Literature Review - Book Report/Review Example

Instead of simply determining whether an individual is an introvert or an extrovert, Keirsey gave four classifications based on two dimensions of human behavior – communication (what we say) and action (what we do) (Keirsey, 2010). Keirsey (2010) provides a summary of these four temperaments: Guardians speak mostly of their duties and responsibilities, of what they can keep an eye on and take good care of, and theyre careful to obey the laws, follow the rules, and respect the rights of others.

  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.  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.  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.

Each of these four temperaments may be subcategorized depending on an individual’s source and direction of energy (introvert or extrovert), perceiving function (sensing and intuition), decision function (thinking and feeling), and method of relating to the outer world (judging and perceiving) (Jacob & Shoemaker, 2010, pp. 2–3). In many ways, the Keirsey temperament sorter is similar to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) because it utilizes the same personality types. The main difference is that Keirsey’s is often referred to as a “short cut” because it simplifies the interrelationships between the different types.

It is for this reason that many organizations – companies, universities, non-profits and even governments – utilize