Personality has interesting correlations with your color season.
Although personality alone has no bearing on your color season and how your skin reacts to color, there are some really interesting correlations with behavioral characteristics. I am not the only style expert who holds to this theory, as several others create clothing methods based on personality.
Before we dig into some of the season attributes, we need to first explore some of the theories of personality that apply to this reasoning.
Table of Contents
The History of Personality
The concept of the four temperaments dates back to greco-roman medicine pre-dating Christ. Based on the movement of certain fluids (humors) within the body, it was developed by Hippocrates more fully. Although this theory has long been devalued by western medicine, the concepts within form the basis for many more “modern” psychological constructs of personality theory.
Many of the popular construct of personality theory are loosely based in this model via the work of Carl Jung. The Myers-Briggs and Keirsey temperament borrow and expand upon the model of four.
For the purposes of this article we’re going to expand them all together to find some common personality traits attributed to each season.
Spring Personality
The Spring personality is the one named Sanguine in the four temperament model. The Spring personality can be characterized by the keyword excited! These people fun-loving, high energy, and a joy to be around. All the parts of their body exhibit these characteristics, from their jaunty walk to their voice which tends to pitch high when excited.
Spring personalities are true extroverts and love being the life of the party. They enjoy being the center of attention and don’t shy away from groups. They are often quite agreeable and optimistic.
As with any personality, there are negative characteristics to the Spring type. Most notably the Spring personality is indecisive and frequently struggles to complete projects or tasks once started. They are also a bit flighty, needing a lot of change and stimulation and they can be unpredictable.
Summer Personality
The Summer personality has the phlegmatic designation out of the four temperaments. The keyword for this person is calm. Summers are typically those people who seem to be relaxed and have a lot of grace. Not in a broody intense way as we’ll see with the winters, but in a gentle way. They speak in quiet tones and tend to be great listeners. As such, they are natural diplomats, avoiding conflict.
Avoidance, however, transcends throughout many of the Summer personality traits. They avoid conflict and attention, but they also avoid dealing with unpleasant issues. They can be intensely strong-willed and stubborn, and are quite reluctant to change. This severity also extends to finances, as Summers are typically frugal.
Autumn Personality
The Autumn personality is a force to be reckoned with! These people are defined by the keyword focused. They are determined and typically successful at the things they endeavor to accomplish. They wake up in the morning ready to tackle the day. Their movements are confident, and their speech rings with authority.
They function in the world by requiring truth and facts, and in return they are honest and frank. Busy and enterprising, they are not the type to relax and laze around.
Their negative characteristics exacerbate these traits, and they can be blunt and hurt people’s feelings in their honesty, although they rarely mean to. They are stubborn and intractable and do not take well to criticism. Because of their determination, they can come off as dominating and overbearing.
Winter Personality
The Winter person is our melancholic, and the keyword for these people is intense. These people seem very dignified and elegant, and their voice may be melodic. They are quite poised and graceful, imagine the swan in relation to the ugly duckling.
Winter personalities are exceptionally introverted, and have a strong desire for privacy. They are very internal people, and quite loyal to those they have allowed in. They can be a calming influence, but they may often seem aloof.
The Winter personality is plagued by pessimism and worries frequently how others perceive them. The are overdramatic and self-centered and may be paralyzed by perfectionistic tendencies.
Blending the Seasons
No one is going to tick all the traits of one season alone, so we get blends in our behaviors and in our seasons. So let’s see how blending those together creates our twelve sub-seasons.
For Spring as the primary season, the secondary seasons would be winter, autumn, or summer. The Spring-Winter would be sanguine-melancholic and labeled a Clear Spring. The Spring-Autumn is a sanguine-choleric and labeled Warm Spring. The Spring-Summer blend is sanguine-phlegmatic and labeled a Light Spring.
The primary Summer seasons have secondary seasons of spring, autumn, and winter. The Summer-Spring is phlegmatic-sanguine and labeled Light Summer. Summer-Winter is phlegmatic-melancholic and we label them Cool Summer. The Summer-Autumn is phlegmatic-choleric and labeled Soft Summer.
The Autumn primary individuals have blends of spring, summer, and winter. The Autumn-Summer type is choleric-phlegmatic and labeled Soft Autumn. Autumn-Spring is choleric-sanguine and we label them Warm Autumn. The Autumn-Winter type is choleric-melancholic and they are labeled Deep Autumn.
Finally, the Winter personalities have secondary seasons of spring, summer, and autumn. A Winter-Autumn is melancholic-choleric and is labeled as Deep Winter. Winter-Summer is melancholic-phlegmatic and they are labeled Cool Winter. Last, but not least, the Winter-Spring is melancholic-sanguine and is labeled as Clear Winter.
Myers-Briggs Types by Season
Let’s explore another personality theory, the Myers-Briggs, and most people are pretty familiar with this one. If you don’t know your type you can go take an assessment at 16 Personalities.
Myers-Briggs types people on four dimensions and each have two options, so there’s the first dimension of introversion versus extraversion, the second dimension of sensing versus intuition, the third of feeling versus thinking, and the fourth of judgment versus perception.
It’s really interesting to see that the first of these, introversion versus extraversion, is pretty well-defined in our seasons. Summer and Winter are usually an introverted personality, and Spring Autumn are usually extroverted personalities.
The 16 Myers-Briggs types actually break down in the 4 seasons, and some color analysis theories do actually use 16 instead of 12, so consider a bonus in each one!
Spring:
- ESFP – Entertainer
- ENFP – Campaigner
- ENTP – Debater
- ESFJ – Consul
Summer:
- INFP – Mediator
- ISFP – Adventurer
- INTP – Logician
- ISFJ – Defender
Autumn:
- ENTJ – Commander
- ESTP – Entrepreneur
- ENFJ – Protagonist
- ESTJ – Executive
Winter:
- ISTJ – Logistician
- ISTP – Virtuoso
- INFJ – Advocate
- INTJ – Architect
Final Thoughts on Personality
Personality is a really fun addition to color season, and I usually ask these questions at the beginning because it helps point me in a direction for analysis. We do tend to pick up some of these traits as we go through and it’s so interesting to see the correlations.
I have a minor in psychology and personality theory, and personality assessment is an interesting thing to me. I like to think about how people tick and how they think and how their mind works.
But I want to end with this nugget of wisdom. It is my experience that we never fit into personality assessments perfectly, because God made each of us uniquely beautiful. I went to a Christian women’s conference over a decade ago, and one of the speakers said something similar to these lines. She was giving a talk on personality as well, and I want to reiterate strongly that this is just a fun part and it can have some bearing on the beginning of analysis, but you ARE unique.
Related Color Analysis Articles:
- Eye Patterns and Color Analysis
- Color Theory for Color Analysis
- Explore the 12 Seasons
- Benefits of a Color Palette
Let me know in the comments! What personality type(s) are you? Do you think these correlate with your color season and best colors?
Personality is a fun addition to color analysis and has interesting correlations with behavioral traits.
Stacey is the owner and creator behind Radiantly Dressed. She is a certified image consultant and AICI member focusing on creating simplicity in wardrobes via color and style.
This is sooo interesting!! I am a cool summer, INFP and phlegmatic melancholic! So all three!
One of my sisters is choleric phlegmatic and a soft autumn, but with a different Myers Briggs. My husband, however, is all over the place. He’s an INTP melancholic phlegmatic, but he’s I believe a true autumn. I wonder how the enneagram types line up with seasons!
Isn’t it though?? I honestly haven’t dug into enneagram much to know how they would match!
I really enjoyed this! I have been studying both color theory and personality to help understand myself, so it was interesting to see the two together. I am an INFP and am pretty sure I’m a summer (though I feel like I’m between summer and winter), so this seems spot on.
The personality influence is really so fascinating! Glad you enjoyed it!
Same! I can not believe how many INFPs are on here, that rare. But we also like self-analysis. Lol. This post actually helped me identify as a cool summer, rather than a winter. It’s really hard to tell. Plus, speaking of personality, I am just more drawn to the softer summer colors. They make me feel softer & more down to earth, and when I wear the brights of winter I definitely have more energy but I feel too aggressive.
I’m a phlegmatic INFP and a vibrant autumn. I really wanted it all to match up as I’m studying the correlation at the moment but it doesn’t for me.
Ah that’s a bummer! We’re all so unique though 🙂
Someone asked about the Enneagram, so am will share my experience with seasonal color analysis, MBTI, and Enneagram. I was draped as a True Summer by the 12 season model. My analyst said my second best was Winter and my third best was Spring. Autumn was hands down my worst! I have tested INFJ since I was 18 (in my 50s now). My Enneagram is 4 wing 5, but 5 is just behind the 4 (almost balanced). It is interesting and some overlap and not a total mismatch for me, but it is not exact. Like the article says, we are all individual and unique. It is fun though.
I was enjoying your site until I came to this section about personality. This is no different to horoscopes really. Whilst the colour analysis is useful this definitely falls into the new age category. If you are a christian then please don’t lead others into darkness. We are wonderfully and fearfully made. Our colouring CANNOT affect our personality types otherwise we can make excuses for sinful behaviour.
I hope you will prayerfully consider this as it is a serious matter and so many are being led astray.
God bless
Hi Rani, I appreciate your reply. First, I’m sorry it’s taken so long to respond, as I’m on maternity leave and also wanted to formulate an appropriate response to this.
Personality by itself isn’t new age. God created us at His pleasure and “knit” us in the womb. As a mom of 6, I definitely see that He gave each individual unique characteristics and traits internally and externally. There are places were behavior and genetics overlap. I personally feel that asking “why” is definitely beyond our scope as humans worshipping a Holy God.
And, I would never, ever suggest that “thats just the way I am” is an excuse for sinful behavior. Romans 8 reminds us that we’re all pulled back in by our sinful nature and Jesus invites us to rest in His sacrifice.
I hope my response clarifies my own personal feelings on this a bit, and you feel invited back in to this process. <3
Stacey
I strongly disagree that color theory/ psychological analysis is evil. God is orderly and precise, and uses patterns. We can see it in His creation. It’s a lovely concept and is a foundation for us to further trust Him – a snowflake is not suddenly going to act like a mouse, or an eagle like a redwood tree. Springs are generally light and cheerful; autumns are little human bulldozers, in the best possible way. All the seasons of people are blessings, and of course each person is an individual.
Regarding Myers-Briggs, I have taken the test several times across decades, including today, and my result always is the same. I was sure it would be different today because I hadn’t taken it in years, had many life experiences and challenges in the meantime, and had no idea of the questions. But the result was the same.
Color and personality analysis are fun and help us understand people better, as God surely wants us to. We can marvel at God’s variety and at his magnificent design – all at the same time.
Great article. I always struggled to find my season. But I always loved dark colours, my favourites are aubergine, dark burgund, and very dark teal. And after checking i found out I am dark autumn. It also my favourite season, i love november short days and very long evening. When I did Myeier-Briggs test I was always INTJ but my Introvertic park is not very strong only 11%. So everything fits. And characteristics about autumn and winter aldo so different fits perfectly, depending on my mood and course of my life.
Interesting article, although I don’t agree completely with your categorizations. I’m an INTP 5w4 and a soft autumn, intrigued by all typology frameworks.
I feel like the colors of soft autumn do actually fit my personality nicely, and my Thinking trait fits your description of autumn pretty accurately, but I’m also very Prospecting/Perceiving so I can definitely be the type to relax and laze around lol.
Anyway thanks for giving me something to ponder relentlessly for a while; keep up the good work 🙂
I love your thought out reply. I agree. Color matching is not a horoscope nor is that God’s intention, but I do believe there is room for the idea that while God does not control us, nor are we controlled by sinful or negative temptations we are all faced with, I have come to realize that He left surprises within how he made us including for me, these bright passionate colors that go so well on my skin and with my eyes, and I do believe he left that as a gift I would stumble across one day, that even in the sparkling contrast in my eyes, warm tones in my hair, and the contrast to my skin that God knew the colors that highlighted my own personal beauty and that it would delight me, like the word says I delight Him. Blessings and Joy! ENFP (although pretty equally R vs. L ???? brained)
Love! I’m a bright/clear winter, ESFJ and I adore bright pink! When I was younger, I loved dark royal blue and I was a bit shyer then.
Wow! I am so excited to learn that my Clear/Bright Spring color season goes with my ENFP and sanguine-melancholic personality type! Not to mention that my daughter is a Clear/Bright Winter, INFJ and fits the melancholic-sanguine type! We are also both Christian women, and love this site!!!
This article is blending two of my passions, love it!!. I’m an INFJ (Sarkanova cognitive function test shows Ni followed by Ti), and my closest match in 12 seasons is True Winter, despite being a natural blonde. I need completely cool colors and grayed pastels wash me out. I’m definitely melancholic -phlegmatic. Our daughter is an INTJ and a Bright Winter leaning Dark. My husband is an ENTJ and a Dark Autumn. And our son is an ENTP (Ne followed by Fe for him) with Bright Spring as his season!
Now my mom is an ESFJ True Autumn, and my best friend is a Dark Autumn INFP. Those are the only two deviations I can think of. I so enjoy figuring out crossover!
INTP Summer. I did not expect that. I am a melancholic though, not a phlegmatic. Love the site.