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[meret.livejournal.com]

I've become really intrigued by the idea of Apollo being a prime example of an Apollonian temperment, and Starbuck being a prime example of a Dionysian temperment. If you aren't familiar with the Keirsey theory of personality, I've included some information I found on the web.

I'll also mention that Keirsey operates with 4 "temperaments" as well, namely SP, SJ, NT and NF. (Dionysian, Epimethean, Promethean and Apollonian, respectively, after the Greek gods.)

In Please Understand Me, and Please Understand Me II, Keirsey asserts that there is a direct correspondence between temperament and four groups of four Myers Briggs personality types:

* Dionysian temperament = -S-P types
* Epimethean temperament = -S-J types
* Promethean temperament = -NT- types
* Apollonian temperament = -NF- types

Artisan (SP) Guardian (SJ) Idealist (NF) Rational (NT)

ARTISAN SPs, being CONCRETE in communicating and UTILITARIAN in implementing goals, can become highly skilled in TACTICAL VARIATION. Thus their most practiced and developed intelligent operations are usually promoting and operating (SPT expediting), or displaying and composing (SPF improvizing). And they would if they could be virtuosos of one of these forms artistic operation. Artisans are proud of themselves in the degree they are graceful in action, respect themselves in the degree they are daring, and feel confident of themselves in the degree they are adaptable. This is the "Sensation Seeking Personality" -- trusting in spontaniety and hungering for impact on others. They are usually hedonic about the present, optimistic about the future, cynical about the past, and their preferred time and place is the here and now. Educationally they go for arts and crafts, avocationally for techniques, and vocationally for operations work. They tend to be permissive as parents, playmates as spouses, and play oriented as children. There are many Artisans to be found in many places where the action is, at least 35% and as many as 40% of the population.
http://keirsey.com/personality/sp.html

IDEALIST NFs, being ABSTRACT in communicating and COOPERATIVE in implementing goals, can become highly skilled in DIPLOMATIC INTEGRATION. Thus their most practiced and developed intelligent operations are usually teaching and counseling (NFJ mentoring), or conferring and tutoring (NFP advocating). And they would if they could be sages in one of these forms of social development. The Idealist temperament have an instinct for interpersonal integration, learn ethics with ever increasing zeal, sometimes become diplomatic leaders, and often speak interpretively and metaphorically of the abstract world of their imagination.

They are proud of themselves in the degree they are empathic in action, respect themselves in the degree they are benevolent, and feel confident of themselves in the degree they are authentic. Idealist types search for their unique identity, hunger for deep and meaningful relationships, wish for a little romance each day, trust their intuitive feelings implicitly, aspire for profundity. This is the "Identity Seeking Personality" -- credulous about the future, mystical about the past, and their preferred time and place are the future and the pathway. Educationally they go for the humanities, avocationally for ethics, and vocationally for personnel work.

Social relationships: In their family interactions they strive for mutuality, provide spiritual intimacy for the mates, opportunity for fantasy for their children, and for themselves continuous self-renewal. Idealists do not abound, being as few as 8% and nor more than 10% of the population.
http://keirsey.com/personality/nf.html


The SP or "Dionysian" Temperament -- A "troubleshooter, negotiator, fire fighter"; who "works via action with cleverness and timeliness"; who "learns through active involvement to meet current needs"; and who is acknowledged in organizations for contributing "expeditious handling of the out-of-the ordinary and the unexpected".

The NF or "Apollonian" Temperament -- A "catalyst, spokesperson, energizer"; who "works by interacting with people about values and inspirations"; who "learns for self-awareness through personalized and imaginative ways"; and who is acknowledged in organizations for contributing "something personal or a special vision of possibilities".


1.SP's - The Dionysian Temperament. Comprises about 38% of the population and includes all the SP personality types: ISTP, ESTP, ISFP, and ESFP. SP's must be free to do as they think and feel. SP's find it hard to wait, save, store or prepare. They are highly motivated to live for today. Things like duty and power and secondary to them. Action is the thing, and to understand where they are coming from you must observe the kind of action they are insisting on.

SP's are impulsive. They like it that way and feel most alive when they are spontaneous. SP's do not care to practice at things, they would rather just go do them. They work best in a crisis situation where they can respond quickly and dramatically. More importantly, and SP can only be temporarily defeated. They have an innate ability to survive setbacks that would devastate other temperaments.

4. NF's - The Apollonian Temperament. Also comprises about 12% of the population and includes all of the NF personality types: INFJ, ENFJ, INFP, and ENFP. NF's must discover themselves and become what they are meant to be. Their search is often circular and therefore perpetual. To find oneself to live a life of significance, to make a difference in the world is what matters the most. Integrity is a premium virtue for NF's. To be inauthentic or phony is to lose self. Most writers and poets are found in this temperament

NF's will get involved in causes. But they may not stay in them unless a deep, lasting significance can be found. The same is true with relationships. NF's will invest generously in a relationship so long as the other person is responding in kind. They are rarely found in commercial occupations or physical sciences. NF's have an extraordinary ability to accommodate perceptions in others and appear to be whatever someone wants them to be.
http://www.xtremexa.org/resources/Notes/beingwhogodmadeyou.htm