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.