Personality Typologies in Psychology

Every person is unique, and it’s not just about appearance. Each of us is born, raised, and grows up in circumstances that are nearly impossible to replicate exactly. Yet, throughout life, we often encounter people who remind us of ourselves. For example, someone may react sharply to criticism and doubt their abilities, or easily find compromises and act decisively in critical situations. Understanding these similarities and differences, as well as having an idea of the behavior patterns and thought processes of those around us, is made possible by knowledge of personality typologies.

Key Concepts: Personality, Personality Type, Personality Typology

Before exploring the most well-known personality typologies, let’s clarify some basic concepts.

When we talk about personality, we mean a person with a unique set of qualities—habits, character traits, thinking and behavior patterns, and so on. From birth, a person lives in society and is inevitably influenced by others, as well as by generally accepted rules, norms, and traditions. Under the influence of the environment—family, society, circumstances—a personality is formed. It’s believed that the main (basic) stage of personality development is completed by age 18. However, personality continues to transform—adapting to changing conditions, growing, developing, and improving.

Although we are all different, upon closer inspection, we can find many commonalities—similar character traits, behavior patterns, and preferences. This is because there are certain patterns in personality formation. This is where personality types come in—distinct groups of people with specific psychological organization, perception nuances, value systems, and so on.

These groups are not divided randomly, but according to specific criteria, forming a system—typology. Knowing its basic principles helps us better understand how a person thinks, what qualities they possess, and allows us to predict how they might behave in various situations.

The Four Temperament Types by Hippocrates

The familiar temperament types—choleric, phlegmatic, sanguine, and melancholic—were first identified by Hippocrates. His classification was based on the idea that each person contains several types of fluids: blood, lymph (or phlegm), yellow bile, and black bile. Each of these substances has certain qualities, and depending on which fluid predominates, a person displays certain personality traits and behaviors:

• Lymph brings balance;
• Yellow bile makes a person impulsive;
• Blood energizes;
• Black bile induces sadness and a melancholic mood.

Based on this, Hippocrates proposed four temperament types:

• Sanguine temperament is characterized by a predominance of blood and corresponds to a cheerful and energetic nature. Sanguine people are usually lively, sociable, and optimistic. They easily switch from one activity to another, are adaptable and balanced, and are typical extroverts who love vivid emotions.
• Choleric temperament is associated with a predominance of bile and is manifested in confidence, decisiveness, and willpower. Such people are highly productive, goal-oriented, and motivated. Cholerics are impulsive and unpredictable, and may have difficulty controlling themselves.
• Phlegmatic temperament is defined by a predominance of phlegm, which results in balance, calmness, and moderation. These individuals are hard to upset, stable, thoughtful, and unemotional. Phlegmatics find it difficult to adapt to new people or situations and are introverts who live “inside themselves.”
• Melancholic temperament is linked to a predominance of black bile and is characterized by heightened sensitivity and a tendency toward melancholy. Such people tire quickly, struggle to adapt to new environments, and lack self-confidence. Their movements are usually slow, their voice quiet, and their facial expressions subdued. Most are introverts.

It’s important to note that pure temperaments are rare. Everyone has traits of all four types, but usually one predominates.

Jung’s Personality Typology

The typology proposed by Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist Carl Jung was based on his observations of people. For some, the external world and interactions with others are most important. Others focus on their inner world, with external matters (including other people) being secondary. Based on this, Jung distinguished two personality types:

• Extroverts—people oriented toward the external world. They are energetic, open to new experiences, and can’t imagine life without communication.
• Introverts—those who focus on internal processes. They find it difficult to be the center of attention and are more comfortable alone.

In addition to extraversion and introversion, Jung’s typology also considered psychological functions such as intuition, thinking, sensation, and feeling. He divided these into two opposing groups—rational (in the realm of reason: feeling/emotion and thinking) and irrational (not controlled by reason: intuition and sensation). In each pair, one function dominates and suppresses its opposite (for example, thinking neutralizes feeling, and intuition suppresses sensation).

Jung studied different personality types for about 20 years. He shared his observations and research in the book “Psychological Types.” His concept was further developed by other scholars, notably in the Myers-Briggs typology created by Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Briggs.

DISC Personality Typology

The DISC classification is based on different behavioral models people use in certain situations. It does not take into account intelligence, education, life experience, needs, or values. What matters is the behavioral style a person chooses: Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), or Compliance (C).

This typology was developed by American psychologist and comic book creator William Marston. He believed that a person’s behavior is largely determined by how they perceive reality (positively or negatively) and how quickly they respond to situations they encounter.

In reality, a person rarely fits into just one type. Most people combine all four types to some degree. The DISC classification is often used to assess potential candidates during recruitment.

Erich Fromm’s Five Social Character Types

People do not live in a vacuum. The surrounding reality—socio-economic conditions, historical events, culture—inevitably influences them: shaping their personality, way of thinking, habits, and behavior patterns.

The idea that social factors (existence) determine a person’s consciousness is the foundation of the typology proposed by German psychologist, philosopher, and sociologist Erich Fromm. He identified five social character types:

• Receptive type: Passive consumers who are not inclined to be independent. They may be overly trusting, naive, and sentimental, making them easy targets for manipulators (both people and society as a whole). The receptive type is ready to receive “gifts” but not to give in return (they want to be loved, not to love).
• Exploitative type: These people are distrustful, envious, hostile, and seek to use others to achieve their own goals. They do not see or underestimate their own abilities. To succeed, they are willing to deceive or appropriate others’ ideas. They can be aggressive and persistent.
• Hoarding type: Their main trait is an endless drive to accumulate. The world is unsafe, and its resources are limited. The only reliable protection is their own savings. Such people live in the past and fear anything new.
• Marketing type: Power, useful connections, prestige, and the latest trends are what interest the marketing type. Commercial gain and financial success are important to them. They focus on external achievements, while internal experiences and interpersonal relationships have little value.
• Productive type: Fromm considered this type the ideal to strive for. A productive orientation is an inner need to create and share resources with others. Such a person does not impose on others, does not try to dominate, and respects individuality and uniqueness. They are attentive to their surroundings, open to new experiences, and ready to make the world a better place.

Eduard Spranger’s Six Personality Types

The typology of another German philosopher and psychologist, Eduard Spranger, is based on how a person perceives reality, what motivates their actions, and what values they prioritize. This ultimately determines how they understand the world and life itself.

In his book “Types of Men,” Spranger identified six personality types:

• Theoretical: The main goal in life is knowledge. The process itself is important—unraveling the mysteries of the universe, getting to the essence, and feeding the mind with information.
• Religious: This person believes in a higher spiritual power and is passionate about searching for the meaning of life.
• Economic: Only knowledge that can be applied in practice—such as achieving goals—matters. They are frugal, save resources, and strive to benefit from everything.
• Social: People with this type focus on social contacts and interactions. They seek harmonious relationships and closeness with others. The main principle of their life is love.
• Aesthetic: The main tool for understanding reality is sensory perception. They rely on their own impressions—what they see and hear.
• Political: This type is driven by a desire for power, dominance, and influence over others’ motives and behavior. Restrictions do not matter to them. Imagination helps them realize ambitious projects.

The Practical Value of Personality Typologies: Why Do You Need This?

Scientists have created many different personality type classifications. It’s not necessary to study them all, but understanding the key points is definitely worthwhile.

Why do we need this? Knowing about personality types and their features helps to:

• Better understand yourself, recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and manage them—turning your minuses into pluses;
• Overcome thinking and behavior stereotypes;
• Discover new facets of yourself and use all your abilities for good;
• Prevent disputes and resolve conflicts without losses;
• Find the right approach to different people and reach compromises;
• Achieve maximum effectiveness and productivity when working with certain personality types;
• Build harmonious relationships, and more.

Personality typologies are a valuable tool not only for psychologists but also for managers and HR professionals. Knowing personality types and being able to predict how people will behave in various situations helps create a cohesive team of like-minded individuals—a friendly team that can lead a company to success. Career counselors who understand personality typologies can provide more effective guidance to their clients. For example, an energetic choleric might be advised to pursue a career as a coach, while a meticulous melancholic could consider freelancing, which allows them to work in a calm, comfortable environment, focus on their tasks, and avoid the stress of noisy office discussions.