PERSONALITY DEVOLOPEMENT SKILLS

Why are we the way we are? We know that each of us is born with our temperaments
intact independent of hereditary influence. We know that as a fully functional adult
we have a complete True Colors schema utilizing all four Colors which allows us to
call on characteristics from all four aspects of our temperament type. But don’t you
wonder how we got that way?
W. Harold Grant believed that personality type has a developmental process which
can be observed throughout an individual's life. The early phases of our lives help
determine the order of our four Colors and the development of our secondary Color.
Our third and fourth Colors are thought to be developed later in life.
Let's take a look at Grant's phases of development, using a Blue/Gold personality type
as an example:
From age 0 - 6 years
At this early age, we use all four of the Colors in an indiscriminate fashion. We "try
on" the different Colors for size, determining which ones work best for us. The little
Blue person has not yet emerged as any particular personality type, although his
parents may notice trends in behavior which appear to have the characteristics of one
or more types.
From 6 - 12 years
During this phase, our first Color begins to develop and assert itself. Our young Blue
begins to appear dreamy and introspective - he begins to prefer to use his intuition to
take in information. If he is Introverted he does this alone, if Extraverted he does this
through interaction with others. The first Blue intuitive characteristics begin to show
themselves as the prevailing aspect of his personality.
From 12 - 20 years
The second Color asserts itself as a powerful support to the first Colors. Since all
recent studies point towards the importance of a well-developed team of first AND
second Colors, this is an important time of "self-identification". Research suggests
that people without a strong second Color to complement their first Color have real
problems.
In our Blue/Gold example, we see the second Color Gold come to the front during this
phase as a support to the first Color. Since the Blue's first Color is an information
gathering Color, the second Color must be a decision making one. Without a decision
making process, we would flounder about and never get anything done! As the second
Color comes forth, our Blue person begins to develop the ability to make decisions
based on his personal value system. This second decision making process will use the
opposite Extraverted/Introverted process as the first Color. For example, if the first
Color is Introverted, than the second Color taps into the opposite Extraverted
characteristics. Since the information gathering Color is Introverted Blue (in this
example), he now taps into a second decision-making Color as an Extraverted Gold.
The Extraverted characteristic is crucial here because it drives the formation of the
third Color to Orange (most frequently Extraverted) leaving Green as this guy’s fourth
Color. Our Blue personality type now has a Color schema of Blue, Gold, Orange, and
Green and that schema is now pretty firmly set in place.
From 20 - 35 years
We begin to use our third Color more frequently and with better success. Our
Blue/Gold begins to use his Orange Color traits and characteristics. He continues to
make judgments based on order and reason with his Gold second Color, but he also
begins to take action based on personal beliefs rather than depending on the input of
others. This is when the search for the unique self that is core to Blue’s begins.
From 35 - 50 years
We pay attention to our fourth Color. We feel a need to develop it and use it more
effectively. Our Blue/Golds begins to use his Introverted thinking Color Green. He
becomes more aware of his surroundings and begins to take in information from
others in a more analytical, scientific sense. He continues to rely on his first Color to
take in information, but he is more able to use his fourth Color than he has ever been
before in his life. Some researchers have attested that the appearance of our fourth
Colors at this phase of life may be responsible for what we commonly call the "midlife
crisis".
From 50 onwards
From this age until our deaths, we have accessibility to all four Colors. However,
because we live n a society run predominantly by Gold personality types, we use them
in a more disciplined, differentiated manner than when we were very young. Our
basic personality type continues to assert itself, but we are able to call upon all four
Colors when needed.