temperament

What is a temperament?

Temperament refers to a set of traits that organize a your approach to the world around you. It's an aspect of personality concerned with emotional dispositions and reactions. Temperament is used to describe the prevailing or typical mood in a person. Some believe temperament is indivisible from who you are and present from birth. Others believe it is completely learned and can be shaped. Temperament itself influences and shapes how a child lives their life and grows.

1.          Cholerics

What Does It Mean to Have a Choleric Personality?

People who have this personality type today tend to have higher levels of testosterone present in their bodies. Although it is usually assigned to those with a male gender, it does occur in women as well. Most people who have a choleric personality are active, quick-tempered, strong-willed, and impatient.

A majority of people with this personality type are extroverts, but there are certain introverts who have this personality type as well. In the Meyers-Briggs personality test, the most common type of introvert who would have a choleric personality is the INTJ.

People who have this personality type also tend to be independent. They prefer to work on their own or on a team which allows them to work independently from others. These people are confident in the decisions they make, practical in their choices, and they don’t hesitate when key issues require action.

They are also active people who enjoy the process of staying fit mentally and physically. There is a tendency to be athletic, which can turn into a career for some. They want to be in charge, be the captain of the team, and will be aggressive in obtaining, then maintaining that role. They don’t panic under pressure, but that can also make them seem like they are unsympathetic at times.

Finding the Strengths of the Choleric Personality Type

1. Optimism
People with this personality type tend to see the whole picture. They focus on their goals to create positive outcomes whenever possible. Even when something negative is lurking around, they tend to look at events in an optimistic way through their goal-oriented approach.

2. Leadership
People who have the choleric personality type are born leaders. Their desire to be active allows them to engage with others at a core level. They’re willing to make changes when the situation calls for it, while still knowing when the time is right to let others learn. They aren’t afraid to delegate tasks to others or help teach specific skills to let others finds success.

3. Decisive
People with this personality tend to make quick choices. Most of their decisions tend to be correct. On the off occasion when the wrong choice is made, they move to make things right as quickly as possible. They are also willing to correct others if they feel like something wrong is going on. Their strong will can be uncomfortable for others at times, especially in social situations, because they don’t care about the rules of engagement. If something needs to be fixed, then they fix it.

4. Motivational
Choleric personalities set goals constantly. They encourage their teams to work together, which is a skill that comes home with them as well. That makes these people very reliable, showing up when they are needed to push others toward a positive conclusion. Their independent nature allows them to succeed when there are numerous friends or only a handful around at any given time.

Finding the Weaknesses of the Choleric Personality Type

1. Details
People with this personality type tend to focus on the big picture only. They want to make fast decisions to maintain forward momentum toward that goal. Because of that haste, they can sometimes overlook or analyze details that are required for individual goal steps. That leads to mistakes, which can impact the quality of the work they perform.

2. Manipulation
Choleric personalities are extremely good at manipulating others. They push people who make mistakes in their eyes to the limit, often driving them away. Then they create emotional circumstances which place the blame on the person being pushed away. It is not uncommon for this personality type to create false results, which make it look like goals were achieved, and then be able to live in that fantasy world for quite some time.

3. Overbearing
People who have this personality type are constantly pushing others to be their best. They leave no room for other people to breathe. Results are expected, and they want them constantly. This creates an environment where everyone is busy all of the time. They are intolerant of interruptions or setbacks, preferring a “tough love” environment where the negative tends to be the primary focus of feedback.

4. Narcissism
This personality type sees high levels of narcissism because the choleric personality sees itself as the most important contributor to the team. They are the ones with the ideas. They set the goals. They see the bigger picture. That makes them better than the average person. If left unchecked, someone with a choleric personality can put themselves on such a high pedestal that they believe there is nothing that they could do that is wrong. They refuse to apologize for anything, manipulate the emotions of others, and blame others for any shortcomings that might be detected on their radar.

Lessons Learned from the Choleric Personality Type

People who have the choleric personality type have a strong drive. Their energy levels seem to be almost limitless. Although they are often quick to be egotistical, which can lead to future problems, this personality type can also be inspirational. Their confidence rubs off on others, creating mutual levels of success that might not be available to other personality types.

It is important to recognize the aggression which occurs with this personality type. People can become too aggressive with their personality, driving others away despite the potential gains everyone could achieve. Even though they’ll redefine success from an independent perspective, overly aggressive personalities could find themselves isolated and alone.

By keeping the weaknesses in check, the strengths of this personality type can shine through, helping the world to become a better place for everyone.

2.          Melancholics

Main Characteristics

The melancholic person is but feebly excited by whatever acts upon him. The reaction is weak, but this feeble impression remains for a long time and by subsequent similar impressions grows stronger and at last excites the mind so passionately that it is difficult to get rid of it. Melancholic temperament is by far the richest, most creative, innovative and sensitive of the personality types.

Here some main traits you may use for indication and guidance.

1. Inclination to reflection. The thinking of the melancholic easily turns into reflection. The thoughts of the melancholic are far reaching. He dwells with pleasure upon the past and is preoccupied by occurrences of the long ago; he is penetrating; is not satisfied with the superficial, searches for the cause and correlation of things; seeks the laws which affect human life, the principles according to which man should act. His thoughts are of a wide range; he looks ahead into the future; ascends to the eternal. The melancholic is of an extremely soft-hearted disposition. His very thoughts arouse his own sympathy and are accompanied by a mysterious longing.

2. Love of withdrawal. The melancholic does not feel at home among a crowd for any length of time; he loves silence and solitude. Being inclined to introspection he secludes himself from the crowds, forgets his environment, and makes poor use of his senses – eyes, ears, etc. In company he is often distracted, because he is absorbed by his own thoughts.

3. Serious conception of life. The melancholic looks at life always from the serious side. At the core of his heart there is always sadness.

4. Inclination to passivity. The melancholic is a passive temperament. It is difficult to move him to quick action, since he has a marked inclination to passivity and inactivity. This passive life approach of the melancholic accounts for his fear of suffering and difficulties as well as for his dread of interior exertion and self-denial.

5. Melancholic is reserved. He finds it difficult to form new acquaintances and speaks little among strangers. He reveals his inmost thoughts reluctantly and only to those whom he trusts. He does not easily find the right word to express and describe his sentiments. He tries often to express himself, because it affords him real relief, to pass on the sad, depressing thoughts which burden his heart to a person who sympathizes with him. However, this person should be the one who he considers a friend.

6. The melancholic is indecisive. On account of too many considerations and too much fear of difficulties and of the possibility that his plans or works may fail, the melancholic can hardly reach a decision. He is inclined to defer his decision. What he could do today he postpones for tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or even for the next week. Then he forgets about it and thus it happens that what he could have done in an hour takes weeks and months.

7. The melancholic is pessimistic. He is nervous and shy if he is called upon to begin a new work, to execute a disagreeable task, to venture on a new undertaking. He has a strong will coupled with talent and power, but no courage. It has become proverbial therefore: “throw the melancholic into the water and he will learn to swim.” If difficulties in his undertakings are encountered by the melancholic, even if they are only very insignificant, he feels discouraged and is tempted to give up the ship, instead of conquering the obstacle and repairing the ill success by increased effort.

8. The melancholic is slow. Melancholic is slow in his thinking. He feels it necessary, first of all, to consider and reconsider everything until he can form a calm and safe judgment. He is also slow in speech. If he is called upon to answer quickly or to speak without preparation, or if he fears that too much depends on his answer, he becomes restless and does not find the right word and consequently often makes a false and unsatisfactory reply. This slow thinking may be the reason why the melancholic often stutters, leaves his sentences incomplete, uses wrong phrases, or searches for the right expression. He is also slow, not lazy, at his work. He works carefully and reliably, but only if he has ample time and is not pressed. He himself naturally does not believe that he is a slow worker.

9. The melancholic pride. The pride of the melancholic has its very peculiar side. He does not seek honor or recognition; on the contrary, he dislike to appear in public and to be praised. But he is very much afraid of disgrace and humiliation. He often displays great reserve and thereby gives the impression of modesty and humility; in reality he retires only because he is afraid of being put to shame. He allows others to be preferred to him, even if they are less qualified and capable for the particular work, position, or office, but at the same time he feels slighted because he is being ignored and his talents are not appreciated.

10. Perfectionism. The temperament is also often a perfectionist, being very particular about what they want and how they want it in some cases. This can result in them being unsatisfied with their own performance or creative works, and always pointing out to themselves what could and should be improved. Melancholic hold himself and others to unrealistically high standards, and get distressed when these standards are not met. This leads to the poor and under-valuated self - because he does not meet his own standards - and critical of others - because those others do not meet his standards as well.

11. Tendency to arguments. Melancholic frequently tends to argue, because he cannot simply let things be if they seem wrong. He provides valid elaborate arguments using reason, evidence, logic, and explanations, delivered analytically or with pleading. He only argues to set wrongs right, rather than to assert dominance.

12. Possessiveness. Melancholic is usually very possessive about the things that he owns and is reluctant to let others borrow or use them, because he treats his own things well, cares about everything deeply, and will worry that others will not look after them with the same level of care.

13. Sensitiveness. Melancholics are very emotional. They are moved deeply by beauty, and by distress. They are very easily hurt, because of their perfectionist tendencies. Often their moods are like delicate glass sculptures; built up slowly, deliberately, and carefully, but easily broken, and hard to repair once shattered. They respond to things that they dislike with misery and with tears rather than with rage. They are very slow to 'snap', but will hold onto emotions for a very long time. They hold grudges, because people who have failed to meet their standards, who have hurt them, will not just suddenly meet those standards without changing drastically.

Strengths of the melancholic temperament

1. The melancholic serious view of life helps him to find a proper place in the world both in private and in the career. He is usually a very hard-working detail-oriented person, being able to foresee and consider multiple potential dangers on the way and find the optimal guidance to the problem resolution.

2. Melancholic usually possesses sharp and profound intellect. Unwilling to settle for surface knowledge, this individual delves deeply into a wide range of subjects. He truly wants to master the topic. He is careful and detailed.

3. The melancholic is often a great supporter for his family, friends, and coworkers. He is a good counselor in difficulties, and a sensible, trustworthy, and well-meaning superior. He has great sympathy with his fellow men and a keen desire to help them. Schubert, in his psychology, says of the melancholic nature: “it has been the prevailing mental disposition of the most sublime poets, artists, of the most profound thinkers, the greatest inventors, legislators, and especially of those spiritual giants who at their time made known to their nations the entrance to a higher and blissful world of the divine, to which they themselves were carried by an insatiable longing.”

4. The melancholic person is self-motivated, and does not respond to the promise of reward or the threat of punishment. He precisely knows his strengths and limitations and rarely takes on more than he can do.

Weaknesses of the melancholic temperament

1. Melancholic may easily lose confidence in his friends or coworkers because of slight defects which he discovers in them, which he considers as unacceptable.

2. He is strongly annoyed and provoked by disorder or injustice. The cause of his annoyance is often justifiable, but rarely to the degree felt.

3. It is difficult for melancholic to forgive offences. The first offense he ignores quite easily. But renewed offenses penetrate deeply into the soul and can hardly be forgotten. Strong aversion easily takes root in his heart against persons from whom he has suffered, or in whom he finds this or that fault. This dislike becomes so strong that he can hardly see these persons without new excitement, that he does not want to speak to them and is exasperated by the very thought of them. Usually this distaste is evaporated only after the melancholic is separated from persons who incurred his displeasure and at times only after months or even years.

4. He is very suspicious. He rarely trusts people and is always afraid that others have a grudge against him. Thus, he frequently, and without reasonable causes, entertains unkind and unjust suspicions about his neighbor and fears dangers which do not exist at all.

5. He sees everything from the dark side. He is grumpy, always draws attention to the serious side of affairs, complains regularly about the distortion of people, bad times, downfall of morals, etc. His motto is: things grow worse all along. Offenses, mishaps, and obstacles he always considers much worse than they really are. The consequence is often excessive sadness, unfounded displeasure about others, suffering for long on account of real or imaginary insults.

6. While melancholic is very faithful, loyal friend and spouse, the loss of a deep relationship (even by death) is devastating to him.

3.          Sanguine

Type Overview

1. Superficiality. The sanguine person does not penetrate the depth, the essence of things; he does not embrace the whole, but is satisfied with the surface shallow understanding and with a part of the whole. Before he has mastered one subject, his interest relaxes because new impressions have already captured his attention. He loves light work which attracts attention, where there is no need of deep thought, or great effort. To be sure, it is hard to convince a sanguine person that he is superficial; on the contrary, he imagines that he has understood the subject wholly and perfectly.

2. Instability. Because the impressions made upon a sanguine person do not last, they are easily followed by others. The consequence is a great instability which must be taken into account by anyone who deals with such persons, if he does not wish to be disappointed.

3. Tendency to the external. The sanguine does not like to enter into his inner self, but directs his attention to the external environment. In this respect he is the very opposite of the melancholic person who is given to introspection, who prefers to be absorbed by deep thoughts and more or less ignores the external. This leaning to the external is shown in the keen interest which the sanguine pays to his own appearance, as well as to that of others; to a beautiful face, to fine and modern clothes, and to good manners. In the sanguine the five senses are especially active, while the choleric uses rather his reason and will and the melancholic his feelings. The sanguine sees everything, hears everything, talks about everything. He is noted for his facility and liveliness of speech, his inexhaustible variety of topics and flow of words which often make him disagreeable to others.

4. Optimism. The sanguine looks at everything from the bright side. He is optimistic, overlooks difficulties, and is always sure of success. If he fails, he does not worry about it too long but consoles himself easily. His cheerfulness explains his inclination to make fun on others, to tease them and to play tricks on them. He takes it for granted that others are willing to accept such things in good humor and he is very much surprised if they appear to be unhappy or angry on him.

5. Absence of deep passions. The passions of the sanguine are quickly excited, but they do not make a deep and lasting impression.

6. Practicality. Sanguine possesses common sense, he is usually very rational and practical.

anguine temperament: Main Advantages

1. The sanguine person has many qualities which can be properly valued by friends and coworkers.

a) The sanguine is an extrovert; he readily makes acquaintance with other people, is very communicative, talkative, and associates easily with strangers.

b) He is friendly in speech and behavior and can pleasantly entertain his fellow men by his interesting views and stories.

c) He is very pleasant and willing to help. He assists not so coldly and distantly as a choleric, and not so warmly and touchingly as the melancholic, but at least in such a pleasant way that they are kindly received.

d) He is compassionate and is always ready his friends by a friendly remark in time of crisis.

e) He has a outstanding ability to bring his friends and coworkers attention to their faults without causing in a relatively nice way. He does not find it hard to correct others. If it is necessary to inform someone of bad news, it is well to assign a person of sanguine temperament for this task.

f) A sanguine is quickly energized by an offence and may show his anger violently, but he cools down quickly and does not keep bad feelings for long. He is quick to “forgive and forget” - and expect others to do the same - because he lives in the moment rather than dwelling in the past.

2. The sanguine person has many qualities by which can be properly valued by management.

a) He is flexible, compliant, and obedient with no visible efforts and tensions.

b) He is honest and will share openly his difficulties and challenges.

c) When pointed on his errors, he hardly ever is offensive, and accepts the requirements and corrective actions requests properly.

d) Sanguine can be great motivators, as he may enthusiastically encourage others towards action, and always sees things positively, optimistically, and would convince others to see things that way too.

3. The sanguine does not long over unpleasant happenings. Many things which cause a melancholic person a great, deal of anxiety and trouble do not affect the sanguine in the least, because he is an optimist and as such overlooks difficulties and prefers to look at affairs from the sunny side. Even if the sanguine is occasionally exasperated and sad, he soon finds his balance again. His sadness does not last long, but gives way quickly to happiness. Sanguine persons can get along well even with persons generally difficult to work with.

4. The sanguine is not too picky and extremely easygoing, and will usually like more things in his life than he dislikes. He tends, however, to enjoy things that are trendy, popular, and can be accessed easily.

Sanguine Temperament: Main Disadvantages

1. Self-importance and pomposity. The pride of the sanguine person does not manifest itself as excessive ambition or inflexibility, as it does in the choleric, nor as fear of humiliation, as in the melancholic, but as a strong inclination to overvalue his importance. The sanguine person finds a pure childish joy and satisfaction in his personal appearance, in his clothes and work. He loves to behold himself in the mirror. He feels happy when praised and is therefore very susceptible to flattery.

2. Inclination to flirtation and jealousy. The sanguine person is inclined to easy tendency for intimacy and flirtation. However, his love is not deep and changes easily. Egotism and tendency to love-affairs lead the sanguine person to jealousy. Because he is easily influenced by exterior impressions or feelings of sympathy or antipathy, it is hard for the sanguine person to be unbiased and just. Superiors of this temperament often have favorites whom they prefer to others. The sanguine is greatly inclined to flatter those whom he loves.

3. Cheerfulness and love of pleasure. The sanguine person does not like to be alone; he loves company and amusement; he wants to enjoy life, occasionally at any price.

4. Weak abilities to perform hard efforts. Everything which requires the denial or limitation of the pleasure gaining is very hard on the sanguine; for instance, to guard the eyes, the ears, the tongue, to keep silence. He cannot restrict himself in his favorite food, entertainments, or in relations with people.

5. Other disadvantages of the sanguine temperament:

a) The decisions of the sanguine person are wrong in many cases, because of lack of deep knowledge and understanding, inability to foresee difficulties and potential dangers, and due to the shallow ability for relationship with people.

b) The accomplishments of the sanguine may easily fail because he always takes success for granted, and therefore does not give sufficient attention to possible obstacles, and does not make necessary backup and alternative plans.

c) Sanguine person usually has poor insight because he always caters to the external and is reluctant to enter into himself, and to give deeper thought to his own actions.

d) Sanguine person may move away from genuine friends that he considers being boring or dull. Being friends with a Sanguine is often as simple as knowing each other's face and name. Thus, in many cases he cannot sustain deep and rich emotional friendship and romantic relationship.

4.          Phlegmatics

Nature of Phlegmatic Temperament

Phlegmatic people are meek, submissive introverts who live to please others.

The soul or mind of the phlegmatic person is rarely touched by impressions. The reaction is feeble or entirely missing. Eventual impressions fade away very soon.

Phlegmatics are generally calm and unemotional, self-content and kind, but their shy personality can inhibit enthusiasm in others and make themselves lazy and resistant to change. They are very consistent, relaxed, rational, curious and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats. Like the sanguine personality, the phlegmatic has many friends, however the phlegmatic is more reliable and compassionate, typically making the phlegmatic a more dependable friend. Known as the fluid and flowing temperament.

Role in Society

In our distant past, the phlegmatic members of a pack might have been the obedient followers who'd get much of the actual work done at the command of their superiors. They may not stand out, but without them, nothing would work.

Main Features

Submissive

* Phlegmatics do not act as if they are better than others. They are eager to please, and quick to give in to others rather than asserting their own desires as if they're the most important.

* They take the path of least resistance whenever possible. They so desperately wish for peace, for everyone to get along, and to avoid conflict at all costs.

* Conflict terrifies them. They do not start it (except perhaps in extreme circumstances), or provoke it, and try to defuse it when it comes up. When forced into an argument, they get very upset and distressed, seeking escape rather than victory.

* If confronted, they are likely to admit that they are in the wrong in order to prevent hostilities.

* They don't believe that they know best.

* They have no desire to be a 'winner'; they only wish for peace.

* They are well-behaved; rebelling against established rules would feel deeply uncomfortable to them. They're the sort who'd say, worriedly, 'should we really be doing this?' or 'we might get in trouble!'.

* They really, really do not wish to be a bother to others, and always put others first. This is due to a deep-rooted unease about asserting themselves rather than a lack of confidence, or a conscious desire to be a 'nice person'.

* They are quick to apologize for any mistakes that they may have made, and will sacrifice their own happiness to ensure that others are happy.

* They are empathetic, and acutely aware of the feelings of those that they are interacting with, as they do not wish to hurt these feelings.

* They have tremendous difficulty saying no, and will go along with things that they dislike to make others happy.

* They are extremely trustworthy; if they make a promise, it's very likely that they will keep it.

* They're terrified of doing things wrong.

* They will blame themselves if mistakes are made, even if it was someone else's fault, just to make others feel better and more at ease.

* They try and word things in a way that is not offensive to others. The will be more supportive than critical.

Indecisive

* They'll defer to others to make choices, and will feel upset and pressured if they have to make a decision themselves; this comes from their inability to see themselves in a 'leader' role.

* They are natural followers, and work best when they are told what to do.

* Their language is generally full of uncertain phrases such as 'I think', 'maybe', 'perhaps', 'or something'. Compare "maybe you could do X, or something?" to "do X" or "you should do X".

* Rather than saying or doing the wrong thing, they'll say or do nothing at all.

* Obstacles that get in the way of their steady path will cause them to halt and fumble around, not sure what to do. They're more likely to travel around than through it; their path is easily changed by others.

Calm

* Phlegmatics are introverted, and enjoy time alone. However, they are much 'nicer' and more friendly and social than the melancholic, as they're unburdened by 'perfectionism' and as such do not judge others.

* They enjoy spending time with friends, and are very loyal to these friends, sticking with them through thick and thin, even through abuse. This is because they put others first, and will not leave another even if THEY want to because the other person may not want them to leave.

* They are almost immune to anger. They have extremely long fuses, and will only snap after a long period of prolonged and persistent abuse. Even then, they're more likely to retreat within themselves and cry than to try to harm another.

* They like calm and steady lives, free of surprises. They can be relatively confident in familiar situations - if not necessarily assertive - but panic when placed in new ones. They do not seek thrills, and enjoy predictable, quiet, ritualistic lifestyles.

* They are very quiet, and do not share their own inner thoughts readily, as they fear judgement and don't wish to bother others by waffling on about themselves.

* They are however excellent and attentive listeners, who will quietly and politely take in and absorb the conversations of their friends. They will always pay attention, and will offer supportive feedback rather than criticism or advice. They'd never say things like 'bored now', as if it's the duty of others to entertain them.

* Since they hate to offend or hurt others, they generally don't ever resort to aggressive insults or attacks. Belittling or hurting another makes them feel bad, not 'powerful and in control' or amused, so they'll worry about having done this accidentally.

* They could be described as 'nice guys/girls' or, more horribly, 'doormats' by those with different temperaments.

* They barely express emotion at all. While the sanguine might whoop and cheer and jump for joy at the slightest provocation, phlegmatics are unlikely to express more than a smile or a frown. Their emotions happen mainly internally.

* They lack 'passion', as their emotions are mostly internal. They often rely on others ordering them to do things to get motivation.

Phlegmatic Temperament Strengths

* The phlegmatic works slowly, but perseveringly, if his work does not require much thinking.

* Phlegmatics work well under pressure, long hours, with steady and reliable performance.

* He is not easily exasperated either by offenses, or by failures or sufferings. He remains composed, thoughtful, deliberate, and has a cold, sober, and practical judgment.

* He has no intense passions and does not demand much of life.

* Enjoy good jokes and knows how to tell them.

Phlegmatic Temperament Weaknesses

* He is very much inclined to ease, to eating and drinking; is lazy and neglects his duties.

* He has no ambition. Lofty ideals and goals hold very little appeal to this individual. Even in his faith and piety, he holds no aspirations. Penance and self-sacrifice are avoided.

* Personality is teasing, stubborn, and indecisive.

* Phlegmatic doesn't show interest in events or happenings around him. This can include other people, too, which can lead to egoism.

* Phlegmatic is resistant to change. His tendency to apathy makes change very difficult. He can lack the energy necessary to take advantage of his abilities.