Type D vs Type C Personality – 15 Differences

So, you wanna find out type D vs type C personality differences after meeting two people with these personalities? Hey, quick question… are these people prospective employees, friends, or dates? Did they take a personality test?

Ahhh… it’s okay if you don’t wanna share that, no worries!

Well, congratulations because you have reached the perfect place to find your answers… This think-piece enlisted all the differences and similarities you ever need to know about the two personalities.

C’mon, just get right to it…

Type D Vs Type C Personality

People often get confused between type C and type D personalities because of their pessimism and desire to avoid stepping out of their comfort zone.

Welp, there are legit similarities between the two which makes people find them kind of the same… BUT THEY ARE NOT… for the umpteenth time. And Type D stands for distressed but that isn’t the only thing.

If you’re in a hurry, check this chart real quick.

But if you’re DEAD serious (even more than Adam Levine) about finding the differences, get down to the main juice here…

1. They’re both realistic pessimists

People with type D personality traits are stuck to reality. They don’t daydream about the impossible and are pretty grounded in reality.

Type Cs are the same and they’re also pessimistic to a certain level. They’re good at creative and imaginative tasks but they’re pretty realistic and never have unrealistic expectations.

Instead, they’re cautious about their thoughts and always think further about the possible setbacks in their plans.

Though type Ds and Cs are both pessimistic, type D people are a bit extreme. They always imagine the worst in every situation.

They can’t notice the brighter side of the picture at all. Even when things go smoothly and even when they succeed in life, they can’t stop worrying.

So, if there was a spectrum of realism and pessimism, type Cs are somewhere in the middle where thoughts are pretty balanced and type Ds are at the extreme end of the spectrum.

2. They’re both bad with messy environments

Both type Cs and Ds can’t handle clutter in their space. They want everything in an orderly fashion at and around their space.

In their professional life, suppose they see their files aren’t organized or their desk is dusty and has papers scattered all over the space… and they also have tasks that need urgent attention.

Both a type C and type D person won’t start working on the task until they’re done organizing their space. This is because they both feel distracted and anxious about the mess. They worry they won’t find important documents while working on the task at hand.

And you’re right, they can’t pay attention to the urgency of the pending task. Some might say that’s absurd, but put yourself in their shoes. Nobody can focus when they feel agitated… and a messy environment triggers type Cs and Ds.

3. They’re both considerate towards others

Type D people avoid social interaction. They don’t usually try to talk with new people and seem unsocial. Type C people, on the other hand, keep their emotions on the low unless it’s someone from their inner circle and they seem emotionless.

However, both of these personalities are misunderstood by most people. They just can’t avoid others when they’re in trouble. Though they stay a bit aloof, for their respective reasons, both personality type people have a heart of gold.

If someone is in a critical situation, they’re always there to support them. They can’t ignore people in need. Their kind and caring soul becomes evident to others when they meet them in these situations.

Even if the world ignores them, type Cs and Ds won’t overlook a sobbing person or an animal in pain.

4. They’re both good mediators and advisors

Both type C and D people are good advisors and mediators. They can help others sort out others’ tough situations. They don’t let others aimlessly fight to and fro and are one of the first to break fighting people apart.

However, they both have different reasons or drives to do this.

Type D people are conflict-avoidant. They feel anxious about people fighting with each other… especially if they’re someone in their circle. For instance, two people in their office, home, or friend circle.

They feel anxious about the awkward and stressful situation that might result in… that the friend circle or family members might lose their unity or the colleagues may be unable to cooperate well later. Their anxiety forces them to solve the situation.

But for type Cs, it’s because they have good foresight, so they try to help out others solve their situation.

They can see deep into two choices, research the pros and cons of each possibility, and propose the best solution that will have more pros and where most cons can be dealt with easily.

5. They’re both vulnerable to serious health concerns

Type Cs and Ds are both vulnerable to many concerning physical and mental health conditions due to their stressful situations.

Due to type Ds’ negative emotions, they’re prone to a lot of stress. Their pessimism shoots up their anxiety and depression.

In physical health concerns, they’re prone to getting cardiac diseases like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and diabetes. They have much lower chances of recovery after coronary artery surgeries.

On the other hand, the stress of type Cs is mainly due to their repressed emotions and loneliness and social isolation due to their introverted nature.

Due to their high-stress levels, they’re even prone to cancer, but no research has yet proven the relation between cancer and the C-type personality itself. They might also suffer from depression. hopelessness, aggression, and helplessness.

6. They both avoid conflicts

Both type Cs and Ds dislike confrontations and do everything in their power to avoid that. They’re ready to suppress all of their emotions to avoid conflicts.

Type Ds do it because they feel anxious about conflicts. They’re afraid that others might get turned off by their differences in choice and thoughts and reject or judge them.

Whereas C-types avoid it because they don’t want to hurt others by any means. They want everyone around them to be happy and content. However, it leads to resentment and suppressed anger later on.

7. They’re both people pleasers but type Ds don’t have a choice and type Cs choose to do it

Type Cs and Ds have another common point: they’re people-pleasers or have a high chance of becoming one. However, they both have different underlying reasons for it.

Type Cs please others knowingly. They let others lead and have their way. They don’t want to disappoint others with their contradicting choices. So, they knowingly act like people-pleasers.

On the other hand, type Ds become people-pleasers due to their lack of convincing skills. They can’t resist persistent people or even feel uncomfortable about being approached by them.

They hate being forced into doing anything, but they can’t stand for themselves. They give in if the other person forces them as they can’t persuade others to leave them alone.

8. In danger, Ds get overwhelmed while Cs take calculated steps

Suppose in personal or professional life, both type D and C people face a crisis. Both of them react differently to it. A type D person will overthink all the possible negative situations and get stressed.

They won’t give up and will try to find a solution. But their negative thoughts take the better of them. They can’t take the required steps accordingly in these situations.

On the other hand, a type C person can be perfectly level-headed in this situation. They can look at the situation at hand.

They check the situation at hand, look over the issues, find out which action is most suitable, and then take care of it. However, they take lots of time to research and find facts to decide something.

9. Ds are task-oriented but Cs are detail-oriented

When type Ds undertake a task, they just want to get it done ASAP with everything it needs. They want the task to succeed as anyone else, but they’re too absorbed with the setbacks of the task. They overthink the possible setbacks and might even miss out on real work for that.

However, type Cs focus on every crucial detail. To make their task perfect, they think deeply and find out all the possible troubles they might face.

They add all the supporting facts and data to their task to strengthen the base. They gather the smallest information so that they can be prepared to face all sorts of resistances.

10. Ds prepare for the worst while Cs are just cautious

At any point in their life, both type Cs and Ds make multiple plans for upcoming troubles. They’re both pessimists and can’t be calmed before the victory.

However, type Ds don’t settle down even after their victory. They’re always preparing for the worst and don’t even take a moment to celebrate their wins. They only highlight the existing negatives and the possible ones.

But, C-types don’t let their negativity take over them. They also create backup plans but they do it only for “possible” troubles and don’t exaggerate it like D-types.

They try to be cautious so they don’t face any troubles on their way to victory.

11. Ds avoid people out of fear but Cs are just introverted

Type D people suffer from social inhibition. They avoid social interaction, i.e., don’t talk to random new people because they’re afraid of being judged, rejected, or disrespected.

They always compare themselves to others and feel they’re inferior to the rest. So, they try to be inconspicuous at parties.

So, at a party, people find D-types busy in a corner lost in their own thoughts. However, they also feel isolated because of this.

But C-types dislike hanging out with people they don’t know or those they don’t have any common interests with. They get turned off by shallow convo, so they avoid talking to strangers or don’t even attend parties without many known people.

They’re better off hanging out with their inner circle and talking about deep and interesting things.

12. Ds prioritize everyone’s emotions but Cs prioritize facts over emotions

In any situation, a type D person will always support a person if they get emotional. For instance, a type D person will allow their loved ones to take risks just because they’re passionate.

They don’t mind that the risk-taking and possible instability make them anxious, They’re even prone to get taken advantage of in this manner.

But a type D person won’t allow anything too easily. Especially, if there are unnecessary risks in a task, a lack of supportive facts to help out the situation, and no practicality in the thoughts, they don’t support it. They use their realism in every area of their lives equally.

13. Type Ds are reliable unless it’s a tight situation but Cs are reliable in the worst times when time isn’t a constraint

If you need help with your work (maybe you’re sick or have prior engagements), a type D person will help you out with your responsibilities whether at work or home.

They don’t mind making the world a better place for others because they don’t want others to be gloomy.

However, they might not be as reliable in urgent situations like tight deadlines or while fixing a failing project. Their pessimism might come in the way and spoil the situation. They might agitate others too.

On the other hand, C-types are always ready to help others and fix any kind of a mess. But they might not be able to cope with tight deadlines. They consume lots of time to research.

14. In groups, Ds try to stay in the background but Cs know they’re strict leaders, so they work solo

If given a choice, a type D would only work with a group of people they know. Their social inhibition is too strong. They worry about being judged unfairly, made fun of, and rejected by others.

So, they’re shy of new people. However, if they don’t have a choice, they’ll work along with a group of new faces.

They also don’t like to take the lead in groups and work hard as supporting characters. They can’t handle being in the limelight as they’re always worried about others’ perceptions of them.

On the other hand, type C people want to work solo because they follow a strict way of working with facts, details, backups, and only a verified working approach. Everyone can’t cope with it or follow it, so they like solo tasks.

15. Ds might burn out too soon while Cs are motivated

In the workplace or school, Type Ds work too hard at once. They’re scared that their performance might decline and others might criticize them for it. They overwork themselves to keep themselves in a steady position.

They don’t want to spoil everything and start from scratch. They fear instability too, so they want to stabilize their position in academic and professional fields.

However, this wears them out and they often take sick leaves and miss work or school. They burn out fast and feel much more exhausted than others.

On the other hand, type Cs are also worried about their performance streak. However, instead of working too hard, they ensure that their work is perfect with all necessary backups and facts.

A word from ThePleasantPersonality

Remember, these differences are only based on average type C and type D personality trait differences. Human beings are unique and nobody entirely complies with all the traits of one personality.

So, if you’re judging a person based on just these pointers, it might not be a good idea. The list only works as a pointer to notice what parts of each personality. That’s why give them a chance to prove themselves and then judge them fair and square!

Article Sources

1. https://www.hiresuccess.com/help/understanding-the-4-personality-types
2. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/signs-youre-a-type-c-or-a-type-d-personality_n_5b51f3e5e4b0de86f48c59f8
3. https://selfhelpforlife.com/four-main-personality-types/