New Personality Self-Portrait DescriptionsFive personality styles centered on MindThe five styles in the Mind personality group define themselves by what goes on internally rather than externally. Instead of looking to either relationships (Heart) or with how they act in the world (Action), this group is concerned with their own inner dialogues. The Conscientious Style is driven by an inner sense of what is the right thing to do, and they are gifted with strong self-control and self-discipline to turn their goals into reality. The Idiosyncratic Style is unconventional and eclectic, able to live their lives according to their own visions of what is important. Those who characterize the Serious Style are the world's realists, recognizing that life is hard but willing to meet it head on with undaunted determination. The Solitary Style wants to be alone, and concentrates on activities of the mind rather than on relationships or on feelings. Autonomy and caution describe the Vigilant Style, which focuses on scanning the future to anticipate dangers ahead. Although these styles are concerned most with thinking and evaluating their environments, the other NPSP styles also engage in those activities. However, more than the other personality types, these five understand their core personalities as being defined by the health and freedom to employ their inner compasses. See also our introduction to the New Personality Self-Portrait system. To find a specific NPSP personality style for yourself or someone else, use our interactive NPSP Matrix. The Conscientious Style
A Conscientious staffer is the one destined to win the "employee of the month" award. They are devoted, organized, thorough, competent, and focused. They are adept at rising to a challenge to overcome obstacles to accomplish the seemly impossible. They don't mind putting in long hours to finish the task at hand. Anyone who has managed to accomplish goals that require dedication and hard work probably has some share of the Conscientious Style in his or her makeup, such as a doctor, lawyer, scientist, or other academic specialist. Masters at self-control and self-discipline, people with a Conscientious style are excellent at convincing themselves to do the things that need to be done. They are the ones that actually practice the long hours, stick to their diets, keep their running schedules so they can enter marathons, and generally set and achieve long-term goals through relentless follow-through. The way they operate is dictated by an inner voice that determines what should be done. They have high moral standards, and they try to live up to them. Unfortunately, the high standards of the Conscientious Style also have their downsides. When they don't manage to live up to their own high expectations, they can feel guilty. They can be judgmental, not only of themselves, but also of others, and it can difficult to measure up when being evaluated by this style. So, relationships with this style can be strained because the other styles don't have the same exacting standards. Those with the Conscientious Style tend to focus so much on work that they can forget what it means to relax and have fun. The Idiosyncratic Style
As their name implies, Idiosyncratics are the eccentrics of all the NPSP styles. They are the ones that you aren't quite sure about when you first meet them, since they are unconventional and don't seem to fit into a well-defined pattern, even this one. Like the others in the Mind group, they look inside themselves for their directions. They don't care about what others think, even though they may be well aware of what the conventions are; they only care about what makes sense to them. This means they are not willing to make compromises in order to build and keep relationships, and they often have only a few close friends. They are open to new ideas and creative speculations, from the occult to applications software programming innovations. They are curious and intrigued by new ideas. These folks love a debate and will buy the books written both in favor of, and against, a position or a theory. They often like a puzzle, a mystery, an intellectual game. Even their hobbies are things they know more about than anyone else. They are happy in their own worlds, and can easily occupy themselves. They don't need anyone else to be perfectly contented and absorbed. The flip side of their independent thinking is that Idiosyncratics can sometimes be overcome by periods of uncertainty and doubt. Since they cannot look to an outside authority for confirmation, they have only their unique, self-created belief systems to sustain them. They are sometimes involved in inner debates, which can begin with "what if" interrogations of their belief systems. These debates can create periods of anxiety until the issues are resolved. It can also be difficult for Idiosyncratics to fit into conventional molds when they must; sometimes they have to do what others do and act how others act in order to make a living. Being forced to comply with convention can be a significant source of stress for Idiosyncratics. How they negotiate a way to accommodate their distinctive lifestyle preferences with the demands of making a living can be a major hurdle. The Serious Style
The strength of this style is the ability to handle difficult situations. Since they expect life to throw them curves, Serious individuals are undeterred by hardships. Through stormy times, they provide a stalwart support for those around them. They are able to see the world clearly and think without self-delusion or denial. They are good at planning and considering alternative options before following through. They capably evaluate situations and people, and they are difficult to fool. Since they are accomplished at planning and thinking ahead, they excel at meeting contingencies and are prepared for what others would consider as surprises. Since they realize how much of life is beyond their control, they make it a point to avoid being a hardship to others. They try to be thoughtful and polite to everyone. Those of the Serious Style are not adventurous and may have somewhat grim or pessimistic demeanors. They don't take risks and are cautious about finances, relationships, career choices, and even vacation destinations. They don't need approval or recognition, and yet they are willing to work hard, even at routine tasks. The key is that this is what they expect out of life, and consequently they are willing to accept it. A weakness of Serious people is that they can be cynical and sarcastic, with their dark demeanors overshadowing their outlooks. They are not likely to be good at encouraging others; since they do not need support or praise, why should anyone else? It is fairly easy for their serious moods to shift into irritability. Longer term, this style can have trouble with depression. But just because they have a serious outlook and an unshrinking attitude towards reality does not mean that they cannot be happy. The Solitary Style
Solitaries are best described as being self-contained. They don't need anyone else for emotional support, entertainment, or companionship. They like to be by themselves, and when they are, they don't suffer pangs of loneliness. They have a narrow intensity of feelings, seeing the world in black and white without the overlay of emotion. Like the Serious Style, Solitaries are clear-eyed observers of their surroundings. They often have an unusual ability to tolerate physical pain, a trait that seems consistent with their general tendency to minimize their feelings. Concentration and focusing on the job at hand are simple for the Solitary. These traits make for an easy-to-handle employee. They can deal with criticism without any problem, using it as a way to make improvements rather than taking it personally. They are not prone to personal distractions on the job and can work well without supervision. When we look at the other side of the same coin, we see that Solitaries are not good in situations where they must interact with people. Customer relations are not going to be their strong suit. They work best when they can be given an assignment and can go off to complete the task by themselves. It can be difficult for Solitaries to form and keep relationships. They often can't find the time required to develop and nurture an intimate connection with another person. They want that time for their solo pursuits. As a result, relationships can be a source of frustration for Solitaries and for the people who try unsuccessfully to connect with them. It is very hard to keep the spark of a relationship going when one of the partners is fundamentally unromantic, unsentimental, and less than passionate. The Vigilant Style
Fighting a tendency toward pessimism, Vigilants are constantly surveying the future to catch the early warning signs of danger ahead. They play these multiple futures in their heads over and over. They are slow to warm to other people, wanting to be sure that others can be trusted before they are willing to let down their guard. Security is an important motivator — you can't be too careful. They make good critics and are excellent at finding the weaknesses in any plan of action. Vigilants are idealists, ever hoping for the best, yet what they see often confirms a reality that falls short of the ideals in their minds. This gap will lead the Vigilant to assume a watchdog role in many organizations, checking to make sure the policies are rational and people are treated fairly. They are loyal to the teams and organizations they join, and when they are managers, they expect loyalty from their staffs. A danger for the Vigilant's personality is that suspicion can grow into paranoia. They see so many possible hidden dangers that they fail to act, and life passes them by. They have a need to be in control, and when that control is lacking, they can feel adrift and vulnerable. In self-defense, when Vigilants feel cornered or otherwise threatened, they can react with aggression and forcefulness. They have tempers and are not afraid to use them. Although relationships are part of the Vigilant's repertoire, they are not good at making commitments nor are they comfortable sharing their feelings. Therefore, establishing long-term liaisons can be challenging for this style. More New Personality Self-Portrait Descriptions:  |
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The crucial feature of daily living for this style is to ensure that the right things are done in the right ways. Often seen as workaholics, its members have a remarkable and careful attention to detail. Their single-minded pursuit of perfection is supported by a persevering and determined outlook.
The nerds and mystics of the world, this style includes those whose focus is analytical, abstract, creative, and intellectual. These are the bookworms and visionaries. Its members are independent, self-directed, and rely on their inner world for company. They are sensitive and observant.
Grounded in reality, this style is able to avoid delusion and see the world for what it is. Its members are sober and do not share their feelings. They work hard because life is hard, not because they enjoy it. They are good at evaluating a situation or problem and identifying solutions.
Aloof and self-contained, this style wants to be alone. Its members are cool, calm, and collected, interacting with others in an often uncanny, even-handed, dispassionate fashion. They are good at concentrating on work, accepting criticism, and not becoming distracted.
Being prone to cautious independence, this style is comfortable being alone. Its members fight any threat to autonomy, encountering no problems making decisions on their own. They are mostly guarded and reserved, but they can be feisty in some situations. Often they are adept at handling criticism.