Over the years, many people have been fascinated with understanding human behavior and personality.
The book Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey, published in 1998, is an extension of the book Please Understand Me, which was published in 1978.
This book provides insight into temperament and character types from a scientific perspective.
It explains how understanding one’s own type can help to improve communication, relationships, and problem-solving abilities.
Let’s explore what this book has to offer.
The Four Temperament Types
Keirsey divides temperament into four distinct types: Guardian (SJ), Idealist (NF), Artisan (SP), and Rational (NT).
Each of these temperaments has its own unique qualities that are determined by their innate preferences for certain activities and behaviors.
Guardians prioritize tradition and loyalty, while idealists focus on interpersonal harmony and relationships.
Artisans prefer action-oriented tasks, while Rationals focus on logic and analysis.
This breakdown of temperaments can help identify our strengths and weaknesses and those of others around us.
Character Types
In addition to the four temperaments, Keirsey also outlines 16 character types that combine aspects of each temperament type.
He refers to these 16 types as “ideal versions” because they represent a combination of all four temperaments that each individual should strive towards to achieve personal fulfillment.
Each character type is further divided into four distinct subtypes—two from each temperament—which helps individuals better understand their own individual traits within their chosen character type.
By understanding our characteristics, we can learn how to best interact with other people who may have different values or beliefs than us.
Intelligence Analysis
Keirsey also provides an analysis of intelligence which he states is composed of two distinct components – information processing speed (IPS) and working memory capacity (WMC).
IPS determines how quickly we can process information, while WMC determines how much information we can store at any given time.
Understanding our own level of intelligence can give us insight into how we learn new things and how best to communicate with others who may have different levels of intellectual ability than us.
Conclusion
In summary, Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey provides readers with an in-depth look at human behavior from a scientific perspective.
It explores the concept of temperament as well as character types, helping individuals better understand themselves and those around them while increasing communication skills and problem-solving abilities along the way.
Whether you are a novice or an experienced reader looking for more insight into human behavior, this book will surely provide valuable information that will help you grow both personally and professionally.