Who we are ?  How we got that way ? And how to live with others who aren’t like us ! Temperament defined Our temperament is like an artist’s canvas. It is our basic inherited style. It is the fabric underlying who we are. Generally speaking, two of the basic temperament types are outgoing or extroverted and two are more inward directed or introverted. This varies based on temperament blends  and our individual personality development. Personality defined Our personality is like the painting on the canvas. It is what we have built on top of our temperament. Two people with like temperament may be very different in actual behavior. Factors that affect personality,  including socialization, education, birth order, siblings or lack of siblings, and interpersonal pressures, will cause us to adapt and change our behaviors.

Understanding temperament – our own and others – make us much better equipped to handle interpersonal relationships successfully. Studying our own temperament helps us understand our strengths and weaknesses and why we do some of the things we do. Understanding another’s temperament can help us adapt our communication to theirs or, at the least, understand why we have problems with them.  Because our job is not to try to change others, manage others or manipulate others but to understand others so as we can adjust our expectations of them, and most importantly begin communicating with them more effectively as we meet their emotional needs. Each one of us has a basic inborn personality that came pre-packaged within our genetic makeup.  Modern science has spent countless hour and money trying to understand where our personality come from. Yet any teacher or parent will tell us that each child is born with his or her own identity.  Scientist are just now beginning to get a grasp on this.  Recent researchesindicates that a person’s basic personality is determined before birth in the individual genetic make-up.  Environment does play a role in how that personality is shaped, but the basics are predetermined.

Why four ? Why not forty ?  Aren’t there more than four kinds of people ? Many of us are really feeling stuck with this observation of four types. Of course there is lot more than four types, but everyone from the ancients to modern psychologists find that people can be grouped into four basic types of personality, generally referred to as Temperaments or IBT (Inherent Behavior Traits) or Inner Personality also. Over two thousand years ago, in about 400 B.C>, during the golden age of great Greek Thinkers, scholarly men sat and philosophized about much of life.  Like us today, one of the areas that aroused their curiosity was the differing nature of people.  Just like the pre-school teaches of today, they noticed that people were different. Without the benefit of modern science, Hippocrates, now called the father of medicine, theorized that what made people so different were the chemicals in their bodies. Only recently have we come to see that he and the other Greek scholars may have been right on more counts than we have historically given them benefit for. Well there are many behavior theories behind understanding human basic nature – but baseof  all can be traced back to the Basic Four Temperament theory.  Some other personality systems and teaching currently available in the world use different vocabulary for each of the four temperaments & we at Know Your True Self Research & Training Academy (KYTS RTA)  with our philosophy to make and keep things simple have given a very simple observatory vocabulary to the four temperaments which will help the reader and the researcher to easily identify the temperament by just reading the words assigned to them  (which you can find here.) The brief introduction of four temperaments  are:

1. Influencing of others, SP – Artisan – The Popular is receptive by nature and outgoing. He is usually called a ‘super-extrovert’. This temperament is usually thought of as a “natural salesman” but they also tend to enter professions that are outgoing such as acting. He “leads into a room with his mouth open” and is never at a loss for words. His outgoing nature makes him the envy of more timid temperament types. He is most comfortable around people and does not like being alone. He is often known as a “toucher”; reaching out and touching the arm or shoulder of the person he is talking with. This can make more introverted temperaments nervous and uncomfortable. His energy can make him seem more confident than he actually is and his cheery disposition often cause others to excuse his weaknesses by saying, “That’s just how he is”. The Popular is mostly a happy person whom others are glad to have around. The weakness of The Popular include a lack of discipline which can be expressed in many ways – including a generally “messy” lifestyle or overeating. The Popular is the most emotional of the temperaments and can burst into tears or a rage without warning. These “bursts” are usually over as fast as they occur but this lack of emotional consistency can affect other areas of his life. He may be “morally flexible” and may take advantage of others via his good nature. A Popular’s tremendous personal talents can be made or broken by his lack of self-discipline.

1. Decisive, NT – Rational – The Powerful is the most forceful and active of the four types. He is strong-willed and independent and opinionated. The Powerful thrives on activity. He is the most practical and makes sound, quick decisions. He is not afraid of obstacles and tends to drive right through or over problems. He is probably the strongest natural leader of the four types. He has the most problem with anger and does not display compassion easily. He is quick to recognize opportunities and quick to capitalize on them – though details irritate him and, unless he learns to delegate, he will often gloss over details. His strong will and determination may drive him to succeed where more gifted people give up. The Powerful is a developer and may be seen in construction supervision or coaching or law enforcement. Most entrepreneurs are choleric. Because of their impatience they often end up doing everything themselves. A Poweful is extremely goal/task oriented in leading others. His biggest weakness as a leader is a tendency to run right over people if he feels they are in his way. He assumes that approval and encouragement will lead others to slack off and he probably finds criticism and faultfinding more useful for his purposes. Through his natural determination he may succeed where others may give up. A Powerful’s weaknesses include anger and hostility. A Powerful is the most likely to have an active temper; he is a door slammer and horn blower and he can carry a grudge for a long time. This includes a cutting and sarcastic tongue and The Powerful will rarely hesitate to tell someone off. The Powerful is the least likely to show affection or any public show of emotion. His emotions are the lease developed of all the temperaments. Additionally a Powerful can be inconsiderate, opinionated and crafty in getting their own way. 3. THE PERFECT 1. Conscientious, SJ – Guardian – The Perfect is an introverted temperament type. His natural style is analytical and perfectionist. He is the most moody of types ranging from highly “up” to gloomy and depressed. During his low periods he can be very antagonistic and does not make friends easily. He is the most dependable of the temperaments due to his perfectionist tendencies. His analytical ability allows him to accurately diagnose obstacles and problems, which often keep him from making changes – he prefers the status quo and may seem overly pessimistic. He may choose a difficult life vocation involving personal sacrifice. Many Perfects become doctors or scientists or artists. Their interpersonal style can be critical and negative. He tends to be more indecisive than other types. They have difficulty giving praise and approval because they cannot bring themselves to say something that is not 100% true. They also are usually dissatisfied with themselves being highly self-critical. Other weaknesses include being “thin skinned” or touchy and easily offended. He often feels persecuted and may seek revenge for real or imagined insults. He tends to be “all or nothing” in his evaluation of things; everything must be black or white and no shades of gray. He is least likely to consider mitigating circumstances when evaluating a person or situation. No temperament is more likely to be legalistic and rigid. He can be intolerant and impatient with those who do not see things his way. 4. THE PEACEFUL 1. Steady, NF – Idealist – The Peaceful is best characterized by the words “easy going”. He is the calm and steady person who is not easily disturbed. He is the easiest temperament type to get along with. Life for him is happy, unexcited and calm. Underneath the calm exterior, the Peaceful is the most timid temperament type. He often uses humor to make his points. The Peaceful is more an observer and does not involve himself in the activities of others. Peacefuls make excellent teachers, counselors and administrators. They are very dependable and organized and, while they never volunteer, they make good group leaders. The weakness of a Peaceful include lack of motivation or even laziness; they appear to lack drive and ambition. A Peaceful needs to realize that he is not internally motivated and take up activities that force him into action. The Peaceful is self-protective and may be selfish. He is often very stubborn, though it is hidden beneath his mild-mannered style. He is also the most fearful of temperaments. We are not One Temperament – We are blended. After defining each temperament in “black and white” we must realize that no one is completely one temperament type. Each of us is a blend of usually two and occasionally 3 types. One temperament type is dominant and one is secondary. And don’t forget that training, lifestyle, upbringing and other circumstances may have forced an individual to function “off style”. The saddest people I have seen are those who have “put on” a style that is not theirs naturally for so long that it has become a habitual way of life. Read here about the different combinations or blends.

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