Personality Zone

Geocaching and Temperament

When I'm not staring at a computer screen, I like to engage in an activity known as geocaching. For those unfamiliar with the activity, it is something of a hi-tech hide-and-seek/treasure hunt. The way it works is one participant hides a "geocache", some container that has a log and perhaps other items, somewhere out in the world. Then the latitude and longitude of the geocache's position are posted on the web site linked above. Other participants then seek out this container using the Global Positioning System to lead them to the geocache's location. Once found, the finder signs the log and may trade for items in the geocache with items brought by the finder.

I've pondered how the four temperaments approach this activity. For my temperament, the Rationals, the reason is fairly obvious: we get to play with hi-tech toys! Well, beyond that, there is also the appeal of using maps and looking for strategic approaches to the area. Plus, it gives us chances to see the outdoors world and gather information on it.

For other temperaments, I have to make educated guesses. I think that after Rationals, the activity in of itself has appeal to Artisans. It's the spirit of adventure that can drive Artisans to go to places both familiar and unknown and hunt geocaches. Plus there is the artistry that be involved in how a hide is implemented.

Looking at Guardians, I suspect that the appeal for the activity might be related to being a part of some group, mainly thinking of families that look for geocaches together. Generally, geocaching is an activity that can be done either by oneself or with others, and most of the time children are able to participate. Of course, this could be met with other activities, but outside of travel money and a one-time purchase of a GPS receiver, geocaching is a free activity, and that can appeal to a money-conscious Guardian.

I'm still trying to guess the appeal to the Idealist in terms of the hunt itself. However, a peripheral aspect of geocaching might be of interest. As a general rule, geocachers try to not leave any litter about and are even encouraged to pick up trash as they return from a geocache hunt. I can see that as something that an Idealist might wish to practice.

I suppose that from my point of view, geocaching is mainly a Rational activity given its emphasis on the technology involved. If it were simply about locating some abstract point on a map, it might strictly be the domain of the Rational. However, geocaching is at its core a treasure hunt, and with someTHING to be found, the activity can have a broader appeal to it. Perhaps it is one of those activities that reaches across varying temperaments and appeal to what is human about us, at least have that appearance.