The Steel Mask

“The Steel Mask” refers to the Guardians’ incredible ability to cloak themselves in the passions/interests/attitudes typically associated with those of the other three temperaments.  Indeed many Guardians are often mistaken for other temperaments strictly because of the career paths and recreational activities that they have chosen in their lives.  Statistically speaking however, Guardians are by far the most numerous (at more than 50%) temperament and certainly abound in all professions and hobbies.  Certainly a Guardian can come to enjoy ANY profession or passion, and brings discipline, hard-work and dedication to the enterprise.  Guardian’s are the unsung heroes of society and simply put: many Guardians are not given credit for being Guardians.

Artisans and Guardians both live in the concrete world of what is going on around them.  Both Artisans and Guardians together dominate most social realms and most of society for that matter.  As a result both temperaments learn a great deal from one another.  Guardians greatly admire they’re Artisan cousins ability to throw caution to the wind and live life to the fullest, and often emulate such behavior with astounding accuracy.  As a result many Guardians find themselves in professions that are typically associated with the Artisan, and yet fit in surprisingly well.

Idealists and Guardians both share a concern for society and for the morality of behavior, a wish to do right and to help other people.  And thus many Guardians and Idealists find themselves in similar professions, ones that deal with gracefully managing and dealing with people.  Indeed many Guardians choose Diplomacy in one way or another as their passion in life, and thus often blend in quite well with Idealists and their professions.

Rationals and Guardians share a lot of similarities in the way they approach their professional lives.  Guardians are comfortable with the Rationals’ skeptical attitude and obsession with their work, which seem very much like their own pessimism and sense of duty, and they often admire the NT’s ingenuity.  Guardians too, excel in the Rationals’ primary realm of science, as good science requires discipline and dedication.  Certainly Guardians are everywhere, but at times can be difficult to identify.

The Artisan Bandwagon

Many people (Morgan Freeman included) are easily able to hop on what is called the “Artisan Bandwagon”.  In other words, all three other temperaments envy the Artisans uncanny ability to excel in whatever they happen to ‘dabble’ into, which is typically a plethora of activities.  Everyone is charmed and beguiled by the Artisans’ joyful sense of fun and excitement, and usually have no problem joining them occasionally in their carefree mindset.  Though the other three temperaments maintain their innate qualities, a large number of people engage in behaviors and professions that are typically associated with the Artisan, but are not in fact Artisans.  Put simply, the “Artisan Bandwagon” is very easy to hop on to.

The Ethereal Complex

“The Ethereal Complex” refers to the Idealists’ tragic tendency to be misunderstood by those that they love the most.  Humanity by nature of course takes what it is given for granted, and much to the disadvantage of the Idealist.  The Idealists pour a tremendous amount of love and care into those they are closest to, a sentiment that is not always fully appreciated.  Indeed the Idealists’ intentions always come from a warm and positive place in their heart, but the same thing can not always be said about those around them.  The Idealists’ quest for better understanding and personal fulfillment is often misinterpreted as a result, leaving many Idealists’ with a tragic sense of inner-turmoil.  All is not lost however, as the Idealists’ confidence in the innate goodness of life and human nature is often a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The Ivory Tower

“The Ivory Tower” refers quite simply to a Rationals’ life-long bargain with arrogance.  Indeed, most Rationals put a great deal of cognitive effort into maximizing the effects of confidence, while simultaneously minimizing the effects of arrogance.  Becoming overconfident and being rendered ineffective is perhaps a Rational’s greatest fear, and Rationals will do whatever is necessary to prevent such an occurrence.  As a result, each Rational has a specific concoction of psychological safeguards in order to protect them from their own arrogance.  Most Rationals draw upon the accomplishments of others, as there is and always will be very potent intellectual competition in the world as we know it.  Rationals by nature are paranoid, and when faced with either a struggle or a triumph, they will always retreat to their Ivory Tower to calculate the difference.

Super-Squad Assembled

The Avengers Official Trailer was released today online giving us our first glimpse of Marvel Studios‘ purported blockbuster movie franchise.  Given such thoroughly exciting news lets take a look at Marvel’s four superheroes and the villainous antagonist opposite them.

The Avengers is Marvel/Disney’s hopeful blockbuster franchise slated to assemble at a theater near you during the summer of 2012.  Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures have strategically released independent films providing backstory for the Avengers’ four major characters.  Those being Iron Man, the incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Thor.  And like any dynamic and complex set of major characters, these four ‘Avengers’ together represent all four basic personality types.  Captain America is of course the stalwart Guardian who defends justice with his iconic shield.  Hulk is likewise the emotional and impulsive Artisan who transforms into a raging beast when angered.  Iron Man is the Rational industrialist and ingenious engineer that utilizes a mechanical suit.  Finally Thor is the championing Idealist God of Thunder who fights ‘for Asgard’ and is constantly learning life’s lessons.  Together, they assemble to fight against threats to humanity.  Much like the four temperaments assemble to do the same.

‘Threats to humanity‘ seem in this particular instance to include the Asgardian God of Mischief Loki.  Thor’s villainous step-brother will indeed serve as a the primary antagonist in the film, with aspirations of ‘enslaving humanity‘.  Always strategizing and conceiving ingenious schemes and plots, Lofi Laufeyson is undoubtedly a Mastermind Rational.  Diabolically ingenious, highly pragmatic, outstandingly intelligent, and a powerful sorcerer, Loki finds difficulties highly stimulating, as do other Masterminds, as he loves responding to a problem that requires a creative solution.

My best bet says Marvel’s super-squad will do their best to make him come up with as many creative solutions as possible.  Earth’s Greatest Hero’s assemble Summer 2012.

Abstract Romance

On the heels of Lion King 3D‘s dazzling box office success, our dear and beloved friends at Walt Disney Studios have announced limited theatrical 3D releases for four more Disney Classics starting with Beauty and the Beast.  Given such wonderfully delightful news let’s take a look at this classic love story between Rational and Idealist.  Belle is a young and sweet-hearted girl with a vivid imagination and a fondness for romance novels that is ‘not like the rest of us‘.  The Beast is of course initially ‘mean and course and unrefined‘, and Belle’s attempts to bring warmth to his cold heart are of no avail, and eventually his cold-heartedness forces her to turn her back on the Beast.  Realizing what he has lost, the Beast saves Belle’s life when she is in danger, showing another side of himself.  In true Idealist fashion, Belle’s kindness ultimately breaks through the Beast’s icy demeanor.  He then shows her the castle library, a metaphor of course for the Rationals vast store of knowledge.  They then find a profound ‘something that wasn’t there before’.  Such a heart-warming tale is indeed the classic love story between the Idealist soulmate and the Rational mindmate.  Both live in the world of abstract concepts: theories and possibilities, insights and symbols.  The rest of course, is a ‘tale as old as time’.  Beauty and the Beast can be seen for the first time ever in three dimensions January 13, 2012.

The Master of Innovation

The founder of Apple Inc. and CEO of the decade Steve Jobs has tragically died today as he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.  Jobs was an imaginative genius and innovative business icon, and his death is certainly heartbreaking and unfortunate news.  Rather than dwell on the negative the best thing to do is honor the legacy of arguably the greatest and most influential Inventor Rational of all time.  Indeed Steve Jobs is the quintessential Inventor, with his name on over 230 patents.  Most notably the ipod (304 million sold as of 2011) iphone (100 million sold as of March 2011) and ipad (15 million sold as of march 2011) Jobs inventions have undoubtedly changed the world.  Jobs is largely known as the heart and soul of a company that was briefly the most valuable in America.  Steve’s visionary leadership and innovative genius have revolutionized the way we think about technology, and the world will certainly not be the same without him.  Visionary, rebel, and icon, Steve Jobs is the American Dream at its greatest and will be sorely missed.