Artisan temperament


The Artisan temperament is one of four temperaments defined by David Keirsey. Correlating with the SP Myers-Briggs types, the Artisan temperament comprises the following role variants : Composer, Crafter, Performer, and Promoter.

Description

Artisans are concrete in speech and utilitarian in pursuing their goals. Their greatest strength is tactical variation. Their most developed intelligence role is that of either the Operator or the Entertainer.
As the stimulation-seeking temperament, Artisans prefer to live one day at a time. They may spontaneously pursue activities that offer fun or pleasure. Artisans tend to be more permissive as parents than the other temperaments, wanting their children to explore and enjoy the world.
Interests: In education, Artisans tend to seek work involving operations and equipment, which could range from a scalpel to a fighter jet.
Orientation: Artisans live in the here and now. They want to enjoy the present moment. They tend to be optimistic about the future and cynical about the past, believing that life is a series of risks or random events without any larger pattern or meaning.
Self-image: The Artisans' self-esteem is rooted in their grace and artistry; their self-respect in their boldness; and their self-confidence in their adaptability.
Values: Artisans perform well when in a state of restless energy. "They are excitable as children and they never seem to get less excitable as they grow up." They seek stimulation and trust their impulses. Prone to spontaneous acts, they want to make an impact on others. They aspire to virtuosity, taking great pleasure in practicing and mastering their technique in the pursuits that interest them.
Social roles: In romantic relationships, Artisans want a playmate, someone who can share in the pleasure and excitement they seek. As parents, Artisans are liberators, exposing their children to a wide variety of activities, encouraging them to push beyond their limits, and guiding them toward independence and self-sufficiency.

Stress

As a defense mechanism, Artisans may respond with denial, insisting that a fact is untrue despite overwhelming evidence. Since Artisans feel a need to make an impact and to be spontaneous, they become stressed when their ability to do these things becomes constrained. Boredom is another source of stress for Artisans. When under stress, they can become reckless, and they may retaliate against the source of the stress. Providing Artisans with options, such as new ways to make an impact and new activities, can relieve the stress.

Traits in common with other temperaments

Keirsey identified the following traits of the Artisan temperament:
Artisans are realistic. They want to experience events in the moment. They enjoy manipulating concrete objects, whether for practical or artistic purposes.
Artisan take pride in bold and unconventional behavior. They aren't interested in following a rule if they don't see how it serves a practical purpose.

Types

According to Keirsey: