This page supports the post on Dr Helen Fisher’s Personality Test for Love, transposed for Facebook notes. If you happened on here without knowing about the other post or the topic, you might want to give it a try.
If you were here after completing the Facebook note, you can copy whatever here you like to add to it to enhance it. I recommend grabbing the sections with the headers of your two major personality types: Explorers, Builders, Directors and Negotiators. It might make for a long note so you might want to limit what you cut, too, but I think it’s all very interesting. The rest is additional information for your curiosity if you care to know more. Some good general advice from Dr Fisher appears near the end, along with a video of a talk she gave at a TED conference.
According to Dr Helen Fisher, we each have some amount of four personality types in her test: Explorer, Builder, Director and Negotiator. Their sources are high activity among two sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) and two neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin). The dominant two personalities of the four, the two for which you had the two highest scores, are most influential in defining who you are. So the way you should read your result of PRIMARY/Secondary is to slur them together, like I’m a Director Explorer. The slash (/) does not imply or. Likewise, you preferred match should be read the same way, like I prefer Negotiator Explorer types, meaning someone who is a Negotiator first, and Explorer second, not Negotiators or Explorers, although either type would be a natural secondary preference.
As for attraction, Dr Fisher found that some personality types are attracted to complementary opposites, while others are attracted to similar types who enhance each other. That explains the big debate on whether opposites attract or whether birds of the same feather flock together. However, there are other factors at play, of course. Dr Fisher openly points out that
… you tend to fall in love with somebody from your same socioeconomic background, same general level of intelligence, same general level of good looks, same religious value… But you can walk into a room where everybody meets those requirements, and you don’t fall in love with all of them! …We tend to fall in love with somebody who can give us what we need in exchange for giving them what they need. Timing is important, proximity is important.
Dr Fisher is not trying to take any joy out of dating to figure things out exactly, just trying to do some preselecting so you don’t have to kiss a lot of frogs.
Below are some descriptions of each personality type from Dr Fisher’s test. I have written some information on my own, while grabbing other bits from these various sources which I thought complemented each other well:
- Dr Fisher’s book, Why Him? Why Her?
- Dr Fisher’s “lab” in the match-making site, Chemistry.com
- Dr Fisher’s interview in Elle magazine online
I have also included information on each type’s “natural attractions”, which is what people really want to know. How I would interpret “natural attractions” is that those natural matches would tend to get along easiest and be most enduring as couples, statistically in the long run. That’s a statistical trend summary, not an overall statement that would be true for everyone by any means. There are too many other factors making each of us who we are and making us very different from another of the same personality type, even right down to the proportions. But if you had to bet on things, bet on those natural matches consistently to make money in the long run.
One final note. In the Chemistry.com site test from where Dr Fisher gets her data from over 7 million members strong now, your scores for every personality type is added together to make the whole. Then your score for each type is divided by this whole* to get a percentage of dominance each has of you. For example: 31% Director, 27% Explorer, 26% Negotiator, 16% Builder. Such a balanced profile shows not only a lack of dominance in personality, but also leaves that person with 3 of 4 significant factors for a mismatch rather than the 2 of 4 most people would have. However, when that person need to play chameleon, for real situation requiring it like working with certain others, it’s not hard for that person to do so, and less tiresome on them than others not so well balanced. Just something to think about.
* The Chemistry.com test has a few other questions involving pictures which factors into the whole, with unknown weighing factors, but since I cannot duplicate that, we will work with the “book” test in the post this post supports as it were.
Explorers
Explorers are a product of high dopamine activity (associated with curiosity and spontaneity).
Explorers are curious, creative, adventurous, sexual, impulsive and self-reliant. They are also known for high energy, novelty, risk and pleasure seeking ways, and not being easily swayed by opinion.
In one sampling (39,913 profiles), Dr Fisher found 26.0% were Explorers. The gender difference was 27.1% for men and 26.1% for women, but that was statistically significant due to the large sample size. It is small, though, still, and not surprising because the dominant chemical, dopamine, is a neurotransmitter, not a sex hormone like testosterone or estrogen. Compare results to that of Directors and Negotiators, which have dominant sex hormone chemicals, to see the difference.
The Explorers want the stimulation and the novelty of the big city, says Dr Fisher, who suspects President Barack Obama is an Explorer. He’s got charm, and the Explorer has charm to kill. The high-dopamine type is comfortable in his own skin. Look at the way Obama moves. It’s beautiful.
Other well-known Explorers include President John F. Kennedy, Boris Yeltsin, Helen Keller (who was quite the Explorer!), Ernest Hemmingway, Alfred Tennyson and Robert Schumann. Not surprisingly, they are a fairly creative bunch, as Explorers tend to be.
The top word used by Explorers in their Chemistry.com profiles is adventure. (178,000 profiles sample)
Explorers live a rich and varied life because they’re such energetic, even restless people who regard time in a different way than most others. They move fast. Their natural curiosity draws them to all kinds of different situations where they can come up with new ideas, practice their theories and generate new thoughts. Shifting their attention from one problem to another is not a problem for them, they are always looking for more thrills and excitement in their lives. Their adventurous streak sometimes makes them take unnecessary risks, leaving them prone to breaking the law more often than other types would. But with a little help from the people around them, they can also make excellent scientists and athletes – they certainly have the hunger and devotion that these jobs need.
Explorers are very likable people with generous minds and happy attitudes to life and people around them. They have a playful nature, they can be sensual and enjoy life to the point of being hedonistic. At the same time, they are unpredictable and hard to rely upon, which does not make them good marriage material. They are not prone to routine and don’t tolerate boredom very well. Their impatience can make them selfish companions as they don’t generally bend themselves to anyone’s rules.
Explorers are drawn to other Explorers. In a survey of 28,128 anonymous Chemistry.com members who were paired up with another, Male Explorers preferred female Explorers 41% of the time while preferring Directors least at 16%. Female Explorers had an even greater preference at 46%, but was pretty much even on preference for any of the other three categories. That general non-preference towards the other categories can be attributed to the Explorer’s flexibility, curiosity and willing to try just about anything once.
The proposed reasoning behind Explorers being drawn to other Explorers because they crave excitement. They want optimism, impulsivity and curiosity in their partner. The Explorer/Explorer match is generally strong because Explorers love adventure and want a partner to share their spontaneity. But this match can have problems. Since both are willing to tolerate risks, two Explorers can find themselves in disastrous situations. And Explorers are not usually very introspective so the pair often avoids difficult discussions. However, the Explorers, typical of their adventurous nature, have a completely different way of propagating their genes compared to the other matches that are done through stable family units. Says Dr Fisher, [what] I find curious from an evolutionary standpoint is the attraction between Explorers. Who’s going to take care of the baby if they’re both on their way up Mount Everest, or in the bar taking drugs, or in the library reading Spinoza? But people who express a lot of dopamine, the sensation seekers, tend to marry more often. I began to see a different Darwinian strategy—different babies with different partners. That’s very adaptive, because they’re creating more genetic variety in their young.
Builders
Builders are a product of high serotonin activity (associated with sociability and feelings of calm).
Builders are calm, persistent, loyal, traditional, cooperative, social and managerial. They are also usually very popular, consistent, protective, with deep attachment to home and family, low anxiety.
In one sampling (39,913 profiles), Dr Fisher found 28.6% were Builders. The gender difference was 27.6% for men and 29.4% for women, but that was definitely statistically significant due to the large sample size. The relatively small difference was not surprising because the dominant chemical, serotonin, is a neurotransmitter, not a sex hormone like testosterone or estrogen. Compare results to that of Directors and Negotiators, which have dominant sex hormone chemicals, to see the difference.
The Builders live in the suburbs and in the countryside. They want grass and neighborhoods and to be part of the PTA, says Dr Fisher.
Well-known Builders include President George Washington, a Builder “par excellence” as Dr Fisher says in her book. She meant it, too, because she devoted the Builders chapter practically to George! She mentioned Washington’s wife Martha, who also sounded like a Builder herself.
The top word used by Builders in their Chemistry.com profiles is family. (178,000 profiles sample)
Builders are considered to be calm, with good people skills, open for relationships, affable and social. The reason why Builders tend to be successful in most social situations is that they find them fun and relaxing. They love socializing and have a close circle of friends since duty and loyalty are amongst the traits they value highly. Their loyalty to friends and family is often absolute.
Builders are careful and cautious people. They don’t often plunge head over heels into new adventures. They are not dreamers with their heads in the clouds. They think in concrete terms. They’re well-prepared and not inclined to make the same mistake twice. Builders also tend to be very sensible when it comes to business and money matters. They like to be safe and secure, therefore things are always in perfect order around them and they plan well ahead.
Traditions and social norms are important for Builders. They hold moral standards in very high regard. They are not easily bored or distracted, and that allows them to be methodical, dependable and hard-working. Other people tend to turn to them in times of need. They truly can be regarded as the pillars of the community. At the same time, due to their picky of doing things the ‘right way’, they can be hostile towards other solutions. They are considered to be very headstrong, even stubborn people who will not easily let go of their plans. Their need for order, rules and regulations is not the best basis for spontaneity. They can quite easily delve into being pessimistic, too rigid and taking things way too literally.
Builders usually fall for other Builders. In a survey of 28,128 anonymous Chemistry.com members who were paired up with another, Male Builders preferred female Builders 38% of the time while preferring Negotiators least at 15%. Female Builders preferred male Builders 35% of the time, and also preferred Negotiators least at 16%. The dislike for Negotiators seems to be between literal and metaphoric, tradition and theoretical, practicality and idealism. There was also a universal dislike for Directors, at about 19%, probably for their independence and individualism rather than community-orientation, not to mention the former’s directness.
Builders are most likely to marry each other, to say they are happy in their marriage and less likely to divorce than other combination. Builders like bringing people and community together and enjoy working together. They are successful at building large circles of close friends, making sensible decisions about money, family and feelings together. They value security above almost everything. Dr Fisher says of the Builders’ preference for each other: They’re not going to tolerate the other types. They’re both traditional, managerial. These are the 50-year marriages. They’re going to have five children. That’s easy to explain from a Darwinian perspective.
Directors
Directors are a product of high testosterone activity (associated with independence and rational thinking). Although it’s a male hormone, it’s shared by both sexes. Women Directors certainly aren’t rare (1/10 among women, 1/20 among total population).
Directors are analytical, decisive, focused, inventive, competitive, independent and strategic-minded. They are also daring, original, direct, non-conforming, skilled at abstract thinking and short-term planning, often assertive, tough-minded and efficient.
In one sampling (39,913 profiles), Dr Fisher found only 16.3% were Directors. The gender difference was 24.8% for men and just 9.7% for women. This difference was massive due to the large sampling size and small error as a result, but it should not be surprising. The dominant chemical, testosterone, is a a sex hormone that is produced by both sexes, but dominant in men. Compare results to that of Explorers and Builders, which have dominant neurotransmitter chemicals, to see the difference.
Dr Fisher suspects that John McCain is an aggressive, high-testosterone Director. She says I saw a photograph of McCain and noticed that his fourth finger is much longer than his second. Directors are who they are.
Other famous Directors included Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton (whose partner Bill is a Negotiator) and Dr Phil McGraw.
The top word used by Directors in their Chemistry.com profiles is intelligence. (178,000 profiles sample)
The Director’s chief characteristic is competitiveness. It is important for them to be the best in everything they try. They usually achieve that, too. Pragmatic, tough-minded and decisive, Directors are never taken aback by difficult situations. On the contrary, they can keep a level head and make up their minds quickly, even if they are faced with difficult choices.
Directors love rational analysis, logical reasoning and objectivity and are not prone to fall into many traps. They tend to be attentive, paying lots of attention to details and often focus on the minutiae details of their life. This makes their lives easier while they are heading towards that specific goal and they rarely waste time on their way to reaching it.
Directors employ theoretical ways of thinking. They are not afraid to come up with new ideas and work their way to their solution. If that means they have to make unpopular decisions, so be it. Dangerous ways don’t stifle them at all. Their persistence is often the key to their success.
Directors don’t have problems with understanding how machines work or systems operate, which makes them good with computers. Good math and biology skills give them frequent opportunities to succeed in the worlds of finance, medicine or architecture, but they can be good at sports or music, too. Even if their interests are narrow, they tend to pursue them deeply and thoroughly.
However, Directors are sometimes considered to be cold and calculating people who would rather work to reach to their goal, irrespective of the people that need to be trampled upon to get to the goal. Their social skills are not great and they rarely make efforts to seem more social or affable. They can appear distant and cold, only tending to please those who might be useful to them.
Directors’ success can make them overly confident, which can result in arrogance. Their preciseness and punctuality can seem uncompromising and their forthrightness rude. Also, because they don’t tend to ponder over things, they can miss the nuances of social situations and personal feelings. At the same time, though, they are dedicated, loyal and interested in sharing their ideas, which means Directors can make close friends. They can be very protective of those they love.
Directors take dating seriously and are clear in their intentions. And the sparks will fly in the bedroom—Directors have a high sex drive.
(from Chemistry.com since I am this, so if you have text for other personalities, please do share!)
Dating tips for Directors:
(from Chemistry.com since I am this, so if you have the text for the other personalities, please do share!)
- Not everyone is as direct, focused and “to the point” as you are. So make sure you give potential partners the time they need to express themselves. You will probably be surprised at their logic and intellect.
- Your competitive spirit is useful in the office but it doesn’t work in dating–unless you find someone who likes to challenge and debate. When that happens, go for it. Otherwise, try to listen actively.
- Aim at investigating some of the “grey areas” during an invigorating conversation. Much of the world does not see in black and white.
- Separate work from play. Try to get your assignments out of your mind while on a date—so you can truly enjoy your “down time” with a partner.
- Make sure to schedule enough time to get to know someone.
- Try looking directly into the eyes of your partner during a conversation; many people find this “anchoring gaze” a powerful form of intimacy.
Directors are drawn to Negotiators, and vice-versa. In a survey of 28,128 anonymous Chemistry.com members who were paired up with another, Male Directors preferred female Negotiators 38% of the time while preferring Builders least at 16%. Female Directors preferred male Negotiators at a similar 37% to the male preference, and preferred Builders least at 19%. Builders are probably just too traditional and cautious for the bold and unconventional Directors.
The theory behind Directors and Negotiators being drawn to each other is because they compliment each other. Negotiators see the big picture while Directors focus on smaller pieces of the puzzle. Negotiators are skilled at seeing all angles without taking action and Directors are decisive yet don’t often analyze ancillary data. The two types are also compatible socially. Negotiators are good at smoothing over Directors’ inappropriate comments and Directors admire the diplomatic nature of Negotiators. Dr Fisher says of the Director / Negotiator match: They need each others’ skills. The indecisive need the decisive. The tough-minded need the tenderhearted.
Negotiators
Negotiators are a product of high estrogen activity (associated with intuition and creativity). However, this does not mean that men have nothing to do with estrogen. There are lots of male Negotiators , and it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s much feminine about them.
Negotiators are imaginative, verbal, intuitive, idealistic, agreeable and introspective. They excel at seeing the big picture, long-term planning and consensus building, all the while being flexible, socially skilled, empathetic and nurturing.
In one sampling (39,913 profiles), Dr Fisher found only 29.1% were Negotiators. The gender difference was 20.4% for men and a whopping 35.8% for women. This difference was massive due to the large sampling size and small error as a result, but it should not be surprising. The dominant chemical, estrogen, is a a sex hormone that is produced by both sexes, but dominant in women. Compare results to that of Explorers and Builders, which have dominant neurotransmitter chemicals, to see the difference.
Famous Directors include Oprah Winfrey, Charles Darwin, the fictional Sherlock Holmes and its creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Bill Clinton (paired with a Director in Hillary Clinton, with whom he “negotiated” their continued marriage after the Lewinski affair no less!).
The top word used by Negotiators in their Chemistry.com profiles is passion. (178,000 profiles sample)
The main characteristics of Negotiators are the way they deal with people and social situations, as their name suggests. They are very good with people and have a strong insight to minds and hearts, almost instinctively knowing what others are thinking and feeling. They are good at reading facial expressions, gestures, postures and tone of voice.
As much as Negotiators are interested in other people, they are also interested in reading themselves, which makes them quite introspective and self-analytical. They like finding behind the reasons of their actions, words, thoughts, motives, hidden meanings, etc. Also, in relationships, they have a tendency to go to great lengths to deeply analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their match.
All this doesn’t mean they’re rigid in their ways. On the contrary, they are mentally quite flexible, weighing up all the pros and cons before reaching any decision. This gives them an opportunity to choose between a lot of different ways how to react to something and how to proceed. The Negotiator’s way of thinking is never linear, rather more contextual, expanding into width rather than length. This makes them very tolerant towards any kind of ambiguity.
Negotiators are considered to be intuitive and creative, with a solid and theoretical way of thinking. They are good with words, being fluent, rapid, innovative and broad with vocabulary. They are also very agreeable, easily accommodating, compassionate, social-minded and patient, friendly, authentic, earnest and diplomatic.
However, there are some downsides to the Negotiators’ ways. Because of their inability to be confrontational, they can sometimes appear spineless. Instead of putting their foot down, they can turn to secretive means, operating behind someone’s back. While they are pondering the means of action, the situations can run past them, sometimes getting out of their hands. The careful reconstruction of every step, word, action and thought in a romantic relationship, going over and over it to come up with even the most subtle meaning behind them can be quite suffocating and tiresome.
Negotiators are drawn to Directors, and vice-versa. In a survey of 28,128 Chemistry.com members who were paired up with another, Male Negotiators preferred female Directors 40% of the time while preferring Builders least at 20%. However, there was a similar non-preference for Explorers and other Negotiators as the male Negotiators may feel he can negotiate his way through, or possibly out, of other predicaments. Female Negotiators, meanwhile, preferred male Directors at 36%, but had a strong dislike for Explorers, preferring them only 14% of the time. However, Dr Fisher pointed out there weren’t enough Negotiator/Explorer pairs in the sample to determine if this were a dependable conclusion. That said, if it were, Dr Fisher speculates that male Explorers probably remind female Negotiators of the “bad boys” they knew in high school and college.
See the Directors’ matching comments for why Directors and Negotiators are drawn to each other.
Matching statistics and likelihoods aside, though, it is very important to note Dr Fisher firmly believes all 10 combinations can work. They can all be superb, as long as the partners continue to respect each other
In the book, I say, “You want to get along with a Director? Ask him what he thinks. You want to get along with an Explorer? Ask him what he does. You want to get along with a Builder? Ask him who he knows. And you want to get along with a Negotiator? Ask him how he feels.” It sounds pigeonholing, but we have personalities that evolved for good reasons. We’re subtle and flexible—but not that subtle and flexible. At the end, I have a chapter on mind mates, soul mates. For example, Negotiators really need intimacy, and they have a certain definition of what it is—face-to-face talk about how you feel. I can’t get that from my Director friends. Or even my Explorer friends. I asked a man I was going out with, “What is intimacy to you?” He said, “Reading in bed at night to you.” So I have to train myself to realize that he’s giving me intimacy even though I don’t feel it. I like it when he reads to me in bed at night, but that’s not my intimacy. You ask me what we’re supposed to get out of this. Are we just giving the biology of these types? No—we’re trying to give tools so you can reach people.
So keep the faith and respect, learn to spot the frogs to avoid unless you like kissing frogs (it’s possible) and good luck!!! 🙂
Digital Citizen 
Dating Tips for Explorers
•You are curious and flexible; so you can get involved in a relationship too quickly, and then wonder how you got in so deep so fast. Step back and reflect before you leap.
•You like excitement and novelty. But some routines can expand into wonderful traditions. Kindle some regularities in your partnership.
•You hate to confront, so you tend to break up with silence or absence. Develop some forthrightness. Your disappointed partner will appreciate your honesty and you will feel more liberated.
•Search for ways to inspire a partner who appears traditional. You may draw out a cautious person who loves your spirit and wants to go exploring with you.
•You tend to be popular. So when you find someone you are genuinely interested in, avoid other dating opportunities and concentrate on this mate.
•You prefer to take a relationship one day at a time. But when you find your partner in adventure, create imaginative ways to make a deeper commitment.
Thanks SO much! I guess it takes an Explorer to share this as no other types have. The others just aren’t adventurous enough to do so… as predicted by Dr Helen Fisher. 🙂
As a negotiator, I find this information fascinating and very applicable to the mechanics of mating/dating. Further study is needed to be sure that the person(s) to whom I am attracted will be ‘on the same page’ so to speak, so we can grow together emotionally.
I enjoy books, sites, and talks like Ms. Fisher gave. It is always educational to learn more about yourself and why you are like you are.
Yes, I agree. More study do need to be done, but Ms. Fisher has a good start. And yes, everybody should learn more about themselves. That’s LEARN more about themselves as you said, for those who may not totally understand, not pay more attention to themselves in the sense of vanity. Two entirely different things. Thanks for your comment.
[…] Was listening to Class 95 on my way home last night. Love Songs, my favourite show of the station. The main highlight of last night’s show was Dr Helen Fisher and her Why him/why her personality test. Basically, Yas was telling listeners that according to Dr Fisher, we’re all classified under 4 traits of personality and which personality is attracted to which other personality in LOVE.(That explains the title, Why him/why her) There’s the Explorers, Builders, Directors and Negotiators. There’s a link for you guys to take the test, and there’ll be another web for you to interpret your results. https://digitalcitizen.ca/2009/08/02/facebook-note-helen-fishers-why-himwhy-her-personality-test-for-love/ (But if you’re lazy like me, and already know who you are, you can skip doing the test) https://digitalcitizen.ca/y/ […]
i love the test, totally true about myself! and the choice of the partner!! Thank you Helen, you explained a lot to me!!!
I thought the test was fabulous, too, which was why I shared it.
I could not take the personality test for love..technical problems.I would like to take the test.what changes do I do ???
I am writting from India. How does one learn in depth to be a guide /teacher of the work / teachings of Helen fischer.
still trying to understand ..the 4 types.
I had liked the smell related writing before—chosing ones partner by smells ..I could not find the details today…
very Interesting.
What does it mean if you are very closely matched in percentages to all four types? My Q&A results label me as a Director with a secondary trait as an Explorer, but in reality all four are terribly close:
26% Director
25% Explorer
24% Negotiator
22% Builder
I can definitely see all four as strong influences in my personality, but it was’t always so. The last 3 years working to start up a me and my business partner’s company has forced me to take on new roles and juggle them with my old comfortable skills. I’m not sure if that’s for better or worse yet, but for sure I am changing and evolving as a consequence.
Have many in the studies fall into this very closely aligned configuration? Would be interesting to know.
Tessa Kinney-Johnson
Hi Tessa, thanks for your comments. I don’t think very many people fall that closely balanced as with your score. If there were, a lot of people would not have very distinct personalities. By that, I mean they’d be hard to figure out or describe because nothing would truly stand out about them. Everything you think of them, you could probably think of a case where they were the opposite and counter yourself. That “balance” would end up being one’s identity, but people tend to have trouble describing balance rather than clear stand out traits.
Personally, though, I believe the balance is the better way to go, even if it may not be in the eyes of others who prefer people who are “boxable” in personality. The trick is to know when to put forth the right traits for the situation, and when not to put the wrong one out if you put the right one out. In other words, you’d be more flexible, but if you don’t know when to be flexible in the right way, well, you could be worse off than someone with a distinct personality where it’d be right for the circumstance some of the time, inevitably. Help any? 🙂
I came close % with a few types. Rather than numbers you can better define and understand yourself by reading the book or audio book and really understanding the types. It really is valuable understanding what drives a partner and how they show intimacy. Thus avoiding confusion to nurture a relationship or end it if that is best.
I heard Dr Hellen Fisher on a soulmate summit CD and just had to take the test!!! I am a primary Negotiator (36%) and seconday (Explorer 28%) – Yep it’s me !!! Ms Hellen was right i perceive male explorers as bad boys !! I have wondered for years and i mean years what personality fits best with me and I have to agree a Director would be a good match for me. This is just the beginning for me … I’m 42 and never considered getting dating advice, strategies, knowledge etc …. ahh the dating mistakes i’ve made ..Ha Ha My reality is that i was emotionally unavailable and attracted the same for years…not anymore with the help of Ms Fisher and other experts on the topic of love …soul connection!! First to love onself and the rest should be easier with a few experts on my side 🙂 I cannot wait to get Why him Why her !!! Thanks Ms Fisher for a great first step … in attracting positive dating experiences on my way to my soulmate!! Thanks for this amazing gift!!
Thanks for sharing, Michelle. VERY fascinating story you’ve got there! Great insight and I’m glad you figured it out before it was too late. Enjoy Dr Fisher’s book. I LOVED IT!!!
I too took the test and came within 3-4 points of each type. So, I thought I’d take it again to see if insight into the types would sway my answers. My spread was almost exactly the same. I think my results will change based on what mood I’m in. I identify traits with each of the types. I used to think of myself as a chameleon as I would take on some of the traits of whomever I happened to be with. Not on purpose, but it would happen nonetheless.
I find that I end up in relationships and agonize over whether they’re the right one… the Negotiator?. I can get an idea in my head and loose all flexibility, or my need to be right outweighs my need to get along… the Builder?. I love to be impulsive and have adventures, but with a calculated risk… the Explorer?, but procrastinate because I don’t know how to get started… the Builder? I often blurt out statements that are direct without any census, lack of brain filter before speaking… the Director?… and then immediately feel remorse when I see the other’s reaction… Negotiator again?. I would have to say the strongest by a slight margin is Negotiator, but the rest are all up for grabs.
Consequently I often fall in love quickly and then fall out of love, but stay in too long because I don’t like hurting the other person. I am very introspective, and can over analyze all my choices. I love to hear people’s stories and am empathetic. I can tolerate a lot of differences, but find too much conflict or chaos draining. And I’m often irritated with others because they are just so irritating! 🙂
But I doubt myself. My results, Explorer 25, Builder 21, Director 21, Negotiator 24… the 2nd time my Explorer/Negotiator flip flopped… So what am I?
Hi Lora, very interesting questions!
You’ll be glad to know is human nature to mimic others we are around. Observe people the next time when you’re near someone who sticks out a bit for personality traits. Maybe they have a different accent, or speak at different speeds or rhythms, or does something noticeable repeatedly or often. Others interacting with them will often adopt smaller traces of the same traits, which may be hard to detect, but can often be if you observe carefully enough.
But as with anything, there are extreme degrees of it, on both ends of the spectrum. Don’t take this as expert advice, but you may be one who adapt more than others, and that would only get amplified with those who get closer to you. Partners are pretty high on that list. It’s both a skill and a drawback to be able to do what you do because it’s great for some situations to blend in. Lots of people have big challenges at that. However, if you can’t control it and mirror others where you don’t want to, like in partner situations where a complement is probably better than a reflection of your partner, then it can be a drawback.
So your self-assessment of being a chameleon is probably pretty good. I’d just try not to think of it as an all negative thing and work on when you might not want to be that. If you can identify traits in others, do that and put the lens on yourself to say I shouldn’t be like “those traits” as often as I might become. I’m not saying never exhibit those traits, just not as often as you like, and maybe strategically when you shouldn’t be.
And if you are a Negotiator to some dominant extent, then I’d say use that skill to make up for shortcomings from your other traits you perceive you have. None of the other traits do as well at compromising for their weaknesses. So don’t change yourself too much cause you’ll feel like a fake. Be yourself and use the strength to overcome the weaknesses.
Without a strong dominant trait, though, your ideal match may well be someone who is also without a strong dominant trait. One with any dominant trait will probably have some major sore spots for you whereas someone without may have more sore spots, but they may also be more tolerable. Certainly, they’d be easier to “negotiate” through to fix, if you’re getting my gist.
As for staying too long, think of it this way. You may hurt them to break up too soon, but you’re not helping them either by staying and not being happy for them. They’re getting an unhappy partner who will eventually break up with them and “wasted” time in their life… and I wouldn’t guess it’d hurt less later on. You may have drifted farther then so it’s not as harsh a break up, but the lost time hurts in a different way. I’m not trying to be harsh or cold as I do think it’s kind and caring of you to try not to hurt people, but you might be hurting them in a different way you hadn’t thought about.
Enough from me, though. I’m no shrink. Does some of this help, though?
Hello, I listened to Why Him, Why Her from an audiobook and now want to take the test. Unfortunately, when I try to copy the questions from your site by selecting and then choosing COPY, it doesn’t show ANYTHING except the links when I paste the copy into a text file. I tried another method to get the questions into an e-format; I ‘printed’ to a PDF file, but it was too faint to be legible. I strongly suspect that was because the text on your site was on such a dark background. Can you please suggest a method for me to get the file in .txt or .doc or even HTML format?
Sincerely,
Jerry
Thanks for that notice, Jerry. The printing problem you had is because of the way the site is designed. I was hoping to deter people from printing out stuff with it, to save paper, if you will.
As for the text, I don’t know why you had the problems you did copying, but I’ve since added a PDF of the text and instructions to the post where the test is and emailed you a copy directly. I hope to put a free self-tabulating Excel spreadsheet of the test between Christmas and New Year’s 2011, that will work the same way as my Myers-Briggs spreadsheet.
Have fun and good luck with the test. The book was great, wasn’t it?
you should try changing the font color to black after pasting to excel….
I am a male negotiator….. In love I find it hard to stay with someone who isn’t a little bossy lol.
Hello
I really enjoyed taking this test. I recently broke up and I was wondering why I can’t have successful relationships…… So I started thinking the common denominator was me! I must change Me! What is it about me that attract the wrong man ie. Bad boy! Wtf???? My results: explorer 27, builder 28, dictator 29, negotiator 29. Please help me understand…dictator negotiator really describe medescribe me
Hi Lynn, thanks for your comments and questions! Before I answer anything, a BIG disclaimer. I’m NO therapist! The only reliable advice I’d be willing to give would be to read Dr Fisher’s book as it delves into a lot more details and will give you a lot more to think about. The rest of what I’ll share, I would only say take it as some things to think about. But give me a few days to formulate how to answer it. It comes down to your lack of a dominant trait, with all 4 being strong and too close in score to differentiate as being dominant, how that affects you and your preferences, and how that confuses others looking for a dominant trait or two that most of us have. That’s why the test looks for those two dominant traits at its core in results interpretation. But give me a few days to try to figure out how to explain it all as I see it, which may be meaningless, but some things to think about.
I meant director :)( p.s. My friends and family would use dictator) I must admit I like being in control. ( everyone and everything) please help. Thanks
Hello and thank you for considering my question. I understand your disclaimer lol. Its just good to get others perspective since they are detach emotionally. So any input you can give is fine.
OK, Lynn. Remember that disclaimer before taking anything I say here to heart. 🙂
You basically have a 4 way tie in your score. Too close that any trait would be dominant, though all are strong. However, I would highly doubt any person with such a balance would be balanced 100% of the time. The balance probably comes from each preference being dominant some of the time. So instead of absolute balance, it’s more like shared time balance, in my opinion.
That said, I wouldn’t know which side of you comes out in which situation… say, dating related, whether choosing who to date, who to stay with or who to walk away. You may also have a preference that comes out when with someone close, and maybe someone close who is dominant. You may be a director to butt heads, or a negotiator to try to accept and find a compromise, with you making more compromise than the partner, to avoid butting heads. It’s a lot I don’t know to comment on but maybe you can think more and decide on some things.
If you’re talking about attracting bad boys, though, then there’s some side of you attracted to explorers, and some side of you that appeals to them. Not saying they’re all explorers or vice-versa, but that wild free life style is typical of explorers. That attraction you have with bad boys and vice-versa could be more than just personalities, but possibly looks, which this test doesn’t focus on much. Love isn’t logical and people throw away all common sense for a hot man or woman all the time! Now, that said, if you’re attracting explorers, directors is about as bad a match for them as anything as directors will seek to stifle their freedom that is their trademark. Maybe that director doesn’t show up all the time as your scores are balanced, but it seems to be enough in your relationships to challenge it.
But if you have a very natural director side and can be a chameleon of sorts with your balanced personality to match with pretty much any type, then take charge and make some changes. Be a director to recognize the bad boys and your history with them to stay away from them. Find someone of another preference who do some exciting things to get some explorer in them, or have an explorer as a clearly second trait. Spice up your own life if it’s not exciting enough that you are having to find someone else to add to it. If you had the choice, pick someone with explorer not even as their second preference, and pick a negotiator type first if you’re saying your friends and family call you a dictator. Maybe you should listen to them more. After all, this test is only as good as you rate yourself, so if you’re not being totally honest, you’re not getting an accurate result. I’m not saying you weren’t, but it sounds like you may have a true director dominance if your friends and family call you a dictator AND you admit you like being in control.
Does that help any?
I got 33 point for explorer, 33 points for builder( which I do agree with because i find myself stuck between things I would like to and what I think others would be as the “right thing to do”) 30 points for negotiator, and 25 for director. Does that mean that I am mix of the first three I listed or are all mine so close that i am a mix of all three characteristics?
Hi Dove, the answers to your question would be similar to that I put for JPendragon and Tessa Kinney-Johnson in previous comments. They have no dominant score and a combination of close top scores. Basically, everybody has all 4 characteristics, but it’s a matter of how much and how much “air time” they get. Even scores that are high means they get roughly equal air time, and do so strongly in that time. It’s like strong scores for extraversion and introversion. How can one be both? Well, you could be quiet half the time and a chatty loud mouth half the time, and really quiet when you are so and really loud when you are so as opposed to a little quiet and a little gregarious. My responses to the comments above also tells how you might find being attracted to, and attractive to, others. Let me know if you have further questions, though I must disclaim I’m not the ultimate subject matter in this. I study it a lot and understand it the way I do, but I don’t have a PhD in it or anything, nor did I write the book or create the theory. 🙂
Hi DC
my score was Director 35
Explorer 27
Negotiator 27
Builder 19
From my score of director 35, it wont be surprising if I say that this is quite a blunt instrument with which to evaluate people. This test ignores a plethora of other traits that can make or brake a relationship. For example internal vs external locus of control, introvert vs extrovert (not to be confused with explorer vs builder). The theory seems to blur many aspect of personality into 4 simple easy to digest classes.
It also totally ignores the power of pheromones in attraction. A little story to illustrate this fault, I am presently EXTREMELY attracted to a woman at work. I have been attracted to her since day one. She is not in any way whatsoever my type, she is known as the “crazy office bitch”, yet for 4 years I’ve felt something towards her. Why then am I attracted to her? The pheromones that she puts out grab my brain, staying in the same room with her for any length of time will trigger such powerful emotions that I have thought of changing departments. When she’s ovulating she smells like sunshine and wide open field, or any other romantic imagery that gets you going.
That sort of chemistry can make or brake a relationship. I am a widower, my wife of 30yrs and I were compatible in a way that was obvious to everyone who ever observed us together. If we had based our choice of mates on this test we would never have gotten together. I can tell you though that we loved the way the other smelled.
Hi, thank you very much for that detailed reply and insight.
There is much more to the matching scheme on Chemistry.com than this test. Some of it is physiologically based, though not on pheremones. Some of it is preferences people put in where from research, some credit is given for what people say they want, is actually what they want. It is a lot more complex than this. This goes on personality being the most important factor of most matches, some of which is physiologically influenced, which may have something to do with pheremones since what makes up a person from hormones like has some influence of what they put out for pheremones.
The site also considers common interests and such, which helps any relationship to have some commonalities for foundations.
Regardless, you may also be an extreme or outlier case where the pheremones play a much bigger role than for others. Until someone can create a site where people’s odours can be sent in as samples, I don’t think you’ll see a site that will incorporate pheremones, lol. This is probably the best science to offer right now. 🙂
Good luck with your search! It sounds like you know what you’re smelling for and don’t really need this test much, then. 🙂
Having read and watched Sherlock Holmes (both the old and the new, not the recent Hollywood takes), studied other personality type theories (see an example of an MBTI take on Sherlock here: http://mbti-in-fiction.tumblr.com/post/28785341983/sherlock-holmes) I cannot agree in any way or form with the assessment of Sherlock being a Negotiator, it’s unthinkable. Sherlock Holmes is, according to this theory, a Director, no question about it.
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This test and its results are not very acceptable of Builders. why are we only meant for each other and not any of the other candidates. Its not right for Builders to be singled out. What makes Builders not compatible with directors, or any of the other types. What makes us so different from them.
It’s not that Builders are not compatible with others (and vice versa). They’re less compatible. But other factors in life can increase or decrease any degree of compatibility between any pair. It’s just a statistical likelihood, nothing more. But if you’re going to be taking your chances, you’d want to go with the best chances to start, right? Also, a Builder might like other types, but if they’re not reverse compatible, greater likelihood it won’t work. It’s just a statistical likelihood, nothing more.
This is an old thread but I’m going to write this anyway and see if anyone knows. Anywho, What does ‘reverse compatibility’ mean? I’m asking because my husband and I took the test and we are exact opposites of each other. Him:Builder/Negotiator and I am:Negotiator/Builder. On their own Builder and Negotiator are not statistically drawn to each other but what if our results are flipped? Is this what you are referring to when you say “reverse compatibility”? And what does Helen say about that because our pairing isn’t even addressed on her site
What if you are a negotiator and a director? I scored 34 in the negotiator and 33 in director lol
Half of you like the other half a lot and vice versa, and you like Both Negotiator and Director types much more than the other two. 🙂
I’ve found that I am a Builder/Negotiator. I find this to be interesting, because the two personality types seem to be rather conflicting with each other (and they seem to be the least attracted to each other). I suppose this makes sense though. When I was younger, I used to often write stories in which the main character was based off of my own personality type. Whenever I showed these stories to my friends, I would often get complaints about how the character seemed inconsistent. I just seem to have a rather contradictory personality, which I think makes me very unpredictable at times. And I can also be very hard to read at times (although at other times, I can be read as easily as a book). How common is it for someone to share these two personality types?
I’m not sure how common your combination would be. However, you have to think of it this way. Every personality is a combination of traits. However, every trait has an opposite, and everybody is somewhere on the continuum between the two. That means they’re X percent of one trait, and (100-X) percent of the other, or percent of the time. If they’re strong on all the traits, like 90% of all, then most of the time, they’re one combination of traits. If they’re more like 45% of one, 55% of the opposite, and are that way for all the traits, then it’s like a coin toss between opposing traits (and ultimately full personality). You’re probably well balanced, or tend to be one set of traits some time, and another at other times. I’m like that, and if anyone tries to read me by guessing I’m like the one persona when I’m not, they’ll find me very hard to read. My two is basically if I decide to care about something or not. If I do, I take charge and am involved. If I don’t, I just let it all go. Hope that helps.
“Famous Directors include Oprah Winfrey, Charles Darwin, the fictional Sherlock Holmes and its creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, Leo Tolstoy,…”
This seems to have a typo – “Directors”should be “Negotiators”, I believe.
I’m director but I don’t have sex drive at all and I won’t bulldoze others. Makes no sense.
World makes no sense and according to my logic of minimization better to be alone. I’m supporter of voluntary human extinction.
You can be a director to choose to be such at whatever it is you set your mind to. Otherwise, some things my be overridden by biological factors. I don’t know enough to comment.
My top match is very close between Negotiator and Director (67% Negotiator, 64% Director, 48% Builder, 38% Explorer). I think I probably look like a Builder to my roommates and distant friends: I’m introverted, slow to open up to people, and like living with a consistent and disciplined daily routine, and don’t often do things on the spur of the moment. I’m also good at math and science, driven and focused (best in my class), and like competition and can stand up for myself. I don’t think I’m that tough-minded- I change my mind easily- but I’m also not very empathetic- I tend to assume other people are feeling the same way I am. I have only a few close friends, but it’s important to me to be loving, supportive and emotionally intimate with them. I’m a woman, btw.
Thanks for sharing. I think it’s wonderful you are not only self-aware, but aware of how some others might see you. That’s a very important distinction and awareness. Well done!