Kids on the coast

An understanding of temperament theory and personality profiling can give parents a much deeper understanding of a child and teachers a tool to enhance the effectiveness of teaching methods. Knowing how a child is wired and how he or she will respond can help us avoid conflict. If the child’s strengths are known and encouraged they will grow in confidence and self-esteem and can be taught strategies to improve areas of weakness.
 
Essentially it’s about not trying to force square pegs into round holes but celebrating what each individual has to offer. It’s important, too, for parents and teachers to be aware of their own personality styles because communication is a two-way street.

As far back as the ancient Greeks, scholars have been describing what makes people ‘tick’. Over the centuries four major patterns of human behaviour have been repeatedly identified with many common aspects looked at from different perspectives.

In modern times the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung identified eight personality types. He believed that people take in information using either their senses or intuition and they make decisions based on either objective logic or subjective feelings. The individual is either an extravert (motivated externally) or an introvert (motivated internally).

Inspired by Jung, Isabel Briggs-Myers and her mother, Katherine Briggs, created a self-report inventory called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. To those personality types identified by Carl Jung, they added judging or perceiving to indicate the lifestyle people prefer. Judging people are organised and purposeful. Perceiving people are flexible and diverse. The inventory became very popular and has been widely used in managing staff, guiding careers, improving relationships and team building.

In 1978 clinical psychologist Dr David Kiersey developed The Kiersey Temperament Sorter based on the work of Jung, Myers and Briggs. It groups people as Guardians (security seeking), Idealists (identity seeking), Artisans (sensation seeking) or Rationals (knowledge seeking). Kiersey’s aim was to help people get along better through an understanding of individual differences.

If all that sounds a little confusing, you aren’t alone. Sunshine Coast local Michael White identified a need to simplify all this important research so people could easily understand and use it. He created Aus Identities which offers a modern, simplified approach to personality profiling with a distinct Australian flavour. He says it’s “a unique way of looking at the world, of recognising the inherent differences between people and giving them a name”.

The labels Aus Identities uses for different temperaments are based on the characteristics of well- known Australian animals: kangaroos, wombats, dolphins and eagles. This simplification allows Michael to convey complex information about temperament types to school groups in a playful and understandable way. It gives students a language to talk about their discoveries and a strong visual image with which to identify.

Guidance counsellor Bronwyn Gillies divides her time equally between Nambour and Maroochydore State High Schools. She was motivated to do the Aus Identities facilitator’s course because she believed “it was a more adolescent-friendly version of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator”. Bronwyn says knowing a student’s temperament type can help a student understand why “some learning experiences work well for them, while others cause immense frustration”.

Temperament theory and learning styles are not new to teachers. But Aus Identities has turned the theory into practical strategies which can be incorporated into a teacher’s current program. The Aus Identities Teacher’s Manual says that an understanding of temperament theory can help teachers “predict topics and techniques that will interest students so that they engage better”.

“It enables teachers to match a temperament to a preferred learning style, as well as identifying the challenges for the temperament,” Bronwyn adds.
Burnside State High School deputy principal Rick Cass saw the benefits of an Aus Identities workshop for staff at the last Queensland high school he worked in. He says it is important for teachers to identify their own temperament type in order to work as productively as possible with colleagues and students.

Once a teacher understands temperament theory, a tool such as Aus Identities can be useful in giving students an understanding of individual differences. Rick says that he considers the students who have difficulty in complying in conventional classrooms (kangaroos in the Aus Identities framework) stand to benefit the most if both teacher and student understand the temperament type.
 
Aus Identities presenter Pav Cosmatos recently conducted a workshop for the Nambour High School Year 9 Pinnacle class. This fun and interactive workshop was designed to give the students an insight into individual differences so Pav led the students through a series of activities designed to help them identify some aspects of their individual personalities. First they learned whether they were predominantly extraverts (who express their feelings easily, work well in groups and learn by talking) or introverts (who hide their feelings, prefer to work alone and learn by watching)
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Next they discovered if they were sensing or intuitive learners. Sensing people rely on their five senses to understand the world. They are good on detail, like practical tasks, real-life examples and grasp facts easily but may miss the main idea. Intuitive learners use their imagination, rely on instinct and are big picture people who may miss important detail.

The students delved into their decision-making methods. The thinking group realised that they prefer to use logic, be objective and ask lots of questions. The feeling group is more subjective, relying on core values, keen to maintain harmony and help others.
 
Lastly, they learned how different people perceive the world differently. Judging people take a purposeful approach to life. They like plans, lists, structure and rules. Perceiving people have a more laid back approach. They like to explore, they are flexible and thrive on change.

At times we have all thrown our hands in the air in frustration, wondering whatever possessed our children, or students, to act the way they did. Michael White, creator of Aus Identities, says identifying people using personality types leads to a better understanding of ourselves. “It can help us all resolve relationship issues,” he says, “Knowing what motivates them and understanding their own strengths and weaknesses can also help students to make better life choices and choose rewarding career paths.”

What animal are you?
Eagle As eagles like to soar over their domain, eagle personalities like to be competent in their area of interest. They are creative problem-solvers and global thinkers. Rational, logical and clinical, they like to run their own race and use their considerable organisational skills to motivate and lead others.
 
Dolphin The dolphin smile says it all. Dolphins strive to create a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere around them. They are sensitive, imaginative, creative and kind-hearted. Dolphins are often drawn to the caring professions. Unassuming themselves, they like to motivate and support others to be the best they can possibly be.

Wombat Wombats are the ‘solid as a rock’ type. They are organised and good with detail. Reliable, determined and diligent, wombats will deliver on time, all the time. They prefer routine and clear expectations. Wombats can find change unsettling and prefer the status quo. They are good team players and strong leaders.

Kangaroo Kangaroos need plenty of action, variety and fun. Their natural inclination is to play. If they are not enjoying what they are doing they will find it difficult to conform. Kangaroos have a low tolerance of boredom and will create diversions to liven things up. They are happiest left to follow their own path.

For more information:
Aus Identities also offers a Positive Parenting program which helps parents understand their children at a deeper level and gives them the support they need to increase their confidence, self-esteem and ability to make good choices.
Visit www.ausidentities.com.au