What You Do at a Holiday Gathering, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

ENFP

Tries to convince everyone that old-fashioned door-to-door Christmas caroling would be way more fun than playing Scrabble and eating sugar cookies indoors. In the end, they convince the INFP, ESFP, ISFP, and ENFJ to come along. Everyone else just shakes their heads and argues about whether “qaf” or “qat” should be allowed as a word in Scrabble.

ENTP

Winds up offending the ESFJ by bringing up the strange, pagan traditions that inspired the holiday. Did you know those round, glistening baubles on the tree were inspired by “witch balls” that were supposed to ward off evil spirits? Everyone is mortified and the ENTP is unapologetic.

INFP

Went with the ENFP to sing Christmas carols, but in the process, started daydreaming about what it would be like if people took the messages of love, peace, and kindness in the Christmas carols to heart. Got left behind at the second house without anyone realizing. Ended up saving a stray cat.

INTP

Spent the entire evening holed up in a corner talking to their laptop and mumbling something about artificial intelligence and machine learning. Everyone is too polite to ask what they’re actually doing, so they just leave them be until it’s time to go home.

ENFJ

Goes Christmas caroling with the ENFP but winds up playing life coach to the lonely elderly woman at the third house. Brings her back to the family gathering where she coaches her on finding her inner power, healing her inner child, and forgiving herself for past mistakes. Everyone else is so touched or distracted by her motivational speech that they don’t notice the ESTP has spiked the holiday punch.

ENTJ

Spends the evening trying to convince the ISFP that investing in cryptocurrency is a smart move. Everyone else steps in and reminds the ENTJ that it’s Christmas, not an investment seminar. ENTJ feels their contributions to the family are unappreciated and tells everyone “I hope you enjoy being poor!” and storms off. Everyone else rolls their eyes and exchanges knowing glances.

INFJ

As the INFJ stares into the Christmas lights, they fall into a trance-like state and have an epiphany about how life is like a string of colorful lights. The darkness of life is punctuated by moments of joy and meaning that light their way. Everyone else looks at them like they’ve been sipping spiked punch, but the INFJ just shakes their head. They know their thoughts are too profound and deep for the others to understand. Eventually they make an excuse to leave early. They go home and ponder a metaphor they’ve discovered about how gingerbread men represent social conformity and the struggle to maintain one’s individuality.

INTJ

Spends the evening wishing everyone would play Stratego instead of Scrabble. Mumbles in agreement when the ENTJ brings up cryptocurrency, and smiles to himself when the ENTJ shouts “I hope you enjoy being poor!” Nobody knows that INTJ, in fact, has a million dollars in his savings account gained through savvy investments.

Eventually checks their watch, nods knowingly, then walks down the street to rescue the INFP who is still standing, confused in front of the second house they caroled at. Returns INFP (and stray cat) to the house and goes home to create a spreadsheet full of excuses to use the next time they’re invited to a holiday gathering.

ESFP

Goes Christmas caroling with ENFP until they spot a karaoke bar. Can’t resist the temptation to belt out “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and drags the ENFP in with them. Ends up winning the karaoke competition and makes at least a dozen new friends. The group makes plans to go on a road trip to California the next day.

ESTP

Spikes the holiday punch with a little something extra and laughs as everyone else drinks it unknowingly. Quits in the middle of Scrabble to create a massive snowball armory and challenges the ISTP to a duel. Tries to get the INFP to join in by playfully throwing snowballs at them, but they just smile and mumble something about the beauty of nature.

ISFP

Goes Christmas caroling with ENFP, but ends up wandering off on their own. Creates an ice sculpture of a giant dragon that symbolizes their inner struggles. When they return to the house, everyone is too busy arguing about Scrabble word choices or discussing the merits of cryptocurrency to even notice they were gone. The next day their ice sculpture is featured in the local paper with the headline “Amazing Display of Art Found in Abandoned Lot”

ISTP

Wins the snowball fight with ESTP because they are too distracted trying to get the INFP’s attention. Restless, they go in search of something more exciting and find themselves at a holiday renaissance faire. They end up joining a troupe of sword fighters and return home late at night exhausted and happy after a night of beer, jousting, and adventure.

ESFJ

Organizes the game of Scrabble, makes sure everyone is comfortable, and packs mugs of hot cocoa for those who wander outside. When the ENTJ starts ranting about cryptocurrency, the ESFJ smoothly changes the subject to holiday traditions around the world. Everyone (except the NTs) relax and nod in agreement as they talk about French meringues, Italian panettone, and German stollen. Later that night the ESFJ tucks the INFP into bed with a cup of hot cocoa and a poem about how Christmas is all about connection and love.

ESTJ

Referees the game of Scrabble. Keeps everyone in check and makes sure the ESTP doesn’t cheat. Eventually notices that the holiday punch has been spiked and administers a stern lecture about responsible drinking, along with a breathalyzer test for everyone. When the ESTP protests, the ESTJ takes away their car keys until they calm down. Later that night, the ESTJ pulls out their laptop and starts working on ways to optimize the holiday gift budget and ensure next year’s celebration will be less costly. wh

ISFJ

Nervously hovers in the background, trying to make sure everyone is having a good time and no one is being excluded. When the ENTJ storms off, the ISFJ follows to make sure they are okay. When the ENTJ starts ranting about the importance of wise investing, the ISFJ realizes their mistake and nods while trying to think up the next word they’ll play in the game of Scrabble.

Later that night, when everyone else has gone home, the ISFJ mails out holiday cards to everyone they know with a heartfelt message of appreciation and love.

ISTJ

Actually pays attention to the game of Scrabble rather than getting distracted by talk of holiday traditions or drinking the (obviously) spiked egg nog. Wins the game by a landslide and mumbles something about how it was “just a game” while inwardly feeling like a total badass. Proceeds to reorganize the books in the bookshelf in alphabetical order, fix a Christmas light that’s gone out, and mop up a spilled cup of egg nog that no one else noticed. Later that night, the ISTJ writes in their moleskin journal the events of the day, promising themselves that they will win Scrabble by an even bigger margin next year.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Did you enjoy this article? How do you feel about holiday parties and family dinners? Let us and other readers know in the comments!

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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!

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