Types of temperament have been studied by people since ancient times. The most ancient and most famous thinker of those times is Hippocrates; he proposed to introduce the concept of a typology of four temperaments and described 4 of their types. Hippocrates managed to identify general patterns among the many individual variations of the psyche. People with pronounced traits of a certain temperament are not so common; most often there is a mixed temperament in various combinations.
The concept of “temperament” still attracts the attention of scientists and practitioners, remaining largely an unresolved and controversial problem.
The basis of personality
Temperament is a certain biological basis on which personality is built. Temperament determines the mechanisms of psychological activity and the ability to socially adapt. On its basis, social properties of the psyche are formed. From a physiological point of view, temperament is a type of higher nervous activity.
Scientists consider Hippocrates to be the father of the theory of human temperament. Later, the philosopher and physician Claudius Galen developed this theory and became the author of the scientific treatise “Correct Measure.” This work describes four types of temperament according to basic biological substances. Blood plays a key role in the formation of the sanguine type. For a choleric person, the main substance is bile. The phlegmatic type develops under the strong influence of phlegm. And melancholic in a person is determined by the so-called “black bile”.
No type of temperament is found in its pure form. Every person has a basic temperament, developing or suppressing it depending on circumstances. In different situations, the same person is capable of exhibiting traits of all four types.
Who is who?
A brief description of each temperament, based on the nervous activity of its owner:
Sanguine - strong, balanced, agile;
Choleric - strong, unbalanced, mobile;
Phlegmatic - strong, balanced, inert;
Melancholic - weak, unbalanced, inactive.
A person’s belonging to one of the four temperaments can be determined situationally - by his reaction to an obstacle that arises in his path: a choleric person sweeps him away; the sanguine person bypasses; a phlegmatic person often doesn’t even notice; the melancholic person stops before an obstacle.
Properties of temperament
Each type of temperament is determined by the presence of specific properties, namely:
Extraversion and introversion
These qualities are based on emotional reactions, on the speed of volitional actions.
Activity and passivity
These properties show a person’s reaction to negative events and difficulties, and also determine the degree of his endurance, perseverance and determination.
Sensitivity
It manifests itself in the strength of the influence of external stimuli that force the psyche to react in one way or another. Different people react to the same event in completely different ways.
Reactivity
This term refers to an involuntary reaction of the psyche to irritating factors (they can be both external and internal).
Plasticity and rigidity
These qualities show a person’s ability to adapt to the environment and adapt to new circumstances.
Reactive Activity Rate
This property determines how quickly the psyche reacts to external stimuli.
Emotional excitability
Using this property, you can determine how much a person is able to control his emotions, speech and mental reactions.
Types of human temperament and their characteristics: comparative table of types
| Name | External signs | Features of speech | Specifics of communication |
| Choleric | Moving eyes, lips form a straight line, the gaze covers the entire space in which it is located. | Quick response to a question asked, as well as the overall pace of response. | In a conversation with several interlocutors, he strives to maintain eye contact with everyone and makes decisions hastily. |
| Sanguine | The corners of the mouth are raised upward, the angle of vision is wide. | Often switches from one topic to another, speaks fluently. | He tries to keep his gaze on each participant in the polylogue. |
| Phlegmatic | Looks as if deep into himself, the lip line is smooth and straight. | Slow, long pauses in conversation. | The gaze is directed only at the one to whom the phlegmatic person is directly addressing. |
| Melancholic | He looks more inward than at those around him, the corners of his lips are downturned. | The pace is average, there is uncertainty in the voice. | Maintains eye contact only with the person with whom he is currently speaking. |
Psychologist Daria Milai
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How is temperament different from character?
A person's temperament should not be identified with his character. The first term includes a set of genetic characteristics of the psyche. Temperament is formed in utero, it cannot be changed, but can only be superficially corrected by working on oneself and correctly setting life priorities.
Character is formed throughout life, changing in one direction or another. Interacting in the social sphere, individuals exchange behavioral and mental experiences, influence others and are subconsciously influenced by others.
How to cooperate?
Sanguine colleague
At first glance, a sanguine person is easy to recognize in a team - he is the life of the party. Employees with this temperament are pleasant to talk to and non-conflicting. A sanguine person is an emotional person, a strong and energetic optimist who loves to communicate with interesting and, most importantly, necessary people. He often proposes new projects and gives presentations. He is disciplined, comes to work on time, and leaves it not too late. Works with dedication, but without unnecessary nervousness and fussiness.
Sanguine people are attracted by the opportunity for career growth. And there is no need to interfere with this - he will make a good leader at any level. It is on this basis that dissatisfaction with colleagues may arise, because a sanguine person competes with everyone and in everything. Also, you should not expect special support from him, since he himself does not need it.
Advice to colleagues: Establishing a relationship with a sanguine person is not difficult: demonstrate your undisguised interest in him, laugh at his jokes and talk about his positive qualities. Do this and you will have a friend for the rest of your days. Treat sanguine people well, and they will inspire, motivate, and entertain those around them—just don't force them to follow directions or be meticulous about details.
Melancholic-choleric
A mixed type of temperament, which is less common than the above. People who fit its characteristics have the following characteristics:
- Regularly experiencing periods of apathy and impulsivity.
- A combination of impetuousness with an internal margin of safety.
And if, due to the first feature, these people can suffer emotionally, then the second only plays into their hands. Why? Because at one moment they strive with all their might towards the goal, trying to accomplish something large-scale, but after some time they are suddenly overcome by indifference. What is the advantage here? The fact is that it is during these periods that melancholic choleric people get the opportunity to look at the current situation soberly.
That is why they manage to achieve impressive heights in any field. According to statistics, “pure” choleric people are much less successful. Although it would seem that they have more internal strength.
Choleric-phlegmatic
And this combination needs to be discussed when discussing the characteristics of mixed types of temperament. It's actually quite harmonious. Because both choleric and phlegmatic people have common features. And in a person representing this type of temperament, they are enhanced.
In addition, periodically occurring choleric emotional outbursts are softened - here the thoroughness inherent in a phlegmatic person comes into play.
In general, such a person can be characterized as a calm and stable person, but not passive. He has a certain reserve of inner strength, which constantly activates and spurs him on. And sometimes even choleric traits take precedence over phlegmatic ones. This happens if a keen interest appears in a particular matter, igniting a certain spark in a person’s soul.
Sanguine
These people are incorrigible optimists who find it difficult to sit in one place. They love to be in the thick of things, to be the center of everyone's attention, clearly expressing their individuality.
Sanguine people are very sociable. They are drawn to people, and they reciprocate. But despite this, you should know the recommendations for communicating with individuals of the communicative type:
- Their friendliness suggests that conflict with sanguine people is impossible. This is an erroneous judgment because it is impossible to predict what will come into their minds.
- Sanguine people are somewhat superficial. Because of this property, they often draw incorrect conclusions.
- It is impossible to get them to confess to their wrong actions.
- Representatives of the type like it when someone is interested in their views and asks for advice.
- They love to develop plans, reason, and solve pressing issues in the company of a loved one.
- They love extreme sports.
- A sanguine person has all his feelings written on his face. It is worth observing him a little in different situations in order to better understand the displayed facial range of feelings.
Sanguine people are lively, temperamental people who constantly need new experiences. A monotonous life does not suit them, so they are able to quickly break off boring connections. But if a partner or friend never ceases to amaze them and gives them a positive charge of energy, then a sanguine person will never part with such a person.
Pros of temperament
Sanguine people are open, friendly, get along well with other people and infect them with their own enthusiasm. Among the positive aspects of dynamic temperament, it should be noted:
- An excellent sense of humor that helps the owner become the soul of the company.
- Sociability and cheerfulness. A simple trip to the store can turn into an exciting adventure.
- Sincerity and curiosity.
- Emotionality and persuasiveness.
- He doesn’t look back, but lives for today.
Sanguine people, thanks to their innate hyperactivity, try to travel more. Getting to know new cities and countries, they fill their lives with vivid impressions and positive emotions, which they will subsequently share with their close circle.
Negative sides
Sanguine people easily manage to reach the heights of success in matters related to communication. They make excellent administrators, journalists, salespeople and entrepreneurs. However, they lack organization and self-discipline. Other negative aspects include:
- Superficiality and talkativeness. It’s hard to call him a devoted friend.
- Carelessness and selfishness.
- Naivety and reluctance to grow up and plunge into problems.
- Forgetfulness and slight aggressiveness.
- Impatience and inattention.
Sanguine people have similar traits to choleric people, but they are more balanced and less harsh. A peculiarity of temperament is that a person is ready to grab hold of a proposed project, but is able to bring it to the finish line only when the matter completely captures the mind.
READ In search of mutual understanding: who is an introvert and how to find a common language with him
Briefly about the concept
First, some general information. Before talking about mixed and highly emotional types of temperament, it is necessary to explain what it depends on and how it is formed.
Well, a person has these characteristics from birth. They are of psychophysiological origin and therefore very stable. It is temperament that determines the dynamic characteristics of a person’s states and ongoing mental processes.
At the same time, this characteristic does not affect moral qualities and cognitive abilities in any way. However, temperament must be taken into account when choosing a field of activity. Thus, people with slow reactions will find it difficult to control some mechanisms at high speeds. But they will cope excellently with work that requires perseverance and concentration.
Cholerics
Before studying mixed types of temperament, you need to briefly talk about the characteristics inherent in people with this characteristic. Cholerics are unbalanced, strong, active people in whom excitement prevails over inhibition. Here are their features:
- Energy and persistence.
- Love being the center of attention.
- Hot temper, lack of restraint, impatience.
- Sharpness, excessive straightforwardness. But there is no hatred in their anger, this is important.
- The rapid emergence of feelings and emotions, their equally rapid fading.
- Expressive gestures and animated facial expressions.
- Tendency to commit rash acts while in a state of passion.
- Ability to improve your results in a competitive environment.
- Energy, initiative, ability to concentrate. But only if they are interested in the matter.
Cholerics also have impressive organizational skills, as well as the ability to quickly form new skills and habits.
Melancholic people
This temperament is inherent in people with an inert, unstable, weak nervous system. They have decreased activity and increased fearfulness. Melancholic people are distinguished by the following qualities:
- Shyness.
- Closedness.
- Shyness and indecisiveness.
- Impressionability and vulnerability.
- The tendency to deeply experience any life event.
- Restraint in movements and speech.
- Concentration, inability to concentrate.
But melancholic people can be productive. They work well in a familiar environment, and their interests are stable, they are not inclined to scatter themselves and waste their time on trifles.
Note to the manager
Entrusting a choleric person with systematic, scrupulous work means immediately dooming the business to complete failure. He is attracted to creative work in which he needs to make non-standard decisions. Showing initiative is a mandatory factor in the existence of a choleric person. Therefore, it is better to entrust him with a task in which he is a master: going somewhere, negotiating with someone, resolving issues over the phone. Only he needs to be given clear, concise instructions.
Melancholic colleague
This is a sensitive, touchy and vulnerable person. Easily gets upset even with minor failures. He is usually self-absorbed and has a hard time dealing with conflicts. The slightest stress can greatly damage his performance.
Melancholic people are not interested in other people; they are more concerned about their own inner world. In a group they are unsociable, keep aloof, and are socially passive. In communication they easily obey the leader and do not compete with anyone. They love to be looked after and prefer to remain in the shadows.
The melancholic person’s social circle is narrow, but his relationships with people are strong and deep.
A melancholic person is a wonderful and reliable comrade, he will never leave you in trouble, he knows how to very subtly feel a person’s mood, you can always find sympathy from him. He quickly gets tired of communicating with unfamiliar people, but he calmly endures loneliness. As a rule, a melancholic person avoids tension in relationships with colleagues by all means and is absolutely conflict-free. Advice to colleagues: When communicating with him, you must be sensitive: always speak calmly and softly, avoiding raised voices and harsh expressions, and praise as often as possible.
Two of a Kind?
The interaction of colleagues and their labor relations directly depend on their temperaments.
Choleric-phlegmatic
The perfect couple. Each of them has qualities that the other does not have, they complement each other and this is why they like each other. The phlegmatic person patiently endures the emotional outbursts of the choleric person, who likes him for his thoroughness, reliability and responsibility. The choleric person in phlegmatic finds a quiet haven, stability and peace, at the same time does not allow him to get stuck in passivity, constantly spurs him on and activates him, periodically even tries to control him.
Sanguine-choleric
A very active, life-oriented union. They have something to talk about, something to help each other with. At the same time, mutual assistance, although not complete, is very significant: for a choleric person - on the organizational side, for a sanguine person - in putting plans into practice. The choleric person thinks, the sanguine person carries out. However, sometimes an exchange of opinions can develop into arguments and quarrels, insistence on one’s point of view and rivalry. To maintain balance, it is necessary to adapt to each other, and this should be done by both parties and equally.
Melancholic-sanguine
A promising alliance with mutual respect and tact. Mutual assistance can be very effective: on the part of a melancholic person - on a spiritual, internal level, and on the part of a sanguine person - on a social level. A melancholic person feels best with a sanguine person: the irrational switches of the first not only do not irritate him, but, on the contrary, provide him with new interesting impressions and distract him from sad thoughts. A sanguine person gets along well with a melancholic person due to his balance and sociability.
Melancholic-phlegmatic
The relationship in this couple is relatively calm. They pay little attention to each other, since both are immersed in their inner world. A melancholic person may not like the apparent slowness and passivity of a phlegmatic person, and a phlegmatic person may not like the increased anxiety and excessive restlessness of a melancholic person. However, there is no tangible discomfort in the relationship. They are also not particularly interested in rivalry and disputes. In such a union, there will inevitably be sympathy and respect for the inner world of the other person, but at the same time, alienation will increase due to a lack of initiative.
Sanguine-phlegmatic
Quite an interesting form of union. There is little mutual understanding, but mutual assistance is significant and active. Especially when there are common interests and practical issues in the business sphere. Good cooperation is ensured by the social activity of a sanguine person and the hard work of a phlegmatic person. However, a sanguine person cannot be denied practicality and thoroughness. Conflicts in such a couple are insignificant, since both feel a practical need for each other, which they value much higher than defending their opinion. Usually in this pair the sanguine person is the leader, and the phlegmatic person, having easily ceded his authority, turns out to be a follower.
Melancholic-choleric
The cooperation of these two types is highly undesirable, because the domineering choleric person will quickly and peremptorily “enslave” the timid and quiet melancholic person. The straightforwardness often unconscious to a choleric person, despite all his caution, will hurt a very sensitive melancholic person. As a result, tension, discomfort, and mutual accusations will arise between them. They have mutual understanding, but within narrow limits. There is little mutual assistance in this couple, although it can be significant: in some situations, the choleric person can look after or take the melancholic person under his protection.
Temperament squared
If people have the same type of temperament, then the most favorable combination will be two phlegmatic or melancholic people, somewhat worse - two sanguine people, and very bad - two choleric people.
This situation is easily explained: phlegmatic people are the most balanced people, they are difficult to anger. Melancholic people are impressionable, very vulnerable and touchy, but they are quite compliant and prone to compromise in order to achieve peace of mind. Sanguine people are independent and emotional, but easy-going. Noticing that the brewing conflict could take a serious turn, they easily compromise to restore balance in their relations with each other. It is most difficult for two straightforward, excitable and uncontrollable choleric people to maintain balance in a relationship.
| Combination | Favorable | Working | Poorly compatible |
| sanguine | melancholic | sanguine, choleric | phlegmatic person |
| choleric | phlegmatic person | sanguine | choleric, melancholic |
| phlegmatic person | choleric | melancholic, phlegmatic, sanguine | works well with everyone |
| melancholic | sanguine | phlegmatic, melancholic | choleric |
