# my 4 temperaments (basic personality types) system **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 9, 2007, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276 "2007-01-09T11:27:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/1 "2007-01-09T11:27:33Z")
Hi, I’m working (work in progress) on a system of classifying things into 4 types… or temperaments or [“humours”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_humours) and I was looking for feedback… BTW, there is also the 16 type Myers-Briggs type indicator and the 9 type enneagram (and many other systems) In my system, there is an x and y axis and on the x there is aggressive vs unitive and on the y there is dogmatic vs creative. I think there were 4 Jungian temperaments as well and they were: sensation (aggressive) feeling (unitive) intellectual (dogmatic) [I know that proper intellectuals are supposedly non-dogmatic, but I think structured thought is dogmatic in some way) intuitive (creative) There are also mixes and labels: dogmatism - fanatic/critic dogmatic unity - shepherd (good king) unity - lover unitive creativity - entertainer (poet) creativity - party animal aggressive creativity - adventurer (powerful wizard) aggression - brute aggressive dogmatism - crusader (warrior) I think they correspond to the 4 elements: aggression - fire unity - water creativity - air dogmatism - earth Corresponding pleasures: aggression - power unity - connectedness creativity - newness dogmatism - progress? Fears: aggression - impotence unity - alienation/rejection creativity - boredom dogmatism - regression? Yin - creative unity? Yang - aggressive dogmatism? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/2 "2007-01-09T11:51:15Z")
Interesting stuff, but why are you doing it? What advantages will your system have over other similar schemes? Do you consider your system to more accurately represent reality than, say, the four humours? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/3 "2007-01-09T12:45:59Z")
Why do you consider intelectual and creative as opposites? You seem to have some serious definition problems… of your words, not necessarily your concepts. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/4 "2007-01-10T00:28:05Z")
BTW, for dogmatism, maybe they seek flawlessness - and maybe fear disgust. And for creativity, maybe a “free spirit” is better because party animals are extroverts (free spirit might cover party animals and introverted artists) **Mangetout:** > [@](#): > > Interesting stuff, but why are you doing it? I find it rewarding for some reason… using my system I think it satifies the 4 aspects of me… it involves uniting everything, power (because I’m doing it), dogmatism and creativity. > [@](#): > > What advantages will your system have over other similar schemes? Do you consider your system to more accurately represent reality than, say, the four humours? I think it’s pretty easy to understand and it fits the 4 elements quite well. **Nava:** > [@](#): > > Why do you consider intelectual and creative as opposites? You seem to have some serious definition problems… of your words, not necessarily your concepts. I have dogmatic and creative as opposites. And I think Jung had intellect and intuition as opposites, and I think dogmatic corresponds to intellect and creative corresponds to intuition. That doesn’t mean that intellectual and creative are perfect opposites… just like earth and creativity aren’t (total) opposites. (earth and air are supposed to be opposites) ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/5 "2007-01-10T03:28:42Z")
Here are the enneagrams… > **[Enneagram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enneagram)** > > Enneagram is a compound word derived from the Greek neoclassical stems for "nine" (ennea) and something "written" or "drawn" (gramma). Enneagram may refer to: 1 - reformer/critic/perfectionist dogmatism 2 - helper/giver/caretaker unity 3 - achiever/performer/succeeder aggression 4 - romantic/individualist/artist creativity 5 - observer/thinker/investigator all/none (centre) 6 - loyalist/devil’s advocate/defender dogmatic unity 7 - enthusiast/adventurer/materialist creative aggression 8 - leader/protector/challenger dogmatic aggression 9 - mediator/peacemaker/preservationist creative unity ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/6 "2007-01-10T07:37:15Z")
Someone’s attempt to correspond lots of personality theories with each other: > **[The 4 Personality Types: Equivalents & Comparisons](https://kindredgrace.com/personality-types/equivalents/)** > > Discussing personality types with friends can get confusing when there are so many different classifications! If you’re not sure which type you’re talking about, hopefully this comparison chart will help you figure out what type equals what in... Sometime I’ll probably say where each of those fits in the 9 spots of my model. (4 edges, 4 corners and centre) The Big 5 is pretty interesting: > **[Big Five personality traits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits)** > > The Big Five personality traits, sometimes known as "the Five-Factor model of personality", is a grouping of five unique characteristics used to study personality. It has been developed from the 1980s onward in psychological trait theory. > Starting in the 1990s, the theory identified five factors and ten values. Each of the five factors are broken up comparatively with two of the identified values. These factors and values are as follows: > When factor analysis is applied to personality survey dat... Dogmatism = Conscientiousness Extraversion -\> no equivalent Unity = Agreeableness Creativity = Openness To Experience Aggression = Neuroticism? ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/7 "2007-01-12T08:24:10Z")
Behold, my Theory of Everything ™ (Work in progress) [http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2616/toema7.gif](http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2616/toema7.gif) ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/8 "2007-01-12T08:34:23Z")
The latest version is similar to Dungeons and Dragons: > **[Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_(Dungeons_&_Dragons))** > > In the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of player characters, non-player characters, and creatures. > Most versions of the game feature a system in which players make two choices for characters. One is the character's views on "law" versus "chaos", the other on "good" versus "evil". The two axes allow for nine alignments in combination. Later editions of D&D have shifted away from tying alignment to specific ga... Good at the top, Evil at the bottom, Lawful on the left, and Chaotic on the right. I’ve come up with a NEAT or NEATO acronym for the system 🙂 N=not equal E=equal A=add T=take O=0 or observer ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/9 "2007-01-12T08:35:41Z")
[dungeons and dragons alignment link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_(Dungeons_&_Dragons)) ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/10 "2007-01-12T13:52:22Z")
Are you familiar w/ transactional Analysis? I’m have no training in psychology, but T/A seems to accomplish what your proposed system does and is less complicated and more practical in dealing w/ everyday situations. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/11 "2007-01-12T15:08:01Z")
Updated diagram: [http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7761/toezv5.gif](http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7761/toezv5.gif) (wet/dry mix-up, changed not equal to approx equal) I’ve also got other material such as wants and fears: equal: flawlessness, cognitive dissonance/crisis of faith positive: connectedness, alienation/rejection negative: power, impotence approx equal: newness, boredom **A.R. Cane** I had heard of the parent/adult/child roles in T.A. and read some more here: > **[Transactional analysis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transactional_analysis)** > > Transactional analysis is a psychoanalytic theory and method of therapy wherein social interactions (or "transactions") are analyzed to determine the ego state of the communicator (whether parent-like, childlike, or adult-like) as a basis for understanding behavior. In transactional analysis, the communicator is taught to alter the ego state as a way to solve emotional problems. The method deviates from Freudian psychoanalysis, which focuses on increasing awareness of the contents of subconsci I don’t think those 3 types correspond well with other personality theories e.g. > **[The 4 Personality Types: Equivalents & Comparisons](https://kindredgrace.com/personality-types/equivalents/)** > > Discussing personality types with friends can get confusing when there are so many different classifications! If you’re not sure which type you’re talking about, hopefully this comparison chart will help you figure out what type equals what in... since most other theories have 4 or more types. (mine has 4 main types [positive, negative, equal, approx equal] and many more if you go part way between the types - e.g. more or less nurturing or aggressive, more creative or ordered or observing/theoretical [centered]). I have no training in psychology either and this is meant to be a way of trying to organize archetypes/concepts and personality theories rather than being practical. It is sort of esoteric. BTW, I originally was interested in KWML [http://www.doctorpaul.net/kwml.htm](http://www.doctorpaul.net/kwml.htm) and also masculine(yang) and feminine(yin) concepts and it just evolved from there. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/12 "2007-01-13T12:41:30Z")
I was reading this page about a 2D enneagram model [http://www.9types.com/writeup/Theory20.htm](http://www.9types.com/writeup/Theory20.htm) And I’ve revised my system… [http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1918/toe4st1.gif](http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1918/toe4st1.gif) now it has 4 C’s… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/13 "2007-01-13T14:15:39Z")
More MPSIMS… [http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/2674/toe5az0.gif](http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/2674/toe5az0.gif) ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/14 "2007-01-13T14:23:43Z")
Yet MPSIMS… [http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/7861/toe6ml8.gif](http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/7861/toe6ml8.gif) (based more on [http://www.9types.com/writeup/Theory20.htm](http://www.9types.com/writeup/Theory20.htm) ) ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/15 "2007-01-13T14:26:46Z")
Just my opinion but it looks like nothing but senseless bullshit to me. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-4-temperaments-basic-personality-types-system/387276/16 "2007-01-13T14:49:38Z")
pool: Basically the row headings and column headings describe the enneagram personality type that is at the intersection… and the 4 elements are traditionally associated with personality types so I associated them with mine. I’ll try and justify the correspondences… Water - seeks connection - water binds to itself and to other things. It nurtures. Fire - uses aggression - fire is violent Earth - seeks admiration - it is the 1 element worshipped the most (as Gaia, mother earth, etc) Wind - seeks power - air is sometimes calm but can become a tornado. (I know some descriptions could apply to different elements but I’ve made it so all of the descriptions kind of go along with each other)