A Modern Guide to Understanding Human Behaviour and Mastering Communication
Book by Thomas Erikson | Review & Insights
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Introduction
In a world where communication tools are at our fingertips—emails, texts, Zoom, social media—why does miscommunication still dominate our personal and professional lives? Why do some people drain our energy, while others light us up? Why do we label others as "difficult" or "impossible to understand"?
Thomas Erikson’s bestselling book Surrounded by Idiots cracks the code to this everyday chaos. Using a simple but powerful model that divides people into four color-coded personality types—Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue, Erikson reveals how we can decode behaviors, communicate better, and avoid unnecessary conflicts. Whether you're a student, leader, teammate, or just navigating relationships, this book offers life-changing tools.
Interestingly, Erikson’s model finds its ancient echo in the classical Four Temperaments theory—a psychological concept dating back to Hippocrates and later Galen. In that theory:
🔴 Choleric (linked to Yellow Bile) – Strong-willed, dominant → matches Red
🟡 Sanguine (linked to Blood) – Social, energetic → matches Yellow
🔵 Melancholic (linked to Black Bile) – Thoughtful, reserved → matches Blue
🟢 Phlegmatic (linked to Phlegm) – Peaceful, calm → matches Green
So while Erikson modernizes the model with colours and real-world scenarios, the roots go deep into human history, proving that understanding personalities has always been key to human success.
1. Red Personality – The Go-Getters
Red personalities are intense, fast, and highly focused. They're the drivers—goal-oriented, ambitious, and willing to cut through emotions to get things done.
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Motto: “Get to the point.”
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Key Traits: Bold, decisive, competitive, confident and Arrogant .
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Strengths: Action-takers, excellent in crisis, born leaders.
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Challenges: Impatient, can seem rude or cold, overlook others’ feelings.
Tip: In today’s fast start-ups and high-stakes environments, Reds thrive. But in personal relationships, their “no-time-for-nonsense” approach may feel harsh unless balanced with empathy.
2. Yellow Personality – The Visionaries
Yellows are sunshine on legs. They’re spontaneous, creative, and people-oriented. These are the storytellers, the motivators, the ones who make you feel excited just by being around them. They are people gathering person.
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Motto: “Let’s have fun and dream big!”
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Key Traits: Charismatic, energetic, optimistic, Self Centred .
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Strengths: Great communicators, idea machines, uplifting leaders.
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Challenges: Easily distracted, dislike criticism, struggle with follow-through.
Tip: In content creation, marketing, and innovation, Yellows are stars. But they need help staying organized and grounded.
3. Green Personality – The Calm Peacemakers
Greens are the quiet strength of any team or family. Kind, patient, and loyal, they keep things stable. They don’t like drama and prefer harmony over confrontation.
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Motto: “Let’s not fight.”
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Key Traits: Supportive, empathetic, dependable.
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Strengths: Team players, great listeners, emotionally intelligent.
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Challenges: Resistant to change, avoid leadership, slow decision-makers.
Tip: Greens are the glue in remote teams and families. But they need encouragement to assert themselves and embrace change.
4. Blue Personality – The Detail-Oriented Analysts
Blues are the thinkers, perfectionists, and planners. They value accuracy, structure, and logic above all.
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Motto: “Let’s do it right.”
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Key Traits: Analytical, cautious, disciplined.
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Strengths: Reliable, focused, strategic.
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Challenges: Emotionally reserved, slow decision-making, over-critical.
Tip: Blues shine in research, finance, and IT. But in emotionally charged situations, they need to remember that people > perfection.
Delivering Bad News Based on Temperament (Colour)
How to break bad news without drama—a skill for both life and leadership:
🔴 Red / Choleric: Be direct and brief. No sugar-coating.
🟡 Yellow / Sanguine: Be patient. Let them process emotionally.
🟢 Green / Phlegmatic: Be gentle and reassuring. Avoid harsh words.
🔵 Blue / Melancholic: Be precise. Give written facts, avoid emotional appeals.
Pairings and Balance – How Opposites Work Together
🔴 Red + 🟡 Yellow = Action meets Inspiration – Great for start-ups.
🟢Green + 🔵 Blue = Stability meets Strategy – Great for long-term planning.
🟡 Yellow + 🟢 Green = Fun meets Empathy – Great for classrooms or therapy.
🔴 Red + 🔵 Blue = Bold vision meets detail – Powerful but needs compromise.
Conclusion: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Communication
Whether you're quoting Hippocrates or Thomas Erikson, the truth remains: people are wired differently—and that’s our greatest strength once we understand it.
By merging ancient insights (Four Temperaments) with modern-day language (Colour Types), Surrounded by Idiots becomes more than a personality quiz—it becomes a roadmap to better leadership, deeper relationships, and real emotional intelligence.
Works Cited
1. Erikson, Thomas. Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behaviour and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life). Translated by Erik Sandin, St. Martin’s Essentials, 2019.
2.Hall, Calvin S., and Gardner Lindsey. Theories of Personality. 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, 1978.
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