Do you know the four human temperaments?

Nowadays, it is possible to find several personality theories to try to explain the diversity of human behavior. In this article, we will talk about one of the oldest theories in the world: the four temperaments. The model served as a basis for many other theories, but it still has its relevance today.

The science of the four temperaments is not a theory of personality itself, because temperament is a human personality trait that constitutes the essence of the individual. The human being is born with a determined temperament, while personality is built throughout life, involving many factors.

Besides learning more about the difference between these two aspects of the human being, you will also discover details about the four temperaments and even know how to discover yours.

Knowing this aspect of behavior is very important for self-knowledge and to improve interpersonal relationships. So, continue reading the text to learn more!

Understanding more about the four temperaments

Although it is already in everyday language, the four temperaments still present some important points for everyone's knowledge. Below, you will know a little more about this model, including its origin and history. Check it out!

What are the 4 human temperaments?

The four temperaments are a system of aspects of the human personality that point to the particularities of each individual. They are based on worldview, values, skills and interests most significant to the human being.

The group of characteristics that is most evident is that which constitutes a person's temperament. Thus, temperament directly influences the way one relates to others and deals with the demands of life.

Some believe that it is determined by genetic factors, while others, very few, claim that it can be changed. However, temperament is what marks the essence of the individual, with the possibility of improvement in personality.

Origin and history of the four temperaments

The origin and history of the four temperaments go back to ancient times. It all started with the Greek-Arab medicine, where typology was used in the treatment of several diseases. Hippocrates, considered the father of medicine, based the theory around 400 B.C., proposing the division based on humors.

Humors, which come from the medical concept humorism, refer to fluids present in all bodies that provide the basis for the four temperaments. The predominance of a fluid is what will determine a person's temperament and psychological type.

The four humors are: blood, which originates the sanguine; phlegm, which refers to the phlegmatic; yellow bile, basing the choleric, and black bile, which corresponds to the melancholic.

Current scientific studies on the four temperaments

Current medicine does not accept very well the studies in the area of temperaments. Psychology, in turn, also has its reservations about the study, research and application of this science. However, many personality theories have emerged based on these four temperaments.

Some have different names to disguise the old concepts. Doctor Helen Fisher's personality types, for example, have four personality categories that bear a striking resemblance to the four temperaments.

Myers-Briggs' sixteen personality types are based on Carl Jung's theory, which, in turn, is based on the four temperaments model. Despite all this, the terms sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic continue in everyday and scientific language.

Benefits of the science of temperaments

Whether for laypersons or therapists, the science of temperaments is highly beneficial. The therapist who knows their patient's temperament can better help them with their issues, contributing to their mental health.

Likewise, anyone who knows their own temperament is going a long way toward self-knowledge and self-mastery. Thus, the four temperaments should be known by anyone who wishes to achieve healthier interpersonal relationships.

After all, those who know themselves are able to control themselves in the midst of personal limitations and avoid many conflicts. But know that this science is configured as symbolic, and should be studied with a deep look.

Elements of the four human temperaments

The four temperaments present characteristics that combine with the elements cold, hot, humid and dry. Each one of them constitutes the human personality, in which one or more can relate to only one temperament. To learn more, check out the topics below!

Hot

The hot element is marked by the symbol of fire, which aspires to ascension. The choleric temperament has the hot element in its structure, as it also presents the dry. However, fire is the mark of the choleric, which expands to action and movement without thinking about the consequences.

Among the four temperaments, the choleric is the most detached from the external world. That is, he doesn't care about what comes from outside, just tries to occupy the space with all his energy. What moves people of the hot temperament is the energy that, generally, is employed in all situations, both good and bad.

Seco

Among the four temperaments, the melancholic temperament is the one that is more self-centered, which is why they are constantly referred to as cold and dry. Actually, the element that marks this temperament is, in fact, the dry in conjunction with the cold. The symbol of the melancholic is the earth, which means resistance.

The melancholic ardently desires higher goods, such as nobility, loyalty, justice, etc. He is not content with superficiality or living in instability. For him, things need to be firm, like the earth that covers the ground he steps on. People of the earth element go deep into topics of interest.

Cold

The cold element constitutes two of the four temperaments, which are the melancholic and the phlegmatic. But the symbol that characterizes the phlegmatic is water, which can be found in different states. The phlegmatic is that person who does not bother to keep silent in the presence of people. On the contrary, he even feels good this way.

Although he is a little more closed with his emotions, he is open to listen to others, regardless of their backgrounds or social context. But he is still introspective, reflective and very persistent, living up to the famous saying: "soft water on hard rock will beat until it sticks.

Humid

Those of sanguine temperament are very cheerful, fun and friendly. What characterizes this temperament is the involvement and expansion, points that are very present in the humid and hot elements. As a good belonging to the air symbol, the sanguine makes presence where he arrives, infecting everyone with his spontaneity.

The sanguine is the one who walks among the four temperaments. He gets along with everyone and is very kind, helpful and expansive. He is so involving that, just like the air, his presence is important in many people's lives. The air is responsible for giving life, and so is the sanguine: he vivifies any environment in which he enters.

The four human temperaments

Knowing the four human temperaments is essential to improve interpersonal relationships and the relationship with yourself. Moreover, with the proper knowledge about personality traits, it is possible to better deal with life challenges. So, check out the characteristics of each temperament below!

Choleric

The choleric is the most explosive among all four human temperaments. He is that kind of person who has ambition as the driving force of his life. Not that he is a dreamer or anything like that, but he is not satisfied with the current reality. Therefore, he aspires to higher places.

However, the choleric temperament is very impulsive. For him, action moves everything, and he acts before thinking. But, in spite of that, he has a high planning capacity, besides a lot of energy, which makes him very domineering. Check out a little more about this temperament in the topics below.

What the choleric temperament looks like

The person with the choleric temperament has a lot of energy for everything. He cannot stand still and needs to be in movement. He is the one who has a thousand projects and is always looking for more. Even because ambition is his focus in life. Of all four temperaments, the choleric is the most ambitious.

Aggressiveness is another hallmark of this individual's personality, which is combined with the impatience characteristic of the choleric. This is the type of person who always has an answer on the tip of their tongue. They do not like to be talked down to, so they may have a reputation for being rude or arrogant.

Features

Each of the four temperaments presents unique characteristics, but similar to each other. However, the choleric is the one that most differs from all. This is because he is an individual with a very strong personality. Highly determined and with an innate ability for leadership, he is also very practical.

However, his strengths can be hindered by his weaknesses, such as self-centeredness, impatience, impulsiveness, intolerance, and outbursts. For this reason, the choleric needs to work on his weaknesses very well so that his qualities are strengthened and used for his own success.

Challenges

Being the most energetic among all four temperaments, the choleric presents self-centeredness, intolerance and impatience as the main points that he needs to improve. For these people, it is a big challenge to think before acting and accept the opinion of others, especially when choleric people think they are right.

People of this temperament think they are the center of everything and have great difficulty accepting what is different, besides being very impatient. In more serious cases, they can have great difficulty in relationships. Therefore, the choleric needs to observe himself to be a little calmer and tolerant. Self-control is the key point to try to overcome these challenges.

Blood

The sanguine temperament is a mixture of sensitivity and action. This is because sanguine people love to live intensely every moment of life. For this reason, they are very expansive, love to talk to as many people as possible and have excellent oratory. They are people who usually speak very well in public.

The sanguine is the one who has more optimism among the four temperaments. For him, life is beautiful and should be lived with lightness. This vision makes him the "friend of the crowd", which may lead him to take impulsive attitudes in important moments of his life, precisely because he wants to please the others around him.

How is the sanguine temperament

The person with sanguine temperament does not go unnoticed in any place. She loves to draw attention and is always doing some grace to appear. The sanguine is that person who walks perfectly between all four human temperaments, because it gets along with everyone and hardly ever gets into any conflict.

In addition, he has an optimistic outlook. If there is an argument, he will be the first to try to seal the peace between those involved. Generally, he is the type of person who is always called to go to parties. He presents a giant list of friends and, as he is expansive, he makes friends with anyone, regardless of the environment.

Features

The main characteristics of the sanguine temperament are communication, resilience, good adaptation and enthusiasm. The sanguine is very spontaneous and speaks perfectly well in public. Therefore, he can be designated as a representative to pass on important information. Also, as he is adaptable and resilient, he knows how to overcome life's difficulties.

On the other hand, as well as the four temperaments, the sanguine also has weak points, which are: impulsiveness, superficiality, lack of attention and exaggeration. If these points are not improved, he can be harmed and have difficulties in personal achievements. Therefore, he needs to pay attention and contain himself a little more.

Challenges

Although his presence is contagious, the sanguine needs to be very careful with his impulsiveness. Because he is very spontaneous, he can make wrong decisions in his life and regret them later. Among the four temperaments, he is the one who likes to live intensely, so he can make decisions based on the emotions of the moment.

Another point that is a great challenge for this type of temperament is exaggeration. As it is very expansive, it can make some people uncomfortable. It is necessary to be very careful to understand that not everyone likes jokes, for example. In addition, its superficiality is a hindrance to delve into important issues.

Melancholic

The melancholic is the most sensitive of all four temperaments. He is guided by his emotions and is deeply involved in them. He is the one who, when suffering, lives intensely this feeling. He is introverted, with his attention turned almost exclusively inward, which enables his detailed attitude towards life.

The sensitivity of the melancholic is very aflavored, so people with this temperament can be very artistic, tending to work with arts. But regardless of this, melancholics look for professions that they can exercise alone. This is because they do not do well with orders and feel they are freer away from partnerships.

How is the melancholic temperament

As he is the most introverted of all four temperaments, the melancholic is the type of person who is difficult to access. Although he is driven by his emotions, he does not expose his feelings easily, which can seriously hinder his interpersonal relationships. Thus he likes solitude, enjoying his own company and being immersed in his thoughts.

In addition, the melancholic temperament is very detailed. When they tell you a situation, they like to expose every detail, which can bore the listener. Likewise, they want to know all the points of a situation that they are told. They are also kind people and very faithful when they trust someone.

Features

Melancholics are very loyal, devoted and sensitive. When they are in a relationship, for example, they keep their loyalty to the other, even if they are a little suspicious. After all, trust for the melancholic is a very difficult attitude to have. Among the four human temperaments, this one is the most suspicious.

Although he is more introverted, the melancholic likes to help people. Whenever necessary, he cares for the needy and, when he can, gives help to those who need it most. However, if he is in a bad moment, he can appear quite selfish, inflexible and pessimistic.

Challenges

The four temperaments present their own challenges. The difficulties of the melancholic are on the social side. Due to his introverted characteristic, he has an intense tendency to isolate himself, which can lead him to a state of great loneliness. Therefore he needs to make an effort to socialize with friends and family.

Another point that constitutes a serious challenge for the melancholic is his inflexibility. He thinks he is right and may want the world to revolve around him. But this attitude hurts him and, in fact, he would not like to be like that. Therefore, it is an internal struggle that he has. In view of this, the presence of friends becomes even more important so that he can get it off his chest.

Phlegmatic

The phlegmatic is the most rational among all four temperaments. He thinks before acting and hates conflicts. Relationships with the person of this temperament are calm and quiet. Moreover, the phlegmatic is very peaceful, very observant and sees life in a positive way. Pessimism does not even come near him.

However, the phlegmatic temperament is very resistant to change, which makes him a little slower in making decisions. But in the end, he chooses the best options, and that makes him a reliable and balanced person. Losing control is something that rarely happens with the phlegmatic.

What the phlegmatic temperament is like

The person with the phlegmatic temperament is very dreamy and has a positive way of looking at life situations. For him, patience and discipline are virtues that guarantee success.

Therefore, phlegmatic people are usually very peaceful and quiet among all four temperaments. They also adapt very well to routine. Moreover, they love silence, because people of this temperament are more contemplative.

They arrive in places and observe everything first. If they realize they can trust and expose themselves, then they open up more and interact with those around them. So this is the least impulsive of all the other temperaments.

Features

The phlegmatic is that cautious person. He hardly exposes his opinions in public, preferring to keep them secret and only manifest them when he realizes that the environment is safe for that.

However, like some among the four human temperaments, the phlegmatic has difficulty accepting criticism. Because of this difficulty in reacting well to criticism, the person of this temperament is somewhat resistant to change.

She only changes something in her behavior after much evaluation of the situation and weighing the pros and cons. She is also very indecisive, especially when put under pressure. But this indecision is actually the time it takes to act rationally.

Challenges

Among the four human temperaments, the phlegmatic is the one that presents the most slight weaknesses. Some may even think that he is someone perfect, but, just like the others, he also has points to improve, such as: indecision, slowness and resistance to change.

In situations that require emergency, the phlegmatic needs a little more agility. He needs to rely on his rationality and balance to make wise decisions and, even if he makes mistakes, he can learn from them. Change is another big challenge for this temperament, but it can be mitigated with the certainty that the change will be positive.

Further information on the four temperaments

Even though the four temperaments model seems to be a bit simplistic, there is some very interesting information for you to know, such as the difference between temperament and personality. Check out more about this in the next topics!

How to discover your temperament

Discovering your temperament is very simple. Nowadays, there are several tests on the internet with all four temperaments. In these tests, you answer questions with alternatives involving predetermined situations. Based on your answers, which must be given with total reliability, you receive the result of your temperament.

But, if you want a deeper study of your self, you can seek a therapist to work on your self-knowledge. Besides that, in this text, you'll find the main characteristics of each temperament and you can use them to discover yours. Just pay attention to the information and relate them to your essence.

There are also the mixed temperaments

The human being is very complex. He is a being that is constantly changing and, therefore, it cannot be reduced to only one theory to describe his way of behaving. Only one model is insufficient to discuss him.

When it comes to personality, the four temperaments are not enough to determine a single person. That is why there are the mixed temperaments, which are nothing more than characteristics of two temperaments that predominate in the individual.

For example: a person may have aspects of the melancholic temperament, but be explosive like the choleric. He may also be rational like a good phlegmatic, but love an adventure like the sanguine.

Difference between temperament and personality

Although similar, temperament is not the same as personality. While temperament is only one aspect of personality, personality encompasses more characteristics that can be influenced by external factors such as family environment, historical-social context and life experiences, for example.

Any individual can be included among the four temperaments, which have more restricted aspects and can be more evident in one and more complex in the other. Personality, on the other hand, involves many other factors that can be shaped throughout life. It includes the way of thinking, acting and feeling, which will determine the way the person will relate and behave.

Why is it important to understand people's temperaments?

The human being is a very complex being, endowed with thoughts, feelings, emotions and rationality. The individual is in constant change, altering his points of view and ways of living, behaving and expressing himself. Thus, self-knowledge is fundamental to discover his own qualities and defects and contribute to more stable relationships.

In this process of getting to know yourself, knowing about the four temperaments is of great importance, because they basically make up the structure of the person. Unlike personality, which is something unique and takes time to discover, temperament is manifested within a few days or even in a simple conversation.

When you understand people's temperament, including your own, you have the possibility to change your defects, control your weaknesses, understand the other's behavior and thus contribute to more stable and healthy relationships.

But understand that although temperament is the basic constitution of the subject's structure, it does not determine destiny. Therefore, you can improve what you don't like about yourself and live at peace with yourself!