Human temperament is an important component of behavior. It is laid before birth and affects all life. Therefore, people are very interested in how to determine their temperament. After all, it helps to better understand yourself and communicate with others. Traditionally, there are 4 temperaments that are well studied. What kinds of temperaments are there? How to define them? How difficult is it to do it yourself? In this article, the temperaments of people will be in front of the reader as if in the palm of your hand.
Types of human temperament
More often in the literature the word "types" is found, but by and large, we can talk about the types of temperament. The essence of the issue does not change. Since the times of ancient Greece, a classification describing 4 temperaments has been proposed. This is known from school: choleric, phlegmatic, melancholic, sanguine.
For the first time, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates thoroughly studied the temperament and its types. Perhaps he used earlier research, but most likely it was his authoring. In the future, the teachings of Hippocrates was finalized by the Roman doctor Galen. In this form, it existed almost until the twentieth century, when supplemented with the latest discoveries in the field of psychology and physiology. But even this did not negate the achievements of ancient thinkers. Traditionally, four temperaments are considered, and their names are still ancient Greek roots, based on the naive ideas of the time about the dominance in the body of one of the "vital juices".
So, according to Hippocrates and Galen, blood dominates in sanguine persons (sangua), filling them with positive energy. Melancholic forever sad and dull because of black bile (melene chole). Cholerics are subject to outbursts of anger, which are explained by the predominance of bile (chole). Well, phlegmatic "inhibit" thanks to the lymph (reflux), slowing their thinking and movement. Now it is clear that the “vital juices” have nothing to do with it, but people call their temperaments, as in those times.
Differences between Temperament Types
As it became known in the twentieth century, human temperaments differ from each other, because of features of higher nervous activity. First, people are prone to two opposite types of interaction with the outside world. Some of us are extroverts who are open to communication, others are introverts who seek solitude. Secondly, different types of temperament differ in their strength, balance, mobility. Thirdly, understanding the emotional stability of an individual helps to determine temperament. Fourth, the speed of occurrence, change, termination of mental processes is important. Fifth, types of temperaments have an unequal manifestation of psychological functions: sensations, feelings, thinking, and intuition.
Thus, the sanguine, melancholic, phlegmatic, and choleric differ from each other in a number of physiological traits, "sitting deep" in our genes and defining the features of the functioning of higher nervous activity.
If one considers temperament in a simplified way, its types have fairly clear boundaries. If you dig deeper, then the majority presented several types of temperament, which get along with each other. At a certain period of life, there is more of a tendency towards one temperament, and the next - towards another. But at the household level, it is enough to have at least a general idea of his type of temperament. To make it easier to do, we give a brief description of each of the 4 types of temperament, and you can read detailed articles on the link:
Sanguine - extremely sociable, cheerful, cheerful person, full of energy and enthusiasm;
Choleric is an impulsive and "explosive" interlocutor who can change mercy to anger at any moment;
Melancholic is a vulnerable nature, the abundant tearing of which can be compared only with the scale of creative potential;
The phlegmatic person is a person to whom a measured, calm life is suitable, without turmoil and unnecessary movements.
The above features of human temperaments allow you to quickly identify the interlocutor. But to make a complete picture should work a little more.
How to determine the temperament?
The easiest way to find out your temperament is to take a temperament test, which will allow you to determine your belonging in just five minutes.
Determining the interlocutor's temperament is a more difficult task. It is not always appropriate to ask him to take the test. But the habits of a person, the manner of communication and attitude to others allow "to bring him out to clean water."
We offer an approximate algorithm of actions. Now the diagnosis of temperament is no longer an impossible mission.
Firstly it is necessary to find out the tendency of a person to introversion or extraversion. If he avoids companies, then most likely, it is a melancholic or phlegmatic. In the case of sociability - in front of us sanguine or choleric. Of course, these observations do not provide 100% certainty, but give an answer as close as possible to the truth.
Secondly, we determine the strength, balance and stability of mental reactions. Sanguine men are strong personalities, with a balanced psyche and increased mobility. Choleric - also strong and mobile, but extremely unbalanced. Phlegmatic - strong, balanced, but inert. Melancholic are characterized by a weak type of mental reactions, which makes them so vulnerable.
ThirdlyIt is important to understand emotional sustainability. As you can already guess, the most stable temperament are phlegmatic.
Comparing the data of observations, it will be much easier to recognize your temperament and to orient yourself in the psychological picture of the interlocutor.
Investigating the types of temperament, scientists came to the conclusion that there is no point in radically altering the teachings of the ancient Greeks. They simply supplemented these ideas with new discoveries, retaining 4 temperaments unchanged. No wonder they say that "all ingenious is simple." Due to this, everyone can determine the temperament of his interlocutor and himself. Let him do it not quite accurately, but the data obtained will help to correct communication, pay attention to the shortcomings and prevent uncomfortable situations.
