Babe Ruth: personality/temperament profile

 Here is an analysis of the personality of Babe Ruth, the legendary baseball player, often referred to as "The Sultan of Swat." Below, I will provide a detailed breakdown of his personality based on historical accounts of his character, behavior, and public persona. I will base this analysis on widely available information about Babe Ruth. If the documents contain specific insights, I encourage you to reference them for additional context.

Personality Overview of Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth Jr., 1895–1948) was an American professional baseball player whose larger-than-life personality matched his extraordinary athletic talent. Known for his record-breaking home runs and charismatic presence, Ruth was a cultural icon during the Roaring Twenties. Historical accounts describe him as gregarious, boisterous, and confident, with a love for life’s pleasures—food, drink, and socializing. He was also known for his generosity, especially toward children, but had a rebellious streak, often clashing with authority due to his undisciplined lifestyle. Despite his flaws, he was deeply admired for his authenticity and ability to connect with fans.

Now, let’s break down his personality across various psychological frameworks and typologies.

Jungian Archetypes

Babe Ruth embodies several Jungian archetypes, reflecting different facets of his personality:

• The Hero: Ruth’s extraordinary achievements in baseball, overcoming a tough childhood in an orphanage, and becoming a national icon align with the Hero archetype, symbolizing triumph and inspiration.
• The Jester: His playful, larger-than-life demeanor, love for fun, and ability to entertain both on and off the field reflect the Jester archetype, bringing joy and levity to others.
• The Rebel: His disregard for rules, frequent indulgence in excesses, and clashes with authority figures point to the Rebel archetype, challenging norms and living life on his own terms.

Myers-Briggs 4-Letter Type

Based on his extroverted, spontaneous, and action-oriented nature, Babe Ruth likely fits the ESFP (Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving) type:

• Extraverted (E): Ruth thrived in social settings, loved being the center of attention, and drew energy from interacting with fans and teammates.
• Sensing (S): He was grounded in the present, focusing on immediate experiences like playing baseball and enjoying life’s pleasures rather than abstract planning.
• Feeling (F): His warmth, generosity (especially toward children), and emotional connection with fans suggest a preference for decisions based on personal values over strict logic.
• Perceiving (P): Ruth’s spontaneous, carefree lifestyle and resistance to structure or discipline indicate a preference for flexibility over planning.

Myers-Briggs 2-Letter Type

Using the simplified 2-letter temperament model (based on Keirsey’s temperament sorter), Babe Ruth aligns with SP (Sensing-Perceiving), also known as the "Artisan." This temperament reflects his hands-on, action-driven approach, risk-taking behavior, and focus on living in the moment.

Enneagram Type

Babe Ruth most likely corresponds to Type 7 - The Enthusiast with a possible wing of 6 (7w6):

• Type 7: Ruth’s love for excitement, avoidance of pain through indulgence (food, drink, women), and relentless pursuit of fun and freedom are hallmark traits of a Type 7. He lived for the thrill of the game and the pleasures of life.
• Wing 6: His loyalty to fans and teammates, as well as a desire for security within his public persona, suggest a 6 wing, balancing his adventurousness with a need for connection and support.

New Personality Self-Portrait Styles

Using the framework of the 14 styles from the "New Personality Self-Portrait" by John Oldham and Lois Morris, Babe Ruth’s personality can be described with the following dominant styles:

• Self-Confident: Ruth exuded confidence in his abilities, often predicting his home runs (e.g., the famous "called shot" in the 1932 World Series), and carried himself with a bold swagger.
• Adventurous: His risk-taking behavior, both on the field and in his personal life (partying, gambling), reflects a love for adventure and excitement.
• Dramatic: Ruth’s larger-than-life persona, flair for showmanship, and ability to captivate audiences align with the Dramatic style.
• Mercurial: His emotional highs and lows, impulsive decisions, and intense living suggest a Mercurial style, characterized by passionate and unpredictable behavior.
• Socially Awkward: While not a dominant trait, there are accounts of Ruth occasionally struggling with social norms due to his rough upbringing and lack of refinement, especially early in his career.

Temperament Type (4-Temperament Theory or 4-Humors Theory)

Babe Ruth’s temperament aligns most closely with a Sanguine type, or possibly a Sanguine-Choleric blend:

• Sanguine: His outgoing, enthusiastic, and sociable nature, along with a love for fun and attention, fits the Sanguine temperament. He was the life of the party and thrived in the spotlight.
• Choleric (secondary): His competitive drive, assertiveness on the field, and occasional temper suggest a Choleric influence, adding ambition and intensity to his personality.

Possible Personality Disorders

While there is no historical evidence to suggest Babe Ruth had a diagnosable personality disorder, certain traits could raise speculation:

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder (mild traits): His need for admiration, grandiosity (e.g., predicting home runs), and sense of entitlement (disregarding rules) might suggest narcissistic tendencies, though not to a pathological degree. His generosity and genuine warmth toward others counteract a full diagnosis.
• Histrionic Personality Disorder (mild traits): His dramatic flair, attention-seeking behavior, and emotional expressiveness could hint at histrionic traits, but these seem more tied to his public persona than a disorder.

Hierarchy of Basic Desires (Based on Steven Reiss’s 16 Basic Desires Theory)

Babe Ruth’s hierarchy of desires might prioritize:

1. Status: Achieving fame and recognition as the greatest baseball player of his era.
2. Power: Dominating on the field and influencing the sport’s popularity.
3. Social Contact: Thriving on interactions with fans, teammates, and the public.
4. Romance: Known for his indulgences in romantic and physical pleasures.
5. Independence: Resisting authority and living life on his own terms.

Hierarchy of Basic Values

Ruth’s core values likely ranked as:

1. Achievement: Striving for greatness in baseball and breaking records.
2. Connection: Building bonds with fans, especially children, through his approachable nature.
3. Pleasure: Valuing enjoyment and indulgence in life’s luxuries.
4. Freedom: Prioritizing personal autonomy over conformity.
5. Legacy: Leaving a lasting impact on baseball and American culture.

Hierarchy of Basic Ideals (Not Desires)

Ruth’s ideals might include:

1. Excellence: Aspiring to be the best in his field.
2. Authenticity: Being true to himself, flaws and all, in the public eye.
3. Generosity: Giving back to others, especially underprivileged children.
4. Camaraderie: Valuing teamwork and friendship within the sport.
5. Joy: Promoting happiness and entertainment through baseball.

Character Weaknesses or Flaws

• Impulsivity: Ruth often acted without forethought, leading to reckless behavior (overeating, drinking, gambling).
• Discipline Issues: His inability to adhere to rules or training regimens caused conflicts with managers and teams.
• Self-Indulgence: His excesses in food, alcohol, and women sometimes overshadowed his achievements and affected his health.
• Temper: He could be hot-headed, especially when challenged or criticized.

Possible Neurotic Defense Mechanisms

Babe Ruth may have exhibited the following defense mechanisms:

• Denial: Ignoring the consequences of his unhealthy lifestyle (e.g., overeating, drinking) despite warnings.
• Rationalization: Justifying his indulgences or rule-breaking as part of his unique persona or as necessary for stress relief.
• Sublimation: Channeling his aggressive energy and competitive drive into baseball, turning potential destructive tendencies into record-breaking performances.

Possible Trance States

While not clinically documented, Ruth’s intense focus during games (e.g., the “called shot”) might suggest a flow state or trance-like concentration, where he was fully immersed in the moment, blocking out distractions. His ability to perform under pressure hints at a capacity for deep mental absorption.

Big Five Personality Dimensions

Using the Big Five model, Babe Ruth’s personality might score as follows:

• Openness to Experience: High – Creative in his approach to baseball, willing to take risks, and open to new experiences (e.g., embracing fame and public life).
• Conscientiousness: Low – Lack of discipline, poor impulse control, and disregard for rules or long-term planning.
• Extraversion: Very High – Outgoing, energetic, and thriving in social settings as a public figure.
• Agreeableness: Moderate to High – Warm and generous with fans and children, but could be confrontational with authority.
• Neuroticism: Moderate – Emotional highs and lows, with occasional temper flare-ups, but generally optimistic and resilient.

Main NLP Meta-Programs (Referring to "The Sourcebook of Magic" by L. Michael Hall)

Based on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) meta-programs, which describe how people process information and make decisions, Babe Ruth might exhibit:

• Toward Motivation: Driven toward pleasure, success, and fame rather than avoiding pain or failure.
• External Reference: Highly influenced by external validation (fan adoration, public recognition) rather than internal standards.
• Global Thinking: Focused on the big picture (e.g., winning games, entertaining crowds) rather than details like training regimens.
• Mismatch Sorting: Tendency to challenge norms or authority, focusing on what’s different or wrong rather than conforming.
• Time Orientation – Present: Living in the moment, prioritizing immediate enjoyment over future consequences.

This comprehensive analysis paints Babe Ruth as a vibrant, complex figure whose personality was as impactful as his athletic prowess.