Understanding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Romantic Compatibility
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has become one of the most widely recognized personality assessment tools in the world, with millions of people using it to gain insights into their own behavior patterns and interpersonal dynamics. The Myers-Briggs assessment is arguably the most popular personality testing option, particularly when it comes to studying personality types and relationship compatibility among different types. While originally developed for career guidance and personal development, many individuals have turned to MBTI as a framework for understanding romantic relationships and identifying potentially compatible partners.
At its foundation, the Myers-Briggs instrument is based on the idea that people are quite different from one another, with these differences going deeper than emotions, moods, or environment, and speaking to how we're actually wired to behave. This personality typing system categorizes individuals into 16 distinct personality types based on preferences across four key dimensions, creating a comprehensive framework for understanding human behavior and interaction patterns.
The appeal of using MBTI for romantic compatibility lies in its ability to provide a common language for discussing personality differences and relationship dynamics. However, it's essential to approach this tool with realistic expectations and an understanding of both its potential benefits and limitations in the context of romantic relationships.
The Four Core Dimensions of MBTI
The MBTI framework evaluates personality across four fundamental dimensions, each representing a spectrum of preferences that influence how individuals interact with the world and make decisions. Understanding these dimensions is crucial for anyone interested in applying MBTI insights to their romantic relationships.
Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I): Energy and Social Orientation
This dimension describes a person's energy style, with extraverts being energized by interacting with other people and the world around them, while introverts are energized by focusing on the world within them: their thoughts, feelings and ideas. This fundamental difference affects how partners recharge, socialize, and process experiences together.
In romantic relationships, the introversion-extraversion dynamic can create both complementary balance and potential friction. According to a YouGov survey involving over 13,000 US adults, 43% of individuals who describe themselves as "completely extroverted" have partners who are also "completely extroverted," suggesting that extroverts tend to gravitate towards partners who share their outgoing nature. However, many successful relationships also feature introvert-extravert pairings where partners learn to appreciate and accommodate each other's different energy needs.
Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N): Information Processing
This dimension reflects how individuals process information—through tangible details or abstract ideas. Sensing types tend to focus on concrete facts, practical realities, and present experiences, while intuitive types are drawn to patterns, possibilities, and future-oriented thinking.
This dimension can significantly impact relationship dynamics, as it influences how partners communicate, plan for the future, and approach problem-solving. Intuitives (N) and Sensors (S) often struggle to understand each other due to their distinct approaches to the world, though research suggests that like-minded individuals tend to attract one another. Partners with different preferences on this dimension may need to make conscious efforts to bridge their communication styles and appreciate each other's perspectives.
Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F): Decision-Making Approach
This dimension reflects how individuals make decisions—using logic or emotional considerations. Thinking types prioritize objective analysis, logical consistency, and fairness in their decision-making, while feeling types emphasize personal values, harmony, and the impact of decisions on people.
Interestingly, research has found that compatibility increases when two partners are both feelers, even if they're different in other aspects, possibly because feelers tend to spend a lot of energy on their relationships and often value open communication. This suggests that the Thinking-Feeling dimension may play a particularly important role in relationship satisfaction and emotional connection.
Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P): Lifestyle Organization
This dimension reflects how individuals structure their world—through planning or flexibility. Judging types prefer structure, organization, and closure, while perceiving types value spontaneity, adaptability, and keeping options open.
In romantic relationships, this dimension often manifests in everyday life decisions, from how couples manage their schedules to how they approach household responsibilities and vacation planning. Judgers prefer structure, tend to make plans and keep a schedule, while perceivers prefer freedom and the flexibility to adapt and change to their environment. Partners with different preferences may need to negotiate and compromise to find a lifestyle rhythm that works for both.
The Science Behind MBTI Compatibility: What Research Actually Shows
While MBTI compatibility charts and pairing recommendations are popular, it's important to understand what scientific research actually reveals about the relationship between personality type and romantic success. The evidence presents a more nuanced picture than simple compatibility formulas might suggest.
Limited Predictive Validity
No exhaustive research has been conducted to validate the scales or establish a degree of compatibility, which is one of the reasons why the MBTI is typically seen as a way to entertain yourself rather than get accurate answers about your personality type. More specifically, meta-analyses show MBTI type matching correlates weakly (r < 0.3) with relationship satisfaction, while Big Five personality traits demonstrate twice the predictive accuracy for long-term relationship outcomes.
This doesn't mean MBTI is useless for relationships, but it does suggest that you can't predict whether you'll have a successful relationship with another person just based on their personality type, though you can get a good idea of how you'll interact, where you might have conflict and how to best understand any issues that arise.
The Similarity-Attraction Principle
Some research suggests that couples with more personality traits in common tend to have higher relationship satisfaction. This aligns with the broader psychological principle that similarity often breeds attraction and compatibility. In their book "Just Your Type," Barbara Barron and Paul D. Tieger found that many personality types are more satisfied when they're paired with similar partners, with particular pairings showing romantic satisfaction rates over 70%.
However, similarity isn't always advantageous. While similar types often have an easier time getting along and understanding one another, they also have many of the same blind spots, which could result in couples of similar personalities reinforcing each other's unhealthy behaviors or not challenging each other to grow or expand their worldview.
The Role of Complementary Differences
Complementary pairings—those who differ in at least one MBTI preference—can bring balance to a relationship, with an extroverted partner potentially encouraging their introverted counterpart to explore social opportunities while the introvert provides calm and reflection, though these differences require mutual respect to avoid misunderstandings.
Different personality types can complement one another, fostering balanced perspectives and growth for both individuals. The key lies not in finding a "perfect" type match, but in understanding how different preferences interact and developing strategies to navigate those differences constructively.
Understanding MBTI Temperament Groups and Compatibility Patterns
Beyond individual type pairings, personality psychologists have identified broader temperament groups within the 16 MBTI types that share common values, communication styles, and worldviews. Understanding these groups can provide additional insight into compatibility patterns.
The Four Temperament Groups
Psychologists have recognized four distinct groups within the 16 personality types: The Artisans (SPs), The Guardians (SJs), The Idealists (NFs), and The Rationals (NTs). Each temperament group shares certain core characteristics that influence their approach to relationships:
- The Idealists (NFs): INFJ, INFP, ENFJ, ENFP - These types prioritize authenticity, personal growth, and deep emotional connections in relationships.
- The Rationals (NTs): INTJ, INTP, ENTJ, ENTP - These types value intellectual compatibility, independence, and logical problem-solving in partnerships.
- The Guardians (SJs): ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ, ESFJ - These types emphasize stability, tradition, and practical support in relationships.
- The Artisans (SPs): ISTP, ISFP, ESTP, ESFP - These types bring spontaneity, excitement, and present-moment focus to relationships.
Within-Group Compatibility
According to surveys, NF types tend to find the greatest relationship satisfaction when dating other NFs, as Idealists tend to share similar perspectives on life, which can lead to harmonious relationships within their own group. This pattern of within-group compatibility often extends to other temperament groups as well, as shared values and worldviews can create a strong foundation for understanding and connection.
However, pairing with someone from a fundamentally different mindset can be challenging, as Intuitives (N) and Sensors (S) often struggle to understand each other due to their distinct approaches to the world. This suggests that the Sensing-Intuition dimension may be particularly important for compatibility, as it reflects fundamental differences in how people perceive and process reality.
Specific MBTI Type Pairings: Compatibility Insights
While every relationship is unique and no pairing is guaranteed to succeed or fail based solely on personality type, certain MBTI combinations tend to show particular patterns of compatibility. Here's a detailed look at some commonly discussed pairings and what makes them work—or presents challenges.
INFJ and ENFP: The Depth and Enthusiasm Connection
INFJs and ENFPs create deep emotional connections built on intellectual curiosity and passion, with INFJs seeking stability and depth while ENFPs bring excitement and optimism, making their relationship both meaningful and adventurous. This pairing exemplifies how complementary differences can enhance a relationship.
For an ENFP, having an introverted partner offers up a rewarding challenge in terms of connecting on a deep level, while for an INFJ, having an extroverted partner who's especially friendly, warm, and compassionate may encourage them to get out of their comfort zone when it comes to socializing, meaning this relationship can challenge both partners in a positive way.
ENFJ and INFP: The Harmonious Feeler Pairing
A Protagonist (ENFJ) has a knack for getting people to open up so they can get a deeper look, which is just what a Mediator (INFP) needs, as an INFP has many complex layers to their personality and an ENFJ will find it immensely fulfilling to take the time to peel back each one, with both intuitive feelers having the ability to sense each other's moods, desires, and needs with ease.
This pairing benefits from shared values around emotional authenticity and interpersonal harmony, creating a relationship foundation built on mutual understanding and empathy.
INTJ and INTP: The Intellectual Partnership
This is an excellent match because both types value honesty and independence, and since both enjoy time alone, neither is likely to get offended when the other needs to recharge solo. This pairing demonstrates how shared preferences across multiple dimensions can create natural compatibility and mutual understanding.
An INTJ and an INTP may share traits like introversion, intuition, and thinking, fostering a strong intellectual connection, though their differences—such as the INTJ's preference for structure versus the INTP's adaptability—might require mutual understanding to navigate effectively.
Complementary Function Pairings
Types that share the same cognitive functions in reversed order, such as INTJ and ENTJ or INFP and ENFP, often report strong intuitive understanding of each other. This pattern reflects the deeper cognitive function theory underlying MBTI, where types with complementary function stacks may find it easier to understand each other's thought processes despite surface-level differences.
Practical Applications: Using MBTI Insights in Dating and Relationships
Understanding MBTI compatibility isn't just about finding the "right" type to date—it's about using personality insights to build stronger, more understanding relationships regardless of type pairing. Here are practical ways to apply MBTI knowledge to your romantic life.
Enhancing Communication Through Type Awareness
MBTI's greatest strength lies in providing vocabulary for discussing relationship differences and facilitating self-awareness conversations, as understanding how Extraversion/Introversion affects energy needs, or how Thinking/Feeling influences decision-making approaches, can help couples develop more effective communication strategies and reduce misunderstandings.
Adapting your communication style to your partner's preferences can strengthen your connection and enhance compatibility. For example, if you're a thinking type partnered with a feeling type, you might make a conscious effort to acknowledge emotional aspects of situations rather than jumping straight to logical solutions. Similarly, an intuitive type might practice being more concrete and specific when communicating with a sensing partner.
Navigating Conflict with Type Understanding
Different MBTI types approach conflict and resolution in distinctly different ways. Understanding these patterns can help couples navigate disagreements more effectively. Regardless of compatibility, every relationship faces conflict, and how a person apologizes plays a crucial role in resolution.
For instance, ISTJs and ESTJs approach apologies in a straightforward, matter-of-fact manner, often focusing on problem-solving rather than emotional reassurance, while ISFJs and ESFJs are more emotionally expressive and may over-apologize in an attempt to restore harmony. Meanwhile, INTPs and INTJs struggle with verbal apologies, preferring to show remorse through logical reasoning or changed behavior rather than emotional expression.
Recognizing these different conflict styles can help partners avoid misinterpreting each other's intentions and find resolution approaches that work for both people.
Managing Expectations and Appreciating Differences
Setting realistic expectations based on your and your partner's MBTI types can help avoid disappointment and misunderstandings. For example, if you're an extraverted type dating an introverted partner, understanding that they need alone time to recharge isn't a rejection of you—it's simply how they maintain their energy and well-being.
Similarly, respecting each other's needs for independence or closeness, and balancing time together with time apart, becomes easier when you understand that these needs often stem from fundamental personality preferences rather than relationship dissatisfaction.
Using MBTI as a Starting Point for Deeper Conversations
MBTI may be a fun way to question yourself and your partner in a way that fuels deep conversation about your interests and values. Rather than using type descriptions as rigid boxes, couples can use MBTI as a framework for exploring questions like:
- How do we each prefer to spend our free time, and how can we honor both preferences?
- What does each of us need when we're stressed or overwhelmed?
- How do we each approach making important decisions, and how can we integrate both approaches?
- What does quality time look like for each of us?
- How do we each express and receive love and appreciation?
These conversations can deepen mutual understanding and create opportunities for partners to meet each other's needs more effectively.
Common Pitfalls: When MBTI Becomes Harmful in Relationships
While MBTI can be a useful tool for self-awareness and understanding relationship dynamics, it can also be misused in ways that harm relationships. Being aware of these pitfalls can help you use MBTI constructively rather than destructively.
Using Type as an Excuse for Bad Behavior
One of the most common misuses of MBTI in relationships is using personality type as an excuse for problematic behavior. Statements like "I'm an ESTP, so I can't help being impulsive" or "I'm an INTJ, so I'm just naturally cold" use type descriptions to avoid personal responsibility and growth.
MBTI becomes harmful when it's used to avoid personal growth, ignore fundamental incompatibilities, or substitute for developing essential relationship skills. Personality preferences may explain certain tendencies, but they don't excuse harmful behaviors or eliminate the need for emotional maturity and relationship skills.
Dismissing Potential Partners Based Solely on Type
A good match on compatibility charts doesn't necessarily mean a good match in real life, nor does a bad match mean an otherwise healthy relationship is doomed. Rejecting potential partners solely because they're not your "ideal" MBTI match can cause you to miss out on genuinely compatible people who might not fit the theoretical mold.
There is no such thing as a formula for a perfect pairing, and the best thing you can do is understand what your type says about your relationship needs while staying open-minded, because you may be surprised by which personality type brings out the best in you, no matter what Myers-Briggs compatibility says.
Over-Relying on Type Descriptions
You should not rely solely on MBTI relationship charts for making decisions on existing relationships, whether romantic or in the workplace, and if you want to better understand a particular relationship, it's strongly recommended to read deeper on each of the two types before jumping to any conclusion.
Every individual is unique, and type descriptions represent general tendencies rather than absolute truths. Two people of the same type can be quite different, and two people of theoretically incompatible types can build wonderfully successful relationships through mutual effort, respect, and communication.
Ignoring Other Important Compatibility Factors
Research shows that relationship satisfaction is rooted in open communication, shared values, mutual respect, trust, and humor, and while couples who share more MBTI preferences often report smoother communication, character traits like integrity, patience, and resilience can profoundly influence how partners navigate challenges.
Factors like shared life goals, compatible values, attachment styles, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution skills often matter more for long-term relationship success than MBTI type compatibility. Despite millions using Myers-Briggs compatibility charts for relationships, research shows personality type matching predicts success barely better than chance—while attachment security and communication skills prove exponentially more important.
Beyond MBTI: Other Factors That Influence Romantic Compatibility
While MBTI provides one lens for understanding relationship dynamics, it's far from the only—or even the most important—factor in romantic compatibility. A holistic approach to understanding relationships considers multiple dimensions of compatibility.
Attachment Styles and Emotional Security
Attachment theory, which describes patterns of emotional bonding formed in early childhood, has shown stronger predictive validity for relationship outcomes than personality typing systems. Secure attachment—characterized by comfort with intimacy and independence—tends to predict relationship satisfaction more reliably than any particular MBTI pairing.
Understanding whether you and your partner have secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized attachment styles can provide crucial insights into relationship patterns and help you develop strategies for creating more secure bonds.
Shared Values and Life Goals
Alignment on fundamental values and life goals often matters more than personality type compatibility. Questions about whether to have children, where to live, how to manage finances, religious or spiritual beliefs, and career priorities can make or break relationships regardless of how well personality types theoretically match.
Two people with "incompatible" MBTI types but shared values and goals may build a much stronger relationship than two people with "compatible" types but fundamentally different visions for their lives.
Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Skills
The ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions—both your own and your partner's—significantly impacts relationship quality. Skills like active listening, empathy, constructive conflict resolution, and emotional regulation can be developed regardless of personality type and often determine relationship success more than type compatibility.
Many complex parts are involved in human interaction, particularly romantic relationships, and since you can actively work on making romantic connections last, as long as there's love and willingness, you could make it work with any partner, incompatible or not.
Cultural Context and Individual Experiences
Research underscores the importance of considering both personality and cultural context in relationship counseling, suggesting that MBTI-based interventions tailored to emotional needs may enhance relationship satisfaction and stability, particularly in collectivist societies where emotional expression and support differ from Western contexts.
Individual life experiences, family background, trauma history, and cultural influences all shape how personality manifests in relationships. Two people with the same MBTI type but different cultural backgrounds or life experiences may approach relationships quite differently.
Making MBTI Work for Your Relationship: Practical Guidelines
If you choose to incorporate MBTI insights into your romantic life, here are evidence-based guidelines for doing so constructively and effectively.
Use MBTI as a Tool for Understanding, Not Judgment
Approach MBTI with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of labeling differences as "good" or "bad," view them as different approaches that each have strengths and limitations. Understanding personality traits allows partners to appreciate differences rather than seeing them as obstacles.
When conflicts arise, try to understand how personality preferences might be influencing the situation rather than assuming negative intent. This doesn't mean excusing problematic behavior, but it can help you approach disagreements with more empathy and less defensiveness.
Focus on Growth and Development
The point is for us to develop and grow in our relationships, so whatever type you find your partner to be, show up and be the best possible you can be for them – and expect the same. Use MBTI insights to identify areas where you might stretch yourself and develop new skills rather than staying rigidly within your type preferences.
For example, an introverted type might practice being more socially engaged in certain situations, while an extraverted type might develop greater comfort with solitude and reflection. This doesn't mean changing who you are fundamentally, but rather expanding your repertoire of behaviors and responses.
Combine MBTI with Other Relationship Tools
Don't rely solely on MBTI for relationship guidance. Combine personality insights with other evidence-based relationship tools and approaches, such as:
- The Five Love Languages framework for understanding how you and your partner give and receive love
- Attachment theory for understanding emotional bonding patterns
- Gottman Method principles for building friendship, managing conflict, and creating shared meaning
- Nonviolent Communication techniques for expressing needs and feelings constructively
- Couples therapy or relationship counseling when facing significant challenges
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator offers valuable insights for understanding communication differences and personal preferences in relationships, but it falls short as a reliable predictor of romantic compatibility, with research supporting modest benefits for couples who share similar information-processing styles, particularly the Sensing/Intuition dimension, though the evidence for specific type-pairing recommendations remains weak.
Maintain Realistic Expectations
Even if your MBTI pairing is listed as less compatible, success depends on open communication, respect, and commitment, and even "low compatibility" matches can thrive and grow into strong relationships with effort. Conversely, even theoretically "perfect" type matches require ongoing effort, communication, and mutual investment to succeed.
While MBTI offers valuable insights into personality compatibility, it's not a definitive predictor of relationship success, as relationships thrive on mutual respect, effort, and understanding beyond personality types.
Remember Individual Variation
Every relationship is unique, and a good match on compatibility charts doesn't necessarily mean a good match in real life, nor does a bad match mean an otherwise healthy relationship is doomed. People are more complex than four-letter type codes, and individual differences within types can be as significant as differences between types.
Additionally, while your core personality is likely to remain consistent, people often develop different aspects of their personality over time, and life experiences can influence how you express your MBTI preferences. This means that type descriptions are snapshots rather than fixed destinies.
Real-World Application: Dating with MBTI Awareness
For those actively dating and looking for compatible partners, MBTI can be incorporated into the dating process in helpful ways—as long as it's balanced with other considerations.
Using MBTI in Dating Profiles and Apps
Many dating apps, such as Tinder, now incorporate personality tests inspired by the MBTI's 16 types to help users identify potential matches based on deeper compatibility factors. Including your MBTI type in your dating profile can serve as a conversation starter and help attract people who value self-awareness and personality compatibility.
However, avoid making type compatibility a rigid filter that eliminates potential matches. Instead, use it as one data point among many when evaluating compatibility with potential partners.
Early Dating Conversations About Personality
Discussing MBTI types early in dating can facilitate deeper conversations about preferences, values, and relationship needs. Questions like "How do you recharge after a stressful day?" or "How do you prefer to make important decisions?" can reveal personality patterns without requiring formal type knowledge.
These conversations can help you assess compatibility on dimensions that matter for daily life together, such as social preferences, decision-making styles, and approaches to planning and spontaneity.
Recognizing Red Flags vs. Personality Differences
It's crucial to distinguish between personality differences and genuine red flags in relationships. Behaviors like disrespect, dishonesty, manipulation, or unwillingness to compromise aren't personality traits—they're character issues that no amount of type compatibility can overcome.
Don't excuse problematic behavior by attributing it to personality type. A partner who consistently disregards your needs, refuses to communicate, or treats you poorly isn't just a "different type"—they're demonstrating behaviors that predict relationship failure regardless of MBTI compatibility.
Long-Term Relationships: Growing Together Across Type Differences
For couples in established relationships, MBTI can provide a framework for understanding long-standing patterns and developing strategies for continued growth together.
Navigating Life Transitions
Major life transitions—moving in together, getting married, having children, career changes, retirement—can highlight personality differences in new ways. Understanding how your types typically respond to change and stress can help you support each other through transitions more effectively.
For example, judging types may cope with change by creating detailed plans and structures, while perceiving types may prefer to stay flexible and adapt as situations unfold. Recognizing these different approaches can help couples find strategies that work for both partners.
Balancing Individual Needs with Relationship Needs
Long-term relationships require balancing individual preferences with shared relationship needs. MBTI awareness can help couples negotiate this balance more consciously. For instance, an introverted partner might need regular alone time, while an extraverted partner needs social engagement—both needs are valid and can be accommodated with planning and communication.
The key is approaching these differences as problems to solve together rather than fundamental incompatibilities that doom the relationship.
Developing Complementary Strengths
Some MBTI pairings work well because they share similar values and communication styles, while others succeed by balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses. In long-term relationships, couples can learn to leverage their different strengths rather than viewing them as sources of conflict.
A thinking type might handle financial planning and logical problem-solving, while a feeling type focuses on emotional support and relationship maintenance. A judging type might manage schedules and organization, while a perceiving type brings flexibility and spontaneity. When viewed as complementary contributions rather than opposing forces, these differences can strengthen relationships.
The Bottom Line: MBTI as One Tool Among Many
MBTI does not determine relationship success, but it offers valuable insights into how partners interact, communicate, and handle conflict, with the most fulfilling relationships being not those with perfect compatibility but those where partners are willing to understand and grow together, whether a reserved INFJ is paired with an adventurous ENFP or a structured ISTJ is dating a free-spirited ESFP, as relationships thrive when both partners appreciate each other's strengths and work through their differences with mutual respect, and by recognizing apology styles, communication preferences, and emotional needs, couples can build stronger, more resilient connections.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can be a valuable tool for self-awareness and understanding relationship dynamics, but it should never be the sole factor in choosing a romantic partner or evaluating relationship potential. Romantic compatibility is as complex as individual personality, so it's difficult to calculate it as a mathematical formula, though taking the Myers-Briggs test can be a fun way to learn more about you and your partner's interests and priorities.
Successful relationships are built on foundations that transcend personality type: mutual respect, effective communication, shared values, emotional intelligence, commitment to growth, and genuine care for each other's well-being. MBTI can enhance your understanding of these elements, but it cannot replace them.
Whether you're single and dating, newly coupled, or in a long-term partnership, approach MBTI with curiosity, flexibility, and realistic expectations. Use it as a starting point for deeper conversations and greater self-awareness, but don't let it limit your openness to connection or excuse you from the ongoing work that all healthy relationships require.
Ultimately, the best romantic partner isn't necessarily the one with the "right" four-letter type code—it's the one who shares your values, treats you with respect, communicates effectively, and is willing to grow alongside you through life's challenges and joys. MBTI can help you understand how to do that more effectively, but the commitment to doing it must come from both partners, regardless of type.
Additional Resources for Exploring MBTI and Relationships
If you're interested in learning more about MBTI and romantic compatibility, consider exploring these resources:
- Official MBTI Assessment: Take the official Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment through a certified practitioner for the most accurate type determination.
- Personality Type Books: "Just Your Type" by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger offers detailed compatibility insights for all 16 type combinations.
- Online Communities: Join MBTI-focused forums and communities where you can discuss type dynamics and learn from others' relationship experiences.
- Couples Counseling: Work with a therapist who incorporates personality assessment into relationship counseling for personalized guidance.
- Relationship Education: Explore evidence-based relationship education programs like The Gottman Institute that complement personality insights with proven relationship skills.
Remember that while personality compatibility matters, the quality of your relationship ultimately depends on the daily choices you and your partner make to understand, support, and care for each other. MBTI can illuminate the path, but you must walk it together.