Introduction

The Four Temperaments personality system attempts to describe a person's overall attitude
towards problems, other people, and life in general in a very broad way.

They aren't meant to describe every detail of a person, such as their favoriteflavor of ice
cream or their mother's maiden name; rather, they just describe a person's overall attitude.

Like how defining someone as a 'woman' communicates useful information without making the
individual any less unique.

There are four temperaments, which are combined into twelve pairs called 'blends'. Each person
has one of these blends that fits how they are most of the time; it is constant throughout life, not
a shifting mood. Temperaments don't change according to circumstances; rather, they determine
how we react to situations.

What is temperament?
The temperaments are a way of classifying peoples' emotional attitudes, the foundations of their
personality. They apply in a very broad strokes way - that is, they are vague rather than specific
and detailed - and make no attempt to identify every detail of a person's personality.

They are words like 'mammal' or 'reptile', not words like 'dog' or 'rattlesnake'.

'Personality' and 'temperament' are not synonymous. Temperaments are merely one of
many facets of a person's overall personality.

Two people may have identical temperaments, but could be completely different in every other
way.

Many works of fiction will in fact have a Hero and a Villain who have identical temperaments,
but who could never be said to be similar people.

They are easily recognized, once you know the patterns; you needn't know a person for longer
than five minutes in order to at least get an idea of their temperaments.

This is like how you can tell whether someone's male or female at a glance, usually. Knowing
their gender will give you an idea about their personality, but it won't come close to showing you
every detail about them.
Similarly, two women will technically share the same anatomy, which is why they can be classed
together as 'women', but they will differ in every detail. The sizes and shapes of their parts set
them apart as individuals, in the same way that two people of the same temperaments will be set
apart as individuals by the intensity of their temperamental traits.
 As humans, we all have access to a wide spectrum of different emotions. We all get angry,
happy, sad, and so on. We all wish at times to be around others, or to be alone. The
temperaments are determined by the balance of these emotions.

For example, the choleric temperament is more prone to anger than the other temperaments.
However, we all get angry from time to time. Being angry and being choleric are NOT
synonymous. If you are angry, it does not mean that you are 'being choleric right now'. If you are
angered easily and frequently, however, then THAT is probably a sign that you are choleric.

Blends
There are only four temperaments, but that's a very limiting number, so it's more useful to
describe people in terms of temperament blends.

These blends consist of a primary and secondary temperament, such as MelancholicPhlegmatic

or CholericSanguine. The order is important; a MelancholicPhlegmatic blend is noticeably
different to a PhlegmaticMelancholic one.

The primary temperament describes the most obvious part of a person's personality, while the
secondary one just serves to flesh it out in more detail.

They're called 'blends' and not 'pairs' for a reason. A MelancholicCholeric person does not have a
'melancholic half' and a 'choleric half', as if inhabited by two different people.

This is like how purple light is made up of red and blue, but it can't be said to have a 'red side' or
to be 'blue sometimes'. The blended color is distinct from both blue and red and neither can be
isolated, despite it being made from them both.

They stay the same

Temperaments are not passing moods, or phases in our attitudes. They are the foundation of our
emotional natures, which stay constant throughout life (barring perhaps severe brain injury),
from birth until death, even though every other aspect of our personality may change.

Remember, temperaments are only one of many facets of a person's personality!

This is like how - as a fully grown adult - you may build muscles, get a tan, wear different
clothes, get a different hairstyle, and so on, but your skeleton will not change through any of this;
you won't grow any taller. You won't change sex or eye color either.

Our views, our beliefs, our tastes, our confidence levels... All these things DO change while
staying bound to a fundamental temperament. The temperament affects how these things change.

For example, if subjected to abuse, a choleric person might become aggressive towards others in
order to express their built-up anger and to have control and dominance that they cannot have
 around their abuser. A phlegmatic person put through the same abuse might become self-
destructive or catatonic. The same stimulus affects people in different ways due to their
temperaments.

Temperaments are determined by nature, not nurture.

How and Why, not What

While you could get a vague idea of a person's interests or behavior from their temperaments,
they cannot be used to predict such things with any kind of certainty.

However, they can be used to understand *why* a person did a specific thing, and they
determine their approach to a specific situation.

For example, in response to teasing, a phlegmatic person might retreat within themselves and
cry, because they are shy, sensitive and submissive, while a choleric person might start a fight, as
they are bold, domineering, proud, and aggressive.

Why use temperaments?

Having a vague understanding of personality types can be extremely useful in your interactions
with others, not to mention that you'll learn more about yourself and how others may see you, or
why you do the things that you do.

Different temperaments react to things in different ways, and understanding how to interact with
others in a way that they are receptive to is the key to getting along with them and making them
happy.

For example, choleric people expect to prove themselves by being challenged, and they
challenge others rather confrontationally because of this.
Other cholerics will respond well, and friendships may form as the two cholerics come to respect
each other’s strength.
However, phlegmatics respond very poorly to being challenged as they've absolutely no desire to
'prove themselves'. They prefer nice, gentle friendliness, and get along best with people who do
not threaten them.
If the choleric person was to approach a phlegmatic in the way he'd like to be approached - by
challenging them - they'd just get upset and scared, and he'd end up frustrated because he didn't
know what he did wrong.
If however he approached them with gentle kindness, approaching them on *their* terms, then
they'd be much more likely to respond positively.

Most people will naturally assume that others work just like themselves, on a fundamental level,
so that they do things for the same reason that they would, or that they SHOULD do the things
that they themselves would enjoy. This can end to rivalries between people purely because of
their innate differences.
A CholericSanguine might say to a MelancholicPhlegmatic:

"Take a chill pill, get a life. Get over yourself. Grow a thicker skin. Stop complaining so much."

Who may reply:

"I wish you wouldn't be so aggressive, that you'd care more about the feelings of those you
interact with... D:"

They are simply seeing the world from completely different perspectives, each believing that
their way is best and criticizing those who do not follow it.

Being aware that we are all so different allows us to understand and tolerate the different
attitudes of others more easily... hopefully!
 Melancholic
In a nutshell...
Melancholic people are emotionally sensitive, perfectionistic introverts.

Perfectionistic
The defining feature of a melancholic attitude is perfectionism. They are idealists who wish for things to
be a certain way, and they get distressed when they are not.

They hold themselves and others to unrealistically high standards, and get distressed when these
standards are not met.
This leads to them being self-deprecating - because they do not meet their own standards - and
critical of others - because those others do not meet their standards.

Their generally dour demeanor comes from their inner struggle between an imperfect world and a desire
for perfection.

Many melancholics wish to learn and to understand, to know the details of every little thing, because to
be ignorant is to stray from perfection. They are not content to just accept things the way that they are.
They are inquisitive and ask specific questions in order to come to a clearer understanding.

This leads many of them to be over analytical, neurotic worriers.

They are very stubborn, because they try very hard to stick to their own carefully considered views and
standards of perfection, and are not easily shifted from this path. They do not go with the flow.

They are tenacious and cannot let things go, because 'good enough' is not good enough. They strive for
perfection.

They are very pessimistic, and assume the worst due to these unrealistic standards.

They think and plan before they act; they are not the types who will resort to rash, impulsive behavior,
and will panic if they are unable to plan in advance.

It's easier for them to reject and hate things than it is for them to love and embrace them. Their interests
and tastes are picked carefully, and they give a lot of attention to each one, and hold them close to their
hearts, rather than having many fleeting interests that change quickly and often.

They complain a lot, in a 'whining' kind of way rather than a 'put down' or 'demanding' kind of way.

They tend to argue, because they cannot simply let things be if they seem wrong. They argue using
reason, evidence, logic, and explanations, delivered analytically or with pleading. They only argue to set
wrongs right, rather than to assert dominance. The argument is about the issue, not about them.
 They respond poorly to compliments, often 'rebutting' them by saying that they're not so great after all.
"Wow, that's a really nice painting you just made!"
"I don't know, the eyes are probably too big..." (rather than "Thanks!")

They will blame themselves for mistakes, because they are acutely aware of their own imperfection.

They tend to prefer things to be tidy, organized in some way or another. This doesn't necessarily mean
'neat' as such; often they have very idiosyncratic organization methods.

They are idealists, who imagine perfect fantasies and feel upset when things don't live up to these
fantasies.

They prefer to tackle the heart of the matter, which can lead to them avoiding 'beating around the bush'.

Introverted
Melancholics are the most introverted of the temperaments in that they crave time alone, and are most
at ease in their own company.

They can enjoy spending time with others, but this drains their energy, and they need alone time in order
to recharge.

Much of their introversion comes from their perfectionism. They are picky about the sorts of people that
they associate with; people who meet their standards and share their outlook. People that don't will make
them uncomfortable; they do not wish to talk to 'anyone and everyone'.
Their self-deprecation also makes them think that they might not be very interesting anyway, that they
aren't really worth spending time with, even if they know in the depths of their minds that they are very
interesting indeed.

Once they have someone to talk to in a quiet and relaxed environment, they can talk a lot and will enjoy
sharing thoughts and ideas.

They are very wary of making friends. Unlike sanguines, it can take them a very long time for them to
consider someone they're familiar with a 'friend', but once they've reached this point, they will likely stick
with that person loyally.

They prefer having a few close friends to many acquaintances.

They can be seen as selfish, because they prefer to be alone with their thoughts, to have their own
things, rather than sharing time or possessions socially with others.
They are usually very possessive about the things that they own and are reluctant to let others borrow or
use them, because they treat their own things well, care about everything deeply, and will worry that
others will not look after them with the same level of care.

They could be described as 'intense', rather than 'easy-going'.

Sensitive
Melancholics are very emotional. They are moved deeply by beauty, and by distress. They are very easily
hurt, because of their perfectionistic tendencies.
 Often their moods are like delicate glass sculptures; built up slowly, deliberately, and carefully, but easily
broken, and hard to repair once shattered.

They respond to things that they dislike with misery and with tears rather than with rage.

They are very slow to 'snap', but will hold onto emotions for a very long time. They hold grudges,
because people who have failed to meet their standards, who have hurt them, will not just suddenly
meet those standards without changing drastically.

They can become very 'moody', and they can be difficult to interact with because they are so easily hurt.

They are not aggressive, and wish to flee from things that cause them distress.

If they want to get back at another person, they are more likely to make them feel guilty than to insult
them bluntly.

They are 'thin-skinned'.

Role
In our distant ancestors, the melancholic members of a pack may have been the analysts, the
information gatherers. They scouted for potential danger, or for food, and reported back to the pack
leader. The more accurate their findings were, the better; this led to a trend towards perfectionism, as
the 'analysts' closer to perfection survived better than those that made sloppy mistakes.

In current society, they often tend towards analytical roles such as scientists, analysts, programmers,
logicians, and so on. In fantasy settings, they may be wizards or sages.
 Phlegmatic
In a nutshell...
Phlegmatic people are meek, submissive introverts who live to please others.

Submissive
Phlegmatics do not act as if they are better than others. They are eager to please, and quick to give in to
others rather than asserting their own desires as if they're the most important.

They take the path of least resistance whenever possible. They so desperately wish for peace, for
everyone to get along, and to avoid conflict at all costs.

Conflict terrifies them. They do not start it (except perhaps in extreme circumstances), or provoke it, and
try to defuse it when it comes up. When forced into an argument, they get very upset and distressed,
seeking escape rather than victory.

If confronted, they are likely to admit that they are in the wrong in order to prevent hostilities.

They don't believe that they know best.

They have no desire to be a 'winner'; they only wish for peace.

They are well-behaved; rebelling against established rules would feel deeply uncomfortable to them.
They're the sort who'd say, worriedly, 'should we really be doing this?' or 'we might get in trouble!'.

They really, really do not wish to be a bother to others, and always put others first. This is due to a deep-
rooted unease about asserting themselves rather than a lack of confidence, or a conscious desire to be a
'nice person'.

They are quick to apologize for any mistakes that they may have made, and will sacrifice their own
happiness to ensure that others are happy.

They are empathetic, and acutely aware of the feelings of those that they are interacting with, as they do
not wish to hurt these feelings.

They have tremendous difficulty saying no, and will go along with things that they dislike to make others
happy.

They are extremely trustworthy; if they make a promise, it's very likely that they will keep it.

They're terrified of doing things wrong.

They will blame themselves if mistakes are made, even if it was someone else's fault, just to make others
feel better and more at ease.
 They try and word things in a way that is not offensive to others. The will be more supportive than
critical.

Indecisive
They'll defer to others to make choices, and will feel upset and pressured if they have to make a decision
themselves; this comes from their inability to see themselves in a 'leader' role.

They are natural followers, and work best when they are told what to do.

Their language is generally full of uncertain phrases such as 'I think', 'maybe', 'perhaps', 'or something'.
Compare "maybe you could do X, or something?" to "do X" or "you should do X".

Rather than saying or doing the wrong thing, they'll say or do nothing at all.

Obstacles that get in the way of their steady path will cause them to halt and fumble around, not sure
what to do. They're more likely to travel around than through it; their path is easily changed by others.

Calm
Phlegmatics are introverted, and enjoy time alone. However, they are much 'nicer' and more friendly and
social than the melancholic, as they're unburdened by 'perfectionism' and as such do not judge others.

They enjoy spending time with friends, and are very loyal to these friends, sticking with them through
thick and thin, even though abuse. This is because they put others first, and will not leave another even
if THEY want to because the other person may not want them to leave.

They are almost immune to anger. They have extremely long fuses, and will only snap after a long period
of prolonged and persistent abuse. Even then, they're more likely to retreat within themselves and cry
than to try to harm another.

They like calm and steady lives, free of surprises. They can be relatively confident in familiar situations -
if not necessarily assertive - but panic when placed in new ones. They do not seek thrills, and enjoy
predictable, quiet, ritualistic lifestyles.

They are very quiet, and do not share their own inner thoughts readily, as they fear judgement and don't
wish to bother others by waffling on about themselves.

They are however excellent and attentive listeners, who will quietly and politely take in and absorb the
conversations of their friends. They will always pay attention, and will offer supportive feedback rather
than criticism or advice. They'd never say things like 'bored now', as if it's the duty of others to entertain
them.

Since they hate to offend or hurt others, they generally don't ever resort to aggressive insults or attacks.
Belittling or hurting another makes them feel bad, not 'powerful and in control' or amused, so they'll
worry about having done this accidentally.

They could be described as 'nice guys/girls' or, more horribly, 'doormats' by those with different
temperaments.
 They barely express emotion at all. While the sanguine might whoop and cheer and jump for joy at the
slightest provocation, phlegmatics are unlikely to express more than a smile or a frown. Their emotions
happen mainly internally.

They lack 'passion', as their emotions are mostly internal. They often rely on others ordering them to do
things to get motivation.

Role
In our distant past, the phlegmatic members of a pack might have been the obedient followers who'd get
much of the actual work done at the command of their superiors. They may not stand out, but without
them, nothing would work.

They are the cooks, the cleaners, the quiet office drones, the redshirts, the white mages
 Choleric
In a nutshell...
Choleric people are the proud, extroverted 'alphas' of our species.

Dominant
Cholerics people are leaders and directors. They seek to be in control of situations, to be on top, to be
the best.

This doesn't necessarily mean that they are all driven to reach the top of the corporate ladder or
anything, or that they all want to have leadership roles, but in day-to-day interactions with other people,
they have a tendency towards one-ups-man ship.

They use imperative, commanding language, wording things as orders rather than requests. Compare
"get me a drink" to "can I have a drink?". They probably use phrases like 'deal with it', 'get over yourself',
'stop being such a wimp', etc, or may start sentences with "look", or maybe "look, buddy" or "listen, pal"
or things like that.

They word things with confidence and certainty. Compare "X is this way" to "maybe X is this way, or
something?".

They are firm and forceful in their approach to problems. They believe in 'tough love', and try to 'help'
others by challenging them to prove themselves, as they themselves would.

They're more likely to tell someone who they are trying to 'help' that they're pathetic, expecting the
person to say 'no, I'm not pathetic, I'll show you!', as indeed a choleric would in response to such a thing.

If met by opposition, they react confrontationally to defend themselves. They are constantly trying to be
'dominant' in every situation, subconsciously, either by being louder and better than those around them,
or more restrained and therefore superior to those who lose their cool.

Most bullies are choleric, but few cholerics are bullies. Many will in fact stand up to those who bully
others, rather than letting them get away with things.

Their confidence and demanding natures make them natural leaders, though this doesn't mean that they
would necessarily enjoy leadership positions; they're just more likely to take charge if necessary rather
than fumbling around worrying.

They will 'challenge' others aggressively in order to show their respect for the person's strength. They
believe that it is important to 'prove oneself'.

They have a tendency to argue for reasons that are different to the melancholic. They're more driven by
a desire to prove themselves greater than whoever they're arguing with, to assert that they are right,
rather than to reach some kind of truth or compromise. They can lie in order to maintain the dominant
position. The argument is about them more so than the issue; a battle of egos rather than a quest for
truth.
 They say things like "if anyone tries to mess with me, I make them wish they'd never started on me in
the first place".

They love competition... but hate to lose.

They are defiant of authority, challenging them as if to knock them off the top spot and assert their own
dominance as the alpha of this pack, the leader of this tribe.

They can be very condescending to those that they look down upon.

They may take pleasure in the pain, misfortune, or humiliation of people they are not on good terms
with. This is because it brings them pleasure to feel superior to others. "Haha! Look at that loser messing
up! Hilarious!" (Compare this with the phlegmatic, which’d be more likely to feel distress when seeing
someone being harmed, even if it was their worst enemy.)

Words like 'hot-blooded', 'brash', 'domineering', 'overbearing', might be used to describe this
temperament.

They blame others for their own mistakes, often to the point of lying to save face.

They feel that they can define and understand and advise others, but laugh at the thought that others
could do the same to them. This is because analyzing and defining another puts you in the superior
position, while being defined would put them in the inferior position, which they resist.

Extroverted
Cholerics are extroverted in the sense that they will meddle in others' affairs and 'speak their mind' if
they feel it is necessary, rather than minding their own business.

They generally respond well to new situations, and seek thrills.

They seek to prove themselves externally, to show that they are great and the best and things like that.
They must prove that they are strong.

They believe that it is important to 'say things how they are', to be bluntly honest about their opinions
rather than 'sugar-coating' them.

They speak their mind, but often don't mind their speech.

Their pride and drive for dominance, as well as their open expression of emotion, naturally leads to
outright aggression when challenged. They will raise their voices and get angry to show that they are the
biggest and strongest, and to assert superiority.

They brag and boast to show how amazing they are, in an 'I am better than others' kind of way.

They are pragmatic, doing what needs to be done bluntly rather than worrying about fantasy scenarios.

They will plough through obstacles that bar their path (metaphorically speaking); they are single-minded
in moving towards their goals.
Proud
They generally believe that they are right, and have immense stubbornness about admitting their flaws,
UNLESS admitting these flaws would make them look better than others ("I'm strong enough to admit
I'm wrong, unlike you").

They demand respect from others, and will hold grudges against those that they consider to be rivals.
They can be great, supportive friends who'd take a bullet for those close to them, unless you get on their
bad side, in which case they'll try their best to 'rub your nose into the dirt'.

It is important to them that they are strong and courageous, not afraid of anything. If they are afraid,
they will deny it (again, unless admitting it makes them look strong).

They often - but not necessarily - have high self-esteem.

They will 'rise to the challenge', in order to prove themselves, and look for opportunities to do so.

It's important for them to be tough and strong.

They are in many ways the opposite of the phlegmatic in that they are controlling, assertive, and see
conflict and challenge and competition as a desirable form of interaction.

They have similarities to the melancholic in that both are stubborn and opinionated, but the choleric is
more forceful and 'tough' while the melancholic is uncertain and sensitive.

Cholerics strive for independence, because to be dependent is to rely on others, to not be in the superior
position. Dependence is weakness.

They are 'thick-skinned', in many cases bulletproof against the criticisms of others, able to shrug or laugh
them off.

Role
In our distant ancestors, the choleric members of the pack would be the alphas, the leaders. They would
command their subordinates, and assert their dominance using force. If challenged, they would respond
by getting angry, larger, in order to intimidate and to prove that THEY were the strongest, the most fit to
lead.

In current society, they often tend towards leadership roles, such as managers, politicians, captains,
team leaders, and so on, though not necessarily. In fantasy, they might be the proud warriors, the
 Sanguine
In a nutshell...
Sanguine people are boisterous, bubbly, chatty, openly emotional, social extroverts.

Social
Sanguines find social interactions with faces both familiar and unfamiliar invigorating. This is how they
recharge, and time alone - while sometimes desirable - can bore them quickly.

The more people they're surrounded by, the better they feel, and they're not picky about who they get to
know. They enjoy having many, many friends.

While sanguines enjoy being around other people, it's largely because they enjoy the attention of others
and feel good about the fact that they are not lonely.

They are talkers more than they are listeners.

They may move away from friends that they consider to be boring or dull.

They are bubbly, fun-loving, extroverted people-people who are always in the mood for a good time.
They love wild nights out.

They make friends quickly, and they'll cheerily talk to strangers. People of the melancholic temperament
might perceive a room of twenty strangers as frightening or uncomfortable, while a sanguine might see
them as opportunities to meet new friends.

They are not picky, and will usually like more things than they dislike. They tend to enjoy things that are
trendy, popular, and so on.

They enjoy social situations, and believe that everyone else would too. They're likely to convince people
to come along with things like 'come on, you'll enjoy it!' or 'you don't know what you're missing!'

Being friends with a Sanguine is often as simple as knowing each other's face and name.

They aren't particularly trustworthy... as they'll be too eager to spill secrets with others, and their general
flightiness can make them unreliable as they're likely to get easily distracted by other things.

Expressive
They are talkative, and speak in a friendly, energetic, playful kind of way; they're often charismatic, and
when interacting with them, you can feel like you've known them all your life.
 They are very emotional, and their emotions can be extreme but fleeting. They are the sorts who will be
screaming "I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!!" one day, then mere hours later, they'll be profusely apologizing
about it, then expecting everything to all be water under the bridge after that.

They are quick to 'forgive and forget' - and expect others to do the same - because they live in the
moment rather than dwelling in the past.

They tend to have open senses of humor (rather than dry or subtle humor), and laugh and smile often
and clearly.

They may tease others in a 'playful' way, expecting them not to 'take it so seriously'.

They are very show-offy and have high self-esteem. They're prone to bragging, in a 'look how amazing I
am!!' kind of way rather than 'I am better than you' (which is more choleric).

They are extreme in their emotions, and may go through stages of melodramatic misery and self-loathing
as well.

They can be very easy-going, suggesting that more serious people 'mellow out' or 'take a chill pill'.

Sanguines can be great motivators, as they'll enthusiastically encourage others towards action, and they
see things positively, optimistically, and would convince others to see things that way too.

They are naturally physical with others, very 'touchy-feely', openly expressing their affection through
hugs and stroking and grabbing shoulders and things like that.

They could not be said to be neat and tidy. They live in the moment, which can lead to poor planning or
disorganization, messiness.

Attention-Seeking
They love attention. They desire to be in the spotlight, and for people to compliment and praise them.
Everyone loves compliments, but sanguines will go out of their way to get them.

They are often performers, party animals, drama queens.

They wish to fit in and be popular. Or, they'll seek to be Different in a way that will make them
remarkable.

The embarrassment of making a fool of themselves is outweighed by the pleasure of putting on a show.
They will go to extraordinary lengths to add the life they feel is missing from any party, such as dancing
on tables, eating food off the ground, etc.

Of course, the reason they'd do silly things isn't JUST to get attention. They do these things because they
find them amusing themselves.

They require constant entertainment, and will complain about being bored if they are not sufficiently
entertained, often at another person who's failing to entertain them.

They will show off their abilities to others in order to get praise.
 They are dramatic, and will exaggerate to make things seem more extreme than they are.

They have a tendency to be vain, and to care about how they look.

If nobody is paying attention to them, they will barge into a conversation or say something in order to
attract some attention. They are very uncomfortable being left out.

Role
In our distant past, the sanguine members of the pack might have played a supportive, encouraging,
social role. They would have been the glue that kept the group together.

In modern society, you might see them as entertainers, singers, dancers, or perhaps simply as the
energetic people at parties. In fantasy, they might be Bards.