Process Communication Model © (PCM) Behavioural Analysis and the Personalities of Hogwarts Houses

Positive traits: intelligent,  self-sufficient, clever, knowledgeable, creative; value brains over brawn

Negative traits: cliques, arrogant

Ravenclaw is described as the house of the wise. Their sigil is the eagle, and the colors of the crest are blue and bronze. The founder is Rowena Ravenclaw, and its element is air. The Ravenclaw ghost is Rowena Ravenclaw’s daughter, The Grey Lady, otherwise known as Helena Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw students are clever, wise, and eager to learn, but they can be seen as “weird” and are sometimes extremely competitive when it comes to exams. “Do what is wise” is the motto they strive to follow.

Notable members are Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, and Cho Chang. Ravenclaw’s ghost, The Grey Lady, is notable in helping Harry in finding the Ravenclaw diadem, and her story may reflect themes of power, betrayal, envy, and pride. In members like Luna Lovegood, Ravenclaw might be interpreted in the fact that there is knowledge in everything, even in that that might not even exist, or seems impossible to believe (Thinker and Imaginer elements)

“Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure” says the carvings by the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw house favours the fair and wise. Their quick-witted manners brings them respect and at the same time, mocking. Ravenclaws often tend to be quite quirky as well. Though Ravenclaws can be know-it-alls sometimes, they most likely do know what the wisest decision is.

The Ravenclaw house shares numerous characteristics with the Thinker personality type: they love data and information; are analytical, strategic, systematic and calculating; they learn fast. These people are task-oriented, and for the Ravenclaws this means working very hard to achieve good grades. They excel at puzzles and at improving upon existing systems. Open-minded to new possibilities, Ravenclaws/Thinkers are excellent problem-solvers because they pay attention to details and see the things that no one else sees. (Think Luna Lovegood when she realized that Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem may have been seen by a ghost rather than a living person. A Ravenclaw is concerned with being correct and well- informed. (You can see why the sorting hat had such a hard time placing Hermione, as she is more of a Gryffin-claw.) This house/personality type takes great pride in being accurate and correct. Because these people are task-oriented rather than people-oriented, they may occasionally be seen as eccentric, but Ravenclaws are ok with that.

The Imaginer side of the Ravenclaw house is nicely illustrated in parts of Luna Lovegood’s personality: like the classical Imaginer, she’s Imaginative, reflective, calm. She is very intelligent and has a clear dexterity with magic – but one will only see that when they really look at her… as she will not brag about it or make it obvious just how good she really is.

Positive Traits: people-oriented, patient, humble, benevolent, friendly, hard-working, “good people”, loyal

Negative Traits: low competitive nature, too humble

Hufflepuff is described as the house of the friendly, the loyal and the fair. The mascot is a badger- the colors are yellow and black. The founder is Helga Hufflepuff, and the earth is their element. The Hufflepuff ghost is The Fat Friar. Hufflepuffs are seen as loyal, having a good sense of fair play, and are hardworking, kind, just and true. “Do what is nice” is their motto. They are, however, slighted by others, and are seen as people who do not fit into the other three houses, or are seen as “weak”, “untalented” or the “underdog”.

Notable members are Cedric Diggory, Nymphadora Tonks, and Newton Scamander. Hufflepuff might have been used as a way of seeing how other misfits are unjustly seen within society, and may be saying that these supposed “oddballs” have deeper depths and have their own interests, skill sets, and talents. Or it might be just a strong indicator of how Hufflepuffs, just like Harmonisers, are sometimes the invisible “glue” that keep a team/family/group together. Interestingly enough, the official website for all-Harry-Potter-stuff, www.pottermore.com, even has an article on “Why you should fall in love with a Hufflepuff”. Some of the reasons exposed are :

• Hufflepuffs aren’t just nice: Nobody would dispute that Hufflepuffs are the “nice” house. But isn’t nice usually another way of saying that someone has no other personality traits? Hufflepuffs are so much more. Case in point, one of the coolest characters in the wizarding world: Nymphadora Tonks. A Metamorphmagus with bubblegum-pink hair? Who gave birth then went to fight Voldemort? Being nice doesn’t mean boring.
• Cedric Diggory: was a Prefect, Captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, and was selected as the Hogwarts Champion in the Triwizard Tournament. He was humble and kind and never bragged about his results (like most of the other houses would have done) but plenty of others noticed the good qualities of this ‘strong and silent’ one.
• Hufflepuffs won’t turn into a Dark wizard after a bad break-up: Hufflepuff has the fewest Dark wizards of any house at Hogwarts – that comes from their tendency to act decently when confronted with difficult circumstances and not turning into a Dementor any time someone crosses you.
• They’re accepting of everyone: When the founders of the other Hogwarts houses were explaining what types of students they most wanted to teach, they picked very specific qualities. Said Helga Hufflepuff: “I’ll teach the lot, and treat them just the same.”
• Even J.K. Rowling thinks Hufflepuffs are brilliant: in the past, J.K. Rowling has said, “In many, many ways, Hufflepuff is my favourite house.” J.K. Rowling says to look at how they act during the Battle of Hogwarts. “The Hufflepuffs, virtually to a person, stay – as do the Gryffindors. Now, the Gryffindors comprise a lot of foolhardy and show-offy people… You know, there’s bravery and there’s also showboating, and sometimes the two go together. The Hufflepuffs stayed for a different reason. They weren’t trying to show off, they weren’t being reckless. That’s the essence of Hufflepuff House” – they stay, they protect, they care.

Hufflepuff is known as the “nice house” and believes strongly in sparing peoples feelings and being kind (very Harmoniser-like behaviour). This is not to say that Hufflepuffs aren’t smart or courageous. Hufflepuffs just enjoy making others happy and tend to be more patient towards people, appreciating teams which feel like “family”. They are true friends, loyal and steadfast, reliable, slow and steady, and very hard workers.

They may have Hufflepuff solidarity, but they are not boastful or competitive. Sure, they don’t tend to win the Quidditch Cup, but they’re just happy that everyone had a good time playing and no one got hurt.

The Hufflepuffs, like their mascot the Badger and the Harmoniser personality type, will defend their family, friends or teams if push comes to shove.

Positive traits: cunning, ambitious, resourceful, adaptable, intelligent, determined

Negative traits: high sense of self-preservation, manipulative, ends justify the means, lax morals, power hungry, prideful

Slytherin is described as the house of the ambitious and the cunning. Their symbol is the serpent, and their colors are green and silver. Its founder is Salazar Slytherin, and their element is water. The Slytherin ghost is the Bloody Baron.

They are seen as “the worst house” in the series, a representation of evil, power hungry wizards, and produce the most dark wizards and witches. They are portrayed as the least liked of all the four houses.

Notable members are Tom Riddle (Voldemort), Draco Malfoy, and Severus Snape.

However, not every Slytherin turns out dark, and this comes to show again and again the concepts of good and evil are not at all straightforward, and we see this especially in the fight between light and shadows that takes place inside Professor Snape. In the end, it’s a matter of the choices one makes every moment, every day.

Slytherin’s love to be in charge and crave leadership. “Do what is necessary” is the motto of this house. Slytherin is a fairly well-rounded house, similar to the other houses. They are loyal to those that are loyal to them just as Gryffindors are and are intelligent as Ravenclaws. Slytherins do, however, have a tendency to be arrogant or prideful. This is most likely due to the fact that everyone in Slytherin is pure blood and exceedingly proud to be so.

A Slytherin will achieve their goals through any means necessary – this is quintessentially the Promoter. Their style is decisive, active, and results-driven. They tend to make decisions based on a whim. To them, it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. They would rather lead than follow, and they are very self-confident and self-sufficient. Highly competitive, the Promoter Slytherins are active and results-oriented. These people are risk-takers and problem solvers. Slytherins don’t care if they are liked, they care if they are in control.

As said before, this might make it sound as if it is all bad, and though the Slytherin house did produce the highest number of dark wizards of any house, they are not by nature evil. Neither is the Promoter personality type. Like any of the styles, a behavioural trait that was once an asset can turn into a liability when overused. Some of the most well-known Slytherins fall into that category. But there are positive sides to this, as well.

The Slytherins, like the high Promoter style personalities, thrive on challenges, adrenaline and excel at obtaining fast results. They are big on cost/benefit analyses and seek recognition and love to be the centre of attention. As the sorting hat decreed, “Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, there’s no doubt about that.” When a Promoter (or Slytherin) is on your team they will get results fast, and they won’t be afraid to pursue challenges – they will welcome them. They have the potential to achieve great things, as Salazar Slytherin understood. That doesn’t sound so bad, now does it?

There are few elements that bring the Persister type personality in mind when analysing a Slytherin: their strong convictions (strongest supporters of pure blood policy, for example), their search for power and respect, perseverance to attain an objective, indifferent of the amount of time and effort would take (see Lord Voldemort long-term plan for his come-back) etc.