The Four Temperaments

Your Guide to The 4 Temperaments

Unlike The Eight Functions, The Four Temperaments did not exist until 1985. They were largely introduced to society with David Keirsey’s book Please Understand Me becoming almost immediately a huge success and best seller.

David Keirsey was a successful psychologist who had been observing, tracking, and using type theory for over 30 years before his revolutionary book came out. The Four Temperaments are easy to apply, useful, and easy to understand. The Four Temperaments expanded personality type theory, changing how it is perceived and used. Keirsey’s Temperament Theory is still widely used today by businesses, individuals, counselors, organizations, and educators across the globe.

Keirsey’s temperaments are so consistent, observable, and accurate, that the four similar groupings of personalities have been around since c340 BC, with only slight variations. Each temperament contains a group of similar characteristics that are greatly different from those of the other temperaments. No matter the time period or culture, there have always been these four main types of personality, argues Keirsey.

Keirsey proved that these temperaments are still clear today and, more importantly, that they can be derived not from a separate new test, but rather, can be easily derived from the Myers-Briggs.

Keiersey chose to use the same names for his four groups of personality types that Plato did. The Four Temperaments (with basic descriptions) are as follows; click on each for more detail below:

NT (Intuition and Thinking), Rational - Technical, Competent, Ingenious, Skeptical, Innovative, Non-Conformist. The personality types that share the Rational Temperament are ENTJ, INTJ, ENTP, and INTP.

NF (Intuition and Feeling), Idealist - Romantic, Empathetic, Authentic, Creative, Impassioned. The personality types that share the Idealist Temperament are ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, and INFP.

SJ (Sensing and Judging), Guardian - Dependable, Traditional, Loyal. The personality types that share the Guardian Temperament are ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, and ISFJ.

SP (Sensing and Perceiving), Artisan - Adventurous, Action-Oriented, Spontaneous. The personality types that share the Artisan Temperament are ESTP, ISTP, ESFP, and ISFP.

NT Rational (ENTJ, INTJ, ENTP, and INTP)

Logical, pragmatic, and driven, rationals strive for competence and excellence in reaching their goals. They are the “why” temperament; ever skeptical, they constantly questions others and their environment. They typically want to know the reason why something is done, and the reason needs to make sense (whether it is politically correct or not).

Some more information on the NT Rational:

Most uncommon of the Temperaments
May be absent-minded but often shows flashes of brilliance
Quick grasp of complex theories and systems
Enjoys thinking and intellectual pursuits
Often thinks about things that others don’t normally think about, such as the nature of the universe, religious issues, politics, philosophy, etc. NT’s want to figure out how and why the world works.
Are technical with their language and strive to be logical and exact when speaking to others
Easily notice inconsistencies
Natural non-conformist
Great analyzers
Naturally good with technology (NT’s were key in the birth and growth of the tech era and Internet)
Skeptical
Are naturally pragmatic, always asking “Is this necessary,” “How can this be improved,” “How does this work and how can it work better?”
Can be very wise
Natural brainstormers and problem-solvers
Can be detached when involved with a project, undertaking, or thought
Set high goals for themselves and are determined to achieve them.
Strong suit in strategy
Strive for efficiency
Conceptualizers
Systematic
May have trouble adapting to conventions
NTs are very cerebral and take great pride in staying cool in crisis, not letting their emotions control them - even if it’s a matter of great importance or great intensity
Often labeled as being argumentive by other temperaments
Value independence
May bother those who are sensitive to arguments or criticism

NF Idealist (ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, INFP)

Romantic, empathetic, authentic, creative, and impassioned, Idealists strive to be true to themselves while inspiring and bringing out the best in others.

Some information on the NF Idealist:

Have a need to live up to their high ideals
Empathetic
Tend to glorify others and life in general
Well-trusted and cultivated intuition
Often interested in the spiritual, having a strong affinity for the mystical and what cannot be seen by the eye
As kids, often show their elaborate imaginations
Good with the use of words - if not when speaking, in writing
Strongly believes in certain causes
Romantic
Wants deep, meaningful relationships
May trust others more than they should, sometimes to the point of naivety
Often enjoys reading (from fantasy to poetry, to creative short stories, to religious texts)
Appreciates the arts and imagination
Appreciates the uniqueness of themselves and others
Natural conflict mediators with their strong insight and diplomatic nature

SJ Guardian (ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, ISFJ)

Guardians are dependable, traditional, attentive, and loyal, striving for stability and structure, providing reliability to others.

SP Artisan (ESTP, ISTP, ESFP, ISFP)

Artisans are action-oriented and live in the moment. They enjoy being spontaneous and strive for a range of experience and excitement.