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Colour Psychology > Personality Types
There are just four personality types and each has its own distinctive
characteristics and typical responses to a variety of situations.
Each individual personality will be best supported and expressed
with a specific palette of colours. Working in California, USA,
in the early 1980s, Angela Wright realised the links between patterns
of colour and patterns of human behaviour, when she put the four
personality types together with the four colour families that Johannes
Itten (an artist at the Bauhaus, earlier in the twentieth century)
had noticed. This began to explain why individuals have such different
responses to the same colour.
People say it is impossible to classify all the millions of people
in the world into just four types. Yet the grand designer only divided
humanity into two. The basic patterns are absolute, just as the
basic male/female patterns, but equally, there are probably as many
variations as there are people. Each of us contains elements of
one or more of the other three, but understanding the archetype
is the key to understanding ourselves and others.
These classifications indicate where humanity fits into the natural
world. Human colour patterns are a reflection of nature's patterns,
and the constant play of light shows us wonderful colours and harmonies
that change consistently. We rely on the colour signals in our environment
to orient ourselves, so for example, in many parts of the world,
when the leaves change colour and go through golds, reds, purples
and browns before they fall off the trees, we know that the natural
cycle is drawing to a close. We prepare for nature to shut down
and hibernate, as regeneration begins under the earth. We ourselves
instinctively draw in. As long as this happens in October and November,
we are quite comfortable; but can you imagine how deeply disturbed
we would be if it happened in June? We depend on the natural order
more than we realise.
These patterns are fundamental to nature and are demonstrated in
a variety of ways: for example, the play of light in any one day
gives us four distinct moods - at sunrise, noon, sunset and night.
The most spectacular and readily identifiable manifestation is in
the four seasons of the year, in many parts of the world. Although
this does not occur in the same way everywhere, the yearly cycle
is recognisable everywhere and we react in similar ways.
It is important to understand that all four personality types can
be found all over the world; however, Group 3 predominates, worldwide,
in the indigenous populations of Australia, New Zealand, the Americas
and Africa - as well as most of Europe. Group 4 personalities predominate
in the Orient and parts of the Middle East. Group 1 people are particularly
to be found in Scandinavia, but they are everywhere. Group 2 personalities
are rare, but they can be found everywhere - oddly, they predominate
in Norway. (It is interesting that, at the time of writing, Norway
has been making tremendous diplomatic efforts for some years to
bring peace to the Middle East).
The archetypal Group 1 personality reflects the patterns of springtime.
If you go out and look at nature in spring, it has a very specific
colour scheme and an unmistakable personality. Everything is coming
back to life after the long dark winter months and it is very lively.
Birds make a lot of noise and the whole animal kingdom is busy;
bright warm colours burst forth and spirits lift. The melting snow
and ice fill the earth with water and create a sparkling awareness
of the fresh and the new.
The personality that reflects all this is externally motivated
and eternally young. They can be blonde, brunette or redhead, but
they will never be very dark or heavy - even when they put on too
much weight, they are light on their feet, love to dance and have
an indefinable quality of lightness to their being. Their features
tend to be rounded and delicate. They need plenty of light in their
lives and are particularly prone to SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
They have great charm and the kind of career that this type should
ideally pursue will be working with many people - nursing, caring,
communications and media, sales, entertainment (particularly musical
comedy). They have a natural affinity with the young and they love
the outdoors, so they make wonderful PE and sports teachers. They
are often very clever, but not interested in heavy, deep academic
debate. They like to get on with things; they have a strong practical
streak and inexhaustible energy. They do not respond well, for example,
to the beauty of linen, as it never looks properly ironed (unless
their subordinate influence is autumnal). They like, and suit, crisp
fresh fabrics and small patterns, such as polka dots.
The challenge for this type is single-mindedness; they have the
gift of attending to many things simultaneously, but might be accused
of being superficial and frivolous. Their emotions can be very fragile.
Examples of famous people who appear to reflect this pattern are:
Tony Blair, the late Princess Diana and Bill Clinton.
The colours that reflect and express these characteristics are
warm and clear; they can be bright, but not necessarily. Just as
everyone does, the spring personality needs ease as well as stimulus,
so their ideal palette of colours will include soft peach, cream
or turquoise, alongside the brighter scarlets, cobalt or sky blues,
warm emerald greens and pure yellows that express their varying
moods. Neutral colours to support them are light camel, French navy
and light warm greys.
The archetypal Group 2 personality is linked to the natural patterns
of the summertime in many parts of the world.
As the year progresses and the earth begins to dry out, a softening
process sets in. The vivid green leaves tone down to a cooler, darker
green that perfectly enhances the soft colours of roses, sweet peas
and wisteria. Our instinct is to break off and relax after so much
energy has been expended. When the sun beats down, the colours are
bleached out; the concept of coolness becomes very attractive and
the colours of summer flowers echo that feeling. Imagine a quiet
summer afternoon sitting under a tree, contemplating the peaceful
countryside and the heat haze in the distance.
The archetypal Group 2 personality is cool, calm and collected.
This person is internally motivated, but equally very sensitive
to what others are feeling. Their features are gently curved and
their eyes have a misty quality to them - they are most often blue,
with no flecks or lacy patterns in them, but they can be grey, cool
green or brown. Group 2 eyes do not dance, as Group 1 eyes so often
do - they are still and serene. Their hair is unlikely to be predominantly
red, although there could be warm lights in it; it will probably
be cool brown or blond. Summer related people abhor vulgarity and
their humour is subtle and often dry; they can be very witty. Ideal
careers for this type are any that involve creating order out of
chaos, and keeping the peace - diplomats, administrators, human
resources - and, since they have an acute sense of touch, particularly
in their fingertips, they are often gifted artists or musicians.
Their gentle nature and keen analytical skills also make them good
general practitioners (medical). They need order. They are very
uncomfortable with poor-quality fabrics and love pure silk jersey
(with its slight sheen and the flowing lines it creates), chiffon
and cashmere.
The challenge for the summer personality is in appearing aloof
and unfriendly - and the need to resist the efforts of their livelier
friends to jazz them up!
The Group 2 personality does not seek the limelight, but some famous
people who appear to demonstrate these characteristics are HM The
Queen and Prince Charles (who had it thrust upon them), the late
Princess Grace of Monaco and Nelson Mandela.
The colours of the Group 2 palette are cool and subtle; they can
be dark, but never heavy. Some typical Group 2 colours are maroon,
raspberry, oyster, rose pink, grapefruit, powder blue, lavender,
viridian and sage green. Good neutrals to support them are mushroom,
taupe, dove grey and cool navy.
Archetypal Group 3 personalities are linked to the autumnal pattern.
Go back again to the countryside and see how things have changed
since the first warmth of spring. The temperature might be the same,
but nature's mood is quite different and so is her apparel. The
bright, perky spring flowers, in warm blue, lilac, orange, and yellow,
have been replaced by rich golds, fiery reds, purples, burnt orange
and brown - and not in flowers, but in the leaves. Autumn is abundant,
as we harvest all the fruits of the year's cycle; it is mature and
ripe, with great drama in the landscape.
The Group 3 personality is, like Group 1, externally motivated.
However, there are great differences - autumnal people are intense
and strong. They are all fiery, to a greater or lesser degree (depending
on their subordinate influences); if they have a strong summer influence,
this might not be apparent, but it is there; they can also be flamboyant.
They could be blond, brunette or redhead and their eyes could be
blue, brown or green and almost invariably have flecks of gold or
tan in them. However, the Group 3 eyes are more often brown or green;
hazel eyes do not occur in any other type. The textures that appeal
to the Group 3 personality are those where the interest is inherent,
rather than printed on a smooth finish - raw silk, linen, and tweed.
Group 3 personalities have a strong sense of justice and are constantly
fascinated with academic questions and how things work. They are
very aware of environmental issues. Good careers for them are anything
requiring detection and digging beneath the surface - police officers,
psychiatrists and archaeologists and lawyers. They are attracted
to the armed forces. They are often good writers, particularly in
investigative journalism. Physical comfort and solid substance are
important to them and they abhor anything flimsy, whether ideas
or physical objects (such as furniture).
The challenge for Group 3 personalities is to keep their wish to
save the world in proportion. They might be perceived as bossy and
tedious.
Famous personalities who appear to be linked to Group 3 abound:
they include Sir David Frost, Germaine Greer and Bob Geldof.
The autumnal palette is offbeat - there are no pure primary colours.
Examples are vermilion, tomato, burnt orange, olive green, moss
green, golden yellow, terracotta, petrel blue, and aubergine. Good
neutrals to support these colours are most shades of brown.
Archetypal Group 4 personalities are an expression of the natural
pattern of winter.
The winter landscape is hushed and when snow falls heavily, it
is virtually achromatic - everything disappears under a blanket
of pure white. But under the surface there is powerful energy as
the regeneration process develops. Without leaves on the trees,
outlines are stark and minimal, with strong contrasts. Imagine a
snowy field, where you see an expanse of white and the apparently
black shape of a leafless tree, its bare branches etched against
an icy blue, or cold grey, sky. We treat the winter with respect,
and when a storm breaks out, we run for cover. We view dramatic
snow-covered mountain peaks or a majestic icy terrain with awe.
Similarly, Group 4 personalities automatically command respect.
Physically, their features are usually well defined and their eyes
compelling, whether they are blond or brunette; redheads rarely
occur in this type. They are internally motivated and have a gift
for seeing the broader picture and for delegation. They set their
sights on the objective and they are not easily diverted. They are
often very efficient, and precise in everything they do. They can't
stand clutter, or cluttered minds and they do not suffer fools.
Their response to foolishness will often be sarcastic and, unlike
Group 3 - who will stop and explain, fifty ways if necessary - they
will simply move on. In difficult times they are very stoical. They
do care, but they are unsentimental and do not get bogged down with
emotional issues. They are self-assured and ideal careers for them
are usually at the top - they are very effective in government and
finance. They also shine in the theatre and films, as well as PR,
and in fashion (they do not follow fashion - they are usually arbiters
of it), they are perfectly suited to the catwalk. If they choose
to pursue a medical career, they will be wonderful surgeons. If
they decide to pursue a legal career, they make brilliant barristers.
The textures that echo this pattern are shiny - glass and chrome
in interiors, pure silk and satin for themselves. They never need
to create a drama, as they are innately dramatic - but it is the
drama of a frozen snowflake, or a flawless diamond on a black velvet
cushion.
The challenge for Group 4 personalities is to pay attention to
other people's feelings. They can be perceived as elitist, cold
and uncaring.
Famous personalities who appear to embody the winter pattern are
Sean Connery, Gordon Brown, Margaret Thatcher and Diana Ross.
The colours of winter in the natural world are few - and a winter
personality instinctively recognises this. They often favour simply
wearing black all winter and white all summer. They are the only
type who look good, and are supported by, unrelieved black or white.
Other colours in the tonal family are crimson, lemon yellow, Persian
orange, jade green, cold emerald, magenta, royal purple, midnight
blue and flag blue. These colours work particularly well in strong
contrasts and the best neutrals for this palette are black, white
and clerical grey.
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