For at least 2,500 years we have known that there are four temperaments, but which temperament are you? The four temperaments are represented by four colours: Orange-Adventurous (SP), Gold-Responsible (SJ), Blue-Harmonious (NF), and Green-Curious (NT). (The letters after each temperament represents how they relate to personality types that we have discussed in previous articles.) Of the four temperaments, the Orange-Adventurous temperament is probably the most noticeable. These include our actors, sports players, singers, crafts people, as well as the trades people, builders, repair workers, and sales people. Their world is tools. The tool they use might even be their body in the case of a boxer or a singer. They have an instinctive knowledge of how to use a tool to its best advantage. They use tools in very practical ways. If a tool will get the job done, they’ll use it.
Another characteristic of this temperament is how the Orange use words. Their words are very concrete and factual. They tend to talk about cars, clothing, how fast something will go, or how two colours match. If you’ve been to a party where one group talks about skidoos and hockey, and another group talks about babies, cooking and fashion, you are likely in Orange conversations. It’s not that Orange’s aren’t interested in world peace. It is just that it is not the first topic that comes to mind when they gather together.
The fox is the animal
that might represent the Orange temperament. A fox does not plan its day.
It just goes out each morning knowing that it has to survive. It is constantly
scanning the countryside to see if any opportunities present themselves.
Oranges function in a similar way. They don’t like to plan. They want to
see what turns up, and they have the confidence to know they can deal with
any situation.
When we are discussing temperament, we are looking at overall behaviours and what motivates them. A core need for Oranges is the ability to act on impulse. That doesn’t mean being immature and irresponsible, but rather it is an instinctive knowing how to do something and knowing that they can do it. This can be a playful and fun loving kind of behaviour, but it also means being able to solve very practical problems, such as how to fix a car, put a dress together, or solve a complex engineering problem.
It is thought that over 90% of dropouts are Oranges, and only 2% of the teachers are Orange. Oranges have the same range of intelligence as any other temperament. They just find formal learning rather tedious and don’t like to be bothered reading the books to master an academic subject. When they do go on to higher education, they tend to go into areas such as engineering or the fine arts.
When Oranges are in a restrictive environment, they get bored, restless and stressed. This is very evident in school. When Orange children have to sit for long periods of time listening to the teacher or having to do repetitive work, they turn to mischief to liven things up. Many get misdiagnosed as being hyperactive. Lots of variety and hands-on activities can often calm these students down and are much more effective ways for them to learn. At home parents are advised to get them in lots of activities such as sports or dance classes.
Adult Oranges need lots of variety as well. They tend to avoid committee work but will take on a short term project such as fund raising. When the job is over they move on to something else. When they do get on a committee that is running very smoothly, they have even been known to create a few problems just to liven things up.
Another core need of Oranges is to have impact on people. They want recognition for how well they perform. This could be how well they hit a ball, repair a toilet, act in a play, or write a song. They do things because it is fun to do. An Orange will practise hitting baseball flies for hours. He does not think of it as drill. It’s just fun to do. Another temperament might also want to be a great ball player, but will do the practice because he knows it has to be done.
When an Orange is too confined, she follows the motto: Don’t get mad. Get even. This is particularly noticeable in the teen years. Most teens rebel to a certain extent, but an Orange teenagers can become quite vindictive when thwarted from their freedom. They still need firm guidelines, but confrontation is not always the best way to handle them.
As lovers and spouses Oranges prefer a freewheeling lifestyle. There is often a mutual attraction between the Orange- Adventurous and the Gold-Responsible temperaments. Oranges want the traditional, organizational part that Golds bring to the relationship. However, as frequently happens with all of the temperaments, they try to change their spouses to be like them. If they do succeed, they may find that their spouses no longer interested them. The answer is to love what you have and appreciate the differences. Oranges have so many gifts we all can enjoy.
When this series of articles was written, only one more article on temperament was written for EnergyMedicine. For articles on all of the four temperaments, see Introduction to Appreciating Differences Thru Colours.