You know that feeling. You’re in a meeting, explaining a project for the third time, and your colleague just stares at you like you’re speaking ancient Aramaic. Or maybe you’re trying to give a heartfelt "thank you" to your partner, and they snap back about the dishes. It feels like everyone around you is intentionally being difficult. It feels like you're surrounded by idiots.
Thomas Erikson tapped into this universal frustration with his massive bestseller, Surrounded by Idiots. But here's the thing: there isn't actually one official, clinical "Surrounded by Idiots test" locked in a vault somewhere. What people are usually looking for is a way to apply the DISC model—a behavioral framework that’s been around since the 1920s—to figure out why their boss is a tyrant or why their assistant is obsessed with alphabetizing the spice rack.
It’s about colors. Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue.
Honestly, the "test" is more of a mirror. It doesn't tell you how smart people are. It tells you how they perceive the world and, more importantly, how they want to be treated. If you're struggling to get your point across, you probably aren't surrounded by idiots; you're just speaking the wrong color language.
What is the Surrounded by Idiots Test Actually Measuring?
When you take a version of the surrounded by idiots test, you aren't measuring IQ. Erikson's work is based on the DISC theory developed by Walter Vernon Moulton Marston. Yes, the same guy who created Wonder Woman and the lie detector. Marston wasn't interested in mental illness or "broken" people. He wanted to understand how "normal" people interact with their environment.
The test identifies four primary behavioral styles.
Reds are the drivers. They want results, they want them five minutes ago, and they don't really care if they hurt your feelings in the process. They're the people who send one-word emails. "Done." "No." "Why?"
Yellows are the entertainers. They are the sun in the room. They have a million ideas, most of which they will never finish because they just got a notification about a new taco spot opening downtown. They talk. A lot.
Greens are the glue. They are the most common personality type. They hate conflict. If you ask a Green where they want to go for dinner, they will say "wherever you want" until you both starve to death. They value stability and kindness.
Blues are the analysts. They don't just want the answer; they want the spreadsheet, the source data, and the ISO certification of the person who wrote the data. They are quiet, meticulous, and sometimes come off as cold because they're busy checking your math.
Most of us are a mix. It’s rare to be 100% one color. Usually, we have a dominant and a secondary. But when stress hits? We revert to our primary color with a vengeance. That’s usually when the "idiot" labels start flying.
The Problem With One-Size-Fits-All Communication
We are taught the "Golden Rule"—treat others how you want to be treated.
That is terrible advice.
If a Red treats a Green the way the Red wants to be treated (with blunt, aggressive honesty), the Green will probably go cry in the breakroom. If a Blue treats a Yellow the way the Blue wants to be treated (with a 40-page technical manual), the Yellow will fall asleep by page two. The surrounded by idiots test logic suggests we should use the "Platinum Rule": treat others how they want to be treated.
Why the Red Type Makes You Feel Small
Red personalities (Dominance) are often the ones people complain about the most. They’re "the boss from hell." They’re loud. They take over the conversation.
But look closer.
To a Red, time is the most valuable currency. When they're being "rude," they think they're being efficient. They aren't trying to be mean; they just don't see the point in five minutes of small talk about your weekend when there's a budget deficit to fix. If you’re taking a surrounded by idiots test because you feel bullied at work, you might be a Green or a Blue dealing with an unchecked Red.
To handle a Red, you have to be fast. Don't beat around the bush. Give them the bottom line first, then ask if they want the details. If you show weakness or hesitate, they’ll steamroll you—not out of malice, but because they’ve already moved on to the next task in their head.
The Yellow Whirlwind
Yellows (Influence) are usually the most liked people in the office until it's time to actually deliver a report. They’re the ones who forget to CC you on the email but remember exactly what you wore to the Christmas party three years ago.
If you’re a Blue personality taking the surrounded by idiots test, Yellows will drive you insane. You want structure; they want "vibes." You want data; they want a story.
The trick with Yellows is to let them talk for five minutes, then gently reel them back in. They need social validation. If you shut them down too hard, they lose their creative spark, which is actually their biggest asset to the team.
The Silent Majority: Understanding Greens
About 45% to 50% of the population leans Green (Steadiness). They are the easiest to get along with but the hardest to change.
Greens are the "idiots" who won't take a stand. Or so it seems. In reality, they are just processing. They hate change. If you tell a Green that the entire company software is changing tomorrow, they will smile and nod, then go home and update their resume because they’re stressed.
When taking a surrounded by idiots test, if you find yourself scoring high in Green, you probably feel like the world is moving too fast and people are too aggressive. You aren't slow; you’re cautious. You prioritize the team’s harmony over individual ego. That’s a superpower, even if the Reds in the room don't see it yet.
The Perfectionist’s Curse: The Blue Zone
Blue personalities (Compliance) are the ones who find the typo in the first paragraph of a 100-page document. They are perfectionists. To a Yellow, a Blue seems like a "buzzkill." To a Red, they seem like a "bottleneck."
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But without the Blues, the planes wouldn't fly and the taxes wouldn't get paid.
The surrounded by idiots test often highlights the friction between Blues and everyone else. Blues want to be right. They don't care about being popular. If you want to get a Blue on your side, don't tell them your "gut feeling." Show them the documentation.
Is This "Real" Science? The Controversy
We have to be honest here. The DISC model and the "Surrounded by Idiots" framework aren't the same as clinical psychology. You won't find "Red Personality" in the DSM-5.
Critics, including many psychologists in Erikson's home country of Sweden, have pointed out that humans are way more complex than four colors. They worry that people use these tests to put others in boxes. "Oh, he's a Red, so he's allowed to be a jerk." Or, "She's a Green, so don't give her any leadership roles."
That’s a dangerous way to use the information.
These tests are best used as a "crude map." They aren't the territory. They help you navigate a conversation, but they shouldn't define a person's entire worth. Acknowledging that people communicate differently is helpful; assuming you know everything about someone because of a color code is just lazy.
How to Apply the Results in Your Real Life
So, you've looked at the types. You’ve probably already categorized your mom, your boss, and that annoying neighbor. Now what?
The goal of understanding the surrounded by idiots test isn't to change them. You can't. You can only change how you respond.
If you're a Blue and you're talking to a Yellow, shorten your explanation. Use metaphors. Smile more.
If you're a Red and you're talking to a Green, slow down. Ask about their day. Don't raise your voice.
It feels fake at first. It feels like you're "acting." But communication isn't about being "authentic" to your own personality; it's about being effective in reaching the other person. If you only speak English and you're in Paris, shouting English louder won't help. You have to learn some French.
Specific Strategies for the Workplace
- For Meetings: If you have a room full of Blues, provide the agenda 24 hours in advance. If they're Yellows, keep the energy high and use visuals.
- For Feedback: Give Reds the "sandwich" (Result - Correction - Result). Give Greens a private, quiet space where they feel safe.
- For Motivation: Reds want power. Yellows want applause. Greens want security. Blues want to be right.
Identifying Your Own Color
Most people take a surrounded by idiots test and immediately think about everyone else.
"Oh, my husband is such a Green!"
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Stop.
Look at yourself. What is your "default" when you're tired? Do you get snappy (Red)? Do you start rambling (Yellow)? Do you shut down and go quiet (Green)? Or do you become obsessive and nitpicky (Blue)?
Identifying your own color is the first step to realizing that you might be the "idiot" in someone else’s story. If you’re a high-intensity Red, your Green employees probably think you’re a maniac. If you’re a scattered Yellow, your Blue accountant probably thinks you’re incompetent.
Self-awareness is the only way out of the "everyone is an idiot" trap.
Actionable Next Steps
To actually use this information, don't just read about it. Start observing.
Pick one person you find difficult to work with. For the next three days, don't judge them. Just watch.
- Do they talk about "we" (Green/Yellow) or "I" (Red/Blue)?
- Do they move fast and talk loud, or are they methodical and quiet?
- Do they care more about people or more about tasks?
Once you think you’ve guessed their color, slightly adjust your style. If they’re a Blue, send them an email with bullet points and data. If they’re a Yellow, ask them for their "vision" on a project.
Watch what happens to the tension in the room. Usually, it disappears. People aren't trying to be difficult; they’re just trying to survive in a world that often speaks a different language than they do.
Get a copy of the actual book or find a reputable DISC assessment online if you want the full breakdown. The goal isn't to label people—it’s to build a bridge. Stop looking for idiots and start looking for the color you're missing.