What’s My Personality Type?
Dr. Taylor Hartman argues that people are guided by one of four personality types and a “driving core motive.”
Photo Credit: Sarah Shiochet
By ARMIN PASUKANOVIC
Did you know there are 7.53 billion people living on Earth, eight planets in our solar system, and ten million solar systems in the Milky Way? We are essentially tiny specks of life in a vast universe, similar to the snowflakes you may spot on the floor during a winter day. And so many of us humans, just like snowflakes, all have different patterns or personalities we are comprised of.
But what is a personality?
The American Association of Psychology states that a “personality refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.” This general belief is based on the ideas of “nature” and “nurture.” For years scientists have debated whether human genetics are responsible for our personalities, or if the way we are raised should be held accountable. So far, general opinions in the scientific community have leaned towards the idea that it is mostly your life experiences that shape who you are. However, Dr. Taylor Hartman, a practicing psychologist and author of The People Code, begs to differ.
In his book, Dr. Hartman explains that one of the main things that determines your personality is your “driving core motive.”
Your “driving core motive” is your main goal in life. What makes you get up off the couch every day and do what you do? Some people think they don’t even have a driving core motive, and some think they have too many motives.
So how can you identify what your inner motivation in life is? When locating your driving core motive, you must analyze your earliest childhood memories, because those came before outside influences began affecting your behavior, the theory goes. Think about things you always used to do. Then decipher the meanings behind these actions; what result were you constantly seeking? Once you find this core motive, then, and only then, can you begin to understand what shapes your personality.
When it comes to personality, Dr. Hartman says, “take the human face. There are only so many different elements that make up a face: eyes, ears, mouth, nose, etc. Yet no two people look the same. So it goes with our personalities.”
Dr. Hartman believes there are four possible personality “colors” which all of mankind is born with: white, yellow, blue, and red. “Whites” [it’s unrelated to race] are quiet people who enjoy alone time, and seek peace. “Yellows” are fun-seeking, social people. “Blues” are people who seek personal connections in life and live their lives based on moral principles and ethics. “Reds” are productive, power-seeking people. Each personality color has something that they live their lives based on, which is their driving core motive.
Identifying the personality you were born with can help change the way you feel about what you want in life. Dr. Hartman explains that each person is born with specific characteristics that have specific strengths and weaknesses. The sooner you recognize these weaknesses, the faster you can work on turning them around.
Dr. Hartman states that there is also a negative way to pursue our driving core motive. For instance, a person with a white personality type can negatively seek peace by avoiding the situation and pretending it does not exist. In this situation, the correct way to find peace would be to confront the problem and solve it accordingly.
Anyone intrigued by these ideas should read Dr. Hartman’s book. It is never too late to grow personally, despite the challenges you face in life. Change is inevitable, but growth is optional.