A and B Personality Types 2

In a recent post (here) I explored the antecedents for personality types A and B as based on Friedman and Rosenman's mid 20th century research (Benjamin, 2020). As was previously mentioned, there appears to be no apparent scientific grounding for the humourism theory, yet a number of personality assessments appear to use the humourism as their basis. I thought we would have a look at those assessments in this post.

Firstly, the diagram accompanying this post shows how humourist Choleric (Type A) intersects with the NF type in MBTI, the Keirsey Idealist (Berens, 2000, p. 2), the DISC D "Dominant", and the Enneagram Adventurer/Achiever (HireSuccess, 2022).

The humourist Sanguine (type B) aligns with SP types in MBTI, the Keirsey Artisan (Berens, 2000, p. 2), the DISC I "Inspiring", and the Enneagram Helper/Romantic (HireSuccess, 2022).

The humourist Phlegmatic (type C) fits with the NT MBTI types, the Keirsey Rational (Berens, 2000, p. 2), the DISC C "Conscientious", and the Enneagram Asserter/Perfectionist (HireSuccess, 2022).

The humourist Melancholic (type D) aligns with SJ types in MBTI, the Keirsey Guardian (Berens, 2000, p. 2), the DISC S "Supportive", and the Enneagram Peacemaker/Observer (HireSuccess, 2022). 

There is a further level of confusion in testing, with the language we use. A trait is "A replicable group of meaningfully labellable behaviours at approximately the same level of generality" (Howart, 1988, p. 175); and a state is "A transient labellable experience often of emotional connotation" (p. 175). But as Howart points out, "when is a trait a trait, and when is a state a state" in the inventories our clients take? Assessment results, and our clients, may be better served if test instruments deliberately asked "'how do you feel right now' for state, and 'how do you generally feel' for trait" (1988, p. 175). Not many questions - in my experience - are that overt. Personality - traits which are stable over time - instruments surely would be best meet intended outcomes if they asked about trait, not state.

Lastly, should we rely on such old structures in assessment work? It is useful to stop and consider just how reliable a 2,500 year old theory might be as an analysis tool; and how much validity it may have. 

And to look carefully at how questions are asked in those instruments.

Sam

References:

Benjamin, A. J. (2020). Chapter 59: Type A/B Personalities. In B. J. Carducci & C. S. Nave (Eds), The Wiley Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences: Clinical, Applied, and Cross‐Cultural Research (Volume IV, 1st ed., pp. 383-386). John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Berens, L. V. (2000). Understanding yourself and others: an introduction to temperament (2nd ed.). Telos Publications.

HireSuccess. (2022). Understanding the 4 Personality Types: A, B, C, and D. https://www.hiresuccess.com/help/understanding-the-4-personality-types

Howart, E. (1988). Mood differences between the four Galen personality types: Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Melancholic. Personality and Individual Differences, 9(1), 173-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(88)90044-X