Four Primary Temperaments
The Choleric
The Choleric is an extroverted, hot-tempered, quick thinking, active, practical, strong-willed and easily annoyed person. Cholerics are self-confident, self-sufficient and very independent minded. They are decisive and opinionated and find it easy to make decisions for themselves as well as others. Cholerics tend to leave little room for negotiating.
The Choleric is result-oriented. He has an active, positive movement in any antagonistic environment. He shapes his environment by overcoming opposition to get results. The choleric person is quickly and vehemently excited by any and every influence. Immediately the reaction sets in and the impression remains a long time.
T“The natural virtue of the choleric is ambition; his desire to excel and succeed despises the weak, ignorant, and unskilled, and aspires to the noble and heroic.
The Choleric is a visionary and seems to never run out of ideas, plans, and goals, which are all very practical. They do not require as much sleep as the other temperaments, so their activity seems endless. Their activity almost always has a purpose because they are, by nature, goal-oriented. They can be crusaders against social injustice. They love to fight for a cause.
The Sanguine
The Sanguine is an extroverted, fun-loving, activity-prone, impulsive, entertaining, persuasive, easily amused, and optimistic person. Sanguines are receptive and open to others and build relationships quickly. They are animated, excited, and accepting of others. They are friendly in speech and behavior and can pleasantly entertain their fellow men by their interesting narratives and witticisms. They associate easily with strangers. They will smile and talk easily and often.
The sanguine sees everything, hears everything, talks about everything.
He is very pleasant and willing to oblige. He is compassionate whenever a mishap befalls his neighbor and is always ready to cheer him by a friendly remark.
“A sanguine is quickly excited by an offence and may show his anger violently and at times imprudently, but as soon as he has given vent to his wrath, he is again pleasant and bears no grudge. He is pliable and docile. The virtue of obedience, which is generally considered as difficult, is easy for him. He is candid and can easily make known to a brother his difficulties, the state of his spiritual life, and even disgraceful sins. When punished he hardly ever shows resentment; he is not defiant and obstinate. Nobody is so easily seduced, but on the other hand, nobody is so easily converted as the sanguine.” [1]
The sanguine does not long over unpleasant happenings. Many things which cause others 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. He enjoys life. For him it is meaningful and vigorous. “For the most part, what the sanguine person experiences does not primarily lead him to think or act. He merely enjoys it. And he has unusual capacity for enjoyment since he is affected quickly and intensely by all that happens to him.” [2]
[1] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
[2] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg19
[3] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg19
[4] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
The Phlegmatic
The Phlegmatic is an introverted, calm, unemotional, easygoing, never-get-upset person. He is happily reconciled to life and to his present existence, while the other types live in continual strife with their environment. The Phlegmatic is a "steady as she goes" sort of person. People with a Phlegmatic temperament slowly proceed through life expending as little energy as possible. They are the ones who will get gold watches for fifty years of faithful service doing the same job they started when they were nineteen.
The Phlegmatic has the calm, well-balanced temperament.
Phlegmatics are both slow and indirect when responding to others. They are also slow to warm-up but will be accommodating in the process. Phlegmatics are by far the easiest person with which to get along. They live a quiet, routine life, free of the normal anxieties and stresses of the other temperaments. The Phlegmatic will avoid getting too involved with people and life in general. Phlegmatics seldom exert themselves with others or push their way along in their career, they just let it happen. The Phlegmatic communicates a warm, sincere interest in others, preferring to have just a few close friends. They will be very loyal to their friends and find it difficult to break long standing relationships regardless of what the other person does. The Phlegmatic tends to resist change of any kind without reason, other than they just do not want the change to occur. Phlegmatics show little emotion and are prone to be grudge holders.
They are task oriented with a great capacity for work that requires precision and accuracy and expends a minimal amount of energy. An example of the daily routine of a Phlegmatic is to go to work, sit in a cubicle and crunch numbers all day. They will take a nap in the morning, eat lunch, have another nap, go home and go to bed after a couple of hours of TV. Since they have no temperament needs, they have no need to regenerate. So expending energy doing anything would seem like a waste.
Phlegmatic persons tend to be observers of life rather than doers. Since they take few chances and break few rules, they generally lead safe but boring lives. Many Phlegmatics have not experienced the need for God that those who operate in other temperaments are likely to experience. They take an easy going approach to life. They like to take a nap, not over-exert themselves, and rarely volunteer for anything. The Phlegmatic sits back and watches other temperaments busy doing things wrongly and looking at all the things in the world that need to be changed. Identifying the injustice is not difficult for the Phlegmatic; however, they will seldom, if ever, initiate action against injustice. They will try to inspire others to do something, but are not likely to personally get involved themselves. They work best if there is little pressure and little risk. They like to become expert at something, insuring their value in the future. They are able to perform boring or tedious work to a high standard of perfection. Think professional accountant. They neither need or desire very much social interaction, and are better off working undisturbed by others. They tend to remain calm and efficient, not easily upset.
[1] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg75
[2] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg76
[3] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg78
The Melancholy
The Melancholy is an analytical, self-sacrificing, gifted, perfectionist type with a very sensitive emotional nature. No one gets more enjoyment from the fine arts than the Melancholy. He appreciates beauty, loves art and music. Many become craftsmen of a high quality and are the most capable of perfectionism. They are very creative. Most of the world’s great composers, artists, musicians, etc. are predominantly Melancholies.
“The thinking of the melancholic easily turns into reflection and his thoughts are far reaching. He dwells with pleasure upon the past and is preoccupied with these occurrences. He is penetrating, not satisfied with the superficial. He searches for the cause and correlation of things, the principles according to which man should act. He is very analytical and carefully considers everything. This ability causes him to diagnose accurately the obstacles and dangers on any project he has a part in planning. The untrained melancholic is easily given to brooding and to day-dreaming. He is constantly thinking. At times he can be gloomy and depressed, and during these periods he becomes withdrawn and can be quite antagonistic.” [1]
“The melancholic does not feel at home among a crowd for any length of time; he loves silence and solitude. He needs his own space to work and be himself. Total privacy is very important. In company he is often distracted, because he is absorbed by his own thoughts. He always looks at life from the serious side. The melancholic is a passive temperament. He is slow, pensive, and reflective. He easily gives way to others, and does not stubbornly insist on his own opinion. 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. It is difficult to move him to quick action, since he has a marked inclination to passivity and inactivity. He moves forward cautiously reconsidering everything until he can form a calm and safe judgment. However, once convinced, he moves ahead with enthusiasm.” [2]
[1] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
[2] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
[3] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
The Choleric is an extroverted, hot-tempered, quick thinking, active, practical, strong-willed and easily annoyed person. Cholerics are self-confident, self-sufficient and very independent minded. They are decisive and opinionated and find it easy to make decisions for themselves as well as others. Cholerics tend to leave little room for negotiating.
The Choleric is result-oriented. He has an active, positive movement in any antagonistic environment. He shapes his environment by overcoming opposition to get results. The choleric person is quickly and vehemently excited by any and every influence. Immediately the reaction sets in and the impression remains a long time.
T“The natural virtue of the choleric is ambition; his desire to excel and succeed despises the weak, ignorant, and unskilled, and aspires to the noble and heroic.
The Choleric is a visionary and seems to never run out of ideas, plans, and goals, which are all very practical. They do not require as much sleep as the other temperaments, so their activity seems endless. Their activity almost always has a purpose because they are, by nature, goal-oriented. They can be crusaders against social injustice. They love to fight for a cause.
The Sanguine
The Sanguine is an extroverted, fun-loving, activity-prone, impulsive, entertaining, persuasive, easily amused, and optimistic person. Sanguines are receptive and open to others and build relationships quickly. They are animated, excited, and accepting of others. They are friendly in speech and behavior and can pleasantly entertain their fellow men by their interesting narratives and witticisms. They associate easily with strangers. They will smile and talk easily and often.
The sanguine sees everything, hears everything, talks about everything.
He is very pleasant and willing to oblige. He is compassionate whenever a mishap befalls his neighbor and is always ready to cheer him by a friendly remark.
“A sanguine is quickly excited by an offence and may show his anger violently and at times imprudently, but as soon as he has given vent to his wrath, he is again pleasant and bears no grudge. He is pliable and docile. The virtue of obedience, which is generally considered as difficult, is easy for him. He is candid and can easily make known to a brother his difficulties, the state of his spiritual life, and even disgraceful sins. When punished he hardly ever shows resentment; he is not defiant and obstinate. Nobody is so easily seduced, but on the other hand, nobody is so easily converted as the sanguine.” [1]
The sanguine does not long over unpleasant happenings. Many things which cause others 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. He enjoys life. For him it is meaningful and vigorous. “For the most part, what the sanguine person experiences does not primarily lead him to think or act. He merely enjoys it. And he has unusual capacity for enjoyment since he is affected quickly and intensely by all that happens to him.” [2]
[1] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
[2] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg19
[3] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg19
[4] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
The Phlegmatic
The Phlegmatic is an introverted, calm, unemotional, easygoing, never-get-upset person. He is happily reconciled to life and to his present existence, while the other types live in continual strife with their environment. The Phlegmatic is a "steady as she goes" sort of person. People with a Phlegmatic temperament slowly proceed through life expending as little energy as possible. They are the ones who will get gold watches for fifty years of faithful service doing the same job they started when they were nineteen.
The Phlegmatic has the calm, well-balanced temperament.
Phlegmatics are both slow and indirect when responding to others. They are also slow to warm-up but will be accommodating in the process. Phlegmatics are by far the easiest person with which to get along. They live a quiet, routine life, free of the normal anxieties and stresses of the other temperaments. The Phlegmatic will avoid getting too involved with people and life in general. Phlegmatics seldom exert themselves with others or push their way along in their career, they just let it happen. The Phlegmatic communicates a warm, sincere interest in others, preferring to have just a few close friends. They will be very loyal to their friends and find it difficult to break long standing relationships regardless of what the other person does. The Phlegmatic tends to resist change of any kind without reason, other than they just do not want the change to occur. Phlegmatics show little emotion and are prone to be grudge holders.
They are task oriented with a great capacity for work that requires precision and accuracy and expends a minimal amount of energy. An example of the daily routine of a Phlegmatic is to go to work, sit in a cubicle and crunch numbers all day. They will take a nap in the morning, eat lunch, have another nap, go home and go to bed after a couple of hours of TV. Since they have no temperament needs, they have no need to regenerate. So expending energy doing anything would seem like a waste.
Phlegmatic persons tend to be observers of life rather than doers. Since they take few chances and break few rules, they generally lead safe but boring lives. Many Phlegmatics have not experienced the need for God that those who operate in other temperaments are likely to experience. They take an easy going approach to life. They like to take a nap, not over-exert themselves, and rarely volunteer for anything. The Phlegmatic sits back and watches other temperaments busy doing things wrongly and looking at all the things in the world that need to be changed. Identifying the injustice is not difficult for the Phlegmatic; however, they will seldom, if ever, initiate action against injustice. They will try to inspire others to do something, but are not likely to personally get involved themselves. They work best if there is little pressure and little risk. They like to become expert at something, insuring their value in the future. They are able to perform boring or tedious work to a high standard of perfection. Think professional accountant. They neither need or desire very much social interaction, and are better off working undisturbed by others. They tend to remain calm and efficient, not easily upset.
[1] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg75
[2] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg76
[3] Temperament and the Christian Faith, O.Hallesby, pg78
The Melancholy
The Melancholy is an analytical, self-sacrificing, gifted, perfectionist type with a very sensitive emotional nature. No one gets more enjoyment from the fine arts than the Melancholy. He appreciates beauty, loves art and music. Many become craftsmen of a high quality and are the most capable of perfectionism. They are very creative. Most of the world’s great composers, artists, musicians, etc. are predominantly Melancholies.
“The thinking of the melancholic easily turns into reflection and his thoughts are far reaching. He dwells with pleasure upon the past and is preoccupied with these occurrences. He is penetrating, not satisfied with the superficial. He searches for the cause and correlation of things, the principles according to which man should act. He is very analytical and carefully considers everything. This ability causes him to diagnose accurately the obstacles and dangers on any project he has a part in planning. The untrained melancholic is easily given to brooding and to day-dreaming. He is constantly thinking. At times he can be gloomy and depressed, and during these periods he becomes withdrawn and can be quite antagonistic.” [1]
“The melancholic does not feel at home among a crowd for any length of time; he loves silence and solitude. He needs his own space to work and be himself. Total privacy is very important. In company he is often distracted, because he is absorbed by his own thoughts. He always looks at life from the serious side. The melancholic is a passive temperament. He is slow, pensive, and reflective. He easily gives way to others, and does not stubbornly insist on his own opinion. 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. It is difficult to move him to quick action, since he has a marked inclination to passivity and inactivity. He moves forward cautiously reconsidering everything until he can form a calm and safe judgment. However, once convinced, he moves ahead with enthusiasm.” [2]
[1] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
[2] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
[3] greatbooksblog.wordpress.com/.../the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/
15 Temperament Blends
Choleric (High D) Blends
1. Executive Pattern: Choleric-Sanguine (D-I) 2. Motivator Pattern: Choleric-Sanguine (D-I) 3. Director Pattern: Choleric-Phlegmatic (D-S) 4. Strategist Pattern: Choleric-Melancholy (D-C) Sanguine (High I) Blends 5. Negotiator Pattern: Sanguine-Choleric (I-D) 6. Marketer Pattern: Sanguine-Choleric (I-D) 7. Relater Pattern: Sanguine-Phlegmatic (I-S) 8. Performer Pattern: Sanguine-Melancholy (I-C) |
Phlegmatic (High S) Blends
9. Inspector Pattern: Phlegmatic-Choleric (S-D) 10. Harmonizer Pattern: Phlegmatic-Sanguine (S-I) 11. Helper Pattern: Phlegmatic-Melancholy (S-C) Meloncholy (High C) Blends 12. Trainer Pattern: Melancholy-Choleric (C-D) 13. Idealist Pattern: Melancholy-Phlegmatic-Choleric (C-S-D) 14. Diplomat Pattern: Melancholy-Sanguine (C-I) 15. Analyst Pattern: Melancholy-Phlegmatic (C-S) |