FAQs on Temperament and Personality

Having a good understanding of your own temperament will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. It also helps you avoid making mistakes that could harm your relationship or job prospects. Similarly, knowing the differences between the temperaments of your children will help you set realistic expectations and understand their needs.


The concept of personality has been around for thousands of years. The word "temperament" originates in the Latin word "temperamentum" which means "mixed proportions". Galen of Pergamon used the term to describe the distinct moods of humans. He believed that by properly balancing the bodily fluids, a person would achieve a balanced disposition. Today, there are many systems of assessing the different temperaments, ranging from the Meyers-Briggs Temperament Indicator to the Four Temperaments.

The Four Temperaments were devised to help explain the different ways that people react to various situations. The Sanguine temperament, for example, is a fun-loving, high-energy personality. Typically, this type of temperament thrives on attention and approval from others. It is also very well suited to customer service, sales, and creative careers.

The Four Temperaments are a useful tool to help parents understand the differences between the temperaments of their children. Although it's not a universal rule, a child with a positive temperament may have a quick learning curve and a pleasant attitude. They may also be low-intensity moods, meaning that they don't have an overly dramatic reaction to major events.

The Four Temperaments also include the phlegmatic and melancholic temperaments. While these are the most common of the four, they don't necessarily represent the best or worst of the breed. For instance, a low-activity, approachable child might enjoy reading stories to his or her siblings. However, a high-activity, outgoing personality might flinch at the idea of sitting still for a school assembly.

Another important component of the Four Temperaments is behavioral inhibition. This includes the fearful behavior that one might exhibit toward a new object or situation. This is actually a fairly stable trait throughout childhood. A low-intensity individual might be afraid of the dark or a scary movie. A high-activity individual, on the other hand, might be afraid to be alone in a quiet room.

In fact, behavioral inhibition is often the source of much of the trouble in the home. If a baby shows signs of anxiety, a parent should seek out a qualified expert. The problem might have originated at home, or it may have been introduced in school. Regardless, a child's behavior is likely to be affected by his or her surroundings, and a therapist should take this into account when diagnosing the child.

The most important thing to remember is that temperament isn't an exact science. You can't change the way you react to the world, but you can change the way you respond to it. Moreover, you can use your natural strengths to achieve a better quality of life.

While the Four Temperaments are a fun way to look at the personality world, they don't exactly explain everything.