I’m fascinated with the idea of the four temperaments. I have been ever since I read “The Temperament God Gave You” by Art and Shirley Bennett years ago. (Highly recommend).

The ancient world broke down human temperament into four basic patterns of action, reaction, and relating to the world.

The ancients named the temperaments after “humors,” or liquids in the body, an excess of which they attributed to causing the related temperament to manifest.

If you read Shakespeare at all, he mentions the temperaments a lot.

The old medical explanation of temperament may not be accurate, but there is real wisdom to be gained in reflecting upon which is your primary temperament, and which is the secondary temperament that balances it out a bit.

I am a melancholic-phlegmatic.

Art and Shirley Bennett do attribute some relation (indeed, much relation) between physiology and temperament, which is merely the foundation upon which we build our character. The temperaments have to do with how quickly and with what intensity we react to stimuli around us.

The four temperaments are:

• MELANCHOLIC (black bile): slow reactions that grow more intense over time
• PHLEGMATIC (phlegm): slow reactions that start off weak and remain weak.
• CHOLERIC (bile): quick, strong reactions to stimuli
• SANGUINE (blood): quick reactions to stimuli that fade over time

Those people of a melancholic or phlegmatic temperament tend to be more introverted.

Those of a sanguine or choleric temperament tend to be extraverts.

Melancholics and cholerics are more intense. Sanguines and Phlegmatics are generally more easy-going.

Each temperament comes with natural strengths and inborn weaknesses. None is inherently “better” than another, and we need ALL of them for a thriving, functioning society. We learn certain things from those who are like us, and we learn TONS of other things from those who are different.

Learning about temperament can help you learn to relate better to others.

I’m going to devote a post to each of the temperaments to help you understand yourself (and your characters, if you’re a writer) better!

I definitely had fun, after learning about temperament, to look at my characters and think, “Vane is SUCH a melancholic.” “Oh man, Zacry is DEFINITELY a choleric.” “Haha, Lanokas is totally a sanguine. I love it!”

It’s important to remember that temperament is not a label to throw on other people. Also, be aware that certain things, such as trauma or even deep sanctity, can mask temperament.

That said, I hope you enjoy this look at temperament! Are you already familiar with the concept?