If you had a healthy Four parent, you probably had a great childhood. An integrated, self-actualized Four parent likely provided an inspiring and nourishing home filled with art, beauty, and creativity and would have celebrated your uniqueness and encouraged creative expression. An ego-driven or pathological Four parent, on the other hand, may have been fun occasionally but may also have been self-absorbed, pessimistic, melancholic, or depressed. The pathological Four parent may seem preoccupied and focused more about what happened in the past than on what was occurring in the present or taking action to improve the family's lifestyle. When caught in the throes of their melancholy, Four parents may be so unguarded that the intensity of their emotions leaves the child feeling overwhelmed, nervous, and inadequate when it comes to understanding what is happening or why her parent is so emotional.