All 7 TCI dimensions - 4 temperament, 3 character, explained

TCI theory reads a person in two layers. Underneath are the four temperament dimensions you were born reacting with — Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence and Persistence. Layered on top are the three character dimensions that experience builds: Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness and Self-Transcendence. Open any dimension to see what high and low look like day to day, which environments suit each end, and how to work with the settings you've got. Curious about your own profile? Take the quick temperament test (12 questions) or the full temperament and character test (28 questions).

🧬 Temperament dimensions (how you're wired to react)

🧭 Novelty Drive (Novelty Seeking) How brightly the brain lights up in front of something new — the engine behind exploration and impulse. 🛡️ Risk Aversion (Harm Avoidance) How quickly the brakes engage when something looks risky — the sensor behind caution and worry. 💗 Social Sensitivity (Reward Dependence) How strongly you register human warmth — the antenna for emotional connection. 🔥 Staying Power (Persistence) The ability to keep going when nothing is rewarding you yet — the muscle behind grit and absorption.

🌱 Character dimensions (what experience builds)

🧭 Autonomy (Self-Directedness) The sense that your own hands are on the wheel — the first pillar of a mature character. 🤝 Solidarity (Cooperativeness) How readily you count other people as "us" — the measure of how well you live alongside them. 🌌 Transcendence (Self-Transcendence) How often you lose the edges of yourself and connect to something larger — the dimension of absorption and awe.