Study on Temperments

[Heart of a Seeker]

Choleric Strengths:

Cholerics are self-disciplined individuals with strong tendencies towards self-determination. They are confident in their own ability and very agressive. Their activities are well planned and meaningful. Once embarking on a project, they have a tenacious ability that keeps them driving in one direction. Their singleness of purpose often results in accomplishment.

Cholerics are given over almost exclusively to the practical aspects of life. Everything to them is considered in the light of its utilitarian purpose and they are happiest when they are engaged in some worthwhile project. They are very organized, but find details distressing. They can quickly appraise a situation and diagnose the most practical solution.

Cholerics have strong leadership tendences. They are good judges of people and are quick and bold in emergencies. They are typically 'take over' people and can appear arrogant and bossy.

They are optimistoc and adventuresome. Adversity does not discourage them, instead it makes them even more determined to achieve their objectives.

 

[bvwsmaker]

Looking forward to more of this Deb.

(I'm Mel/Phleg or Phleg/Mel - I was 20 in both (with 0 Sang and 0 Chol).)

 

[Abigayle's Legacy]

I see me and my life in some of these descriptions and you have pegged me correctly Deborah to a T.

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

Of course. Another one of my many talents.

Melancholy's positive traits are that they are by far the richest and most sensitive natured of all the temperaments. They are genius prone - that is a higher of percentage of geniuses are Melancholy than any other type. They particularly excel in the fine arts with a vast appreciation for life's true values. They are emotionally responsive, but, unlike the Sanguine, is motivated to reflective thinking through their emotions.

Melancholies are particularly adept at creative thinking and at high emotional peaks will often launch into an invention or creative production that is worthwhile and wholesome.

Melancholies have strong perfectionist tendencies. Their standards of excellence exceeds others' and their requirements of acceptability in any field are often higher than either they or anyone else can maintain. This tendency leads them to much introspection, and they often relive events and decisions made in the past, thinking how much better they would do it if given another opportunity.

The analytical abilities of the Melancholy, combined with their perfectionist details, make them a hound for detail. Whenever a project is suggested by a Choleric or Sanguine temperament, Melancholies can analyze it in a few moments and pick out every potential problem they will encounter. They often appear to be against things by their constant reference to potential problems. But they are real to them.

Their analytical ability well qualifies them for such fields as mathematics, architecture, philosophy, writing and other exacting vocations.

They are faithful, dependable to finish a job in the prescribed time or carry their end of the load; don't like the limelight; desire to give themselves to the betterment of their fellow men. They know their limitations, so rarely take on more than they can do. They tend to be reserved and rarely volunteer their opinions or ideas. When asked, however, they always have an opinion and the answer always indicates that they have analyzed the situation quite deeply and offers an opinion worth hearing. They don't waste words like the Sanguine, but are very precise in stating exactly what they mean.

 

[Abigayle's Legacy]

OK I know I have some melancholy but I see heavier choleric with the heavy sanguine.

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

Are they dating?

 

[Abigayle's Legacy]

Are they dating?

You are such a dweeb! (Gabs smacks Deb upside the head)

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

Next is Phlegmatic ~

Phlegmatics have an unexcited good humor which keeps them from being intensely involved with life and things so that they can often see humor in the most mundane experiences. They have a dry sence of humor and they seem to have an inborn sense of timing in the art of humore and a stimulating imagination.

Phlegmatics are highly qualified by nature to be counselors. Their slow, easy-going manner makes it easy for them to listen, whereas the Sanguine and Choleric temperaments find it difficult to sit still long enough to hear the heartaches of others. Phelgmatics also have the ability to keep from identifying themself with the person so they can be objective. They don't blurt out advice, but gives thoughtful counsel well worth hearing.

Phlegmatics are dependability itself. They can be depended on to always be cheerful and goodnatured and to fulfill their obligations and time schedules. They are faithful friends, but they don't allow themselves to get too involved with others.

Phlegmatices are also practical and efficient. They conserve their own energy by thinking, thus they early develop their capabilities to analyze a situation. Since they are not emotionally stimulated to make sudden decisions, they have a tendency to find the practical way to accomplish an objective with the least amount of effort. They work well under pressure. They usually do their best work under pressure.

Their work always bears the hallmark of neatness and efficiency. Although they aren't perfectionists, they do have exceptionally high standards of accuracy and precision.

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

The variety of strengths provided by the four temperament types keeps the world functioning properly.

"The hard-driving Choleric produces the inventions of the genius -prone Melancholy, which are sold by the personable Sanguine and enjoyed by the easy going Phlegmatic."

Next we'll study the weaknesses of the temperaments.

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

I cannot believe I typed almost this whole thing and lost it....ok...here goes.

Now we're going to talk about the weaknesses of the temperaments, starting with the Sanguine.

The boundless activity of the Sanguine proves to be little more than restless movement. They are often impractical and disorganized. Their emotional nature can get them instantly excited and, before really analyzing the entire picture, ,will have them running off 'half-cocked' in the wrong direction. They do not often make good students because of this spirit of restlessness. This carries over into their spiritual life, where they find it difficult to concentrate on reading the Word of God. Their lifelong pattern of restless activity in the long run usually proves unproductive. Frequently, their lives are spent running from one tangent to another, and unless disciplined, is not lastingly productive.

Sanguines usually get by on the power of their dynamic personality. But that dynamic personality is often a facade for a weak character. Their greatest basic problem is that they are weak willed and undisciplined. If Sanguines would learn to discipline themselves, there would be no limit to their potential in life.

Sanguines are great at starting things and never finishing them. They love to please. They do not know their limitations and although they function well as a "front man" for a group, they find it very difficult to methodically do the necessary preparatory work.

Without meaning to do so, they can easily forget their resolutions, appointments and obligations.

Perhaps the most dangerous result of their weakwill is seen in the fact that they are prone to modify their moral principles to their surroundings and contemporaries. They are not people of resolution or loyalty.

Sanguines can become obnoxious by dominating, not just the major part of a conversation, but all of it. They have a tendency, through the years, to talk more and more about themselves and to be occupied with things of interest to themselves and think that others are equally interested in them.

They discourage easily and can drift into a pattern of excusing their weaknesses or feeling sorry for themselves.

The can blow up quickly, forget the blowup quickly and readily apologize. In the spiritual realm, they are often found repenting for the same thing over and over again.

No other temperament has a greater problem with lust than Sanguines. Since they are emotionally receptive, the can be tempted more easily than other types, but they are also equipped with a weak will that finds them frequently giving in to this temptation. Their ability to live in the present is a danger in this regard, since they have a tendency to think more of the immediate temptation than of the consequences. One of the things that the Sanguine should seek by the Holy Spirit's guidance is the gift of self control.

 

[rainbowpromises]

I'm sure many of you have done this study before, but I thought it might be kind of interesting to go over - both to help us understand ourselves and others better.

The information I'll be posting is from the book, Transforming Your Temperament.

The only book on temperments that I have is aimed at understanding your child's temperment.

Are we allowed to comment on ourselves in light of your posts?

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

The only book on temperments that I have is aimed at understanding your child's temperment.

Are we allowed to comment on ourselves in light of your posts?

Sure! That's why I'm doing it. Please feel free.

 

[faithmom]

Hiya Deb,

I'll go bold on this (maybe inspire others, and give them bravery), and you can tell me if you think I am on track.

I am primarily Sanguine (yeah, be warned folks, including some of the good, the bad and the ugly characterisics of it).

In crunch times (emergencies, time limits, the job has to get done now days) I go totally Choleric. I am all about it getting done and can switch into a high gear methodical mode, though because of my Sanguine qualities, I could not lead on a consistent basis, or I would easily become too dictatorish.

Then after those high pressure times, I colapse into Meloncholy, sketch my pictures and write my books...only to float back to Sanguine when I have recouperated.

I have often been a phelgmatic wannabe, but it just isn't in me.....I lack the patience necessary. They have my undying admiration.

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

Join the crowd. You sound an awful lot like me. I lean toward the Sanguine, but I'm organized and when something has to be done, I keep on at it until it's done. It will drive me crazy until it's finished. No phlegmatic here...I have a son who has those tendencies, though.

 

[rainbowpromises]

Sanguine is so NOT me!

 

[CoolMom6]

Next on our list is Melancholy...

Melancholies are often referred to as the "black, or dark temperament". Actually, they are the richest of all the temperaments. They are analytical, self-sacrificing, gifted, perfectionist type, with a very sensitve, emotional nature. No one gets more enjoyment from the fine arts than the melancholy.

They tend to be introverts, but their feelings dominate and they are given over to a variety of moods. Sometimes moods will lift them to heights of ecstasy to cause them to act more extroverted. At other times, they will be gloomy and depressed - causing them to be withdrawn and quite antagonistic.

Melancholies are faithful friends, but they do not make friends easily. They do not push themselves toward people but rather that people come to them. They are the most dependable of all the temperaments because the perfectionist nature doesn't permit them to be shirkers or let others down when they are depending on them. They have a strong desire to be loved by people. Disappointing experiences make them reluctant to take people at their face value, those they are prone to be suspicious with others when they seek them out or shower them with attention.

Their exceptional analytical abilities case them to diagnose accurately the obstacles and dangers of any project they have a part in planning. When Melancholies are in one of their great moods of emotional ecstasy or inspiration, they may produce some great work of art or genius. These accomplishments are often followed by periods of great depression.

No temperament has so much natural potential when energized by the Holy Spirit as the Melancholy. Many of the world's great geniuses - artists, musicians, inventors, philosophers, educators, and theoreticians were of the melancholy temperment. Bible characters such as Moses, Elijah, Solomon, John and many others had melancholy tendencies.

The bolded part above is why I scare people so.
I did not know it was temperment.
I do have less of the depression these days than I used to, but I also do not create as often, either.
Pray for me to finally find the purpose God has for me this year.

 

[rainbowpromises]

My husband is Phlegmatic with the tendency to analyze problems for up to a year.

I am Choleric with Melancholy tendencies.

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

We'll just keep on with this and see how we can help ourselves!!! I'll keep on with the negatives tomorrow. I'm too pooped today. Then, after the negatives, we learn how to walk in the Holy Spirit with our temperaments. It gets better, precious ones.

 

[Abigayle's Legacy]

We'll just keep on with this and see how we can help ourselves!!! I'll keep on with the negatives tomorrow. I'm too pooped today. Then, after the negatives, we learn how to walk in the Holy Spirit with our temperaments. It gets better, precious ones.

Good Deb and thank you special girl cause I need all the help I can get!

 

[faithmom]

NOT to say that we don't all need help in gaining coping skills with things in life that overwhelm us or pull us under.

BUT what if there is way too much diagnosing going on. What if tests and assessments are based on a perception of one or two personality types thinking all of the rest of us should be like them?

What if some of what others make us feel bad about in our personalities are perfectly normal for ourselves, and even necessary for the world to go around.

I have a daughter, who in kindergarden, had a teacher insist that she must be ADHD, even though she was having no achemic problems at all, only social not fitting in, and beginning to act out.

We took her to a child psych doctor (scary step) who (thank our Heavenly Father for the fact that the Dr. thinks this!), feels that teachers have no business applying lables to kids, and ran every assessment you can imagine on her. No ADHD, no ADD, no depression or social disorders. After all of that she said she had a mismatch between being emotionally immature compared to the kids in her class (summer birthday...the youngest), and being past most of them intellectually. That left her bored and out of touch with the other kids, and emotionally unable to deal with how that made her feel.

The Dr. gave us a book called "The Spiritted Child", and said if there was one thing we should take out of it is to become her advocates for our child, who will never fit the "norm" of what most teachers want, but is perfectly normal for her personality type and abilities. She gave our daughter some fun books to read on when others made her feel bad, and how to express those feelings.

Eventually, after another teacher (3 years later) at that school began to scapegoat her terribly (even allowing other kids to bully and belittle her). Advocating went so far as to switch her from that school. She is now in the Gifted & Talented programming at the current school. The funny thing is that her current teacher says it is like looking at herself 20 years ago. My daughter worships the ground that teacher walks on. And the way the teacher perceives her has allowed my daughter to be seen as an important part of her class.

Now, not only does she have friends, she has her first best friend ever . At her last school she was considered to be a loner, though all she ever tried desparately for was to be included . She is 9 years old.


I know this was lengthy, but I think often, we get negatively labled by others, and it affects everything from how we precieve ourselves to how others in that setting percieve us as well.

Many who apply "lables" are not even qualified to make that assessment of us, and may think that unless we change to fit the world as they picture it, something is wrong with us.


Deb, thank you for a thread that lets us see that though we are all different, and have varying strengths and weaknesses, that we all have a place in Creation, and that it is necessary for us to differ.

Be strong in who you are CF friends! God made you that way! Cope with your weaknesses, and use your strengths to make your world a better place!