WHAT ARE PERSONALITY TYPES?
In a nutshell, Personality Types or traits are important because each person reacts to and solves fears in different ways. The traits provide the maps. And, the four Personality Types use different map makers, adopt different techniques for handling stress, are inhibited by different biases, and are attracted to different Joys.
All four types are illustrated in the cartoon of the pianist. Can you spot any personality differences?
a. Personality Types Are Unique to Each Person.
How an individual’s personality traits are related to fears is as unique as fingerprints. People pay psychiatrists thousands of dollars for the answer. And psychiatrists all ask this same cliché question – “How did that make you feel?”
Although the question might feel trite and unoriginal, your answer is always unique and personal to you. You may have witnessed a murder that traumatized you. Everyone can spot the trauma. But why did it affect you in the way it did?
- Was it the speed at which your world changed?
- Was it the color of the blood?
- Was it the sounds that permeated your mind or the muffled silence that followed?
It could have been any of those elements. Or it could have been a million other factors that triggered or contributed to the trauma.
That is an answer that each person must discover. Someone giving you their interpretation is not nearly as enriching as discovering the answers on your own. It’s the old adage: “Give a man a fish, it will feed him for one day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Whoever came up with that maxim certainly nailed it.
As with all journeys, the road to self-discovery is littered with twists and turns. One of the biggest roadblocks to overcome is understanding why people, including yourself, react differently to certain situations and stresses. Knowing or guessing a person’s personality can be tricky, especially at first. But even following a path to a dead end should not be seen as a failure. By excluding something, you are narrowing the scope of possible answers. One way of proving something is by eliminating that which it is not.
b. Personality Types Influence Everything We Do.
All personality types have the ultimate goal of achieving health, happiness, and success. They accomplish these objectives by using different techniques and approaches. It would be exceedingly boring, as well as regressive, if everyone did the same thing or reacted in the same manner. Approaching things from different perspectives and diversities makes humans unique.
Remember the story of the Pied Piper. That was where a boy with a magic flute enticed rats to follow him, and into the sea. A consequence of having the same traits.
The specific personality trait as it relates to fears is discussed in greater detail for each personality type. For example, why do some personality types focus on people while others concentrate on motivation? Why do some enjoy a particular type of movie and while others prefer a different genre?
The quiz at the end allows you to step into the shoes of each personality type to see how you would handle various situations from differing points of view.
The purpose is not to see how smart you are. It is to enlighten you on why you approach things one way while others respond differently to the same scenario. This is why knowing the various personality types is helpful in coping with fear (extrinsic related factors) and nurturing joy (intrinsic related factors)
c. Stop Here and take Several On-Line Personality tests.
Going forward without knowing your personality type will not be as fun or interesting. There are many free and paid personality tests on the internet. All of them are highly biased, so it is important that you take several tests. That way YOU can make a decision as to which one best fits your personality.
It is recommended that one of the tests be based on the Carl Jung methodology. After you obtain the results from the various tests, try and fit the trait-type categories, identified in those tests, with Types A, B, C, D classifications used here.
d. Start Here After you know your Personality Type(s).
Rule No. 1: Only you should decide your personality type(s). Do not allow others to define or influence you. No expert alive know as much about you as you do.
To make sure you are making proper comparisons. Designate your most dominate type, and if you have two that are very close then use the most dominate followed by the second dominate. Example, you may designate yourself as: Type A, B, C, D, A–C, B-D, etc.
Only you should decide your personality type.
If you cannot decide or refuse to define yourself, you probably should classify yourself as a Type D personality. If this last comment influenced you, then you have:
violated rule number 1!
It is recommended that you keep your results to yourself so that others do not influence you to change it. There is no penalty for changing your personalty type. People have been known to change their personality type after a couple cups of coffee.
A personality trait does not determine who someone will become, what direction they will go, or why they are who they are. That question is beyond science. However, traits can and do influence us.
The photos are links to detailed discussions of the various Personality Types. You may want to check out the one that is the closest fit to your Personality Profile. However, it is also important to know how others react and process information.
If you are experienced in this area, you may choose to skip the different types and jump into the Fun Quiz. Then go back and brush up on the basic information.
Did you know that certain personality traits are prone to certain fears? Or that certain fears are calmed by specific joys?