An Overview of Temperaments
Temperament Overview
Choleric
Motivation: Power
Needs: To Look Good (Academically), To Be Right, To Be Respected, Approval
Wants: To Hide Insecurities (Tightly), To Please Self, Leadership, Challenging Adventure
Positives: Independent, Have Goals, Know How They Want to Solve a Problem, Decisive, Visionary
Negatives: Cruel, Egotistical, Unemotional, Domineering, Unforgiving
Inclusion – Desire to self initiate a great deal of social interaction, desire very little interaction initiated by others.
Control – Express the need for a great deal of control over others, desire very little or no control over their lives by others.
Affection – Express a high need for love and affection and approval, but accept it only on their own terms.
Melancholy
Motivation: Intimacy
Needs: To Be Good (Morally), To Be Understood, To Be Appreciated, Acceptance,
Wants: To Reveal Insecurities, To Please Others, Autonomy, Security
Positives: Gifted, Self Sacrificing, Helpful, Thoughtful, Faithful
Negatives: Moody, Critical, Negative, Resentful, Suspicious
Inclusion – Low need for socialization, low response to need for socialization in others.
Control – Desire very little control over others, desire very little control over them by others.
Affection – Demonstrate very little love or affection, desire very little love and affection from others.
Phlegmatic
Motivation: Peace
Needs: To Feel Good (Inside), To Be Understood, To Be Respected, Acceptance, To Reveal Insecurities
Wants: To Please Others, Protection, Contentment
Positives: Peace Makers, Quiet, High Self Control, Calm in a Crisis, Efficient, Good Listener
Negatives: Unmotivated, Procrastinate, Indecisive, Fearful, Avoider
Inclusion – Initiates only a moderate amount of associations and socialization, desires others to initiate only a moderate amount of association and socialization.
Control – Demonstrates a moderate amount of control over the lives of others, desires others to have only a moderate amount of control in their lives.
Affection – Express a moderate amount of affection toward others, desires only a moderate amount of affection is demonstrated toward them.
Sanguine
Motivation: Fun
Needs: To Look Good (Socially), To Be Popular, To Be Praised, Approval
Wants: To Hide Insecurities (Loosely), To Be Noticed, Freedom, Playful Adventure
Positives: Entertaining, Outgoing, Responsive, Warm, Friendly
Negatives: Undependable, Undisciplined, Egotistical, Prone to Exaggeration, Compulsive Talker
Inclusion – Demonstrates a tremendous need for association and social interaction initiated both by self and many others.
Control – Desires very little control over others and desires others to have very little control over them.
Affection – Expresses or demonstrates a great deal of affection and desires the same.
Supine
Motivation: Contribution
Needs: To Look Humble, To Serve a Greater Purpose, To Be Accepted, To Protect Weaknesses.
Wants: Recognition for Service, Opportunities to Serve, To Contribute to a Higher Calling, To Be Protected
Positives: Caring, Giving, Gentle, Dependable, Loyal
Negatives: Insecure, Manipulative, Weak Willed, Indecisive, Harbors Ill Will
Inclusion – Expresses very little need to initiate association or socialization, but has a high need to be approached by many people for association and socialization.
Control – Shows very little need for control over the lives of others, desire a great deal of control over their lives by others.
Affection – Expresses very little love or affection for others, but desires others to express a great deal of love and affection toward them.