In psychology, it is customary to distinguish four main types of temperament: sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic and melancholic. Quite often there are mixed types, when a person in some situations behaves like a choleric person, and in others, for example, like a phlegmatic person. In these cases, they speak of the predominant type of temperament.
What is temperament?
The term "temperament" is of Latin origin and in translation means "ratio". The first scholar to identify the four types of temperament was Hippocrates, who lived in the fifth century BC. He believed that a person contains four fluids: sangius (blood), flegma (phlegm), chole and melas chole (yellow and black bile, respectively). The type of reactions of a person, according to Hippocrates, depends on which liquid prevails. In subsequent eras, the types of temperament were divided into strong and weak. Strong - phlegmatic, sanguine and choleric, weak - melancholic.
The sanguine person is sociable and mobile
It is not difficult to distinguish a sanguine person from owners of other types of temperament. This is usually a sociable person who easily adapts to the situation. He is mobile, he has expressive facial expressions. In a sanguine person, mental processes are replaced easily and quickly, therefore, overwork almost never threatens him. A sanguine person easily converges with people and calmly parts with them. He copes well with any negotiations, but much less successful in matters that require perseverance and constant effort. The processes of excitation and inhibition in sanguine and phlegmatic people are balanced.
Phlegmatic is not lazy at all
In a phlegmatic person, mental processes arise and change slowly. The owner of this type of temperament is generally characterized by little activity. He does not rebuild too quickly, does not adapt well to a changed situation. For this he needs quite a long time. Outwardly, his temperament is manifested in the fact that the phlegmatic is inactive, speaks slowly, his facial expressions are not expressive. It is not easy to take him out of patience, but the one who succeeds in this usually regrets very much later, because it is as difficult to stop the phlegmatic as it is to excite. A characteristic feature of all owners of this temperament is perseverance, perseverance, the desire to bring what has been started to completion. A phlegmatic person is a reliable life companion and business partner who usually strictly adheres to the terms of the agreement.
Choleric is a person addicted
In a choleric person, mental processes arise and change rapidly. This is a quick-tempered, but easygoing person. He easily gets carried away, but just as quickly loses interest if he did not manage to achieve instant success. However, a choleric person, thanks to his assertiveness and desire to put all his efforts into what is interesting to him, often achieves an excellent result. He is sharp in communication, initiative, energetic, but a stormy surge of activity very quickly gives way to indifference. Excitation in a choleric person prevails over inhibition.
The melancholic is focused on experiences
The melancholic belongs to the weak psychological types. He is prone to excessively deep feelings even when there seems to be no reason for this. His feelings are stable, but outwardly they hardly appear. In the owner of this type of temperament, inhibition prevails over arousal. The slightest opposition unsettles the melancholic. He is characterized by fearfulness and indecision, he is very vulnerable. Owners of this type of temperament prefer individual work to collective work.
