Introduction: Typology

Abstract

Typology seeks to understand the differences among individuals based on the observation of their dominant personality traits. The earliest form of this endeavor is astrology which appears to have arisen spontaneously during the third millennium BC in different parts of the world: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. Interestingly enough, 5000 years later astrology remains the most sophisticated and nuanced description of personality. Even without accepting the basic premise of astrology, that the position of the sun, moon, planets and constellations at the time of birth determines a personal character, one can appreciate its differentiated classification of personality types.¹