Personality type VS behavioural style

“What personality type are you?”
This is a question you might see come up from time to time. Sometimes this also refers to DISC behavioural styles. Personality types and DISC behavioural styles are related concepts, but they differ in their focus and its applications.

Personality type explained

Personality types refer to broader and deeper characteristics of an individual that are relatively stable over time. These characteristics include things like temperament, emotional reactions, thought processes and deeply held beliefs.
These types are often measured and described using comprehensive personality theories, such as the Big Five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.
Personality types focus more on understanding the fundamental nature of an individual and are based less on observation of behaviour.

Behavioural styles explained

Behavioural styles are more focused on observing an individual’s visible behaviour in specific situations. These styles describe how a person communicates with his or her environment. This involves both verbal, and non-verbal communication.
Behavioural styles are often described using models such as the DISC model. In this, preferred behaviour is divided into four different styles: dominance, influence, stability and conformism.

The difference between a personality type and behavioural style

The main difference is that personality types address the underlying personality traits and emotional aspects of an individual, while behavioural styles focus more on a person’s observable interaction with his or her environment.

Both concepts can be useful to better understand and respond to individuals and their interactions in different contexts.