Keirsey Temperament Sorter Is Quite Commonly Used

Keirsey Temperament Sorter is quite commonly used as a tool for helping people learn more about their personality types. The test itself, commonly referred to as the KTS-II, is a list of about 70 questions. It gets its name from the book Please Understand Me, which was written by Dr. David Keirsey in 1978 and later updated in 1998 (Please Understand Me II) (Keirsey.com). It is widely respected and it is used all over the world by a variety of institutions, such as Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, and the United States government and military department (Keirsey.com).

Guardian SJ

The Keirsey Temperament Theory divides people's personalities into four basic groups according to temperament. The four temperaments are Artisans, Guardians, Rationals, and Idealists. Each of these divisions has an additional series of subdivisions. After taking the test, my results showed that I fall into the Guardian SJ category. This means that I am considered to have the Guardian type of temperament. The letter "S" indicates that I am "sensing," or observant as opposed to the opposite category, introspective. The letter "J" stands for "judging," which means "scheduled" as opposed to probing (Keirsey.com).

In considering the results of my testing, I feel the "Guardian" personality fits me fairly well. According to the official definition, Guardians are "the cornerstone of society, for they are the temperament given to serving and preserving our most important social institutions" (Keirsey.com). In more practical terms, Guardians are considered to be dependable. This is a trait I value and try to exhibit, although at times it seems to take discipline to be reliable at all times. Guardians are also said to be loyal, a trait that describes me very accurately. I believe that loyalty to family and friends is of utmost importance; I value this trait in others as well. Hand in hand with this is another trait; this is that Guardians tend to also be dutiful and "focused on credentials and traditions" (Keirsey.com). I feel that this is a very accurate description of my character.

Along with loyalty, I feel that traditional values are important, and that traditions and rituals should be respected and upheld. I also tend to focus on credentials. For example, obtaining a college degree is strongly reflective of this. While the education one receives in the academic environment is worthwhile, the credentials obtained upon completing the degree are important as well. It is a way of showing myself and others that I have attended and successfully completed a course of study. Because of this, doors will be open to me and opportunities I may not otherwise have had will become available.

Another aspect of the Guardian personality type is a trust in authority and in meting out justice (Keirsey.com). This is another area in which I feel the test has accurately reflected my personality. I do have respect for authority, and I also respect the rules that govern our society. Although I also strongly believe in individuals' ability to think for themselves, I also realize that laws have been created to maintain order and justice in our society, and as such they need to be obeyed and respected.

Other aspects of the Guardian temperament are that we tend to be cautious about change. This accurately represents me as well. I do think that life is comprised of changes, and that change leads to growth and further development. However, even knowing this, I often find myself resistant to change. It makes me feel uncomfortable and somewhat anxious. After going through the transitional period, I do seem to be able to adjust to new circumstances. After time has passed, I even find myself thriving and very glad that I underwent the change.