With all their differences, some personality types may seem a little strange to each other, and that can make families relatively interesting. We’re not talking about chosen families like significant others and kids (who may also be interesting and strange), but parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. A family often has its own unique character, a culture unto itself shaped by shared elements foreign to those outside it.
Some of that culture can be related to personality type. Family members don’t need to be similar types to feel close, but even a single shared personality trait can bring an additional sense of kinship. When it comes to extended families, there may be more connections than just biology and history. Many of us try to identify the personality types of people in our lives, and family is a great place to do this. Personality theory can refine the understanding between relatives, helping us better appreciate the familiar.
To inspire such thinking, we thought it would be fun to look at the four Role groups as if they were families. Of course, it’s very unlikely that everyone in a real family would fall into just one Role, but perhaps some of these (admittedly, somewhat exaggerated) descriptions sound like a few of your relatives.
Analyst Families
Social ineptitude and technical aptitude often abound in Analyst families. These people may sound familiar if you’re a cog in the workings of an Analyst family:
- A dad who laboriously manipulates complex rebate programs to get back just a few dollars.
- A mom addicted to difficult crossword and Sudoku puzzles.
- A brother who spends more time arguing in excruciating detail on social media than socializing.
- A sister who revels in advanced STEM classes.
Analyst personalities sometimes prioritize their rational thoughts over their feelings, making them seem a little distant even when their hearts are in the right place. Social awareness is rarely their forte, but they can be adept at understanding the world around them. With such active minds, they get bored easily and are always fiddling with conceptual projects. Analyst families are full of witty humor, ideas to make things better, and excitement for what might be. They’re thrilled to share their clever thoughts, especially if they can help those they love.
Diplomat Families
Deep, creative thought and sincere concern for other people are common aspects of Diplomat families. If you’ve got a lot of artists in the family – or if your relatives are outraged at having to smuggle raw milk due to FDA rules – they might be Diplomats. If your relatives seem like any of these people, you might be in the embrace of a Diplomat family:
- An aunt with a thriving New Age crystal shop.
- A cousin who expertly photographs – and then collects – flowers.
- A sculptor uncle too busy creating masterworks to figure out how to sell them.
- An outspoken activist parent.
Diplomats tend to put imagination and feelings first, and while they’re often passionate about their hopes and ideals, they occasionally struggle with practical realities. In these families, connections between people are goals unto themselves, and the spiritual often trumps the physical. Diplomat personalities not only care, they care despite stiff odds. Lofty ideas, a persistent belief in the intangible, and irrepressible love make life in a Diplomat family inspired, unusual, and frequently beautiful.
Sentinel Families
Cooperation, stability, and self-discipline are values often found in Sentinel families. If your family likes schedules and routines, they might be Sentinels. Such family members don’t need to be unusual to be amazing, and if these sound like your relatives, you might be in a nest of Sentinel personalities:
- A grandfather with an impeccable lawn.
- A mother who’s been loyal to the same job for 20 years.
- A dad who organizes youth sports.
- A grandmother who calmly babysits multiple generations without breaking a sweat.
Such families embrace traditions, though their specific ideals and backgrounds can vary widely. In Sentinel families, appreciation for duty and convention doesn’t necessarily create limitation, but security. Following the serviceable road right in front of them makes them unlikely to get lost in the weeds. Practicality, responsibility, and heartfelt loyalty are just a few of the ways Sentinel families make happy and secure lives together.
Explorer Families
Irreverent individualism and thirst for novelty are common in Explorer families. If your relatives march to their own drum regardless of the world’s judgments, they might be Explorers. These personalities can find satisfaction by embracing the moment. If this sounds like your relatives, you might be along for the ride in an Explorer family:
- A freewheeling aunt who excels in sales.
- A mom who is an expert dog trainer when she feels like it.
- A skilled hairdresser brother who dislikes dealing with people.
- An outdoorsy dad who’s just as happy to hike alone as with others.
These families are full of uniqueness, acceptance, and carefree practicality – they unabashedly take things as they come. In Explorer families, “anything goes” support for each other makes finding personal freedom easy. An uncomplicated, flexible kind of love bonds these families while they do things their own way. When conflicts arise in Explorer families, they can let go and move on. These families prefer to chase happiness rather than dwell on the past or worry about the future.
Conclusions
We hope these examples get you wondering about the personality types in your own family. Understanding personality traits gives new insight even about those we already know well. You can discover more about the personality types of your extended family members by encouraging them to take our free personality test. You can also share your perspectives and experiences regarding family matters through our related online surveys.
We here at 16Personalities love understanding people better, and personality type theory helps us appreciate what we have in common with our relatives – and their differences. Do you see a thread of similarity among the types in your family, perhaps through specific traits? Does your family have an oddball personality type who’s different from the rest? How do you fit into the mix? We’d love to hear about the personality types in your extended family in the comments below.
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