Choleric, melancholic, sanguine, and phlegmatic

temperaments

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Four temperaments is a proto-psychologicaltheory that suggests that there are four fundamentalpersonality types, sanguine (pleasure-seeking andsociable), choleric (ambitious and leader-like),melancholic (analytical and quiet), andphlegmatic (relaxed and peaceful). Mostformulations include the possibility of mixtures ofthe types.

The Greek physician Hippocrates (460–370 BC)incorporated the four temperaments into hismedical theories as part of the ancient medicalconcept of humorism, that four bodily fluids affect human personality traits and behaviors. Later discoveries inbiochemistry have led modern medicine science to reject the theory of the four temperaments, although somepersonality type systems of varying scientific acceptance continue to use four or more categories of a similar nature.

Contents

1 History and development2 The four temperament types

2.1 Sanguine

2.2 Choleric

2.3 Melancholic

2.4 Phlegmatic3 Decline in popularity

4 Contemporary writings

5 Cultural references

6 See also

7 References

8 External links

History and development

Temperament theory has its roots in the ancient four humors theory. It may have origins in ancient Egypt[1] or

Mesopotamia,[2] but it was the Greek physician Hippocrates (460–370 BC) who developed it into a medicaltheory. He believed certain human moods, emotions and behaviors were caused by an excess or lack of body fluids(called "humors"): blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. Next, Galen (AD 131–200) developed the firsttypology of temperament in his dissertation De temperamentis, and searched for physiological reasons for different

Choleric, sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic temperaments

behaviors in humans. He classified them as hot/cold and dry/wet taken from the Four Elements.[3] There couldalso be "balance" between the qualities, yielding a total of nine temperaments. The word "temperament" itselfcomes from Latin "temperare", "to mix". In the ideal personality, the complementary characteristics or warm-cooland dry-moist were exquisitely balanced. In four less ideal types, one of the four qualities was dominant over all theothers. In the remaining four types, one pair of qualities dominated the complementary pair; for example, warm andmoist dominated cool and dry. These latter four were the temperamental categories Galen named "sanguine","choleric", "melancholic" and "phlegmatic" after the bodily humors, respectively. Each was the result of an excess

of one of the humors that produced, in turn, the imbalance in paired qualities.[4][5][6]

In his Canon of Medicine (a standardmedical text at many medieval universities),Persian polymath Avicenna (980–1037AD) extended the theory of temperamentsto encompass "emotional aspects, mentalcapacity, moral attitudes, self-awareness,

movements and dreams."[7]

Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654),described the humours as acting asgoverning principles in bodily health, with

astrological correspondences,[8] andexplained their influence upon physiognomy

and personality.[9] Culpeper proposedthat, while some people had a singletemperament, others had an admixture oftwo, a primary and secondary

temperament.[10] Immanuel Kant (1724–1804), Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), Alfred Adler (1879–1937), ErichAdickes (1866–1925), Eduard Spranger (1914), Ernst Kretschmer (1920), and Erich Fromm (1947) all theorizedon the four temperaments (with different names) and greatly shaped our modern theories of temperament. HansEysenck (1916–1997) was one of the first psychologists to analyze personality differences using a psycho-statisticalmethod (factor analysis), and his research led him to believe that temperament is biologically based. The factors heproposed in his book Dimensions of Personality were Neuroticism (N) which was the tendency to experiencenegative emotions, and the second was Extraversion (E) which was the tendency to enjoy positive events,especially social ones. By pairing the two dimensions, Eysenck noted how the results were similar to the fourancient temperaments.

Other researchers developed similar systems, many of which did not use the ancient temperament names, andseveral paired extroversion with a different factor, which would determine relationship/task-orientation. Examplesare DiSC assessment, social styles, and a theory that adds a fifth temperament. One of the most popular today isthe Keirsey Temperament Sorter, whose four temperaments were based largely on the Greek gods Apollo,Dionysus, Epimetheus and Prometheus, and were mapped to the 16 types of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator(MBTI). They were renamed as Artisan (SP), Guardian (SJ), Idealist (NF), and Rational (NT). Rather than usingextroversion and introversion (E/I) and task/people focus, like other theories, KTS mapped the temperaments to"Sensing" and "Intuition" (S/N, renamed "concrete" and "abstract") with a new pair category, "cooperative" and"pragmatic" . When "Role-Informative" and "Role-Directive" (corresponding to orientation to people or to task),

Emoticon representation of the four

temperament types. Sanguine (top

left), choleric (top right), melancholic

(bottom right), and phlegmatic

(bottom left).

and finally E/I are factored in, you attain the 16 types. Finally, the Interaction Styles of Linda V. Berens combinesDirecting and Informing with E/I to form another group of "styles" which greatly resemble the ancient temperaments,and these are mapped together with the Keirsey Temperaments onto the 16 types.

Modern medical science has rejected the theories of the four temperaments, though their use persists as a metaphor

within certain psychological fields.[11]

Relation of various fourtemperament theories

Classical Element Adler[12]

Melancholic Earth Avoiding

Phlegmatic Water Getting

Sanguine Air Socially useful

Choleric Fire Ruling

The four temperament types

Each of the four types of humors corresponded in ancient times to a different personality type. These wereassociated with a domination of various biological functions. Lievegoed suggested that the temperaments come toclearest manifestation in childhood, between approximately 6 and 14 years of age, after which they become

subordinate (though still influential) factors in personality.[13]

Sanguine

The sanguine temperament is traditionally associated with air. People withthis temperament tend to be playful, lively, sociable, carefree, talkative,and pleasure-seeking. They may be warm-hearted and optimistic. Theycan make new friends easily, be imaginative and artistic, and often have

many ideas.[14][15] They can be flighty and changeable; thus sanguinepersonalities may struggle with following tasks all the way through and be

chronically late or forgetful.[16] Pedagogically, they can be best reached

through awakening their love for a subject and admiration of people.[16]

Choleric

The choleric temperament is traditionally associated with fire. People withthis temperament tend to be egocentric and extroverted. They may beexcitable, impulsive, and restless, with reserves of aggression, energy,

and/or passion, and try to instill that in others. [14][15]

They tend to be task-oriented people and are focused on getting a job done efficiently; their motto is usually "do itnow." They can be ambitious, strong-willed and like to be in charge. They can show leadership, are good at

planning, and are often practical and solution-oriented.[14] They appreciate receiving respect and esteem for their

Phlegmatic by

Lespagnandelle, part

of the Grande

Commande, Palace

of Versailles.

work.[16]:20

Pedagogically, they can be best reached through mutual respect and appropriate challenges that recognize their

capacities.[16]

Melancholic

The melancholic temperament is traditionally associated with the element of earth. People with this temperamentmay appear serious, introverted, cautious or even suspicious. They can become preoccupied with the tragedy andcruelty in the world and are susceptible to depression and moodiness. They may be focused and conscientious.They often prefer to do things themselves, both to meet their own standards and because they are not inherently

sociable.[15][14]

Pedagogically, they can be best met by awakening their sympathy for others and the suffering of the world.[16]

Phlegmatic

The phlegmatic temperament is traditionally associated with water. People with thistemperament may be inward and private, thoughtful, reasonable, calm, patient, caring, andtolerant. They tend to have a rich inner life, seek a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, and becontent with themselves. They tend to be steadfast, consistent in their habits, and thus

steady and faithful friends.[14][15]

Pedagogically, their interest is often awakened by experiencing others' interest in a

subject.[16]

People of this temperament may appear somewhat ponderous or clumsy. Their speech

tends to be slow or appear hesitant.[14]

Decline in popularity

When the concept of the temperaments was on the wane, many critics dropped thephlegmatic, or defined it purely negatively, such as the German philosopher ImmanuelKant, as the absence of temperament. In the Five Temperaments theory, the classicalPhlegmatic temperament is in fact deemed to be a neutral temperament, whereas the"relationship-oriented introvert" position traditionally held by the Phlegmatic is declared tobe a new "fifth temperament." Gary Smalley has renamed these classifications into a moremodern and relatable format based on commonly known animals. These he lists as the

"otters" (sanguines), "lions" (cholerics), "golden retrievers" (phlegmatics), and "beavers" (melancholics).[17]

Contemporary writings

In Waldorf education and anthroposophy, the temperaments are used to help understand personality. They are seenas avenues into teaching; as each child is considered to possess a unique blend of the four, they can be utilized toindividualize the methods used with individual children and establishing a class balance, as well as to help with

discipline.

Christian writer Tim LaHaye has attempted to repopularize the ancient temperaments through his books.[18][19][20]

Psychologist and writer Florence Littauer describes the four personality types in her book Personality Plus.

See also Two-factor models of personality.

Cultural references

In 1946 George Balanchine choreographed a ballet he titled The Four Temperaments, set to music hecommissioned from Paul Hindemith. The music, and thus the ballet, is in five parts: a theme and four variations titledMelancholic, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, and Choleric.

Émile Zola consciously employed the four temperaments in Therese Raquin.[21]

The Danish composer Carl Nielsen's (1865-1931) Symphony #2,(1901-02) Op.16 entitled "The FourTemperaments" is structured upon the Four Temperaments.

See also

Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation

Enneagram of Personality

Table of similar systems of comparison of temperaments

Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorKeirsey Temperament Sorter

Personality Plus

Five Temperaments

References

1. ^ van Sertima, Ivan (1992). The Golden Age of the Moor. Transaction Publishers. p. 17. ISBN 1560005815.

2. ^ Sudhoff, Karl (1926). Essays in the History of Medicine. Medical Life Press, New York. pp. 67, 87, 104.

3. ^ Boeree, C. George. "Early Medicine and Physiology" (http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/neurophysio.html).Retrieved 21 February 2013.

4. ^ Kagan, Jerome (1998). Galen's Prophecy: Temperament In Human Nature. New York: Basic Books.ISBN 0465084052.

5. ^ Osborn L. Ac., David K. "INHERENT TEMPERAMENT"(http://www.greekmedicine.net/b_p/Inherent_Temperament.html). Retrieved 21 February 2013.

6. ^ http://sun2.science.wayne.edu/~tpartrid/Manuscripts/HEETemperament1.25.02.doc

7. ^ Lutz, Peter L. (2002). The Rise of Experimental Biology: An Illustrated History. Humana Press. p. 60.ISBN 0896038351.

8. ^ Nicholas Culpeper (1653) ‘An Astrologo-Physical Discourse of the Human Virtues in the Body of Man(http://www.skyscript.co.uk/astrodiscourse.html)’, transcribed and annotated by Deborah Houlding. Skyscript,2009 (retrieved 16 November 2011). Originally published in Culpeper's Complete Herbal (English Physician).London: Peter Cole, 1652.

9. ^ Nicholas Culpeper, Semeiotica Urania, or Astrological Judgement of Diseases. London: 1655. Reprint,

Nottingham: Ascella, 1994.

10. ^ Greenbaum, Dorian Gieseler (2005). Temperament: Astrology's Forgotten Key. Wessex Astrologer. pp. 42, 91.ISBN 190240517X.

11. ^ Martindale, Anne E.; Martindale, Colin (1988). "Metaphorical equivalence of elements and temperaments:

Empirical studies of Bachelard's theory of imagination". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 55 (5): 836.doi:10.1037/0022-3514.55.5.836 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1037%2F0022-3514.55.5.836).

12. ^ Lundin, Robert W. (1989). Alfred-Adler's Basic Concepts and Implications. Taylor and Francis. p. 54. ISBN 0-915202-83-2.

13. ^ Lievegoed, Bernard. Man on the Threshold. Hawthorn Press. pp. 80–81. ISBN 0950706264.

14. ̂a b c d e f Childs, Gilbert (2009). Understand Your Temperament. Rudolf Steiner Press. ISBN 9781855840256.

15. ̂a b c d Eysenck, Hans Jürgen (1967). The biological basis of personality. Thomas. pp. 35,39.

16. ̂a b c d e f Steiner, Rudolf (2008). The Four Temperaments. Rudolf Steiner Press. ISBN 9781855842052.

17. ^ http://www3.dbu.edu/jeanhumphreys/SocialPsych/smalleytrentpersonality.htm

18. ^ LaHaye, Tim (1966). The Spirit Controlled Temperament. Tyndale Publishing.

19. ^ LaHaye, Tim (1984). Your Temperament: Discover Its Potential. Tyndale Publishing. ISBN 0842362207.

20. ^ LaHaye, Tim. Why You Act the Way You Do. Tyndale Publishing. ISBN 0842382127.

21. ^ Zola, Preface to ’'Therese Raquin

External links

Four Temperaments Test (http://personality-testing.info/tests/4T.php), personality test.

Arikha, Noga (2007). Passions and Tempers: A History of the Humours(http://www.passionsandtempers.com)

Helminen, Päivi (1999). Discovering Our Potential: An Introduction to Character Types

(http://www.uta.fi/FAST/AK11/SPE/ph-poten.html)

In Our Time (BBC Radio 4) episode on the four humours(http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime_20071220.shtml) in MP3 format, 45 minutes

Rudolf Steiner (1909). The Four Temperaments (http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/19090304p01.html)John T. Cocoris, Psy.D. Description of the 4 Primary Temperaments at fourtemperament.com

(http://fourtemperaments.com/Description.htm)

Descriptions of The Temperament Blends (http://fourtemperaments.com/Description2.htm)

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Categories: Personality typologies

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