Pilgrims for Jesus

Resources for and about Missionary Kids
and other "Third Culture Kids"

HOME

About

Third Culture Kids and Personality

Note: This article assumes familiarity with general "Third Culture Kid" traits; with this site's article Third Culture Kids and Long-Term Cultural Identity, which describes various "Cultural Styles"; and with David Keirsey's model of personality types. (General descriptions of the last can easily be found online, e.g., at http://keirsey.com/, via the menu "The Four Temperaments". For an in-depth description, see Keirsey's book Please Understand Me II.)

Introduction

Most Third Culture Kids share two major influences that affect the way they think and behave. The first is the experience of multiple cultural influences, which is common to all TCKs by definition. The second is the highly mobile lifestyle characteristic of most TCKs. These factors are what make the category "Third Culture Kids" useful by allowing us to make statements that apply to most of the individuals in the category. However, there are numerous other factors that can be used to make additional generalizations about specific subsets of TCKs. For example, we could subdivide TCKs by passport or host culture, life segments spent in each culture, parents' type of work (e.g., military, missionary, business, diplomatic), type(s) of schooling experienced, gender, or sibling structure (i.e., number, genders, and relative ages of siblings). These "specific" factors, when combined with the general TCK factors mentioned earlier, likely produce new psychological traits that cannot be fully explained by either the general TCK factors alone or by the specific factors alone. For example, TCKs with several siblings may spend much of their free time with just their siblings. More precisely, they might spend more of their time with siblings than non-TCKs from families of similar size, who have many other people to choose as long-term friends. They obviously also spend more time with siblings than do TCKs with no siblings, who have little choice but to befriend those outside their family, even if it's only for a limited time. Studying the combined effect of one or more specific factors with the general factors could prove interesting and provide new insights. Also, by helping explain some of the psychological traits or behaviors of the studied group, such research could further reduce the feeling of being "weird" among individuals sharing those factors.
One specific factor that is particularly interesting to analyze is personality. Being an important psychological trait, personality is likely to combine with general TCK factors in significant ways to form new psychological traits. Furthermore, on average TCKs have a higher interest in psychology, and thus in personality types, than non-TCKs. (This increased interest has various causes, including exposure to multiple worldviews, experiencing unique types of psychological stress, lack of an obvious long-term identity, and others.) Thus, for the third culture kids themselves such an analysis could prove quite interesting.
However, while some specific factors that could be studied, such as those mentioned earlier, are fairly objective and easy to observe, personality is less objective and harder to observe. Suppose a researcher had a specific personality type model—e.g., Myers-Briggs types—in mind. He/she would first face the difficult task of finding a large, clearly representative sample of TCKs who either had taken or were willing to take the relevant assessment tool. Then he would have to ask a range of questions to find unique psychological traits created by the combination of personality type and general TCK factors. Yet there is a less rigorous, but still quite fruitful and useful alternative to such a formal study. Namely, one can thoughtfully speculate about the effect of personality types on TCKs, drawing on TCK and personality type theories and informal case studies. That, in fact, is the author's approach in this article (though no case studies are explicitly mentioned). At the least, this article can serve as a starting point for further observation and reflection.
The personality type model chosen for this article is that of David Keirsey. This model correlates with the better-known Myers-Briggs types. However, Keirsey argues that the four dimensions Myers-Briggs uses combine to form more than the sum of their parts. Keirsey therefore groups the 16 Myers-Briggs types into 4 larger types, the subtypes within which share characteristics not specified by their individual dimensions. Keirsey's model thus allows us to deal with fewer types while still specifying quite a bit of information about each type.

Personality Types

Guardian

Guardians, who seek security, generally find moving around quite stressful, more so than any other type. The more frequently they move, the more uncomfortable they typically are. With the change of residence and location, routines and ways of performing specific tasks often have to be changed as well. In the case of moving to a new area (as opposed to returning to an area of previous residence), the new surroundings need to be learned. Also, the TCK needs to move at least some of his/her belongings (which are more important to Guardians than to other types), and he/she likely needs to leave some belongings behind.
A more long-term issue is having to deal with a culture that may be very different from the one(s) the third culture kid is used to and comfortable with. These differences concern not only customs, but, at a deeper level, values and worldview. Guardians, who have a strong sense of tradition and a "right vs. wrong" view of behavior, can feel challenged at a deep level by such differences.
However, perhaps the TCK's parents are doing some kind of work the Guardian perceives as promoting "the greater good", such as serving the passport country, doing relief or development work, or propagating the TCK's faith. In that case, the Guardian TCK, having a strong sense of duty, may stoically endure all the above difficulties. Furthermore, Guardians become more and more settled the longer they stay in one place. This does not necessarily mean they will adopt the culture of the place where they live, but at least, if they are reasonably well adjusted, they will develop a lifestyle that they can be content with long-term. Perhaps the most helpful influence on a Guardian TCK is having close, long-term friends—locals or expats—nearby, which provides a sense of belonging to the third culture kid.
Guardians, having a strong sense of right and wrong, usually based on the first culture they are in, are most likely to favor the Bull Cultural Style. However, Guardians who move to a host culture early in their lives and stay there for a significant amount of time may instead identify more with the Butterfly. Despite the tendency to prefer one culture to the others, a Guardian who has spent a significant amount of time in both the passport culture and host culture(s) will generally see that a strict Bull or Butterfly Style is rather prejudiced. Such a third culture kid will likely adopt at least a partial Mule Style. Perhaps he/she will mix the Mule with the Bull or Butterfly, e.g., mostly resembling the passport culture and partly resembling the host culture, or vice versa. A Guardian who has been severely traumatized by one or more moves may become a Turtle.
Guardians are unlikely to adopt the Tasmanian Devil, which requires repeated change of behavior, i.e., a decrease in personal stability. For the same reason, they will not usually adopt the Chameleon, except to the extent necessitated by the environment. Nor are they likely to adopt the Platypus, since they view cultural traits as belonging to systems (cultural, ethical, religious, etc.), rather than as being individually selectable.

Artisan

Artisans typically enjoy moving around and experiencing new cultures more than any of the other types do. Firstly, Artisans have no significant psychological barriers to moving around. Moreover, individuals with this type seek sense stimulation from their environment, and moving around excellently provides new stimuli. The basic stimuli include not only new sights and sounds—which can be imitated by TVs—but also new smells, tastes, textures, and more (e.g., different temperatures). The new customs afford more complex stimuli, so Artisan TCKs tend to enjoy engaging locals and participating in new or different types of activities. Artisans also love to solve new short-term problems and to improvise—yet another trait in favor of moving around.
However, if an Artisan TCK from a rich country moves to a poorer country with fewer recreational opportunities, the newness of the experiences may soon wear off and be replaced by boredom. Thus the TCK may wish to move to yet another culture, or at least to return to a country that offers more diversions. Also, Artisans moving to more restrictive cultures may chafe at the pressure to conform. Still, since Artisans tend to focus on the Here and Now, they are unlikely to mentally dwell too much on cultures and places they've experienced in the past.
Artisan third culture kids are, in some ways, the classic Chameleons. They have no qualms about behaving one way in one situation and behaving very differently in another situation. In fact, they are confident in and rather proud of their adaptability. Yet they only conform to the surrounding culture if that is expedient for them, either in general ways, or in regards to their personal social goals. The social pressure to conform does not itself make the Artisan wish to conform. On the contrary, it often makes the Artisan want to behave differently—i.e., adopt the Tasmanian Devil—just so he/she can make an impression on others and demonstrate his/her uniqueness. (In fact, the Artisan is the only type who is even reasonably likely to adopt the Tasmanian Devil.) Since the Artisan is very utilitarian, he may also adopt the Platypus Style to a degree.
An Artisan sees little personal pleasure in the "stagnation" and "monotony" of the Bull, Butterfly, and Mule. Furthermore, Artisans, being the most environment-oriented of all the types, are unlikely to retreat from the surrounding environment via the Turtle Style.

Idealist

Idealists are neither particularly desirous of nor particularly resistant to moving around. That is because for Idealists, it's not the place or the culture that's the most important. The changes in lifestyle should not bother the TCK too much, since he/she is fairly adaptable. Rather, the Idealist focuses on the nearby individuals and his/her involvement with them. Leaving dear friends who have come to know the TCK deeply and have demonstrated their loyalty can certainly be hard for the Idealist. However, Idealists also enjoy meeting new people, so the TCK will likely soon start forming deep friendships in the new culture. Idealists, more than any other type, have the ability and desire to look past a person's culture and external factors and see the unique inner qualities of an individual. Furthermore, the Idealist will tend to focus on the positive qualities of the person, and to empathize with him/her. If the TCK's parents are meeting some perceived need—economic, social, religious, etc.—in the host culture, the Idealist may gladly espouse this cause, even if it entails making big sacrifices. Even if the parents are not specifically engaged in such work, the TCK may perceive needs in those around him/her and strive to play a part in meeting those needs.
The Idealist is the hardest type of third culture kid to predict when it comes to Cultural Styles. The more flexible Idealist may adopt the Chameleon, which will generally facilitate interpersonal harmony (and maybe even romance). However, the Idealist, always trying to find and be true to his/her deep identity, may also view the Chameleon as "unstable", or even as a "facade". Such a TCK may thus prefer to adopt the Mule—unless his experience is greatly weighted toward one culture, in which case he may choose the Bull or Butterfly. An Idealist who has been severely hurt by the forced separation from close friends may adopt the Turtle as protection from future emotional attachment and following severed relationships.
An Idealist will avoid the Tasmanian Devil Style, since creating conflict for its own sake seems revolting to the Idealist. An Idealist will not normally become a Platypus either, since that Style seems impersonal and utilitarian, as well as requiring significant effort and offering little that the Idealist values.

Rational

A Rational is likely to enjoy experiencing new places and cultures, at least for a while. Such experiences provide new geographical and region-related data. However, more important than such facts are the new perspectives on the world, cultures, the Rational's own way of thinking and behaving, etc. The Rational can thus view everything more objectively, rather than from one specific cultural perspective. Eventually, however, the learning curve will start to level out, so that source of stimulation will decrease. Furthermore, in most non-Western host cultures a TCK with a Western passport culture (historically, the state of most MKs) will soon start getting frustrated with the comparatively low level of critical thinking, efficiency, individual freedom, etc. Limited access to information and to advanced technology in the host country may further annoy many Rationals.
Rationals generally won't mind the moving around in and of itself too much. That's because they are not strongly tied to specific places and things (as are Guardians) or to specific people (as are Idealists).
A Rational who is at least reasonably well adjusted is most likely a Platypus. Such a third culture kid will attempt to objectively select from among the cultures he/she knows the (generally) most effective and efficient approach to each task. A Rational may also mix in some Chameleon with the Platypus. The Rational generally won't do something just because those around him/her do it or expect it—that would mean sacrificing his autonomy. (An exception is when winning the approval of those around him/her is a goal the Rational has specifically set, e.g., for missionary purposes.) Nevertheless, certain methods are more effective or efficient in certain environments and are thus often reflected in the local culture. This endorses the Chameleon Style for the Rational. Still, a Rational is unlikely to adopt the pure Chameleon, since it is highly unlikely that the passport and host culture(s) are all operating at maximum efficiency within their respective environments. As we have seen, both Rationals and Artisans may adopt a Chameleon-Platypus mix. However, Artisans will often either choose the method commonly used in the local environment or spontaneously come up with a new, expedient method. That is, they focus on the immediate environment and goals (Chameleon). Rationals, on the other hand, often prefer to default to carefully thought-out principles (which take into account both short-term and long-term goals) (Platypus), rather than improvising.
A Rational who is annoyed with or is simply aloof toward the culture he/she is currently in (whether the host culture or the passport culture) may adopt the Turtle Style. For the Rational, however, that is not a method of emotional protection—as it is for the Idealist, and sometimes for the Guardian as well—or necessarily of wishing he were in a different culture—as it can be for Guardians. Rather, it is generally just limited perceived "reward" ("return/investment") from potential interactions with individuals of that culture, and a comparatively low need for interpersonal interaction in general. (The Fieldmarshal, who needs people to direct, is an exception to this.)
A Rational is unlikely to adopt the Bull or the Butterfly, which would mean sacrificing maximum efficiency. A Rational is even less likely to adopt the Tasmanian Devil, which would mean sacrificing not only efficiency, but also personal autonomy (since the TCK's behavior would always be based on that of those around him/her).

Type to Style Summary

Below is a summary diagram of the proposed relationships between personality types and Cultural Styles. The solid lines indicate primary (most likely) correspondence, and the dashed lines indicate secondary (somewhat likely) correspondence.

Note that Guardians and Rationals each have a single primary Cultural Style (Bull and Platypus, respectively). Furthermore, those Styles aren't a primary Style of any other type. Artisans and Idealists also each have one of their primary Styles to themselves (Tasmanian Devil and Mule, respectively), but they share their second primary Style (Chameleon) with each other. The Butterfly and Turtle are only used as secondary Cultural Styles.

Conclusion

Of the many specific factors that could be analyzed alongside the general TCK factors, we have here chosen to look at personality types. According to our speculation, certain personality types enjoy relocation and cross-cultural interaction, or specific aspects thereof, more than other types do. Also, while we cannot predict exactly which Cultural Style a given type will normally choose, we can predict the most and least likely Style(s) for each type. Hopefully, the material presented in this article will provide TCKs and those regularly interacting with them fresh ideas for reflection, leading to a deeper (self-)understanding and better ways of dealing with any potential challenges. Perhaps it will also stimulate investigation into other specific factors influencing third culture kids.

Copyright © DUS, 2012

Resources for and about Missionary Kidsand other "Third Culture Kids"