Origin of the Four Temperaments

[Wish]

As I lay awake in my bed last night, mind wandering, trying desperately to fall asleep, I began to wonder why when classifying MBTI types, there are 1) only four groups and 2) these four groups are SJ (Guardian), SP (Artisan), NT (Rational) and NF (Idealist).

Why is it not ST/SF/NT/NF? What is so significant about SJs and SPs that they can be categorized in such broad groups? In the case of the Guardian, is the Si function all that is significant? I imagine an ISTJ being fairly dissimilar to an ESFJ.

Any thoughts (or is this something that is pretty obvious and I'm just missing it)?

EDIT: I may have just found the answer to my own question here: http://www.keirsey.com/handler.aspx?s=keirsey&f=fourtemps&tab=1&c=overview

Though by their explanation, it seems like they are categorizing by ST/SF/NT/NF

 

[Decaf]

I disagree with Keirsey's temperaments. There are actually a large percentage of MBTI advocates that don't agree with him. The most common complaint is that its reductionistic. It draws vague distinction between INTPs and ENTJs, but a gulf opens up between us and INFPs, who we have a strong kinship with.

In the MBTI manual published by the Myers-Briggs Foundation they explore all the two letter commonalities and find significant things in each. Choosing 4 and labeling them significant is misguiding and over-simplifies something that many already feel over-simplifies people.

To be fair, if you think it holds some valuable ideas, you aren't alone. There are also a number of supporters of the temperament model. Just not me.

 

[Yellow]

I think maybe the four temperaments system was designed for practical application in a therapy setting and isn't so much to be used in proper typing. I have seen a lot of similarities between say an ISTJ and an ESFJ in that they are very rule oriented, big on tradition, 'normal' and dependable and control-freakish. I think practically speaking, they can see each other's veiwpoints and thought processes easier than those outside the temperament. Look at say an ISTP and an ISTJ with only one letter difference but in different temperaments. You're not likely to witness any level of understanding between these two if you forced them to interact for any period of time... in fact, keep them together long enough and you're more than likely going see the ISTP flip out on the ISTJ, and if the ISTJ is particularly aggressive and doesn't back off, you might be in store for some quality entertainment (could we try that by the way?!? we could call it ISTP prodding)

We might be more similar to INFPs in a lot of ways... the day dreaming, the being naturally unsuited for any practical means of employment... However, an understanding of the ENTJ's perspective comes much more naturally to me than that of an INFP. So when it comes to family and couple's counseling, the temperaments could be a quick and dirty tool in helping people understand one another on a basic level.