Self-Preservation Fours have a deep capacity for feeling, including sensitivity, suffering, shame, and envy, but they tend to keep these emotions to themselves. They value endurance and self-sacrifice, hoping that others will recognize and appreciate their efforts without them having to talk about it. Unlike other Fours, they suffer in silence and deny their envy, often bearing too much frustration as a result. The other two Four subtypes are highly sensitive to frustration, either suffering too much or making others suffer as a result. The Self-Preservation subtype, on the other hand, is the countertype Four because they have a high capacity to internalize and bear frustration. They see resistance to frustration as a virtue. They tend to be empathic, nurturing, and often protest for the sake of others. They are sensitive to the needy, the dispossessed, and victims of injustice. This subtype projects their pain outward, addressing it through others' suffering instead of talking about their own. While the other two Four subtypes can be dramatic, the Self-preservation Four is more masochistic than melodramatic. Self-Preservation Fours tend to devalue themselves, making it harder for them to seek the security and love they crave. Their attachment to endurance stems from a desire to earn love and acceptance by being strong and resilient. These Fours may also work against themselves to prove their worth, controlling their impulses to gain recognition. Despite their desire for happiness, they have an unconscious aversion to it. Instead of addressing their problems and making progress, they expend energy on fear and procrastination, leading to self-blame and inaction. They exhaust themselves by striving in areas where they know they'll fail, perpetuating the cycle of effort and devaluation. Although they may be ambitious, they work against their own aspirations.

Sexual Fours can come across as arrogant, but it's often a cover for their underlying sense of inferiority. They prefer to be part of a select group and can be elitist. Criticism is hard for them to take, and they may refuse to feel indebted to anyone. They tend to project their needs onto others while minimizing others' accomplishments. Sexual Fours may cause suffering to others as they feel the need for compensation for their own pain. This tendency can be summed up as "Hurt people hurt people." They refuse to suffer and insist on having their needs met, often demonstrating anger if not. Sexual Fours are shameless in expressing their desires and rebel against any shame associated with them. If others perceive Sexual Fours as demanding, it can result in a cycle of rejection and anger. These individuals may become upset when their needs are not met, but their demanding behavior can cause others to avoid or reject them, leading to further anger and frustration. This can create a cycle where rejection leads to protest, and protest leads to further rejection. The Sexual Four subtype is known for being more assertive and expressing anger more openly than other subtypes. This is because they use anger to conceal painful emotions. This behavior is a plea for help and understanding. Although they can come across as hateful and competitive, it's crucial to understand that their actions stem from a deeper need to project their sense of suffering and inadequacy outward. Their competitiveness and anger serve as a defense mechanism against the hurt they feel. These Fours crave emotional intensity and can be direct when seeking love. They are present in relationships and don't avoid factors that can inhibit others relationally, but may struggle to maintain a loving attitude due to confusion between sweetness and insincerity.

The Social Four is driven by envy, which leads to a focus on shame and suffering. They constantly feel that others have what they desire, causing them pain. However, they also believe that their suffering makes them unique and special. Social Fours tend to hold onto their suffering instead of taking action to change it. They often rely on others to fulfill their needs and believe that expressing pain will eventually lead to someone helping them. They find comfort and beauty in their suffering. This subtype tends to engage in self-abasement, self-recrimination, and self-weakening. They express their envy by constantly comparing themselves to others. Their poor self-image is perpetuated by themselves, and they often engage in self-sabotage by underestimating themselves and feeling inferior to others. Social Fours often experience shame and guilt associated with their desires and needs. They may feel guilty for any wish and tend to focus on intense and dark emotions such as envy, jealousy, hatred, and competition. They may also feel like the world is against them and struggle to believe that their needs will be met. Fours with this subtype tend to think and act based on their emotions, which can prevent them from taking necessary actions. While they are often generous towards others, they may struggle to take responsibility for their own lives and may even exaggerate problems to avoid finding solutions. Social Fours often repress emotions like anger or hatred in public; however, in private, they may express their bottled-up emotions and become aggressive. They tend to swallow their own poison rather than externalize it to others and may have difficulty finding their place in a group or society. These Fours may see themselves as misfits, as well as victims and others as "perpetrators."