Understanding Your Child: Type 4 of 9

In this post, I discuss type 4 of 9

Core Motivation: feel understood;

Action Goal: communicate honestly or not at all

Children strongly influenced by a type 4 core personality generally come across as shy and introverted.  They may seem to lack confidence and joie de vivre.  Type 4 children are emotionally sensitive and tend to be wary of new people and situations.  They are very intuitive and feel their intuitions and emotions strongly.  Asking a type 4 child to explain his or her feelings in logical terms is likely to alienate that child and push him further inside himself.  It is very important for children strongly influenced by a type 4 personality to have frequent opportunity for engaging in creative, artistic expression.  Once they find their creative voice of choice, they will gain confidence in themselves and trust in their world.

If you are wondering whether a child you know is influenced by a type 4 personality, it may help to ask yourself these questions:

A.   Does he or she tend to withdraw, especially where large numbers of people are present?

B.   Does he or she focus on emotional experience?

C.  Does he or she express emotions with intense language?

D.  Is he or she most relaxed around the few trusted family or friends?

E.   Does he or she get very absorbed in one or more forms of creative, artistic expression?

All of these statements would be true for most children influenced by a type 4 personality.  As always, wings influence the core type, so there may be some minor exceptions.  Type 4 children generally are very empathic to animals and those more vulnerable than themselves.  If a child in your life is strongly influenced by a type 4 core personality, focusing on supporting that child's internal world will build the trust and connection between you.