There are different types of personality, and we know it’s more than just introversion and extroversion. So to widen your knowledge about it, this article will introduce you to these personalities and the benefits of knowing every type.
According to the Four Temperament Theory, there are four personality types. These are sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic. This is the most widely accepted theory regarding the argument of personality types.
These four personality types are mainly dominated by biological functions, especially during our childhood (6 to 14 years of age). But aside from the Four Temperament Theory, I will also tackle the interesting Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator and see where introverts belong.
What You Will Learn on This Page
Four Personality Types
Sanguine (upbeat, social, optimistic)
A sanguine personality best describes the following characteristics.
- Easygoing
- Friendly
- Cheerful
- Positive
Sanguine people are known to be happy and optimistic. They love to share their positive energy with others and always look on the bright side of life.
People who belong to this type are the life of the party. They are always ready to enjoy themselves outside and have a good time. They’re also usually the ones who come up with new ideas and get everyone excited about them.
They’re also good at helping others feel comfortable in social situations. They’re great at making people laugh and tend to have a great sense of humor.
Lastly, sanguines tend to be more optimistic than other types, which means that if things don’t go according to plan, it doesn’t throw them off their game for very long. They just keep going!
Choleric (decisive, quick-tempered)
The choleric personality type is best described as:
- Eager and willing to take charge of something
- Impatience with delay
- Ambitious
- Competitive
- Goal oriented
People who belong to this personality are the most rational and passionate of all the personality types. However, they have quick-tempered reactions to conflict, making them unpleasant in social situations.
Choleric people are also often good at giving advice or making decisions for others because of their strong sense of responsibility and leadership qualities.
They enjoy being in charge of situations but can also be controlling or domineering if they feel like someone else isn’t doing their part.
Melancholic (quiet, deep thinkers and feelers, wise)
The melancholic type of personality is best described as:
- Reserved
- Introverted
- Independent
- Thoughtful
- Anxious
People with melancholic personalities tend to be very sensitive to their environment and are highly affected by what happens around them, making them anxious. People with this personality should always be checked and monitored because they often feel lonely, which can lead to depression.
But let’s not forget that they’re also independent and analytical, so they often make excellent scientists, philosophers, writers, and artists.
Phlegmatic (relaxed)
A phlegmatic type of personality is best described as:
- Calm
- Mild-mannered temperament
- Cool
- Collected
- Easy going
People under this personality type are great at handling stress, so they don’t get too flustered when life gets tough. They tend to be calm and even-tempered and don’t get riled up easily.
They’re also very empathetic. They have a lot of compassion for others and are very good listeners who support others’ feelings and what they’re going through.
Phlegmatics are generally very easygoing, but that doesn’t mean they won’t stand up for themselves or what they believe in if needed!
These are the four types of personality according to the Temperament Theory. Now, you might wonder and get confused about which type you really belong to.
That’s where the personality test will come along.
What is a Personality Test?
A personality test is a psychological evaluation that helps you understand your personality traits, values, and behaviors. The results of a personality test can help you learn more about yourself and how to make better decisions in life.
Personality tests are often used in the workplace and school to help people better understand themselves and others. Still, there are many other uses for these types of tests as well.
There are many different personality tests, but they all have one thing in common. They all have questions that will give you an insight into who you are as a person.
Different Personality Types, according to Myer-Briggs.
There are many personality tests, but Myer-Briggs is the most famous one. Here’s a short piece of information about the Myer-Briggs personality indicator.
- The test was originally developed by psychologists Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter Myer Briggs.
- It’s based on the idea that people fall into these categories:
- Extraversion (E) vs. Introvert (I)
- Sensing (S) vs. Intuitive (I)
- Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F), and
- Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P).
- It has 16 personality types called sociotypes.
16 Personality Types by Myer-Briggs
Here are the 16 sociotypes that Myer-Briggs have proposed. According to them, each of us has a dominant function.
ISTJ Personality, The Inspector
ISTJ personality types tend to be quiet and reserved. They are rational and practical and like to use their skills to organize and implement plans. They are also described as:
- Loyal
- Responsible
- Trustworthy
- Dependable
- Good at following procedures
- Like to work independently or in small groups
Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted sensing
INFJ Personality, The Counselor
The Counselor is a special kind of person. They have strong values and an intense desire to help others. They are idealists who strive for harmony and understanding and possess a unique ability to make others feel understood.
People with this personality type like to think about abstract ideas and imagine new worlds or possibilities for themselves. INFJs tend to be introverted, but they also need time with others to feel fulfilled.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Intuition
INTJ Personality, The Mastermind
INTJs are known as “masterminds” because they possess unique traits that make them great leaders, thinkers, and problem solvers. They also have a natural ability to see patterns in life and make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas.
People with INTJ personalities are
- Independent
- Pragmatic
- Focused
- Strong-willed
- Determined
- Goal-oriented
They also have high expectations for themselves. INTJs thrive in fields that require independent thinking and objectivity. They enjoy complex systems, leading others, and developing their own theories.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Intuition
ENFJ, The Giver
ENFJs are the givers in life. They have a natural sense of making others feel good and genuinely enjoy doing so. They are often found seeking opportunities to help others.
People with this personality are:
- Hardworking
- Responsible
- Emphatic
- Compassionate
- Warm
- Great team players
- Enthusiastic
Dominant Cognitive Function: Extraverted Feeling
ISTP, The Craftsman
ISTP people often have strong technical skills because they enjoy learning about various systems and how they work together. They also tend to be good at solving problems with their hands, so if something breaks down around the house, you’ll surely find an ISTP fixing it!
They are also described as the following.
- Good at thinking of innovative solutions to problems
- Rational
- Highly logical
- Mysterious
They’re good at jobs that require technical expertise and physical activity.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Thinking
ESFJ, The Provider
ESFJs are natural caregivers. They’re described as the following.
- Patient
- Warm
- Love making other people feel special
- Enjoy creating a comfortable and well-decorated environment, with delicious food on the table and kind words always at hand.
While they may not seem like it at first glance, ESFJs are incredibly organized individuals who take pride in having a clear vision of how things should be done. They have extremely strong opinions about how people should behave. These opinions come from a deeply-rooted sense of morality.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Extroverted Feeling
INFP, The Idealist
INFPs are introverted and like being in quiet places. They are also adept at reading people and situations, giving them a unique appreciation for the complexity of individuals and groups. INFPs are often quiet and reserved.
They hate being the center of attention but prefer to work behind the scenes. People with this type of personality are good at processing emotions internally.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Feeling
ESFP, The Performer
The ESFP is a personality type that loves to be in the spotlight, perform for others, and be the center of attention. They love to entertain and often have an infectious personality that causes others to want to be around them.
ESFPs are often described as very social and outgoing, which is true—but they also tend to be very warm and empathetic.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Extraverted Sensing
ENFP, The Champion
ENFPs are the champions of their own lives and the champions of others. They look at the world with fresh eyes and a sense of wonder, which allows them to see possibilities that others don’t.
They’re constantly coming up with new ideas and implementing them, which can be exhausting because they never stop moving!
Dominant Cognitive Function: Extraverted Intuition
ESTP, The Doer
ESTPs are the kind of people who do. They like to get things done and be productive and don’t like wasting time. They’re very practical, and they love solving problems.
They’re also quite good at reading people and understanding their motivations, which helps them get things done. If you’re an ESTP, you have a lot of energy and are constantly on the go!
Dominant Cognitive Function: Extraverted Sensing
ESTJ, The Supervisor
The ESTJ is a natural leader with a strong sense of right and wrong. They’re best described as
- Organized
- Efficient
- Responsible
They like to keep things running smoothly and are not afraid to step in if something needs to be done.
They’re also usually very clear about their opinions on things. They don’t hesitate to lay out the facts for others when necessary.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Extraverted Thinking
ENTJ, The Commander
The Commander is an extroverted, rational, and objective personality type and a strong leader and decision-maker. People with this personality type are also intellectuals and thinkers.
They are confident in their abilities but humble enough to recognize that they don’t know everything.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Extraverted Thinking
INTP, The Thinker
INTPs are the architects of our world. They’re the ones who dream up new ways to make things better, think about problems carefully, and come up with solutions that are both elegant and practical. They’re always thinking about how to create something new and surprising that’s never been seen before.
People with this personality type are often very intelligent but tend to be quiet and reserved. They don’t like drawing attention to themselves, but they can be incredibly insightful when they open up.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Thinking
ISFJ, The Nurturer
ISFJs are known as “The Nurturers” because they strongly desire to care for others and make them happy. They are often the main attraction in their family, bringing warmth and security to those around them.
ISFJs are best described as
- Loyal
- Responsible
- Dependable
They dislike conflict or criticism, so they try to avoid these situations when possible.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Sensing
ENTP, The Visionary
The ENTP is a visionary who loves to think big and be bold. They’re great at coming up with innovative ideas and figuring out what’s happening around them.
They are usually extremely intelligent, but they can sometimes struggle to be as organized as they’d like to be
Dominant Cognitive Function: Extroverted Intuition
ISFP, The Composer
ISFPs are driven by their senses and focus on personal experiences, which they use to create unique works of art that reflect their personality and style.
They are extremely sensitive to the world and can often be found in quiet places where they can process the information they’ve collected before sharing it with others.
Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Feeling
Top Benefits of Knowing the Different Types of Personalities
As you can see, personalities aren’t just about extraversion and introversion. There’s so much more than that; you need to understand that knowing these various types of personalities can benefit you.
But how and in what way? Here are just some of the reasons.
- It can help you manage your own emotions and behavior if you understand what type of person you are.
- It can help you strengthen relationships.
- It can lead you to greater opportunities in life.
- You can boost your confidence in your ability to relate with others.
- You can make better decisions for yourself and the people around you.
- You can help motivate people in different ways.
- It’s one way to ensure you can better communicate with people.
- It gives you a better understanding of dealing with different types of people.
- You can understand how other people think and behave, so you can relate to them more easily.
- You’ll be more compassionate and considerate to the people around you.
- You can work with others effectively.
- You’ll be able to adapt your behavior and communication style according to the type of person you’re talking to
If I sum up all these benefits, I can simply say that you can contribute to a safer and happier world by knowing and understanding what these personalities are. You can transform this world into a better place for everyone, especially introverts, who are often misunderstood because of their unique traits.
Besides, learning about these personality types is free and won’t cost you any money. Suppose you want to join me in this goal to make our world a better place. In that case, you can start by understanding these personalities and applying all the information in dealing with different people in real life!