Surrounded By Idiots

All personality types experience stress, but their stressors often differ. For instance, Reds are more likely to be stressed out when they feel left out of decision making and are deprived of authority and control. A lack of interesting challenges, or too much dull routine, can also be stressful for them. Since Reds prize efficiency and productivity, wasting time and failing to achieve good outcomes is also very frustrating for this type. A stressed Red may blame others, become excessively critical, or simply work much harder. To ease their stress they should be encouraged to exercise, preferably in a competitive race or similar activity, to manage their stress in a healthful way.

Yellows feel stressed when they are overlooked, isolated, or confronted with pessimism or negativity. They hate feeling contained by rigid routines and structures, and are easily wounded by criticism. A stressed Yellow may cope with their tension by becoming more delusional, and proposing “wild and outlandish” ideas (Location 3216). They might also become overly attention-seeking and intrusive. Erikson recommends tasking a Yellow with organizing a social function in order to relieve their stress.

Meanwhile, Greens feel disturbed when they are unable to complete tasks, and work in ever-changing, unstable conditions. They are very discouraged when they have to redo their work, or work while in conflict with other people. Green people suffer when they are deprived of privacy and alone time. This personality will de-stress by relaxing, or by doing a fun solo activity like gardening or watching a movie.

Lastly, Blues are stressed by unexpected, spontaneous decisions that depart from their expected plan. Even pleasant surprises can feel disruptive to a Blue person. Asking a Blue to be flexible and work moment-to-moment will likely cause them major distress. Making careless mistakes and taking risks also contribute to Blues’ stress, as does working with very emotional people. Stressed-out Blues may become grumpy and pessimistic, or overly rely on their intellect and critical thinking. Giving a Blue plenty of time and space to complete their tasks will help them regain the structure and privacy they need to do their best work. The author reiterates that by paying attention to what each personality interprets as a stressor, people can avoid unnecessary tension and conflict.

Erikson reflects on how, historically, different cultures have understood the concept of personality. Greek thinker Hippocrates’s notion of “humoral pathology” claimed that people are either “Melancholic,” “Choleric,” “Phlegmatic,” or “Sanguine” (Location 3336). Erikson praises Hippocrates’s outlook on the human body, crediting him for his relatively rational approach in a time when medicine was largely superstitious. He emphasizes that Hippocrates’s four temperaments correspond neatly to the theory of personality described in Surrounded by Idiots.

Erikson explains that the Aztecs, a civilization based in modern-day Mexico, also grouped people into four categories. In their culture these were based on the four elements: Fire, Air, Earth, and Water. He emphasizes the parallels between the DISC method, Hippocrates’s theory, and the Aztecs’ personality groups, claiming they are all “different names for the same thing” (Location 3359).

Erikson explains that, in the early 20th century, William Moulton Marston, an American psychologist, was interested in understanding the emotional and behavioral patterns of healthy people. In an effort to categorize people into broad personality groups, Marston developed the DISC method, an acronym for the following categories: Dominance, Influence, Stability, and Compliance. Later, American Bill Bonnstetter built on Marston’s theories in his work at Target Training International, a company which provides assessments and advice on how to achieve cooperation in the workplace.