Throughout history, people have made attempts to label others; to fit people into some classification that helps others to understand them. No specific theory can perfectly describe types of temperaments; people tend to not fit into one particular type. However, it is useful to use temperament types as a guide to understanding others.
History of Temperaments
Hippocrates, a brilliant Greek physician and philosopher, theorized that four basic temperaments could be based on the four prominent bodily fluids: blood; “choler” or yellow bile; “melancholy” or black bile; and phlegm.
Hippocrates surmised that each temperament was caused by one of these bodily fluids. He believed that the Sanguine was characterized by the rich warm blood; Cholerics had too much yellow bile; Melancholies had dark blood that he called black bile; and Phlegmatics had thick blood that he termed "phlegm."
Modern psychology suggested new classifications. Sigmund Freud classified temperaments into two basic classes; introverts and extroverts. Tim LaHaye suggests that most Christians accept the theory of Hippocrates.
The Sanguine Temperament
The Sanguine temperament is characterized by the utilization of feelings rather than reflective thought to form decisions. Sanguines are lively and fun-loving. They are thrilling storytellers and never lack friends.
Sanguines enjoy people and do not like solitude. They are never at a loss for words; can become easily distracted during tasks if the opportunity to socialize appears. They often speak before they think; yet feel great remorse when something goes wrong.
Sanguines make good entertainers, salespeople, and preachers. They do better in careers that expose them to interactions with people.
The Choleric Temperament
Cholerics are active, practical and strong-willed. They are extremely independent and tend to be decisive and opinionated. Cholerics often take a stand on issues and are not frightened by adversity. They often succeed where others may fail due to their persistence.
The emotional nature of cholerics is the least-developed part of their temperament. Their primary interests are those that have utilitarian value. Compassion doesn’t come naturally for the choleric. While they tend to be successful in most arenas; at home, the choleric often fails, as love is not a priority for this type of person.
Cholerics are goal-oriented; they are not concerned with the details. Cholerics have great ideas, but usually hire others to complete the details. Cholerics generally make good leaders and entrepreneurs. The cholerics’ natural ability to motivate others makes them good leaders. They do well in sales, teaching practical subjects, politics, military service and preaching.
The Melancholy Temperament
The melancholy temperament is often referred to as the dark temperament. However, the melancholies are analytical, self-sacrificing, gifted, perfectionists, and have a very sensitive emotional nature. Feelings dominate this temperament.
Though melancholies do not make friends easily; once they do, they are quite faithful and loyal. Melancholies are the most dependable of the four temperaments. Though melancholies like others; their disappointing experiences make them reluctant to take others at face value.
According to LaHaye in “Spirit-Controlled Temperament,” “as a general rule, no other temperament has a higher IQ or more creativity or imagination than a melancholy, and no one else is as capable of such high-quality 'perfect' work.”
Melancholies are often composers, philosophers, scientists, and perhaps surprisingly, actors. Acting, though usually associated with extroverts, allows the melancholy person to lose himself in another character. Humanitarian careers attract the melancholy as well.
The Phlegmatic Temperament
Phlegmatics are characterized by their calm, easy-going manner. They are kind-hearted and sympathetic; usually keeping their feelings under the surface. They have a naturally dry sense of humor and make friends easily. They try not to be too involved in the activities of others, choosing instead to be spectators. They are not often motivated to move beyond their daily routines.
Phlegmatics are somewhat reluctant leaders. They don’t often seek leadership but once it is thrust upon them, they tend to be highly competent and efficient. They are gracious and natural peacemakers.
As a result of their patience, phlegmatics do well as teachers. They are also attracted to engineering and mechanics. Phlegmatics are not risk takers and often are attracted to jobs that have retirement or security benefits such as civil or military service.
Placing People into Temperaments
It is human nature for people to try to fit themselves and others into boxes; labels in attempts to understand their behavior and the behavior of others. Four basic temperaments have been outlined here; however, LaHaye, Freud, Myers & Briggs and Keirsey all understood that people do not fit perfectly into one box.
LaHaye’s temperaments, like their psychological counterparts, also have blends of the four basic temperaments. People generally have a primary and a secondary temperament. LaHaye breaks it down into 12 blends—SanChlor, SanMel, SanPhleg, ChlorSan, ChlorMel, ChlorPhleg, MelSan, MelChlor, MelPhleg, PhlegSan, PhlegChlor and PhlegMel.
Source:
LaHaye, Tim (1992). Sprit-Controlled Temperament. Wheaton, Il.: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
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