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• Rationals were 65% satisfied with Idealists.<br />
• Rationals were 59% satisfied with Rationals.<br />
• Rationals were 54% satisfied with Artisans.<br />
• Rationals were 52% satisfied with Guardians.<br />
But satisfaction between temperaments was not equal. In fact, all the other temperaments rated the<br />
Rationals higher than the Rationals rated them (see below). Tieger and Barron-Tieger suggested<br />
that NTs may rate their partners lower than average since they tend to be the most critical<br />
temperament and set particularly high standards. This would tend to depress Rational scores more<br />
than would be reflected in reality.<br />
Seen from a reverse perspective, here is how the Rationals were viewed by other temperaments:<br />
• Artisans are 73% satisfied with Rationals<br />
• Idealists are 64% satisfied with Rationals<br />
• Guardians are 62% satisfied with Rationals<br />
• Rationals are 59% satisfied with Rationals<br />
Isn’t this a fascinating mess of information? Let’s put it into context. Orange = Guardian, Purple =<br />
Idealist, Green = Artisan, and Blue = Rational.<br />
• SJ x SJ 79%<br />
• NF x NF 73%<br />
• SP x NT 73%<br />
• SJ x SP 71%<br />
• NT x NF 65%<br />
• NF x NT 64%<br />
• SP x SJ 63%<br />
• SJ x NT 62%<br />
• SP x SP 59%<br />
• NT x NT 59%<br />
• SJ x NF 58%<br />
• NT x SP 54%<br />
• SP x NF 54%<br />
• NT x SJ 52%<br />
• NF x SP 51%<br />
• NF x SJ 46%<br />
Now, I must emphasize strongly that it is a mistake to generalize by temperament—it’s frequent that<br />
types will go counter-temperament, and temperament is not the definitive factor in explaining typebased<br />
behavior half of the time—but since we don’t have anything better to go on...<br />
Ever since Keirsey published Please Understand Me II in 1998, it has generally been accepted that<br />
the Idealists are the best partners for the Rationals. This appears to be true—at least from the<br />
Rational point of view. The Idealists, however, actually tend to be more satisfied with other<br />
Idealists, having a satisfaction rate of 73%.<br />
But Rationals are the second favorite choice for Idealists. Indeed, NF-NT and NT-NF satisfaction<br />
rates fell within 1 percentage point of each other—a very equal evaluation indeed. And if we accept<br />
the fact that Rationals tend to be overcritical and depress their satisfaction ratings, it may be that<br />
Rationals actually like Idealists even more.