helping people sort through their emotions and personal relationships – however, they tend to be more private about their feelings than Feeling-Judging personality types.

NTJ Personality Types: These types often have big goals and visions for the future, and they enjoy bringing people along to discover them. Breaking down long-term goals, creating strategies, and discussing their roadmaps to success often gives then a sense of joy. They also enjoy debating theories and exploring philosophical concepts. As intuitives, they can dive pretty deep into abstract territory and converse over topics that many others avoid – religion, politics, death, or anything that makes them think deeply.

NTP Personality Types: These innovative types enjoy exploring possibilities, alternatives, and theories. They are interest in understanding the principles and mechanisms behind how things work. Endlessly curious, any conversation that can give them new, accurate information to store in their minds is exciting to them. They also enjoy debating, as long as it’s concerning something they can analyze from various angles. They like to pose questions that disrupt people’s positions and make them think outside of the box. Conversations that spark possibilities, stimulate their imagination, and make them analyze from many different angles excite them. Conversations that revolve around small talk or personal feelings are typically less interesting to them.

The Most to Least Talkative Myers-Briggs® Personality Types, Ranked

#1 – ESFJ

ESFJs are focused on creating an overall mood of harmony and connection. They enjoy swapping stories, cracking jokes, and doing whatever they can to make people feel comfortable. Connecting with people often means sharing life experiences and exploring likes and dislikes as well as practical tips. When ESFJs share their stories, they tend to speak in a linear, thorough way – not leaving out any details. They tend to feel uncomfortable with silence, and will often try to fill any lulls in the conversation with friendly discussion and comments. They enjoy knowing the details of people’s lives and are skilled at using small talk to get people comfortable with opening up more.

#2 – ENFJ

ENFJs, like ESFJs, are focused on creating positive connections with others. This means that they will often go up and introduce themselves to people and get things rolling interpersonally. As intuitives, they enjoy verbally exploring big-picture topics, concepts, and psychological insights. They also have a knack for reading people and knowing what to say in order to get them talking. Like ESFJs, ENFJs tend to feel uncomfortable with silence and will often try to fill any lulls in the conversation.

#3 – ESFP

ESFPs are outgoing, active types who love to be around people and have a good time. They enjoy making others laugh, telling stories, and sharing their latest experiences. As feelers, they are in tune with the emotions of those around them and can easily read the room. They like to keep things light and fun and are skilled at taking control of social situations in order to make things happen. They also tend to have a skill for diffusing tension by cracking the perfectly timed joke.

#4 – ENFP

ENFPs are outgoing, sociable types who enjoy swapping ideas, extrapolating possibilities, and creating options. When their imagination is stimulated they can go nonstop, talking about all kinds of theories and possibilities created on the spot. When the conversation is shallow or surface-level, they may appear quieter and reserved. They love comedy, charisma, brainstorming, and bringing people together for a laugh or a deep conversation.

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ENFP

#5 – ESTJ

ESTJs don’t feel the need to fill every silence with chatter, but they tend to enjoy swapping stories, jokes, and ideas with others. As Extraverted Thinking types, they nearly always have a goal or project they’re working on. They enjoy giving directions, clarifying processes, and going into detail about their various ambitious efforts. Taking charge of conversations and veering them into productive territory is something they’re skilled at. They often enjoy being able to swap how-tos, facts, and other helpful details.

#6 – ENTP

ENTPs are charming, quick-witted types who enjoy engaging in abstract discussions. They like to come up with new theories, debate ideas, and explore possibilities. As intuitives, they often have a lot of insights and conceptual musings to share. They also have a strong sense of humor and enjoy making people laugh. However, they can also be restless, and may quickly tire of surface-level conversations.

#7 – ENTJ

ENTJs are ambitious innovators who focus on maximizing results. They don’t like a lot of chitchat or small talk, but they enjoy discussing plans, strategies, and outcomes. When it comes to leadership, they enjoy taking charge and driving conversations forward. They will remain quiet or irritable if the conversation seems to be overly-shallow or trivial, but if they can direct the conversation into productive or meaningful territory, they can become quite talkative and forthcoming.

#8 – ESTP

ESTPs are active, energetic types who enjoy being around people and physically doing something. They tend to get bored with a lot of sitting and chatting, but they can talk a lot when they’re active or when there’s a good story or joke to be told. They love action and excitement, and thrive on new experiences. I’ve listed ESTPs as the least talkative extroverts because they’re much more fixated on experiences than verbal dialogue. Simply talking for a long time can bore them unless it’s paired with an exciting experience.

#9 – INFJ

INFJs are concerned with how individuals are feeling, and they will use words to reassure or check someone’s emotional state. Understanding others is of great importance to this type, so they can seem more extroverted at first glance than other introverts. They enjoy meaningful conversation and getting to know people on a deeper level. Conversations that revolve around small-talk are fairly tiring to INFJs, and they will usually appear quieter if people are discussing things that have no potential for deeper meaning. As introverts, they usually need a chance to wind down after prolonged talking.

Read This Next: Why INFJs Feel “Weird”

#10 – ISFJ

Like INFJs, ISFJs are concerned with how people feel and can seem quite talkative in order to put people at ease or get to know them better. They enjoy sharing life stories and the meaningful details of their lives, and can typically engage in small talk quite easily. Awkward silences can be uncomfortable for ISFJs, because they worry that people feel shy, tense, or uncomfortable. Because of this, they may seem more verbal or extroverted than they naturally are. But at the end of the day, ISFJs are still introverts who need a lot of time to themselves to recharge and not have to worry about what to say next.

#11 – INFP

INFPs are introspective types who tend to listen more than they speak. However, when their imagination is stimulated, they can become quite chatty, exploring ideas, possibilities, and musings. These types are often driven by stories and they can enjoy delving into their thoughts about a movie, book, or television show that moved them emotionally. They can also appear very excitable and expressive when they’re able to talk about their creative pursuits or the possibilities they can’t wait to explore someday. However, they can quickly become overwhelmed in social situations and may need to take some time alone afterward to recharge.

Read This Next: 10 Amazing INFP Anime Characters

#12 – INTP

INTPs are analytical and innovative types who enjoy exploring ideas and debating theories. They are less interested in discussing feelings or people’s personal lives, and more interested in exploring concepts, debating theories, or swapping factual information. If a conversation revolves around small talk or emotions they can appear more quiet and observant, listening but refraining from giving a lot of opinions. However, they can be quite talkative if the conversation is interesting enough or if they’re around someone they feel comfortable with.

#13 – ISFP

ISFPs are quiet, reserved types who like to focus their attention on people and the experiences they enjoy. They aren’t typically big talkers unless someone they’re talking about something deeply important to them or they’re trying to empathize verbally with someone. “Actions speak louder than words,” is likely a motto most ISFPs live by. They are usually skilled at active listening and helping people out rather than chatting to them about all their feelings and emotions.

#14 – ISTJ

ISTJs are fairly reserved, but they enjoy discussing facts, how-tos, and stories from their past. If they’re in a group of people and a goal needs to be achieved but everyone’s just rambling, they’ll likely take charge and direct the conversation to more productive ends. However, they’re not typically very forthcoming about their feelings and can be fairly quiet unless they feel there’s a practical purpose for sharing information.

#15 – INTJ

INTJs are typically very quiet and reserved unless they happen to meet someone who, like them, loves exploring theoretical concepts, analyzing possibilities, and dreaming up long-term goals. That said, they’re not typically very verbal when it comes to discussing their feelings or people’s personal lives. They see little point in small talk or anything that doesn’t have a meaningful long-term purpose.

#16 – ISTP

ISTPs enjoy doing things more than they enjoy saying things, and this tends to show in their leisure-time pursuits. While other types might be going to parties or planning social events, ISTPs usually have a plethora of hobbies they can’t wait to pursue when they’re alone. They enjoy amassing practical information, tinkering with objects in order to create things, or simply kicking back and watching TV or playing a video game. Sharing their feelings isn’t something they tend to do readily unless they feel a strong connection with someone and that person has earned their complete trust.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Did you enjoy this article? Do you have any insights or experiences or theories to share? Let us (and other readers) know in the comments!

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!