Temperament Decades

[stellarrenegade]

While sifting through videos to find temperament themes, I watched this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDIzMGh94vo&feature=fvw

...and it made me think that the successive decades have been characterized more strongly by one temperament or other.

The 50's seem to have been clearly Guardian, along with probably the late 90's.
The 20's and 70's were definitely Artisan.
The 60's and 80's were Idealist?

What decades were Rational? The 01's or 10's? The age of invention, when everyone was stretching the boundaries of what could formerly be done?

[Jeffster]

I think "characterization" of decades is likely just what the media focused on at a particular time. The 50's might seem Guardian to you, but then it was also the dawn of the rock & roll era, so plenty of Artisans and some Idealists making their presence known. Ditto the 60's which might be known by some for Idealist politics and Artisan "free love," but meanwhile Nixon got elected, and there were big hit singles in support of the Vietnam War as well as those against it. And all the while, the Rationals were in their labs creating the technology of the future.

So, to sum up, I think trying to label any entire decade as being dominated by one temperament is looking at it with a very narrow focus.

[stellarrenegade]

I think "characterization" of decades is likely just what the media focused on at a particular time. The 50's might seem Guardian to you, but then it was also the dawn of the rock & roll era, so plenty of Artisans and some Idealists making their presence known. Ditto the 60's which might be known by some for Idealist politics and Artisan "free love," but meanwhile Nixon got elected, and there were big hit singles in support of the Vietnam War as well as those against it. And all the while, the Rationals were in their labs creating the technology of the future.

So, to sum up, I think trying to label any entire decade as being dominated by one temperament is looking at it with a very narrow focus.

Oh, to be sure. I'm just talking about the "spirit of the age" or cultural phenomenas. I guess you're right though, there are separate streams going on continuously. I was just thinking about how half of the movies these days are remakes of oldies and how much of a Guardian (and maybe combined Artisan) thing that is. And it does seem odd that at a time of such technological advancement there's the almost just as strong urge to get back to nature, with everyone taking herbal supplements and natural cures and wanting eco-friendly cars and all these dudes looking like mountain men. (Not that I can talk when I'm growing such a thick beard, but hey, my lady likes it ).

[jenagain]

Random:

William Strauss and Neil Howe wrote a book called Generations that speaks to this theory, though not exactly in the context of temperament. You can probably draw pretty strong correlations between the labels of the two. Idealist=prophet; Rational=nomad; Guardian=hero; Artisan=artist. The authors propose that generations are shaped by their times, which follow a cyclical progression-- a high, an awakening, an unraveling and a crisis, which eventually produces another high.

[Narnia51483]

The authors propose that generations are shaped by their times, which follow a cyclical progression-- a high, an awakening, an unraveling and a crisis, which eventually produces another high.

Ha! I have seen this cyclical progression in my life, no matter how I try to fight it!

[charliebrown]

Random:

William Strauss and Neil Howe wrote a book called Generations that speaks to this theory, though not exactly in the context of temperament. You can probably draw pretty strong correlations between the labels of the two. Idealist=prophet; Rational=nomad; Guardian=hero; Artisan=artist. The authors propose that generations are shaped by their times, which follow a cyclical progression-- a high, an awakening, an unraveling and a crisis, which eventually produces another high.

whenever people are nostalgic for the past and a more guardian like era where there discipline, commitment, honour, consistency etc... were prized and practised as virtues, I always remind these people (in my own head) that, that generation caused 2 catastrophic world wars (to my way of thinking at least). Nothing against guardians, it's blindingly obvious what artisan excesses can lead to, you don't really get too many guardian excesses these days... I would argue. Is there an excess of rationalism these days?? or idealism?

[AngelaRak]

Good observations, Stellar. I can see what you mean. I like how you included all of the types and goals.

Jeffster: I appreciate what you added. That makes sense.

Jen: I like what you added to. This was very interesing!

[charliebrown]

in any age all the temperaments find a niche for themselves and adapt to the norm and if not they enter sub-cultures and underground worlds. In every age there has been a gay underground movement for example. But what I was thinking of the spirit of the age the dominant ideas that become the status quo, the received wisdom, social convention... the consensus on what it is to be normal, for this reason I do think that the Victorian age up until maybe the 1920s was very guardian, although there is always a back lag, e.g in the 1920s the times are changing but the bureaucratic machinery, laws and power brokers are very guardian e.g crusty old white men in starched white collars, suits and hats.

A few conventions which seem very guardian in flavour are:

duels for dishonouring a person.
imprisoning and shunning someone for not paying their debt.
Shunning a woman who has dishonoured herself.
Being able to enter into a contract solely on the basis of a handshake.
Being expected to honour your contractual duties at all costs.
Not talking about taboo subjects.

Today it's just the opposite in almost every which way. In fact just from my own anecdotal experience, guardians beat themselves up on not being spontaneous or creative enought (the few I know)

[charliebrown]

obviously things are more complicated, but if you are going to talk about something you just have to simplify.

I was going to say rationals and idealists often shape the culture to a degree disproportionate to their numbers (just a thought)

[stellarrenegade]

in any age all the temperaments find a niche for themselves and adapt to the norm and if not they enter sub-cultures and underground worlds. In every age there has been a gay underground movement for example. But what I was thinking of the spirit of the age the dominant ideas that become the status quo, the received wisdom, social convention... the consensus on what it is to be normal, for this reason I do think that the Victorian age up until maybe the 1920s was very guardian, although there is always a back lag, e.g in the 1920s the times are changing but the bureaucratic machinery, laws and power brokers are very guardian e.g crusty old white men in starched white collars, suits and hats.

A few conventions which seem very guardian in flavour are:

duels for dishonouring a person.
imprisoning and shunning someone for not paying their debt.
Shunning a woman who has dishonoured herself.
Being able to enter into a contract solely on the basis of a handshake.
Being expected to honour your contractual duties at all costs.
Not talking about taboo subjects.

Today it's just the opposite in almost every which way. In fact just from my own anecdotal experience, guardians beat themselves up on not being spontaneous or creative enought (the few I know)

So true.

obviously things are more complicated, but if you are going to talk about something you just have to simplify.

I was going to say rationals and idealists often shape the culture to a degree disproportionate to their numbers (just a thought)

Yep. There's pressure to self-reflect or think more deeply about things. It can get quite annoying and frustrating when you're just trying to get respect for your natural traits and not have people on your back about things you don't do very well.