What we are is less important than how we see ourselves.

Whatever my personality type, I can like and value myself or I can despise and devalue myself. Similarly how we see others in terms of their worth - is far more influential on our communication than how we see their personality.

The following figure summarises this difficult area. Clearly our view of self and others will have a significant impact on the messages that we give and receive.

The impact of self concept on communication is as follows:

Positive view of self and positive view of others leads to communications which are:
open
affirmative
assertive
accepting

Positive view of self and negative view of others leads to communications which are:
dominant
critical
condescending
rejecting

Negative view of self and positive view of others leads to communications which are:
dependent
submissive
non-assertive
idolised

Negative view of self and negative view of others leads to communications which are:
closed
hostile
apathetic
destructive