The expression of the Guardian temperament
is related to a need for to belong to organisations, a desire for order, and a
drive to be dutiful. Those who strongly express this pattern of emotional
response make up roughly half of the populace and collectively provide the
dependable backbone of our societies. It is the driving pattern behind
commerce, shop keeping and sales, libraries and museums, as well as law and law
enforcement.
Please read the Statistical Disclaimer
before proceeding (which also includes the copyright notices). Remember that
what is provided here is effectively a detailed definition of an adjective, ‘Guardian’,
which has been defined in line with a psychological model.
Conversion from Myers-Briggs Typology
To anyone familiar with the Myers-Briggs
inventory, the Guardian temperament is expected to be the primary Temperament
pattern for any preference code containing SJ (Sensing and Judging
preferences), and a supporting pattern for any code containing NJ (Intuitive
and Judging preferences).
1. Profile
In the Introduction to Temperament Theory,
we saw how the Guardian temperament was related to Concrete language use, an
Affiliative attitude and a focus on Structure. We will begin by reviewing these
three axis in the specific context of the Guardian temperament. Throughout this
piece we shall be referencing the work of David Keirsey, marked [K], and his
student Linda Berens, marked [B] (complete references are provided in the
disclaimer).
Concrete language use reflects a focus on
solid and sensible topics. For people expressing Guardian as their primary pattern, conversation will
frequently be concerned with tangible elements such as money, goods and
services, weather and housing, accidents and disasters, poverty and wealth,
famous and infamous, and what is going on in the current TV shows or the
popular movies.
Keirsey notes how the flow of conversation
becomes highly associative when it is dominated by the Guardian pattern:
When [people strongly expressing Guardian] are
reminded of something, however distant from or unrelated to the topic at hand,
they mention it. And often this reminds others of something else, who then
mention that. And so the conversation goes from topic to topic, by contiguity
rather than implication, like a row of dominoes, each toppling the next… no
single topic is pursued at length, and issues, if surfaced, tend not to get
settled. [Such people] are very good at this sort of small talk, something
[people expressing Rational] are very poor at… [K]
Furthermore, the Guardian pattern is
associated with remembering facts (what some would consider trivia):
On topics that interest them, [people
expressing Guardian] are able to store an enormous fund of facts, which they
will call up and, again, freely associate in conversation. They can remember
people’s names, birthdays, the names of the friends’ parents and children, how
those children are doing at school, who their relatives’ friends are, who’s
gotten what job, who’s recently been born or has died (when, and of what), the
date, time, and location of family, social, or civic events, and so on, one bit
of information easily calling forth another. [K]
Berens reiterates this point:
In the Guardian pattern, concrete language
often references the past, the sequences of events, or how one fact is linked
to another. [B]
Another aspect of the speech patterns
associated with the Guardian temperament is an orthodox tendency, favouring
both time honoured phrases, and local sayings:
[People strongly expressing Guardian] tend to use a
rather conventional vocabulary and phrasing, often throwing in old sayings,
proverbs, and adages (particularly about value and amount) such as “a penny
saved is a penny earned,” “a stitch in time saves nine”, “one bad apple spoils
the barrel”, or “it’s either feast or famine” [as well as using] words and
sentences common to the area they call home. [K]
The focus on their home region is critical
to understanding the Guardian pattern; as we shall see later, a core need
associated with this pattern is that of membership – and this need to belong
means that people strongly expressing Guardian generally stay in the area they grow
up unless other forces tear them away.
Concrete language is common to the Artisan
pattern as well, but the language use associated with
Artisan is less structured, and more focussed on immediate events (or the near
future), with none of the tendency for quoting maxims or recalling trivia.
The second aspect of the basic profile is a
bias towards an Affiliative approach, that is, towards identifying with other
people, and particularly with organisations and their appointed leaders – that is, with
favouring the group over the individual:
For the Guardian pattern, affiliative roles
have clear lines of responsibility and authority. This makes it easy to know
where we belong and how we fit in. The concern is to maintain the group. [B]
The method by which the group is maintained
from the perspective of the Guardian pattern is upholding the socially agreed
rules:
[People strongly expressing Guardian] work
hard to make and enforce the laws that govern actions, insisting that only by
establishing and obeying rules and regulations can we hope to maintain civil
order, and thus safeguard our homes, communities and businesses…
[Their] grasp of regulation is exceeded
only by their faith in regulation as the cornerstone of society. [Those
expressing Guardian] have confidence that legal authority is the only proper
means of sanctioning action or solving problems, and indeed, the numerous laws,
bylaws, codes, ordinances, statutes and charters found in every community or
institution exist for [them] as the best hope of maintaining civil order. [K]
This focus on rules and law is in marked
difference from the focus of the other temperament patterns – the Artisan and
Rational pattern favour a more pragmatic approach, which will take precedence
over any obstructionist rule encountered, while the Idealist pattern shares the
Affiliative focus but is unconcerned with rules, being more interested in
ensuring that individuals know themselves, and have the freedom to express
their unique identities.
This is not to suggest that only people
expressing Guardian will be law abiding – those that do not express Guardian are
either quietly thankful that there are people out there maintaining order; observe
the rules as long as it is to their benefit (especially in the case of
expression of Artisan); or (often in the case of expression of Rational) harbour
rather grandiose notions of how things should be run, with little or no
capability to implement or enforce such wild ideas.
(Anyone who has lived in a house with peers who express Guardian will have encountered this rule-based approach to life through such people's attempts to regulate household chores, often by means of a rota or some other agreed distribution of labour).
The third and final aspect of the basic Guardian
profile is a focus on Structure, which further underlines the influence of rules
and law on this temperament:
In the Guardian pattern, the interest in
structure is concrete and procedural, Guardian structures provide rules, norms,
roles, and responsibilities. Examples include sequential outlines, family
tress, and organisational charts. These structures serve to inform others about
what is appropriate and what can be expected. [B]
This focus on Structure is shared with the
Rational pattern, but as we have already seen, the abstract language use
associated with the Rational temperament leads to very different interests. The
Guardian pattern is associated with maintaining rules and laws, while the
Rational pattern is more interested in uncovering the laws of nature (as in
science) or creating systems of rules (as in game design).
The Guardian pattern's association with
upholding rules and law may sometimes seem officious to those who do not
express Guardian to any great degree, but it should not be doubted that in
general terms those who express Guardian firmly believe they have the best
interests of their family, organisation, town or country at heart, as we shall
see by examining the type of intelligence associated with this pattern.
2. The Logistical Intellect
According to Temperament Theory, each of
the patterns is associated with a particularly kind of intelligence. The Guardian
temperament is related to Logistical thinking:
Logistics is the procurement, distribution,
service, and replacement of material goods. Logistics is vital to the success
of any institution – a business, a household, a school, an army – and [people
expressing Guardian] can be enormously creative in seeing to it that the right
personnel have the right supplies in the right place at the right time to get
the job done.
[Such people] care about being reliable,
particularly in the maintenance and continuity of materiel. In other words,
[they] are less interested in fitting things together in new ways than in
holding things together as they are… [Anyone that expresses the Guardian
pattern] knows as well as others that change is inevitable, necessary, and
even, on occasion, desirable; but it should be resisted when it is at the
expense of old standby products and time-tested ways of the institutions that
have served us well. Better that change occur through slow evolution than
sudden revolution. [K]
Without the Guardian pattern as a force
working to maintain the agreed upon procedures, any large organisation simply
could not function. Society in a very real sense depends upon logistics for its
function:
[People expressing this pattern] excel at
noticing when something required or agreed upon is not done and then following
up to make sure it happens. Regulatory activities within society such as
conserving, policing, guarding, counting, stabilising, and ritualising often
come under their jurisdiction. They recognise that establishing and
articulating the rules, sanctions, standard operating procedures, timelines,
predictable routines, and protocol makes things easier for people and
institutions. [B]
Berens summarise the talents behind logistics
quite succinctly:
[Those who express Guardian] masterfully
get the right things, in the right place, at the right time, in the right
quantity, in the right quality, to the right people, and not to the wrong people.
[They] know how things have always been done, and so they anticipate where
things can go wrong. They have a knack for attending to rules, procedures, and
protocol. They make sure the correct information is assembled and presented to
the right people. [B]
When the Guardian pattern is supported by
the Rational pattern, the focus of logistics tends to become administration:
Tough-minded [people expressing Guardian]
are particularly interested in the role of administrator, that is, they are
given to regulating those procedures and products in their charge in the light
of a standard of performance. These administrators are the directive [side of
the Guardian pattern], which means that their first instinct is to take charge
and tell others what to do. [K]
In general terms, this side of Logistical
thinking can be understood as maintaining standards. Faced with operational
problems, the logistical intellect can establish or standardise policies that
will provide stability for the group, and oversee the implementation of these
procedures, monitoring the plan as it is executed. This administrative side of
logistics includes investigating what has happened before, examining and
assessing the situation, before instructing how to meet the required standards.
Examples include the management of any
organisation (such as project managers, office managers, factory supervisors,
school principals and so forth), highly procedural financial work (such as
accounting and stockbrokers) as well as government and law enforcement roles (such
as police officers and civil servants).
Conversely, when the Guardian pattern is
supported by the Idealist pattern, the focus of logistics tends to become
people and not procedures:
The friendly [expression of Guardian is seen
in people who] are prone to choose the part of the conservator, that person
whose job it is to support institutions by insuring the supply and security of
those persons and properties they are responsible for. In their support role,
[these people] tend to be more informative than directive, giving information –
reports, accounts, records and so on – first, and giving orders only as a last
resort… [K]
In general terms, this side of Logistical
thinking can be understood as providing support. Faced with people in need, the
logistical intellect determines what is required and supplies it, whether in
terms of providing service and care, or protecting against danger, dirt or
decay. This side of logistics attends to people’s comforts, and aims to make
things easier for others, while sheltering and protecting in order to ensure
people’s safety and general well-being.
Examples include all manner of secretarial
work, the role of a librarian or curator, shop keeping (and other sales
positions, including telemarketing or insurance sales), caterers and other
providers of food and drink, as well as roles reflecting direct care (such as
teachers, counsellors, social workers, and child care providers), not to
mention religious roles such as minister, priest, imam or rabbi, all of whom
support the needs of their community in their own way.
3. Motivations
Those who express the Guardian temperament
as their primary pattern feel a powerful drive to belong. This need for group
membership is not necessarily consciously known, but it is essential to the
expression of this pattern:
[Those who express Guardian] like to be
included in what’s going on. Thus, they find membership in family, groups, and
organisations satisfying. They often view organisations as either families or
armies united for some useful purpose. [B]
Keirsey suggests that this need to belong
is a defence against insecurity:
Perhaps hoping in some degree to fulfil
their search for security, [people expressing Guardian] are prone to join a
number of social and civil groups. Maintaining their membership status in such
groups is fundamental to [their] character; it is not too much to say that
[people expressing Guardian] actually yearn to belong, needing each and every
day to confirm that they are a member-in-good-standing. To this end, [such
people], far more than others, create and foster the social arm of the
institutions they serve: the church auxiliary, the PTA, the community service
club, the lodge, the municipal or political organisation, the professional
association. [K]
As mentioned in the above quote, it is
insufficient for someone expressing this pattern simply to earn membership – it
is vital that they are seen as dependable, respectable and responsible. Their
self-esteem depends upon this:
[For those people strongly expressing
Guardian] self-esteem is greatest when they present themselves as dependable,
trustworthy, or accountable in shouldering their responsibilities. “No matter
what,” says [such a person], “you can count on me to fulfil my obligations and
to honour my contracts.”
Self-confidence can be a problem for [them,
however]. More than others, [such people] are innately modest, unassuming, even
self-effacing – and putting themselves forward comes perilously close to
showing off, a kind of behaviour which they find truly repugnant. But if having
confidence in themselves is difficult for [such people], being respected by
others is a great comfort, and public recognition is indeed the foundation of
their self-confidence. Such recognition usually comes in the form of physical
tokens of respect such as plaques, certificates, awards, and diplomas. [K]
This desire for responsible behaviour can
become extended to others:
Above all others, [people expressing
Guardian] value the presence of order, lawfulness, security, propriety, bonds,
and contracts. Activities that foster these principles keep life simple and
insure the continuance of the world as it is known. Likewise the virtues of
dependability, responsibility, obedience, compliance, and cooperation are
necessary in their world, as these virtues add up to everyone contributing his
or her fair share to the common good. As those who tend to make constant
comparisons, [such people] are often concerned about everyone carrying a fair
portion of the load for benefits received. [B]
Indeed, the Guardian pattern is preoccupied
with morality – determining right from wrong:
[People expressing Guardian], even as
children, feel responsible for the morality of their group, whether it be their
family, their classmates, or their circle of friends. And they are never able
to shake off that responsibility, even if they sometimes what to. [B]
The combination of a focus on morality and
a need to belong is probably the reason that so many people who express
Guardian tend to practice the dominant religion of their culture. In the United States, this is some form of Christianity; in India,
Hinduism; in Turkey, Sunni Islam and so forth. If the family that someone strongly
expressing Guardian grew up in practiced a religion, they will likely carry
this practice into later life. This can be seen as an expression of the
membership need: to be a part of the religion of the family is to be a dutiful
member of the family. However, if raised without a religion, a person who
expresses Guardian may still find their way to a system of faith, since
agnosticism and atheism generally fail to deliver any sense of belonging. (This
connection should be considered hypothetical, but would be comparatively easy
to investigate).
4. Problems
Everyone is stressed by different
circumstances; one of the advantages of looking at behaviour in terms of the
patterns of Temperament Theory is the capacity to identify different stressing
factors that relate to the patterns.
According to Berens, those who express the Guardian
temperament strongly are stressed by both a lack of belonging, and the
insubordination of others:
Abandonment, exclusion, disrespect for
authority, dereliction, and disobedience, all of which threaten the common
bond, are particularly offensive and stressful to [people expressing Guardian].
[K]
When stressed, such a person will complain
to those around them (often privately), especially using words such as “sick”,
“tired”, “sorry” or “worried”. This stress can be alleviated by the person in
question being included in activities, or in current news (or gossip), or by
expressions of appreciation such as the plaques and certificates mentioned
previously. Alternatively, membership in a new organisation can help alleviate
the stresses of the Guardian pattern.
A certain pessimism is also associated with
the Guardian pattern:
Because so many of their efforts are
holding actions, trying to maintain the status quo in fast-paced, ever-changing
situations, [those who express Guardian] have learned to expect the worst. To
be sure, even the most cursory glance at [someone strongly expressing Guardian]
will detect a streak of pessimism colouring their attitude… they cannot easily
shake off their worries about all the possible things that can, and often do,
go wrong. After all, the Murphy’s of this world – surely [people expressing
Guardian] -are the makers of the laws of pessimism. Remember Murphy’s Law,
which says “whatever can go wrong will.” There are many variants of this basic
law, such as “everything costs more and takes longer,” and Olsen’s addendum,
“Murphy’s Law is optimistic.” [K]
Oddly, Berens notes that many people
expressing Guardian see themselves as optimistic, and that their pessimistic side
may not be apparent to them:
[People expressing Guardian] frequently
portray a mood of concern. While they see themselves as optimistic, the
unknowns of the future invariably disrupt their world and give them plenty of
experiences that can sometimes foster a pessimistic point of view. [B]
Keirsey suggests that this pessimism is not
necessarily negative:
Above all else, [such people] are prepared,
and even though many of their preparations are for things to go wrong, we must
not conclude that they are gloomily forecasting calamity and disaster. Rather,
we might see them as being realistic about setbacks and shortages. [K]
Conversely, however, if this pessimistic
outlook is not kept in balance it can develop into depression, especially if
the membership needs of the individual are not being met:
Kretschmer was first to take a careful look
at the dark side of character and he named [those who express Guardian]
“Depressives”… seeing them as somber, doleful, and solemn... If [such people]
are forced by untoward circumstances to become downcast for no apparent reason,
it is because they are beset by strong negative feelings that overwhelm them
and render them immobile and helpless. [K]
Another problem associated with the
Guardian pattern is a tendency towards blind trust in authority:
[Those who strongly express Guardian] trust
authority. They believe in a hierarchical structure of authority – rule from
the top down. They believe there should be subordination and superordination,
that the actions of members of communities, schools, churches, and
corporations, but also of families, should be governed by those in the highest
positions… Moreover, [such people] have an abiding trust in the heads of church
and state, and popes and pontiffs, presidents and prime ministers, and royalty
of all types seem to capture their trust and their loyalty. [K]
When such figures are worthy of this trust,
the support of people expressing Guardian is what allows these systems to
achieve their goals, and in this regard this trust can be admirable. But when
the figures are unworthy of such respect, it can be exceptionally difficult to
convince such people that there is a problem:
They trust hierarchy and authority and may
be surprised when others go against these social structures. [B]
This blind trust in authority presents a
possible explanation for the results of the famous Milgram experiment, in which
some two thirds of participants were willing to administer what would have been
a lethal electrical charge because they were told to do so. Since demographic
studies show that 50-60% of the population display the Guardian pattern as
either a primary or secondary pattern, the result of Milgram’s experiment seems
less surprising in this perspective – although no less shocking.
A possible defence against this problem of
“only following orders” is to encourage those who express Guardian to temper
their loyalty with the scepticism of the Rational pattern, the empathy of the
Idealist pattern, or the drive for freedom associated with the Artisan pattern,
since we all have the capacity to express all four patterns to various degrees.
Conclusion
The Guardian temperament is defined as
concrete affiliation with a focus on organisation. It drives those affected by
it to seek membership and responsibility, and to trust in the authority of
those institutions they have allied themselves with. The logistical intellect
associated with this pattern is capable of establishing and maintaining
procedures, as well as supplying support and protection. This intellect appears
to be the force behind the law, commerce and the noble tradition of libraries.
Stressed by feelings of exclusion, or by the insubordination of
others, the Guardian temperament is associated with pessimism and when it is
out of balance, depression. Caught between a genuine desire to do what is good,
and a need to be a dutiful and responsible member of the institutions and
cultures they belong to, there is a danger that someone expressing Guardian
will do what they are told without question. Nonetheless, the very fabric of
society depends upon the assistance, protection and support of those that
express the Guardian pattern, without whom none of the daily comforts we take
for granted would be possible.
Do you recognise yourself in this pattern? Feel free to share your
perspective in the comments. Don’t recognise yourself? Check out the other
three Temperament patterns and see if they fit you better. For more
information, see BestFitType.com
or check out the books referenced here.
Note: If you have any comments
specifically regarding justifications or criticisms of Temperament Theory,
please use the comments to the post entitled Justifications
and Criticisms, which has been set aside for that express purpose. Thank
you!
The opening image is The Guardian, by Leon Verdun, which I found here. As ever, no copyright infringement is intended and I will take the image down if asked.
