What The True Colors Personality Test May Say About You
Your personality can influence many aspects of life. The big five personality test might shed light on the values, likes, and dislikes that can explain your overall personality, behaviors, and thoughts. Workplaces may use these tests to hire those who fit their team environment, and students often take them to discover potential career opportunities and education paths. Additionally, individuals might try these tests to gain a deeper understanding of themselves.
There are many personality tests available online. Some tests could take a few minutes, whereas others might take 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Each test may target a different area of your personality. One such test is the True Colors personality test.
For many people, one of the four types is more dominant than the others. The American Psychological Association notes that understanding your personality could be beneficial in understanding your behaviors, desires, and thoughts.
How the True Colors personality test works
In the True Colors personality test, individuals answer questions about their likes and dislikes. Based on their answers, the test proctor or website utilized will identify their primary personality test color. Additionally, as all four colors may influence your personality to a degree, the test will describe how the other colors fit in with your results. The True Colors test may also reveal your values, motivations, social skills, and learning styles.
The meaning behind each personality test color
Each color result in the test is said to correspond with certain personality traits. Your likes and dislikes may point to that result. There are four possible results, including the following.
Orange personality result
The color orange is said to represent activity and excitement. Metaphorically, it may be represented by fire, adventure, or delicious fruits. The test states those under the orange result are fun-loving, humorous, witty, and charming. Oranges tend to love a challenge and appreciate recognition for their achievements. They may also prefer to lead, not follow. Those under this color may learn by trying an activity themselves instead of listening to a lecture or allowing someone else to teach them.
Gold personality result
Gold is said to represent authenticity, dependability, and tradition. Golds may desire structure, unity, and organization to thrive. A lack of order could make this individual feel worried or unstable. Golds often value integrity and responsibility and might prove to be trustworthy friends and reliable employees. Crossing items off a to-do list could feel satisfactory for those under this color. However, it isn't necessarily "all business" for golds. They may also take pride in being present for their loved ones and have solid family values.
Blue personality result
Some psychologists point to blue as the color of intellect. In the True Colors test, blue represents emotional intensity and spirituality. The life of blue may center around social connections. Blues may not only enjoy socializing but seek to make connections with others. They might find happiness in harmonious relationships with coworkers, friends, family, and partners.
Blues might go out of their way to find a solution when there's conflict. Their deep compassion and caring can make them compassionate communicators and caretakers. Blues might also have strong imaginations and find joy in music, art, and entertainment.
Green personality result
Greens might find meaning in innovation. The color represents orderly systems like those found in nature. Greens can be logical, intellectual, and philosophical. Their thirst for knowledge and understanding may drive them toward discovery and problem-solving. Greens often turn to research to help them make tough decisions. Their independent nature could lead them to question the status quo and challenge authority.
What your True Colors result says about you
Discovering your primary personality test color may open a window of understanding about your behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. This self-awareness could guide you to make choices that fit your desires. Additionally, understanding yourself may allow you to be present in professional or personal relationships.
Mostly green result
As a primary green, you might put your faith in facts. You could enjoy finding new solutions to old problems, and you might care about acting within your morals as much as you care about being correct. Your friends and family might regard you as "the voice of reason" within your circle. Your intellect and thirst for knowledge could make you suitable for a career as a professor, computer systems analyst, or economist.
Authority and developed corporate structures may present problems for you, however. You may enjoy making decisions and thinking for yourself and could take issue with others being in command. You might struggle to accept criticism and feel insecure when others prove you wrong. You might use humor or sarcasm to cope or could become withdrawn.
As a green, you might think of yourself as level-headed and unemotional. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you don't experience emotions. You may suppress your emotions or feel disconnected from them. You may only confide in close friends or a professional. Reaching out to a therapist could be beneficial if you relate to this, as studies indicate that suppressing emotions can be unhealthy.
Mostly orange result
If the thought of traditional life makes you uncomfortable, you may be a primary orange. Your independent nature could mean you desire freedom and flexibility in all aspects of your life, including your career. You might find strict rules or deadlines suffocating. Although you could enjoy a challenge, you may also crave recognition and fast results.
Your energy, adaptability, and multi-tasking abilities may be strengths in the workplace. Consider a job that allows you to take charge of your schedule, such as freelance or remote work or work that allows you to travel the world often. If it is challenging to stick to a routine, you might feel that adding incentives or changing your routine every so often could make you feel more comfortable. You may take the same approach with romantic relationships.
Because oranges are often comfortable taking significant risks for significant rewards, others may believe they are impulsive or irresponsible or that "consequences are coming." Additionally, oranges might find themselves experiencing emotions quickly while also being quick to come back down from an emotional response. Their friends may see them as fun, humorous and optimistic.
Mostly blue result
As a primary blue, you may see yourself as warm and caring. Your friends might say you're an active listener and a good friend. You might also find yourself playing mediator when others aren't getting along. Blues often find satisfaction in helping others. A career in social work, nursing, or human resources could put your compassion and drive to use in a field that feels comfortable to you.
Blues may need to avoid burnout, as they could put others' needs before their own. If you're a blue, you may try to avoid conflict and strive to keep the peace in your relationships. You may envision harmony with the people around you and take rejection personally. While you enjoy socializing, you might draw strength from a core group of close friends and won't tolerate false or dishonest behavior.
For those with a primarily blue result, you may see love as a complex and intimate expression. You might appreciate minor gestures like a gift of flowers, a card, or candles. Blues are often creative, and you might express yourself through art, music, or writing.
Mostly gold result
People might describe you as opinionated, stubborn, or judgmental if you received a primarily gold result. If you see others acting in ways you disagree with, you might feel irritated or want to change their behaviors. You may feel rooted in your values and integrity. You could take pride in being organized, punctual and dependable.
Golds are often detail-oriented and might not shy away from challenging or long-term work. They may often work long hours or find themselves putting all their energy into work. Working toward a clear goal may feel most comfortable for a gold. They may enjoy working as a pharmacist, accountant, business executive, or court reporter.
Golds often desire structure in their lives. However, their need for order may leave them feeling stressed and anxious when things do not happen exactly as planned. As a gold, you might value family, tradition, and creating a legacy for yourself.
Improving relationships with a color code personality test
Appreciating differences and understanding that each personality type may have negative and positive aspects could help you become closer to those you love. If you're in a relationship with someone with a different color profile, understanding their needs in relationships could make them feel more loved and seen.
In relationships, the different color profiles may crave different behaviors, such as the following:
- Oranges often seek recognition and praise
- Blues might desire acceptance and communication
- Golds may want stability and order
- Greens could appreciate the validation of their ideas
Understanding what frustrates others might also help you avoid missteps and find solutions. Golds might refrain from passing judgment or trying to plan for everything. Blues can work to resolve conflict rather than avoid it. Greens could simplify their ideas for others. Oranges may learn strategies to cool their tempers.
Discuss your personality with a professional
Many individuals seek counseling to further understand their thoughts, behaviors, and ideas.
A study published in the Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy outlines the broad array of mental health issues that internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can address. Online CBT has been shown to reframe unhelpful, intrusive thoughts so those seeking treatment can better understand why they behave or interact in specific ways. The study notes that internet-based therapy decreased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and panic in many of the participants. Even if you do not have a mental health diagnosis, discussing your personality with a professional can provide therapeutic insight that you may not have considered independently.
If you're interested in trying online counseling, you can sign up through a platform like BetterHelp for individuals or Regain for couples.
Counselor reviews
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“Karyn’s perspective on my life and my experiences, particularly in my relationships, has opened my eyes to things I’ve never been able to see before in my own personality and behavior. She challenges me! She affirms me! She laughs with me! When I cry, she talks me through it and lets it happen! It’s been so helpful and wonderful to have an outside perspective on my feelings during a pandemic, especially. She’s helping me become the best version of myself.”
Takeaway
Is the True Color personality test accurate?
The True Color personality test has achieved certification by the Assessment Standards Institute (ASI). The ASI evaluates whether an assessment instrument meets American Psychological Association standards for reliability and validity. A test is reliable if it produces consistent results. An example of reliability for the True Color test might be if one person took the test twice. A reliable assessment would produce roughly the same color profile each time. A test is valid if it measures the content it intends to measure. In this case, personality factors.
Although the True Color personality test has achieved ASI certification, its results should still be interpreted with caution. The results may offer insight into your personality, but you should consider the assessment results to be for entertainment purposes only. Accurate, evidence-based personality testing must be carried out by a qualified professional using assessment instruments that are typically much lengthier than freely-available personality tests like True Color. Professional-grade assessments also typically undergo a much more robust evaluation process to determine accuracy.
What are the 4 personality colors?
The True Color personality test, originally designed in 1978 by Don Lowry, provides results that indicate to what degree a person relates to one of four colors: gold, orange, blue, and green. The person is not placed into a single category; their color profile is based on what combination of colors is unique to them. A person’s responses to the assessment indicate which colors are “brightest” (their answers strongly related to that color) or which are “palest” (their answers weakly related to that color).
A person is typically categorized by their brightest color, but the True Color test also assigns weights to other colors. A person might be considered a “green” because it is their brightest color, but they likely provided responses that related to other colors as well.
The four colors are described below:
- Gold personalities are those whose responses indicated they were authentic and dependable. They tend to prefer order and organization. Gold personalities value trustworthiness highly and frequently bring stability to their environments.
- Orange personalities are likely to enjoy fun and excitement. They are often humorous and charming but may resist commitment. Orange personalities are likely self-sufficient, action-oriented, and exhibit a preference for leadership. They may struggle to ask for help or follow orders.
- Blue personalities are typically emotionally intense and value social relationships highly, though they may not consistently enjoy socializing. Blue personalities tend to search for solutions to conflict and strive for compassion.
- Green personalities are often innovators who rely on logic and analytical thought. They often engage in intellectual pursuits and usually enjoy problem-solving. Green personalities often seek to answer their own questions and may reject the status quo.
What type of personality assessment is True Colors?
The True Colors personality test is an ipsative test, meaning it is designed to measure how individuals perceive traits within themselves. Contrasting ipsative tests are norm-referenced assessments designed to compare the test taker's personality traits with a larger population to determine what is considered normal or typical for most of the population, hence the “norm” in norm-referenced tests.
Ipsative tests are commonly used to provide descriptive or insightful information about a person without resorting to lengthy interviews. For example, the True Color test takes only a few minutes to complete but offers valuable information about a person’s personality traits. On the other hand, norm-referenced tests are typically used alongside clinical interviews and tend to be much lengthier. This allows norm-referenced tests to provide highly detailed information about a person’s personality compared to the general population, which is helpful for clinical diagnosis and treatment planning.
Why is the True Colors personality test important?
Like many measures of personality, the True Color personality profiling system allows a person to draw insight into their personality traits and perhaps gain a greater understanding of how they interact with their environment. Although the results of a personality test should be interpreted in the greater context of the test taker’s life, the information provided by the personality test may help someone better understand their unique personality traits.
What is the most popular color personality test?
There are many color personality tests available, but it is not possible to determine which is the most popular. Most have unique strengths and weaknesses that make them appropriate in different situations. Below are a few color-based personality tests that are readily available. As with all online personality tests, they are primarily for entertainment, and their results should be interpreted with caution:
Can my personality test be wrong?
Yes, many freely available personality tests have limited information supporting their accuracy and utility. The descriptions they provide may not accurately reflect the test taker’s personality, or they may identify some personality traits accurately while misinterpreting others. In addition, although results may feel unique to the test taker, they may be more generic than they appear. Personality can also change over the lifespan, and results obtained in one moment may not be accurate later in a person’s life.
You should always exercise caution when interpreting the results of most online personality assessments and consider them for entertainment only. Personality tests with solid evidence to support their use typically undergo a rigorous evaluation and validation process that demonstrates their utility. While freely-available personality assessments often have undergone at least a small amount of evaluation, it is typically a much less involved process.
Designing an empirically valid, robust, and useful personality assessment might take years of development and testing. Because of this, high-quality personality tests are often costly and designed only to be used by professionals. It is important to note that even well-designed personality assessments can provide inaccurate results. This is why assessments used in clinical or research settings are designed to be interpreted by a professional trained to recognize inconsistencies or aberrant results.
Which personality test is more accurate?
Every freely-available online personality test should be approached with healthy skepticism. It is difficult to say which tests are more or less accurate. Many of the constructs assessed by online personality tests are not well-founded or poorly understood. It is also possible that tests sacrifice accuracy for usability or other factors.
Evidence-based personality measures are typically peer-reviewed and may undergo years of testing before they are used in clinical or research settings. It is unlikely that most freely-available personality tests experience that level of scrutiny. Even robust, widely-used clinical instruments like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) can produce inaccurate results, which is why high-quality personality tests are typically designed to be administered and interpreted by qualified professionals.
Personality tests used by clinicians are often much longer (the MMPI contains hundred of questions) and evaluate much more specific information than freely-available personality tests. They are also usually administered alongside other empirically-valid assessments and clinical interviews. Many clinical professionals would likely describe the MMPI as the most “accurate” personality test available, but they would also likely be quick to point out its caveats and areas where caution must be used when interpreting its results.
Does color reflect personality?
Researchers have studied the association between color and personality extensively. While there is some evidence that color preferences can reflect personality traits, more research is required to generalize the research to most of the population. It is important to remember that culture likely influences how a person recognizes and interprets different colors. It is possible that interpretations of colors and their reflection of personality traits may differ between cultures.
One study of over 800 South Korean adults found a significant link between color preference and personality traits. The study found that a preference for red was frequently associated with emotional volatility, while a preference for yellow was associated with sympathy, warmth and agreeableness. Green was associated most strongly with emotional stability and conscientiousness. Blue was associated with dependability, self-discipline, and general stability.
The study above was restricted to only South Korean participants, but some researchers have attempted to find cross-cultural themes that link personality and color. One study identified several such characteristics, but their results are much broader than what is indicated in the study of South Korean color preferences. Their results found that red is one of the most personality-relevant colors across cultures, usually indicating activity, strength, or aggression. Black and grey are typically associated with negative traits, while white, blue, and green are typically associated with positive ones.
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