That is perfectly normal. Similar to when you’re identifying the temperament of a child, keep observing. Listen to the kinds of words you use. Consider the behavior and traits that come naturally to you. It could even be helpful to think back to childhood experiences that may reveal strengths or weaknesses that have been consistent over time. You may find that the results you disagree with now might turn out to be more accurate than you think. (Of course, it’s also possible that your results are, in fact, incorrect. It never hurts to double-check your scoring sheet.)

We all have dominant and secondary temperaments. Some people have a temperament that is particularly dominant, and they primarily identify with one color. Others have dominant and secondary temperaments that are more evenly split, as they relate to the strengths and weaknesses of more than one color. The influence of this secondary temperament is the reason two Cholerics, for example, can be quite different from each other. A Choleric whose secondary temperament is Sanguine will be chatty, enthusiastic, and emotional, while a Choleric whose secondary temperament is Melancholic will be detailed, focused, and reserved.

What separates the temperaments framework from most personality profiles is that self-awareness is not the ultimate goal. This framework is a tool that helps you understand others. Knowing your own temperament is the first step. Recognizing the temperament of others is the more important second step, as it allows you to adjust your words to communicate more effectively.

Learned behavior may appear in your results as a third temperament. We call this masking. Your temperament is innate, but you may have learned to mask that temperament in response to a person or circumstance. In up to 80 percent of cases, masking occurs as a response to parenting. A child adjusts outward behavior to meet the standards or expectations imposed by a parent. Over time, it can be difficult to distinguish this learned behavior from what comes naturally. Masking might be the result of grief, trauma, or other abuse. These difficult circumstances might cause you to adopt behaviors for which you are not wired, in order to protect your mental or physical well-being. For now, focus on your dominant temperament by asking yourself, What am I like when I’m by myself or in crisis?

You have a particularly dominant temperament. This isn’t a problem! In fact, learning the entire temperaments framework will be even more impactful, since your goal is to speak the language of all four temperaments.

It’s not unusual for scores to be very close or potentially the same for your dominant and secondary temperaments. Think of yourself as bilingual—able to speak the language of two temperaments!

Although assessment scores do occasionally result in these combinations, diagonal temperaments are not natural because they have opposite strengths and weaknesses. For example, Sanguines are chatty and Melancholics are reserved. You cannot naturally be both. It helps to discuss your answers with a loved one, who might notice qualities that are difficult for you to see in yourself. Don’t worry too much about resolving this issue though. The more you learn about the temperaments framework, the easier it will be to sort out your scores. For now, just focus on your dominant temperament.