True Colors Temperament & Personality Typing Programs 

The True Colors proprietary temperament and personality typing methodology have been used globally for over 40 years by corporations, non-profits, education, government, and military institutions. Our clients include many of the most respected Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, META, Google, Ford, Kraft, Oracle, Marriott, and many others. Our methodology has also been seamlessly applied to smaller companies, individuals, and in family settings.

History of True Colors

The practice of personality typing of temperament theory started with Hippocrates (born in 460 BC) who is considered the father of modern medicine. He is commonly credited as the first to see the quadratic nature of people and developed terms to describe these differences. In an age of mystery and superstition, Hippocrates identified four different temperaments in humans related to bodily fluids: Sanguine, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, and Choleric.

In 1921 Swiss physician and student of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung made a significant contribution to personality typing with his book “Psychological Types.” His book presented in-depth information about his theory of psychological types designed to categorize people in terms of various personality patterns. Jung’s theory also focused on four basic psychological functions.

In the 1940s-50s Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers developed the MBTI indicator type that contains 16 personality types. Their model is built on the dichotomies within a person’s personality or temperament like energy, processing information, making decisions, and structuring your life. 

The next major temperament model was developed by Dr. David Keirsey and made popular thru his book “Please Understand Me (co-written with Marilyn Bates). He identified humankind’s four basic temperaments as the Artisan, the Guardian, the Idealist, and the Rational.

After working with Keirsey, Don Lowry created the True Colors model later in 1978. Lowry realized other models were too complex and challenging for people to apply to their everyday lives. He was the first to apply the color metaphors of Orange, Gold, Green, and Blue to the four temperaments, coining this methodology: True Colors.

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The Legacy of Don Lowry and True Colors®

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved founder, Don Lowry, the creator of True Colors, who passed away on his 88th birthday, May 18th, 2024, in Rancho Mirage, CA. Don's passionate belief that authentic, harmonious human relationships require understanding, appreciation, and respect for each individual led him to invent the True Colors model, workshop processes, and storytelling method, "edutainment." His vision was that understanding Temperament Theory should be enjoyable, practical, and accessible, fostering a sense of belonging for everyone.

Don's journey with True Colors began in 1978 when he met Dr. David Keirsey, author of "Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types." Don developed an entertaining, interactive comedy show to explain the concepts of Temperament Theory, making self-evaluation simple and enjoyable. He adapted the production for schools and communities, emphasizing that our differences are essential for collective success. True Colors has reached millions globally, with over 10,000 certified facilitators using the methodology in various applications, from career development to healthcare. Don's legacy lives on as his innovative approach improves relationships and collaboration worldwide.

True Case Studies