Keirsey Temperament Sorter / Personality Types
Table of Contents
Temperament .................................................................................................................................. 2
Keirsey Temperament Sorter .......................................................................................................... 2
Instructions ............................................................................................................................... 4
Questionnaire ........................................................................................................................... 5
Results Grid .............................................................................................................................. 8
How to Interpret the Results..................................................................................................... 9
The Four Main Personality Types................................................................................................. 10
Guardians (SJs) ...................................................................................................................... 10
Artisans (SPs) ......................................................................................................................... 11
Idealists (NFs) ........................................................................................................................ 12
Rationals (NTs) ...................................................................................................................... 13
Communication and Action in the Four Temperaments ............................................................... 14
Communication: Concrete vs. Abstract .................................................................................... 14
Action: Utilitarian vs. Cooperative ........................................................................................... 14
The Four Types Chart ................................................................................................................... 16
The Four Letters of Your Personality Subtype ............................................................................. 17
Extroversion/Introversion (E/I) ................................................................................................. 18
Sensation/Intuition (S/N).......................................................................................................... 20
Thinking/Feeling (T/F) .............................................................................................................. 23
Judgment/Perception (J/P)......................................................................................................... 24
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
1
Keirsey.com
Temperament
Temperament is a configuration of observable personality traits, such as habits of
communication, patterns of action, and sets of characteristic attitudes, values, and talents. It also
encompasses personal needs, the kinds of contributions that individuals make in the workplace,
and the roles they play in society.
According to Keirsey Temperament Theory, there are four basic temperament groups which
describe human behavior. Keirsey’s four temperaments are referred to as Artisans™,
Guardians™, Rationals™ and Idealists™.
These four temperaments can be further subdivided: There are four types of Artisans, four types
of Guardians, four types of Rationals, and four types of Idealists.
(from keirsey.com/4temps/overview_temperaments.asp and keirsey.com/aboutkts2.aspx)
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter-II (KTS-II) is the most widely used personality instrument in
the world. It is a powerful 70-question personality instrument that helps individuals discover
their personality type. The KTS-II is based on Keirsey Temperament Theory, published in the
best-selling books, Please Understand Me and Please Understand Me II, by Dr. David Keirsey.
The KTS-II has been translated into 18 different languages, and has been used by over 40 million
people from 140 different countries. It first appeared in Please Understand Me (1978), and was
updated in the successor Please Understand Me II (1998).
The world’s leading organizations rely on the KTS-II to help them find solutions for their most
important people challenges and opportunities. It is used by the U.S. government and military,
academic institutions, the Fortune 500, prestigious global consulting firms, and innovative social
enterprises and faith-based organizations. The KTS-II is implemented by organizations to help
their organizations deal with a wide range of factors relating to their most important asset, their
people.
Navigating and Resolving Conflict
Conflict Resolution | Employee Interaction
The KTS-II is implemented by organizations to help create an open, trusting
organizational culture, where differences are both recognized and celebrated. Whether it
be clashes between executives or a conflict between a boss to employee, the KTS-II can
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
2
Keirsey.com
be implemented to help navigate through the breakdowns in communication which have
a direct relationship to turnover, morale, and performance.
Building High Performance Teams
Team Building | Team Synergy
Implementing the KTS-II provides analysis of a team’s greatest strengths and
weaknesses. The KTS-II helps to create a culture where individual members can
synergistically contribute their best talents, leading to innovation, creativity and dynamic
performance results. Whether it be a group of high powered executives or a team of
talented associates serving in a specific functional area, The KTS-II can be implemented
to help leverage the best of a team to produce extraordinary results.
Selecting, Developing, and Retaining the Best
Recruitment & Hiring | Leadership Development | Employee Retention
The KTS-II is implemented by organizations in order to attract, develop, and retain high
performing leaders. The KTS-II can help to identify leadership talent, develop leaders of
differing temperaments, and keep high performance leaders excited and motivated.
Whether it be an on-boarding program, a leadership development initiative or for
performance reviews, the KTS-II adds tremendous insight to increase the capacity of an
organization.
(http://keirsey.com/products_overview.aspx)
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
3
Keirsey.com
Keirsey Temperament Sorter – Instructions
How to answer the questions:
-
-
It is important that you answer all the questions from the perspective of what feels real
for you and not try to give answers that you think would sound like how you should
behave in any particular situation. The objective is to understand yourself as you really
are – not the way, for example, you must react in your job, or others expect you to
behave. Effectiveness as an individual or leader is not based on any particular personality
style. It is really about how well you know yourself and others.
There are two choices for each question. If both seem to apply, choose the one that feels
most comfortable to you. There are no right or wrong answers – about half the population
agrees with whatever choice you make.
(http://www.keirsey.com/sorter/instruments2.aspx?partid=0)
Some additional points:
-
-
-
Do not take a long time to answer each question. The entire questionnaire should take
you only about 10 minutes.
Many of the questions are similar. You may find yourself answering those questions all
the same way, or you may find yourself answering them differently because they hit you
in a different way or perhaps you think of a different situation that that fits them, or you
may find yourself flip-flopping back and forth. Any possibility is fine.
Some of the questions may not seem to be presenting opposites; just choose whichever
one describes you best.
If you find yourself absolutely sitting on the fence on a certain question, do not answer
that question. It may be that you really are 50/50, and it could affect your results if you
answer it. But do try to answer as many questions as you can.
If you do not understand a question, it is better just to skip it. If you want to go look up a
word in the dictionary so that you do understand the question, that would be fine.
Note: There is an answer grid after the questionnaire which you can transfer your answers
onto in order to calculate your results.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
4
Keirsey.com
Keirsey Temperament Sorter – Questionnaire
1. When the phone rings, do you
□ hurry to get to it first
□ hope someone else will answer it
14. Are you more satisfied having
□ a finished product
□ work in progress
2. Are you more
□ observant than introspective
□ introspective than observant
15. At a party, do you
□ interact with many, even strangers
□ interact with a few friends
3. Is it worse to
□ have your head in the clouds
□ be in a rut
16. Do you tend to be more
□ factual than speculative
□ speculative than factual
4. With people are you usually more
□ firm than gentle
□ gentle than firm
17. Do you like writers who
□ say what they mean
□ use metaphors and symbolism
5. Are you more comfortable in making
□ critical judgments
□ value judgments
18. Which appeals to you more?
□ consistency of thought
□ harmonious relationships
6. Is clutter in the workplace something you
□ take time to straighten up
□ tolerate pretty well
19. If you must disappoint someone are you
usually
□ frank and straightforward
□ warm and considerate
7. Is it your way to
□ make up your mind quickly
□ pick and choose at some length
20. On the job, do you want your activities
□ scheduled
□ unscheduled
8. Waiting in line, do you often
□ chat with others
□ stick to business
21. Do you more often prefer
□ final unalterable statements
□ tentative preliminary statements
9. Are you more
□ sensible than ideational
□ ideational than sensible
22. Does interacting with strangers
□ energize you
□ tax your reserves
10. Are you more interested in
□ what is actual
□ what is possible
23. Facts
□ speak for themselves
□ illustrate principles
11. In making up your mind are you more
likely to go by
□ data
□ desires
24. Do you find visionaries and theorists
□ somewhat annoying
□ rather fascinating
12. In sizing up others, do you tend to be
□ objective and impersonal
□ friendly and personal
25. In a heated discussion do you
□ stick to your guns
□ look for common ground
13. Do you prefer contracts to be
□ signed, sealed, and delivered
□ settled on a handshake
26. Is it better to be
□ just
□ merciful
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
5
Keirsey.com
27. At work, is it more natural for you to
□ point out mistakes
□ try to please others
40. Which rules you more?
□ your thoughts
□ your feelings
28. Are you more comfortable
□ after a decision
□ before a decision
41. When finishing a job, do you like to
□ tie up all loose ends
□ move on to something else
29. Do you tend to
□ say right out what's on your mind
□ keep your ears open
42. Do you prefer to work
□ to deadlines
□ just whenever
30. Common sense is
□ usually reliable
□ frequently questionable
43. Are you the kind of person who
□ is rather talkative
□ doesn't miss much
31. Children often do not
□ make themselves useful enough
□ exercise their fantasy enough
44. Are you inclined to take what is said
□ more literally
□ more figuratively
32. When in charge of others do you tend to be
□ firm and unbending
□ forgiving and lenient
45. Do you more often see
□ what's right in front of you
□ what can only be imagined
33. Are you more often
□ a cool-headed person
□ a warm-hearted person
46. It is worse to be
□ a softy
□ hard-nosed
34. Are you prone to
□ nailing things down
□ exploring the possibilities
47. In hard circumstances, are you
sometimes
□ too unsympathetic
□ too sympathetic
35. In most situations are you more
□ deliberate than spontaneous
□ spontaneous than deliberate
48. Do you tend to choose
□ rather carefully
□ somewhat impulsively
36. Do you think of yourself as
□ an outgoing person
□ a private person
49. Are you inclined to be more
□ hurried than leisurely
□ leisurely than hurried
37. Are you more frequently
□ a practical sort of person
□ a fanciful sort of person
50. At work do you tend to
□ be sociable with your colleagues
□ keep more to yourself
38. Do you speak more in
□ particulars than generalities
□ generalities than particulars
51. Are you more likely to trust
□ your experiences
□ your conceptions
39. Which is more of a compliment?
□ “There's a logical person”
□ “There's a sentimental person”
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
52. Are you more inclined to feel
□ down to earth
□ somewhat removed
6
Keirsey.com
53. Do you think of yourself as a
□ tough-minded person
□ tender-hearted person
66. Is it easier for you to
□ put others to good use
□ identify with others
54. Do you value in yourself more that you
are
□ reasonable
□ devoted
67. Which do you wish more for yourself?
□ strength of will
□ strength of emotion
68. Do you see yourself as basically
□ thick-skinned
□ thin-skinned
55. Do you usually want things
□ settled and decided
□ just penciled in
69. Do you tend to notice
□ disorderliness
□ opportunities for change
56. Would you say you are more
□ serious and determined
□ easy going
70. Are you more
□ routinized than whimsical
□ whimsical than routinized
57. Do you consider yourself
□ a good conversationalist
□ a good listener
(http://www.keirsey.com/sorter/instruments2
.aspx?partid=0)
58. Do you prize in yourself
□ a strong hold on reality
□ a vivid imagination
59. Are you drawn more to
□ fundamentals
□ overtones
60. Which seems the greater fault?
□ to be too compassionate
□ to be too dispassionate
61. Are you swayed more by
□ convincing evidence
□ a touching appeal
62. Do you feel better about
□ coming to closure
□ keeping your options open
63. Is it preferable mostly to
□ make sure things are arranged
□ just let things happen naturally
64. Are you inclined to be
□ easy to approach
□ somewhat reserved
65. In stories, do you prefer
□ action and adventure
□ fantasy and heroism
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
7
Keirsey.com
Keirsey Temperament Sorter – Results Grid
How to complete the grid:
-
Working from left to right, transfer your answers from the questionnaire onto the grid.
If you have checked the first box on the questionnaire, check the left-hand square on the
grid for that question; if you have checked the second box, check the right-hand square.
When you have finished filling in the grids, add up the checks in each column.
For the first category (E/I), there is only one column, so no further addition is necessary.
The other columns are in pairs, so you will need to transfer the amount from the left
column in the pair to the box under the amount from the right column and then do a
combined total for the two columns.
Then transfer the amounts to the boxes above the letter pairs. Whichever letter in each
pair has a higher total, circle that letter. You should have four letters circled. That is your
personality subtype.
If you have the same total for a pair of letters, that does not mean that you are neither; it
simply means that the test was not conclusive. In that case, you may go on the Internet
and do a similar test to try to zoom in on which of the two letters you are, for example, at
humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp, kisa.ca/personality or haleonline.com/psychtest.
If your results are very close for one of the pairs, you may want to take another test just to
confirm your type.
a
b
a
b
a
b
a
B
a
b
a
b
a
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
 
 
 
b
 
 
 
 
 
E
S
T F
J
I
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
N
8
P
Keirsey.com
Keirsey Temperament Sorter – How to Interpret the Results
-
-
-
Two of your four letters refer to your main personality type. (The other two letters
determine your subtype.)
- If you have circled S and J, you are a Guardian.
- If you have circled S and P, you are an Artisan.
- If you have circled N and F, you are an Idealist.
- If you have circled N and T, you are a Rational.
Information on the four main personality types is listed on pages 10-13 of this document.
Information on the individual letters is listed on pages 17-26.
For specific information on the sixteen subtypes, go to Keirsey.com, click on “The Four
Temperaments” near the top of the page, and click on the subtype that you want at the
right side of the page.
If you read the summary for your personality type or subtype and do not think it fits you,
read the summary for types that have most of the letters in common with that one and see
if any of those fit you better. It could just be that you are quite close on some of the
characteristics. There is no blending of types; you are one type or another, so if you do
not seem to be strongly one type, it could just mean that you have a moderate personality
according to the measurements of the personality test.
The following are the names that Keirsey has created for the sixteen subtypes, along with the
approximate percentage of the population who are each type:
Guardians (SJs)
40-45%
Artisans (SPs)
30-35%
Idealists (NFs)
15-20%
75%
Rationals (NTs)
5-10%
25%
ESTJ Supervisor
ESTP Promoter
ENFJ Teacher
ENTJ Field Marshal
ISTJ Inspector
ISTP Crafter
INFJ Counselor
INTJ Mastermind
ESFJ Provider
ESFP Performer
ENFP Champion
ENTP Inventor
ISFJ Protector
ISFP Composer
INFP Healer
INTP Architect
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
9
Keirsey.com
The Four Main Personality Types
Guardians (SJs)
Guardians are the cornerstone of society, for they are the temperament given to serving and
preserving our most important social institutions. Guardians have natural talent in managing
goods and services--from supervision to maintenance and supply -- and they use all their skills to
keep things running smoothly in their families, communities, schools, churches, hospitals, and
businesses.
All Guardians share the following core characteristics:




Guardians pride themselves on being dependable, helpful, and hard-working.
Guardians make loyal mates, responsible parents, and stabilizing leaders.
Guardians tend to be dutiful, cautious, humble, and focused on credentials and traditions.
Guardians are concerned citizens who trust authority, join groups, seek security, prize
gratitude, and dream of meting out justice.
Guardians can have a lot of fun with their friends, but they are quite serious about their duties
and responsibilities. Guardians take pride in being dependable and trustworthy; if there's a job to
be done, they can be counted on to put their shoulder to the wheel. Guardians also believe in law
and order, and sometimes worry that respect for authority, even a fundamental sense of right and
wrong, is being lost. Perhaps this is why Guardians honor customs and traditions so strongly -they are familiar patterns that help bring stability to our modern, fast-paced world.
Practical and down-to-earth, Guardians believe in following the rules and cooperating with
others. They are not very comfortable winging it or blazing new trails; working steadily within
the system is the Guardian way, for in the long run loyalty, discipline, and teamwork get the job
done right. Guardians are meticulous about schedules and have a sharp eye for proper
procedures. They are cautious about change, even though they know that change can be healthy
for an institution. Better to go slowly, they say, and look before you leap.
Guardians make up as much as 40 to 45 percent of the population, and a good thing, because
they usually end up doing all the indispensable but thankless jobs the rest of the population takes
for granted.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
10
Keirsey.com
Artisans (SPs)
Artisans are the temperament with a natural ability to excel in any of the arts, not only the fine
arts such as painting and sculpting, or the performing arts such as music, theater, and dance, but
also the athletic, military, political, mechanical, and industrial arts, as well as the "art of the deal"
in business.
All Artisans share the following core characteristics:




Artisans tend to be fun-loving, optimistic, realistic, and focused on the here and now.
Artisans pride themselves on being unconventional, bold, and spontaneous.
Artisans make playful mates, creative parents, and troubleshooting leaders.
Artisans are excitable, trust their impulses, want to make a splash, seek stimulation, prize
freedom, and dream of mastering action skills.
Artisans are most at home in the real world of solid objects that can be made and manipulated,
and of real-life events that can be experienced in the here and now. Artisans have exceptionally
keen senses, and love working with their hands. They seem right at home with tools, instruments,
and vehicles of all kinds, and their actions are usually aimed at getting them where they want to
go, and as quickly as possible. Thus Artisans will strike off boldly down roads that others might
consider risky or impossible, doing whatever it takes, rules or no rules, to accomplish their goals.
This devil-may-care attitude also gives the Artisans a winning way with people, and they are
often irresistibly charming with family, friends, and co-workers.
Artisans want to be where the action is; they seek out adventure and show a constant hunger for
pleasure and stimulation. They believe that variety is the spice of life, and that doing things that
aren't fun or exciting is a waste of time. Artisans are impulsive, adaptable, competitive, and
believe the next throw of the dice will be the lucky one. They can also be generous to a fault,
always ready to share with their friends from the bounty of life. Above all, Artisans need to be
free to do what they wish, when they wish. They resist being tied or bound or confined or
obligated; they would rather not wait, or save, or store, or live for tomorrow. In the Artisan view,
today must be enjoyed, for tomorrow never comes.
There are many Artisans, perhaps 30 to 35 percent of the population, which is good, because
they create much of the beauty, grace, fun, and excitement the rest of us enjoy in life.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
11
Keirsey.com
Idealists (NFs)
Idealists, as a temperament, are passionately concerned with personal growth and development.
Idealists strive to discover who they are and how they can become their best possible self –
always this quest for self-knowledge and self-improvement drives their imagination. And they
want to help others make the journey. Idealists are naturally drawn to working with people, and
whether in education or counseling, in social services or personnel work, in journalism or the
ministry, they are gifted at helping others find their way in life, often inspiring them to grow as
individuals and to fulfill their potentials.
All Idealists share the following core characteristics:




Idealists are enthusiastic, they trust their intuition, yearn for romance, seek their true self,
prize meaningful relationships, and dream of attaining wisdom.
Idealists pride themselves on being loving, kindhearted, and authentic.
Idealists tend to be giving, trusting, spiritual, and they are focused on personal journeys
and human potentials.
Idealists make intense mates, nurturing parents, and inspirational leaders.
Idealists are sure that friendly cooperation is the best way for people to achieve their goals.
Conflict and confrontation upset them because they seem to put up angry barriers between
people. Idealists dream of creating harmonious, even caring personal relations, and they have a
unique talent for helping people get along with each other and work together for the good of all.
Such interpersonal harmony might be a romantic ideal, but then Idealists are incurable romantics
who prefer to focus on what might be, rather than what is. The real, practical world is only a
starting place for Idealists; they believe that life is filled with possibilities waiting to be realized,
rich with meanings calling out to be understood. This idea of a mystical or spiritual dimension to
life, the "not visible" or the "not yet" that can only be known through intuition or by a leap of
faith, is far more important to Idealists than the world of material things.
Highly ethical in their actions, Idealists hold themselves to a strict standard of personal integrity.
They must be true to themselves and to others, and they can be quite hard on themselves when
they are dishonest, or when they are false or insincere. More often, however, Idealists are the
very soul of kindness. Particularly in their personal relationships, Idealists are without question
filled with love and good will. They believe in giving of themselves to help others; they cherish a
few warm, sensitive friendships; they strive for a special rapport with their children; and in
marriage they wish to find a "soulmate," someone with whom they can bond emotionally and
spiritually, sharing their deepest feelings and their complex inner worlds.
Idealists are relatively rare, making up no more than 10 to 15 percent of the population. But their
ability to inspire people with their enthusiasm and their idealism has given them influence far
beyond their numbers.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
12
Keirsey.com
Rationals (NTs)
Rationals are the problem-solving temperament, particularly if the problem has to do with the
many complex systems that make up the world around us. Rationals might tackle problems in
organic systems such as plants and animals, or in mechanical systems such as railroads and
computers, or in social systems such as families and companies and governments. But whatever
systems fire their curiosity, Rationals will analyze them to understand how they work, so they
can figure out how to make them work better.
All Rationals share the following core characteristics:




Rationals tend to be pragmatic, skeptical, self-contained, and focused on problem-solving
and systems analysis.
Rationals pride themselves on being ingenious, independent, and strong willed.
Rationals make reasonable mates, individualizing parents, and strategic leaders.
Rationals are even-tempered, they trust logic, yearn for achievement, seek knowledge,
prize technology, and dream of understanding how the world works.
In working with problems, Rationals try to find solutions that have application in the real world,
but they are even more interested in the abstract concepts involved, the fundamental principles or
natural laws that underlie the particular case. And they are completely pragmatic about their
ways and means of achieving their ends. Rationals don't care about being politically correct.
They are interested in the most efficient solutions possible, and will listen to anyone who has
something useful to teach them, while disregarding any authority or customary procedure that
wastes time and resources.
Rationals have an insatiable hunger to accomplish their goals and will work tirelessly on any
project they have set their mind to. They are rigorously logical and fiercely independent in their
thinking -- are indeed skeptical of all ideas, even their own -- and they believe they can
overcome any obstacle with their will power. Often they are seen as cold and distant, but this is
really the absorbed concentration they give to whatever problem they're working on. Whether
designing a skyscraper or an experiment, developing a theory or a prototype technology, building
an aircraft, a corporation, or a strategic alliance, Rationals value intelligence, in themselves and
others, and they pride themselves on the ingenuity they bring to their problem solving.
Rationals are very scarce, comprising as little as 5 to 10 percent of the population. But because
of their drive to unlock the secrets of nature, and to develop new technologies, they have done
much to shape our world.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
13
Keirsey.com
Communication and Action in the Four Temperaments
(From keirsey.com/4temps/overview_temperaments.asp)
Each temperament has its own unique qualities and shortcomings, strengths and challenges.
What accounts for these differences? To use the idea of Temperament most effectively, it is
important to understand that the four temperaments are not simply arbitrary collections of
characteristics but spring from an interaction of the two basic dimensions of human behavior: our
communication and our action, our words and our deeds, or, simply, what we say and what we
do.
Communication: Concrete vs. Abstract
First, people naturally think and talk about what they are interested in, and if you listen carefully
to people's conversations, you find two broad but distinct areas of subject matter.
Some people talk primarily about the external, concrete world of everyday reality: facts and
figures, work and play, home and family, news, sports and weather -- all the who-what-whenwhere-and how much's of life.
Other people talk primarily about the internal, abstract world of ideas: theories and conjectures,
dreams and philosophies, beliefs and fantasies --all the why's, if's, and what-might-be's of life.
At times, of course, everyone addresses both sorts of topics, but in their daily lives, and for the
most part, Concrete people talk about reality, while Abstract people talk about ideas.
Action: Utilitarian vs. Cooperative
Second, at every turn people are trying to accomplish their goals, and if you watch closely how
people go about their business, you see that there are two fundamentally opposite types of action.
Some people act primarily in a utilitarian or pragmatic manner, that is, they do what gets results,
what achieves their objectives as effectively or efficiently as possible, and only afterwards do
they check to see if they are observing the rules or going through proper channels.
Other people act primarily in a cooperative or socially acceptable manner, that is, they try to do
the right thing, in keeping with agreed upon social rules, conventions, and codes of conduct, and
only later do they concern themselves with the effectiveness of their actions.
These two ways of acting can overlap, certainly, but as they lead their lives, Utilitarian people
instinctively, and for the most part, do what works, while Cooperative people do what's right.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
14
Keirsey.com

As Concrete Cooperators, Guardians speak mostly of their duties and responsibilities, of
what they can keep an eye on and take good care of, and they're careful to obey the laws,
follow the rules, and respect the rights of others.

As Abstract Cooperators, Idealists speak mostly of what they hope for and imagine might
be possible for people, and they want to act in good conscience, always trying to reach
their goals without compromising their personal code of ethics.

As Concrete Utilitarians, Artisans speak mostly about what they see right in front of
them, about what they can get their hands on, and they will do whatever works, whatever
gives them a quick, effective payoff, even if they have to bend the rules.

As Abstract Utilitarians, Rationals speak mostly of what new problems intrigue them and
what new solutions they envision, and always pragmatic, they act as efficiently as
possible to achieve their objectives, ignoring arbitrary rules and conventions if need be.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
15
Keirsey.com
The Four Types Chart
Guardians (SJs)
Artisans (SPs)
Communication
Concrete
Talk
about
things that can
Attitude about
stoical (showing
hedonic
be observed,
are literal,
the present:
patience
and things that
(concerned
with
facts,
details,
specifics.
endurance in
pleasure)
adversity)
Attitude about
pessimistic
optimistic
the future:
(expecting bad
(expecting to get
Implementation things
Cooperative
Utilitarian - Do
to happen)
breaks)
of Goals
Follow the
things whatever
accepted
way
of
way
gets(Life
the job
Attitude about
fatalistic
cynical
is a
doing things,in
done effectively,
the past:
(resignation
gamble.
When
because
they
even win,
if it is
not
the
face of
events they
they
value
compliance
the
accepted
regarded as
ride the wave;way.
and conformity.
beyond
human
when they don’t,
Their most
Logistics
(the
Tactics
art of
control)
they say,(the
“That’s
practiced and
procurement,
identifying and
life.”)
developed
distribution,
implementing
Preferred place: the gateway
here
intelligent
service
and
means to achieve
(standing at the
operations:
replacement
of
“door” of society immediate or
material
goods)
short-term goals)
and keeping
a
Areas of
social
facilitation
artistic operation
watchful eye)
operation:
In those areas,
magistrates
virtuosos
they
aspiretime:
to
Preferred
the past
now
be:
Proud of
reliable in action graceful in action
themselves in
the degree that
they are…
Respect
beneficent
Educationally
commerce (doing daring/audacious
crafts/arts
themselves
in
good deeds)
they choose...
the
degree that regulations
Avocationally
techniques
they
are…
they choose…
Feel
confident
respectable
adaptable
Vocationally
materiel work
operations work
in
themselves
in
they choose…
the degree that
As children
conformityplay-oriented
they are…
they are…
oriented
Seeking…
sensation/
As spouses they security
helpmates
playmates
stimulation
are…
Trusting
in…
legitimacy/
spontaneity/
As parents they socializing
permissive/liberat
authority
are…
(teaching kids to impulse
ing (encouraging
Hungering
Belonging
impact
be socially
them toon
tryothers
for…
acceptable)
things)
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
16
Idealists (NFs)
Rationals (NTs)
Abstract
Talk
about
things that can
altruistic
pragmatic
only be imagined: ideas,
theories,
(unselfish
(practical,
principles,
hypotheses.
Speak
concern for the
efficient) in
general terms.
Use a lot of metaphors,
welfare
of others)
symbolisms,
analogies
and figurative
credulous
sceptical
language. the
(expecting
(…therefore
Cooperative
Utilitarian
best
of people)
ready
when- Do
Follow the
things whatever
go wrong)
accepted
way
of
way
gets
the job
mystical (having relative (Events
things,
done efficiently,
adoing
meaning
aren’t
necessarily
becausehuman
they
even if
is not
beyond
good
oritbad;
it
value
unity
and
the
accepted
way.
understanding)
depends on how
harmony.
you look at them
Diplomacy (skill Strategy
and what(the
youart
do
and tact in
of identifying
with
them.) the
dealing
with
means
to achieve
the pathway
intersections
(The
people)
well-defined
(leading them on location of a
long-term
goals)
a search for
place is only
meaning in life or meaningful in
social
rational
to some higher
relation operation
to other
development
stage of personal places.)
sages
wizards
development)
the future
intervals (The
time of an event
empathic in
competent
in
is
only
action
action
meaningful in
relation to other
events.)
benevolent/kind
autonomous
humanities
sciences
ethics
technology
authentic
personnel work
strong-willed
systems work
enthusiastic
learning-oriented
identity
soulmates
knowledge
mindmates
intuition
harmonizing
(encouraging
deep
and and
self-image
meaningful
harmony)
relationships
reason/logic
individualizing
(encouraging
achievement
individuality and
autonomy)
Keirsey.com
The Four Letters of Your Personality Subtype
The questions in the KTS-II are designed to sort between four dichotomous pairs of preferences,
leading to results which reveal a person’s temperament and character type. The four pairs of
letters determine the following:
E/I
Tendency on
- how you get your energy
Extroversion (expressive) vs. Introversion (reserved)
S/N
Tendency on
- how you think about things
- how you gather information
- what you pay attention to
Sensation (practical) vs. Intuition (innovative)
T/F
Tendency on
- how you decide things
- how you reach conclusions
Thinking (impersonal) vs. Feeling (personal)
J/P
Tendency on
- how you conduct your life
- the lifestyle you adopt
Judging (closure) vs. Perceiving (options)
The four preference scales measure your preference for the following:
TECHNICAL TERMS
(E)
Extroversion
(S)
Sensing
(T)
Thinking
(J)
Judging
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
MEANING
Expressive
vs.
Observant
vs.
Tough-Minded vs.
Scheduled
vs.
17
TECHNICAL TERMS
(I)
Introversion
(N)
Intuiting
(F)
Feeling
(P)
Perceiving
MEANING
Attentive
Introspective
Friendly
Probing
Keirsey.com
Extroversion/Introversion (E/I)
Excerpted from Please Understand Me II, by David Keirsey
While Carl Jung (the psychologist who revived the use of type theory in the early 20th century)
considered the distinction between extraversion (E) and introversion (I) as the most important of
his dimensions of personality, I (Keirsey) think of it as least useful in understanding people and
predicting what they will do. Indeed, in my view it borders on the trivial compared to S-N and is
much less useful than T-F and J-P. Presumably extreme extraverts and extreme introverts are
easy to spot, and that may be the reason the Jungians and therefore the Myersians (of the MBTI,
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a precursor to the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, and still
commonly used) consider the concept to be so important.
When someone is observed to be talkative and sociable (the so-called "extravert") he or she can
be described as "expressive." In contrast, people who are more quiet and private (the so-called
"introverts") can be described as "reserved." Interestingly, because Reserved people tend to hold
their fire verbally, they tend to listen carefully to what others say, while Expressive people tend
not to listen very well, so eager are they to tell others of what they have on their minds. So in
general, the Expressive are quick to speak and slow to listen, while the Reserved are quick to
listen and slow to speak.
Of course, everyone is expressive in some degree, but not in the same degree. Those who are
more expressive appear more comfortable around groups of people than they are when alone.
Thus, they can also be thought of as socially gregarious or outgoing. On the other hand, those
who are more reserved seem to be more comfortable when alone than when in a crowd. Thus,
they can be thought of as socially seclusive or retiring. Remember, however, that these
distinctions are not clear-cut: each individual surely varies from time to time in his or her desire
to be expressive and in company, or reserved and in seclusion.
A metaphor might shed light on this difference. Imagine that a person's energy is powered by
batteries. Given this, then Expressive people (ESTPs, ENFJs, etc.) appear to be energized,
charged up, by contact with other people. Owing to the surge they get when in company, they are
quick to approach others, even strangers, and talk to them, finding this an easy and pleasant thing
to do and something they do not want to do without. Such interaction apparently charges their
batteries and makes them feel alive. Thus, when they leave a lively party at two o'clock in the
morning, they might well be ready to go on to another one. Their batteries are almost
overcharged, having received so much stimulation from the social interaction. In fact, quiet and
seclusion actually exhaust the Expressive, and they report feelings of loneliness (or power drain)
when they are not in contact with others. For example, if an Expressive person goes to a library
to do research in the stacks, he or she may, after fifteen minutes or so, feel bored and tired and
have to exercise strong will-power to keep from taking a short brain break and striking up a
conversation with the librarian.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
18
Keirsey.com
On the other hand, Reserved people (ISFJs, INTJs, etc.) can be said to draw energy from a
different source. They prefer to pursue solitary activities, working quietly alone with their
favoured project or hobby, however simple or complicated it may be, and such isolated activities
are what seem to charge their batteries. Indeed, the Reserved can remain only so long in contact
with others before their energies are depleted. If required by their job, family, or social
responsibilities to be expressive or outgoing – to make a great interpersonal effort – they are
soon exhausted and need alone time in quiet places to rest and to restore their depleted energy.
Thus, if Reserved people go to a noisy cocktail party, after a short period of time – say, half an
hour – they are ready to go home. For them, the party is over, their batteries are drained. This is
not to say that the Reserved do not like to be around people. They enjoy socializing with others,
but at large social gatherings or professional meetings they tend to seek out a quiet corner where
they can chat with one or two other people.
There is some social bias toward expressiveness in North American social life, but Reserved
people have no reason to feel that there is anything wrong with them and should be sure to
provide adequately for their legitimate desire for quiet time to themselves.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
19
Keirsey.com
Sensation/Intuition (S/N)
Excerpted from Please Understand Me II, by David Keirsey
Carl Jung used the words “sensation” and “sensing” (S) to mean paying attention to what is
going on outside ourselves, that is, external attention. Thus, sensation may be used
synonymously with three words pertaining to external attention: observation, externalization and
exteroception.
In contrast, Jung gave us two engaging metaphors to convey how he used the word intuition (N).
Intuition, he said, is listening to the inner voice or heeding the promptings from within. The word
intuition is engaging because it literally means internal attention. We pay attention to what is
going on inside ourselves with our mind's eye and our mind's ear, these promptings coming as
thoughts and feelings. Thus, intuition can be used synonymously with three other terms
pertaining to internal attention: introspection, internalization and interoception. So we can
contrast introspection with observation, internalization with externalization, and interoception
with exteroception. For the purposes of describing personality types, I have found the easiest and
most accurate terms to be introspection and observation.
Very simply, we observe objects through our senses. Thus, we look at objects to see them, listen
to sounds to hear them, touch surfaces to feel them, sniff odours to smell them, and mouth
substances to taste them. We can observe what is present, but not what is not present. Whatever
is not present to our senses we can only imagine by means of introspection.
Naturally, all of us do both observation and introspection, but it is a rare individual who does an
equal amount of each. The vast majority of us, maybe 85%, spend most of our waking hours
looking at, listening to and touching objects in our immediate presence, and very little of our
time introspecting, that is, making inferences, imagining, daydreaming, musing or wondering
about things not in our presence.
The point not to be missed is that we cannot do these things simultaneously. When we observe
what is going on around us, we cannot at the same time observe what is going on within us. We
may alternate our attention, but we cannot divide it. Some of us, from infancy on, seem to be
more deeply attentive to inner promptings, others, to outer promptings. The reason for this
difference in attention is not at all clear and certainly it is a matter of conjecture. But if the reason
for this preference in attention is obscure, the consequences of it are not. Those of us who attend
inwardly much of the time as children strengthen that preference, our inner voice becoming
louder and clearer, our inner promptings more vivid and complex. Likewise, those of us who
heed the external much of the time come to see and hear objects in more detail and with greater
specificity.
Now, if we look at Myers's type descriptions, people are either more observant than introspective
or more introspective than observant. Observers (SPs and SJs) seem more at home when looking
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
20
Keirsey.com
after the particulars of everyday living, attending to concrete things – food, clothing, shelter,
transportation – and to practical matters such as recreation and safety and are likely to leave the
more abstract issues to others. In turn, Introspectors (NTs and NFs) tend to be more content
when these concrete concerns are handled by someone else and they are left free to consider the
more abstract world of ideas. This does not mean, of course, that Observer types are without an
inner life – far from it – but simply that their introspection takes a back seat to their observation.
Nor does this mean that Introspector types are unaware of the objects around them – not at all –
but simply that they are more inclined to become absorbed in their ideas.
To put this difference another way, Observers might be called "earthlings" or "terrestrials,"
concrete, down-to-earth beings who keep their feet on the ground. These people see what is in
front of them and are usually accurate in catching details. It is said that "they don't miss much."
Observers want facts, trust facts and remember facts, and they want to deal with the facts of a
situation as they are, either in the here and now, or as recorded in the past. They focus on what is
happening, or what has happened, rather than anticipating what might be, what would happen if
or what might occur in the future.
In contrast, Introspectors might be called "extraterrestrials," abstract beings who live with their
head in the clouds, strangers in a strange land who wonder about the curious antics of the
earthlings. Absorbed as they often are in their internal world, Introspectors tend to miss a great
deal of what is right around them – current reality is merely a problem to be solved or a stage of
development toward some future ideal. Not only can they miss details, they can also lose track of
where they are, and for instance drive right past their highway turn-off. "It's only reality" they
sometimes say, to register their relative disinterest in the merely concrete. But more than
disinterest, Introspectors can be discontent with reality, even bothered by it, and speculate about
possible ways of improving it.
Because of their tenuous grasp of reality, Introspectors can appear to Observers as flighty,
impractical and unrealistic – the dreamer or absent-minded professor who cannot be bothered
with the nitty-gritty of living. For their part, Observers can seem to Introspectors as
unimaginative, concerned only with trivial pursuits and exasperatingly slow to consider
implications and possibilities. Both views are exaggerations. Indeed, both kinds of people are
capable and even creative in their own way – it is just that they attend to very different sides of
life, with the other side getting short-changed.
Thus Observers can manage the material world with skill, but the penalty they pay for ignoring
the promptings from within is that these promptings can gradually fade away, and they may end
up with relatively undeveloped introspective abilities. They may now and then introspect, but not
for long and with little pleasure. On the other hand, Introspectors practice introspection much of
their time, and with pleasure, but the penalty they pay for this is that they can end up with
relatively undeveloped observational abilities.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
21
Keirsey.com
The two ways are not mutually exclusive. Introspectors have no choice but to turn outward at
times and concern themselves with the business of everyday living, while Observers do
occasionally look inward to ponder and dream and make inferences. Such excursions can even
be stimulating and satisfying, but neither type can be in both worlds at once, and each will
usually show a strong preference for one over the other. For both types, the vitality, the
immediacy and the significance of life is found more easily in their own world, while what is
central to the other's world seems relatively foreign, uninteresting and unimportant.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
22
Keirsey.com
Thinking/Feeling (T/F)
Excerpted from Please Understand Me II, by David Keirsey
Everybody has thoughts (T) and feelings (F), but some pay more attention to their thoughts than
to their feelings, while others pay more attention to their feelings than to their thoughts. Those
who attend mainly to their thoughts are said to govern themselves with their head; their concepts
and percepts are their guides to action. In contrast, those who pay more attention to their feelings
are said to follow their heart, which means that much of what they do is based on emotion or
desire. If we use a distinction made by the great pragmatist William James, some people are
more "tough-minded" and others more "tender-minded." But if we note the words Myers used in
her type portraits, we see that her distinction is between those who can be called "tough-minded"
and those who can be called "friendly."
There is some criticism exchanged between these types. The Tough-minded are often accused of
being "inhuman," "heartless," "stony-hearted," "remote," of having “ice in their veins" and of
living "without the milk of human kindness." In the same way, the Friendly are chided for being
"too soft-hearted," "too emotional," "bleeding-hearts," "muddleheaded," "fuzzy-thinkers" and for
"wearing their heart on their sleeve." Such accusations can be intense and damaging, particularly
in marriages and other family relationships, when two people of different orientation are in
conflict over an important decision. An ENFP wife, for example, might want her INTP husband
to open up emotionally and "let his feelings show," while he might wish she "would be logical
for once." Or an ESTJ father might want his ISFP son to straighten up and "use his head" for a
change, while the son might wish his father could "lighten up" and be more understanding of
what he really is and can do.
Another polarizing (and inaccurate) stereotype is that the Friendly types have more and deeper
emotions than the Tough-minded types – one side is seen as sensitive and warm-hearted, and the
other seen as insensitive and cold-hearted. Here again, however, the truth is that both react
emotionally with similar frequency and intensity, the difference being a matter of display. The
Friendly tend to make their emotions and wishes quite visible and audible, so others see them as
capable of deep feelings. To be sure, when they show their feelings, others cannot help being
affected; their own emotions may even be aroused by the display. The Tough-minded, in
contrast, are embarrassed by an exhibition of intense feeling and will hide their feelings rather
than be seen as losing self-control. Because of this, they are often described as "cold" and
"indifferent," when in fact they are feeling something quite strongly – but they are working hard
to contain themselves.
When they can get past the stereotypes, these two orientations usually find they can complement
each other quite well, whether in business or in marriage, with the Tough-minded partner
providing a source of clarity and toughness, and the Friendly partner providing a source of
compassion and personal consideration.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
23
Keirsey.com
Judgment/Perception (J/P)
Excerpted from Please Understand Me II, by David Keirsey
Myers claimed that she confined her usage of the word "judgment" (J) to mean "coming to a
conclusion," but again and again she used "judgment" to describe people who make and keep
schedules in their daily lives. Myers also used the word "perception" (P) to describe people who
prefer to probe for options and thus not be tied to a schedule.
In other words, Schedulers are judicious about schedules, Probers perceptive of options.
Schedulers make agendas, timetables, programs, lists, syllabi, calendars, outlines, registers and
so on, for themselves and others to follow; Probers keep their eyes open for chances to do things
they want to, for opportunities and alternatives they might avail themselves of. Each orientation
has problems. By committing themselves to a set agenda, Schedulers tend to stop looking for
alternatives and options and so may never know what they are missing. By keeping their options
open Probers are reluctant to commit themselves to schedules and so are inclined to miss
deadlines and leave tasks unfinished.
Unfortunately, the difference between Schedulers and Probers can be a source of irritation in
personal relationships, both in the home and the workplace, the latter where opposites must work
together to accomplish a task. Schedulers, whether observant or introspective, tend to believe
that one's work comes before all else and must be finished before one rests or plays. This strict
work ethic has a marked effect on what they will to do to get the job done. They tend to establish
deadlines and to take them seriously, expecting others to do the same. And they are willing to do
all sorts of preparation, maintenance and cleaning up afterwards – just because these are
necessary to see the job through to its conclusion.
Not so with Probers, who seem more playful about their work. The job does not have to be
finished before play or rest begins, and they tend to look upon deadlines as mere alarm clocks
which buzz at a given time, easily turned off or ignored while they catch an extra forty winks,
almost as if the deadline were used more as a signal to start than to complete a project. Also,
Probers are much more insistent that the work be enjoyable and to the purpose. Indeed, if the
given task is not directly instrumental (is mere preparation, maintenance, or clean up), then they
may balk at doing it, or wander off and leave it to someone else.
This difference extends to the physical environment as well. Schedulers tend to be neat and
orderly. They like their desk at work to be tidy and their house picked up – dishes done, bed
made, car washed and so on. Not that they always manage all of these chores, but they are
unhappy when their personal space is a mess, and straightening things up is often near the top of
their list. Probers, in contrast, have a much greater tolerance for disorder in their physical
environment. They seem absorbed in whatever they are doing or thinking about at the moment
and are somewhat oblivious to the details of housekeeping. And so their personal spaces – office,
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
24
Keirsey.com
house, garage, car – are often cluttered with a variety of objects they have picked up, used, and
then dropped when they have finished with them.
These two styles – Oscar and Felix in The Odd Couple – can get on each other's nerves.
Schedulers can become impatient with Probers for what seems their passiveness and playfulness
and can be heard to describe them as "indecisive" and "foot-dragging," as "aimless" and "lazy,"
as "uncooperative," "quibbling," and a "roadblock," as "sloppy" and even "slovenly." On the
other hand, Probers can become impatient with Schedulers because of their pressure and
urgency, and will describe them as "in too big a hurry" and "too rule-bound," as "driven" and
"wearing blinders," as "uptight," "stressed-out," and "slave-driving," as "arbitrary," "rigid and
inflexible," and even as "neat-freaks."
Usually, such irritation and name-calling will subside when the two study each other's behaviour.
Many become fascinated and entertained by their differences and with further understanding find
it easy to make allowances for the other's way. Some can actually come to see that the two styles
are complementary in turning in a job well done: Probers to spot opportunities and lay out
alternatives, and Schedulers to be timely and press for closure.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
25
Keirsey.com