CHARACTER AND TEMPERAMENT

One of the important distinctions that is brought out in the MBTI literature and commentary is the difference between Temperament and Character. Both Temperament and Character are essential "pieces" of Personality. Temperament can be likened to "the astrological hardware," that is: planets, signs, and houses. Character can be likened to "the astrological software," that is: the aspects and the PSPs. Temperament is that which makes one's actions recognizable. That is, Temperament is that part of Personality which serves as the backdrop for our day to day actions, decisions, and directions of life. Character comes more from a configuration of habits. Character develops out of life experiences in dealing with Temperament, or the astrological planets, signs, and houses. These two distinct parts of Personality develop through our basic "natal imprinting" (i.e., chart) on the one hand, and the application of this imprinting to life experiences (i.e., life's experiences at applying the planets in the signs and houses) -- which we then use to become the Personality that we exhibit at this moment in life. This is a very complicated subject, and one which I do not wish to proceed with now.

THE FOUR BASIC MBTI TYPES

The four basic MBTI types are:

Artisans are stimulating, optimistic, cynical, and focused on the here and the now. Rationalists are reasonable, practical, sensible, and analytical. Idealists are interested in ideas and social order, self-image. Guardians are cooperative, stable, worry about maintaining traditional values.

In order to understand the eight MBTI letters and words it is necessary to study the vocabulary which describes these eight letters used in combination. The percentages show the approximate breakdown of each letter type within the general population. The other letter pair: Extraverted - Introverted, which is not used in the "four-ness" breakdown, is also listed here.

One of the things that struck me as I compiled these lists is the vast amount of human energy that is spent is trying to convert another person to "your" type. That is, if you are a "J" in your basic personality makeup, then you need to make and keep schedules, settle matters to conclusion, etc. But, if you are in a marriage or other relationship with a "P" then the J's need for orderliness and pre-planning interferes with the P's need for "doing things on the fly," or "their need for freedom from routine." The arguments could go like this: "You never plan. You think that you can just start out and everything will turn out OK." "You don't give me freedom to be the person that I am. I need to take things as they come, and you have to pre-plan everything." Etc. I am sure that many variations on this scenario have existed in each of our lives. They certainly have in mine.

I would like to quote now from "Please Understand Me," by David Kiersey and Marilyn Bates, page 1. This quote emphasizes their understanding that as people we are each unique.

"If I do not want what you want, please try not to tell me that my want is wrong.

Or if I believe other than you, at least pause before you correct my view.

Or if my emotion is less than yours, or more, given the same circumstances, try not to ask me to feel more strongly or weakly.

Or yet if I act, or fail to act, in the manner of your design, for action, let me be.

I do not, for the moment at least, ask you to understand me. That will come only when you are willing to give up changing me into a copy of you."

Further on in the "Finale" section of their book, the authors write:

"Well, everybody's different and everybody's OK in their style as is. Let's face it, most of us are strangers to each other. I have my desires, and you have yours. You keep yours and I'll keep mine because what each of us wants is good. What's more, you have your talent and I have mine and I can admire you for yours. I hope you will reciprocate. ...

Well stranger, there isn't any way you can really understand me, but if you stop trying to change me to look like you, you might come to appreciate me. I'll settle for that. How about you?"