Temperament (from the Latin temperamentum - proper ratio of parts) is a stable combination of individual personality characteristics associated with dynamic, rather than meaningful aspects of activity.
Temperament characterizes the human body from the point of view of the characteristics of the course and intensity of nervous processes, metabolism, as well as body type (somatotype).
Types of temperaments:
- Melancholic
- Phlegmatic person
- Choleric
- Sanguine
- Features summary table
It is generally accepted that every person has a mixed temperament, i.e. exhibits characteristics of all temperaments in varying proportions. However, in reality this is not the case. According to the research of I.P. Pavlov, each temperament corresponds to one and only one specific type of higher nervous activity , which completely excludes the existence of a certain “mixed” temperament in a person, which is usually determined by various psychological tests.
Therefore, the most reliable criteria for determining temperament as a type of nervous system can be such signs as the speed of nervous processes in a person, metabolic rate, strength of emotions and constitutional features of the body structure (somatotype).
Temperament: 4 types of human temperament
A person’s temperament can be called a kind of biological foundation on the basis of which the personality itself is formed. These are social properties of the psyche that determine the dynamics of mental activity, behavior and social adaptation of people.
Hippocrates is considered to be the founder of the doctrine of types of temperament. He argued that people are divided depending on the ratio of the four main substances of the body: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. Claudius Galen supported the idea of Hippocrates and wrote an entire scientific treatise called “Right Measure”. Claudius Galen identified four main types of human temperament. These are sanguine (blood), choleric (bile), phlegmatic (phlegm), melancholic (black bile).
Take a temperament and extroversion/introversion test.
Self-installations
The moment of making demands on oneself and self-criticism exists in every person, only it is expressed with different intensity and is limited by a bar of different heights. A representative of no other type of temperament can surpass choleric people in this regard.
Famous choleric people were Peter I, Alexander Suvorov, Napoleon Bonaparte...
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
Hot temper, unbridledness, high speed of mind, initiative, the ability to quickly solve complex problems with the best outcome and other similar qualities inherent in the choleric temperament have glorified many of those whose names are inscribed in the history of mankind.
Properties of temperament in psychology
Human temperament is based on a number of specific properties, such as:
Sensitivity. This is the degree of force of external influence necessary for a reaction to occur on the part of the psyche. Some people react calmly to external stimuli, others react violently;
Reactivity. The property of reactivity is determined by the level of involuntary reaction to internal or external influence (sharp sound, tone of voice);
Activity, the ratio of activity and reactivity. These properties indicate how a person reacts to life's difficulties. Is he ready to overcome various obstacles in life, to be focused, persistent, attentive;
Rigidity and plasticity. These properties of temperament can indicate how skillfully a person can adapt to external influences of the social environment;
Rate of reactive activity . They characterize the speed of mental processes and reactions to external stimuli;
Introversion and extroversion. These properties depend on the speed of human reactions and the speed of solutions applied;
Emotional excitability . Characterizes the degree of external influence on a person in the form of manifestations of signs of emotional arousal;
Choleric - characteristics of temperament: pros and cons
Cholerics have a strong-willed character.
Type of nervous system : unbalanced, unrestrained, overly mobile.
A choleric person takes on any difficult task, no matter how difficult it is. Such people are excellent speakers, they are eloquent and convincing in almost any dispute.
Choleric people are not vindictive, they quickly forget grievances and cannot hold within themselves for a long time a feeling of anger towards the offender.
Cholerics are excellent leaders; they can organize people and make difficult decisions for them. In a critical situation, a choleric person is able to group, repel the enemy, and protect a weak person.
The choleric person is not restrained in his statements in relation to current events, and can sometimes become rude.
Cholerics have a certain tendency to dominate other people. Often people with such temperaments are prone to rapid mood changes and excessive gesticulation.
In the love sphere, the choleric person is quite jealous, and for him the loved one becomes a kind of property. People with this type of temperament quickly fall in love and become attached to another person. Sometimes choleric people in relationships are prone to anger and scandals.
Choleric children are quite capricious and are often the center of attention in the family. A child can use his emotions to achieve the desired result. Such children are often capricious, show hyperactivity in adolescence, and may become interested in sports or music, but they quickly become bored with their hobbies.
Flexibility of mind
A sanguine person will not get hung up on one thought. He easily flits from one idea to another: here he plans to go on a cruise, now he plans to paint his nails with red polish or eat a chocolate bar.
Giphy
At the same time, an analysis of the situation rushes through the sanguine person’s head like a whirlwind. He is able to see it from different sides, and very quickly. This useful quality helps to avoid many mistakes in life.
Disadvantages of a choleric person
The main disadvantages of a choleric person include:
- Excessive haste in your actions and actions;
- Cholerics are not patient;
- Excessive impulsiveness and imbalance;
- Excessive straightforwardness and harshness when communicating with other people;
- Aggression that occurs periodically;
Psychologists recommend that choleric people learn to work on themselves. This work should include the ability to control oneself in any conflict situations. Often choleric people make rash decisions and literally throw themselves into the pool headlong. The ten-second tactic suits them, which consists of mentally counting to ten before making an important decision or expressing an opinion.
Sanguine person - characteristics: pros and cons of sanguine person
Sanguine people are cheerful and incorrigible optimists. These people cannot sit still, they need constant movement.
Sanguine people are very active, and this activity manifests itself in literally all areas of a sanguine person’s life. They love to be the center of attention, but unlike choleric people, they do not have the habits of dictators.
The peculiarity of the psychological behavior of sanguine people is characterized by a high degree of excitability.
Sanguine people know how to get along with people and find a compromise in any difficult life situations. They are resourceful and enterprising. A sanguine person can literally lead a crowd, because these people are excellent speakers who know how to convince others that they are right.
Hyperactivity does not give a sanguine person the right to sit still. He tries to make his life brighter and more interesting. Such people love to travel, discovering more and more new facets of the world around them. Many artists, musicians, and actors are sanguine.
Bottom of the graph
In the lower half of the graph are people who react moderately to circumstances. Quieter people, pleasant to talk to. For such people, professions related to people are more suitable. But not a prison guard, but a social worker, teacher, psychologist. Professions where the person is the main value, but not related to achieving goals. Achieving goals is difficult for them. Therefore, they are worthless sellers.
When creating a business, these people do not put their own interests first, but solving people’s problems. Therefore, they spend practically no money on advertising, and people themselves run after them. They achieve success for a long time, but forever.
When providing services or creating a product, they make it the way users want to see it, and not the way it would be more profitable for them to sell. They lose a lot by doing this, but if they are not disappointed, they will gain great recognition. An example of such a business is Google. It took a long time before Google was able to make money. Its products reflect the needs of people and in most cases are free, while Microsoft, for example, makes programs that are expensive and work in a way that benefits Bill Gates. That is, they are difficult to integrate with others, only with Microsoft.
Both Google and Microsoft solve people's problems, but Google does this because it benefits people, and Microsoft primarily thinks about profit and does only what is beneficial to it.
Psychological feature of a sanguine person
If we talk about the psychological component of sanguine people, then in these people the degree of excitement in the central nervous system is quite high. On the contrary, the inhibition threshold is low, and therefore sanguine people perceive the world in a somewhat illusory way. But at the same time, thinking and memory functions are remarkably developed. Often sanguine people focus their memory only on what arouses their interest. They can remember funny incidents, but at the same time forget the birthdays of their friends. Sanguine people pay attention to noticeable details, such as bright clothes or the unusual hairstyle of their interlocutor.
The emotional background of sanguine people is quite diverse. These people are emotional and are not afraid to show their experiences to others. They often gesture when talking, and may hug or kiss when meeting. These emotions are completely sincere; a sanguine person wants to please people and receive the same reaction from them in return. Sanguine people are distinguished by unconventional thinking; they are constantly trying to learn something new, change their image or type of activity. Monotonous work and loneliness lead them to severe depression.
People with this type of temperament have a lot of friends. A sanguine person knows how to make friends, and always comes to a person’s aid in a difficult situation. In personal relationships, sanguine people are sometimes flighty. An excessive thirst for communication prevents them from building a strong family.
The main disadvantages of sanguine people:
- Inconsistency in actions and deeds. A sanguine person often gets down to business, but rarely completes it; such people cannot work in monotonous work;
- Sanguine people often overestimate themselves and their capabilities;
- People with a similar temperament have mood swings, it is difficult for them to develop strong-willed qualities;
Psychologists recommend that sanguine people work more on their willpower. Pay attention to little things, learn to rely on your own strengths.
additional literature
- Great Soviet Encyclopedia: In 30 volumes - M.: “Soviet Encyclopedia”, -.
- Chess., S. (1997). Temperament: Theory and Clinical Practice. Harvard Mental Health Letter, 14(5), 5-7.
- Davidson, D. A. (2005). Psychosocial Issues Affecting Social Participation. In J. Case-Smith (Ed.), Occupational Therapy for Children (pp. 449–480). St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby.
- Maziade, M. (1983). Le tempérament de l'enfant, les différences individuelles et les forces environnementales. Santé mentale au Québec, 8(2), 61-67.
- Olson, L. J. (1999). Psychosocial Frame of Reference. In P. Kramer & J. Hinojosa (Eds.), Frames of Reference for Pediatric Occupational Therapy (pp. 323–375). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Zeanah, C. H., & Fox, N. A. (2004). Temperament and Attachment Disorders. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 33(1), 32-41.
Phlegmatic - characteristics: pros and cons
A phlegmatic person is a balanced person who carefully thinks through his every step. Usually such people have an analytical mind and look at life around them soberly.
Phlegmatic people are quite lazy, often prefer not to be active and go with the flow. They are always calm and unperturbed. Even if they have experienced stress or an unpleasant life situation, they do not always show their temper.
It is difficult to anger a phlegmatic person; his nervous system is like a scale keeping balance. If it is difficult to bring him to simple emotions, then making him show activity or joy is even more difficult.
In other words, the phlegmatic type of human temperament is recognized as the most balanced and emotionally stable.
Phlegmatic people do not immediately make contact with people; they need time to assess the situation. A sudden change in the environment is like a tragedy for them and it is very difficult to bear. These people do not like active entertainment, they like a cozy home environment, and often prefer to spend time alone with themselves.
Phlegmatic people are painstaking and diligent in their work, they have a good memory and can remember large amounts of information.
Phlegmatic people are rather closed and hidden; they are reluctant to show sympathy for another person. But if a phlegmatic person likes a representative of the opposite sex, then he will do everything to achieve his favor.
It is quite difficult to find friends with a phlegmatic person; he does not make contact well. But if a person with this type of temperament finds a friend, then this friendship can last a lifetime. For phlegmatic people, family is a kind of fortress in which they feel comfortable. Such people get married late and may spend a long time searching for a partner.
Unpreparedness for a serious relationship
Noisy, cheerful, easy-going, erudite sanguine people naturally attract the attention of the opposite sex. But they themselves are in no hurry to build a long-term relationship with a partner, reorient themselves to family life, solving life’s difficulties and raising children.
No diapers or socks scattered around the apartment! Only flirting, candlelit dinners, kisses under the moon and parties, parties...
In a marriage with a sanguine person, you will deal with bills, homework and laundry yourself. This is partly offset by its bottomless source of fun.
Just remember Bill Clinton. The image of the president playing the saxophone during moments of alien invasion and other similar apocalyptic processes was actively used in American cinema. But he is also sanguine...
Melancholic - characteristics: pros and cons of melancholic
Melancholic people are prone to attacks of despair and depression. The temperament of such people is sluggish and pessimistic. Any event, even a minor one, makes a melancholic person worry. He does not know how to enjoy life, and sees it exclusively in a negative tone. Sadness and melancholy can cover such a person for no reason; melancholic people often experience a feeling of self-pity.
People with this type of temperament have to resort to secrecy and suppression of emotions. They experience everything within themselves, which is why depressive mental states appear. Psychologists note that a huge number of people who commit suicide are melancholic.
A melancholic person reacts slowly to external stimuli, does not remember information well, and often suffers from a lot of complexes and an excessively low level of personal self-esteem. Motor activity is sluggish and inexpressive.
Melancholic people cannot work intensively and monotonously, as they necessarily need rest or short breaks to stabilize their psychological state. In a social environment, such people are lethargic, uncommunicative, and it is difficult for them to find a soul mate or a close friend. It is difficult for them to be active and cheerful. They choose sanguine or choleric people as people, since this choice is explained by the melancholic’s subconscious desire to be taken care of.
It can be difficult for melancholic people to arrange their personal life. Often a big role in the fiasco of love relationships is played by their indecision and cowardice. They choose a strong person as their life partner. There are also advantages to this type of temperament.
Melancholic people are kind, vulnerable, and will always share the last thing they have. They subconsciously want to help a person in need.
Disadvantages of melancholic people:
- Emotional instability, indecisiveness, lack of self-confidence and strength;
- Difficulty with the perception of the surrounding world, vulnerability, pessimism;
- Tendency to depressive mental states;
Psychologists strongly recommend that melancholic people not close themselves off. Try to explore the world, travel, communicate with new people. You can try mentoring to improve your personal self-esteem. Engage in active sports, dancing, any creativity. A melancholic person needs to be close to loved ones and friends, and not withdraw into himself and his feelings.
Read more: How to determine a person’s temperament by his behavior
Take a temperament and extroversion/introversion test
Source of pictures-tables: psi-school.ru
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