Type 4

The Individualist

Others may experience Fours as explosive, intense and moody, but at their best they are empaths who deeply feel the pain and suffering of other people. Their sensitivity, which can seem like a burden, is also their greatest gift.

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How to recognise a Four

Fours are perhaps the most emotionally expressive and self-aware of all the types. They carry a deep sense that they are fundamentally different from others—not just unique, but somehow missing something that everyone else seems to have. This longing for wholeness gives them a melancholic, romantic quality that often draws people in.

You'll recognise a Four by their intense need for authenticity; they are deeply uncomfortable with anything superficial or performative, and they will often steer conversations toward deeper, more meaningful territory. They tend to be drawn to beauty, symbolism and aesthetics, frequently expressing themselves through art, music, fashion, or writing in ways that feel distinctly and deliberately them.

In relationships and social settings, Fours can seem alternately magnetic and withdrawn. They experience emotions with unusual depth and intensity, and they often idealise what they don't have while overlooking what they do—a push-pull dynamic that can make them seem moody or hard to reach. They are highly sensitive to feeling misunderstood, and if they sense that someone isn't truly seeing them, they may retreat inward. At the same time, when a Four feels genuinely understood and accepted, they are among the most empathetic, creative, and deeply loyal people you'll ever meet. Look for the person who seems to inhabit their own emotional world, who values depth over comfort, and who would rather be honestly flawed than falsely cheerful.

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The Four at work

Fours don’t fit into teams and often don’t particularly want to. Fitting in means compromising their individuality, which makes them who they are. This can spell trouble to a work-based team. When others want to move on, Fours will find a sticking point; when others want to make a decision, Fours want to talk some more. It is tempting to play the Four’s own game and suggest the opposite of what you really want! Fours come into their own when the team needs a measure of creative thinking or individual work. Fours have insights into depths of emotions others can only guess at, and they are quite prepared to take risks in the knowledge that even the risk of failure can heighten their emotional temperature.

To discover the Fours on your team, ask yourself:

Who always swims against the tide?
Who likes to be different? 
Who tends to do their own thing regardless of what others think?

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Working with a Four

They might say: “If we had x, y or z, it would be so much better.”

They often appearing aloof or stand-offish, acting in an apparently mysterious or dramatic way as they withdraw into their own idealistic inner world.

They get stressed by …

• People and experiences not living up to desired ideals or intensity
• Wanting more than is available
• Envying what others have
• Unmanageable feelings, especially in emotional crises

They get angry with …

• People who disappoint them or let them down
• Being slighted
• Rejection, or being abandoned
• Feeling misunderstood
• People who are phoney or insincere

Get along with them by ...

• Disclose your own feelings
• Ensure they have a position where they can be fully creative
• Where possible, allow them to do things their way
• Recognise and value their sensitivity