Keirsey Temperament Sorter

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Historical development

See also Historical Development of Theories of the Four Temperaments

About the sorter descriptions

• The inner ring - abstract versus concrete

According to Keirsey, everyone can engage in both observation and introspection. When people touch objects, watch a basketball game, taste food, or otherwise perceive the world through their five senses, they are observant. When people reflect and focus on their internal world, they are introspective. However, individuals cannot engage in observation and introspection at the same time. The extent to which people are more observant or introspective directly affects their behavior.

People who are primarily observant are more 'down to earth', more concrete in their worldview, and tend to focus on practical matters such as food, shelter and their immediate relationships. Carl Jung used the word sensing to describe concrete people. People who are primarily introspective are more 'head in the clouds', are more abstract in their world view, and tend to focus on global issues. Carl Jung

Carl Jung

Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist, an influential thinker and the founder of Analytical psychology. Jung's approach to psychology has been influential in the field of depth psychology and in counterculture movements across the globe....
 used the word intuition

Intuition (knowledge)

Intuition is the apparent ability to acquire knowledge without inference or the use of reason.?The word ?intuition? comes from the Latin word 'intueri', which is often roughly translated as meaning ?to look inside? or ?to contemplate?."...
 to describe abstract people.

• The second ring - cooperative versus pragmatic (utilitarian)

Keirsey uses the words cooperative and pragmatic when comparing the differing temperaments. People who are cooperative pay more attention to other people's opinions and are more concerned with doing the right thing. People who are pragmatic (utilitarian) pay more attention to their own thoughts or feelings and are more concerned with doing what works. There is no comparable idea of Myers or Jung that corresponds to this dichotomy, so this is a significant difference between Keirsey's work and that of Myers and Jung.

This ring, in combination with the inner ring, determines a person's temperament. The pragmatic temperaments are Rationals

Rational temperament

The Rational temperament is one of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter defined by David Keirsey. The Rational temperament correlates with the NT Myers-Briggs types....
 (pragmatic and abstract) and Artisans (pragmatic and concrete). The cooperative temperaments are Idealists

Idealist temperament

The Idealist temperament is one of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter defined by David Keirsey. The Idealist temperament Correlation with the NF Myers-Briggs Type Indicator types....
 (cooperative and abstract), and Guardians

Guardian temperament

The Guardian temperament is one of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter defined by David Keirsey. Guardians correlate with the SJ Myers-Briggs Type Indicator types....
 (cooperative and concrete). Neither Myers nor Jung included the concept of temperament in their work.

• The third ring - directive versus informative

The third ring distinguishes between people who primarily communicate by informing others versus people who primarily communicate by directing others. Each of the four temperaments is subdivided by this distinction for a result of eight roles.

The directive roles are Operators (directive Artisans), Administrators (directive Guardians), Mentors (directive Idealists), and Coordinators (directive Rationals). The informative roles are Entertainers (informative Artisans), Conservators (informative Guardians), Advocates (informative Idealists), and Engineers (informative Rationals).

• The fourth ring - expressive versus reserved (attentive)

The fourth ring describes how people interact with their environment. Individuals who primarily act before reflecting are described as expressive, whereas people who primarily reflect before acting are described as attentive. Each of the eight categories can be subdivided by this distinction, for a total of 16 role variants. These 16 role variants correlate to the 16 Myers-Briggs types.

The expressive role variants are Promoters

Promoter (Role Variant)

The Promoter Artisan is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Promoter role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
 (expressive Operators), Performers

Performer (Role Variant)

The Performer Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Performer role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
 (expressive Entertainers), Supervisors

Supervisor (Role Variant)

The Supervisor Guardian temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Supervisor role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
 (expressive Administrators), Providers

Provider (role variant)

The Provider Guardian is one of the 16 role variants idendified in the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (expressive Conservators), Teachers

Teacher (Role Variant)

The Teacher Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (expressive Mentors), Champions

Champion (Role Variant)

The Champion Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (expressive Advocates), Fieldmarshals

Fieldmarshal (Role Variant)

The Fieldmarshal Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (expressive Coordinators), and Inventors

Inventor (Role Variant)

The Inventor Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (expressive Engineers).

The reserved role variants are Crafters

Crafter (Role Variant)

The Crafter Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Crafter role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
 (reserved Operators), Composers

Composer (Role Variant)

The Composer Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Composer role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
 (reserved Entertainers), Inspectors

Inspector (Role Variant)

The Inspector Guardian is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Inspector role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
 (reserved Administrators), Protectors

Protector (role variant)

The Protector Guardian is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Protector role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
 (reserved Conservators), Counselors

Counselor (Role Variant)

The Counselor Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (reserved Mentors), Healers

Healer (role variant)

The Healer Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (reserved Advocates), Masterminds

Mastermind (Role Variant)

The Mastermind Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (reserved Coordinators), and Architects

Architect (Role Variant)

The Architect Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
 (reserved Engineers).

The Four Temperaments

• Artisans are observant and pragmatic. Composers
  Composer (Role Variant)
  
  The Composer Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Composer role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
  , Crafters
  Crafter (Role Variant)
  
  The Crafter Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Crafter role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
  , Performers
  Performer (Role Variant)
  
  The Performer Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Performer role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
  , and Promoters
  Promoter (Role Variant)
  
  The Promoter Artisan is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Promoter role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
   are the role variants contained within this temperament. Their greatest strength is tactical variation. Their most developed intelligence operations is either expediting or improvising.
• Guardians
  Guardian temperament
  
  The Guardian temperament is one of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter defined by David Keirsey. Guardians correlate with the SJ Myers-Briggs Type Indicator types....
   are observant and cooperative. Protectors
  Protector (role variant)
  
  The Protector Guardian is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Protector role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
  , Inspectors
  Inspector (Role Variant)
  
  The Inspector Guardian is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Inspector role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
  , Supervisors
  Supervisor (Role Variant)
  
  The Supervisor Guardian temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Supervisor role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
  , and Providers
  Provider (role variant)
  
  The Provider Guardian is one of the 16 role variants idendified in the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   are the role variants contained within this category. Guardians seek membership or belonging and are concerned with responsibility and duty. Their greatest strength is logistical intelligence. They excel at organizing, facilitating, checking, and supporting.
• Idealists
  Idealist temperament
  
  The Idealist temperament is one of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter defined by David Keirsey. The Idealist temperament Correlation with the NF Myers-Briggs Type Indicator types....
   are introspective and cooperative. Healers
  Healer (role variant)
  
  The Healer Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
  , Counselors
  Counselor (Role Variant)
  
  The Counselor Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
  , Champions
  Champion (Role Variant)
  
  The Champion Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   and Teachers
  Teacher (Role Variant)
  
  The Teacher Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   are the role variants contained within this category. Idealists seek meaning and significance and are concerned with finding their own unique identity. Their greatest strength is diplomatic intelligence. They excel at clarifying, unifying, individualizing, and inspiring.
• Rationals
  Rational temperament
  
  The Rational temperament is one of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter defined by David Keirsey. The Rational temperament correlates with the NT Myers-Briggs types....
   are introspective and pragmatic. Architects
  Architect (Role Variant)
  
  The Architect Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
  , Masterminds
  Mastermind (Role Variant)
  
  The Mastermind Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
  , Inventors
  Inventor (Role Variant)
  
  The Inventor Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   and Fieldmarshals
  Fieldmarshal (Role Variant)
  
  The Fieldmarshal Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   are the role variants contained within this category. Rationals seek mastery, and self-control and are concerned with their own knowledge and competence. Their greatest strength is strategic intelligence. They excel in any kind of logical investigation such as engineering, conceptualizing, theorizing, and coordinating.

The Eight Roles

• Operators are observant, pragmatic, and directive. Crafters
  Crafter (Role Variant)
  
  The Crafter Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Crafter role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
   and Promoters
  Promoter (Role Variant)
  
  The Promoter Artisan is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Promoter role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
   are the two role variants of the directive Artisans.
• Entertainers are observant, pragmatic and informative. Composers
  Composer (Role Variant)
  
  The Composer Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Composer role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
   and Performers
  Performer (Role Variant)
  
  The Performer Artisan temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Performer role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
   are the two role variants of the informative Artisans.
• Administrators are observant, cooperative, and directive. Inspectors
  Inspector (Role Variant)
  
  The Inspector Guardian is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Inspector role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
   and Supervisors
  Supervisor (Role Variant)
  
  The Supervisor Guardian temperament is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Supervisor role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
   are the two role variants of the directive Guardians.
• Conservators are observant, cooperative, and informative. Protectors
  Protector (role variant)
  
  The Protector Guardian is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. David Keirsey originally described the Protector role variant; however, the personality descriptions of Isabel Myers contributed to its development....
   and Providers
  Provider (role variant)
  
  The Provider Guardian is one of the 16 role variants idendified in the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   are the two role variants of the informative Guardians.
• Mentors are introspective, cooperative, and directive. Counselors
  Counselor (Role Variant)
  
  The Counselor Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   and Teachers
  Teacher (Role Variant)
  
  The Teacher Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   are the two role variants of the directive Idealists.
• Advocates are introspective, cooperative and informative. Healers
  Healer (role variant)
  
  The Healer Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   and Champions
  Champion (Role Variant)
  
  The Champion Idealist is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   are the two role variants of the informative Idealists.
• Coordinators are introspective, pragmatic and directive. Masterminds
  Mastermind (Role Variant)
  
  The Mastermind Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   and Fieldmarshals
  Fieldmarshal (Role Variant)
  
  The Fieldmarshal Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   are the two role variants of the directive Rationals.
• Engineers are introspective, pragmatic and informative. Architects
  Architect (Role Variant)
  
  The Architect Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   and Inventors
  Inventor (Role Variant)
  
  The Inventor Rational is one of the 16 role variants of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves....
   are the two role variants of the informative Rationals.

Myers-Briggs Types versus Keirsey's Temperaments

• Myers primarily focused on how people think and feel; Keirsey focused more on behavior, which is directly observable.
• Myers' descriptions use a linear four-factor model; Keirsey's descriptions use a systems field theory model.
• Myers, following Jung's lead, emphasized the extraversion/introversion dichotomy; Keirsey's model places greater importance on the sensing/intuition dichotomy.
• Myers grouped types by ‘function attitudes’; Keirsey, by temperament.

See also

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
  Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
  
  The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment is a psychometric questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions....
  
• Analytical Psychology
  Analytical psychology
  
  Analytical psychology is the school of psychology originating from the ideas of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, and then advanced by his students and other thinkers who followed in his tradition....
  
• Carl Jung
  Carl Jung
  
  Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist, an influential thinker and the founder of Analytical psychology. Jung's approach to psychology has been influential in the field of depth psychology and in counterculture movements across the globe....
  

External links