Four Temperaments Personality Test

How does the four temperaments personality test work?

This is a quick personality tool that comprises of 4 sections in which you will see 2 lists of characteristics.

You are then asked to choose from these characteristics any of them that you feel are applicable to you and as many of them as you want from both lists.

You get through this all the four tabs in order to cover most of the personality characteristics assessed in this model.

The result comprises of percentages for each of the four temperaments tested: sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic. You can consider that the highest value you obtained represents you most.

Further on you can discover more about the temperaments theory and the basic traits of each of the four temperaments.

What is the temperament?

This is how we define the manner of thinking, behaving and reacting of a person. Temperament assessment is important when trying to define one’s personality type.

Based on the humorist theory, the four temperaments are sanguine, choleric melancholic and phlegmatic. Now you probably wonder: "what is my personality?". Each person is considered to possess a unique blend of the four and this is exactly the answer you get in this four temperaments personality test.

The Four Temperaments theories originate in the Four Humors ancient concept of Hippocrates that suggests that four bodily fluids influence human traits and behaviors and that there is a balance of black bile, phlegm, yellow bile and blood in the body.

Everyone produces each humor but there are varying degrees of influence by each and usually only the effect of one predominates.

This determines a series of characteristics that are classically described in the theory. The four temperaments are: sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic.

Scientific evidence has shown that the hypothesized bodily fluids and their influence does not exist. The only biochemical influence on behavior can be considered the one of hormones that help regulate emotion and cognition.

Though the ancient theory has long been discredited scientifically, the general pattern remains and the theory is still used in personality profiling.

Understanding the temperaments can prove to be useful in understanding why we act the way we do and how our behavior influences our interactions with others.

Temperaments in people can be easily recognized once the patterns are established. Here are some of the traits in each of the four:

■ Sanguine (blood): corresponds to the hot and moist air element. Extroverted, a people's person that liked to socialize, make friends and only lives in and for the present. Exhibits optimism, compassion and enthusiasm in all life matters. They can also be impulsive, easily angered and self indulgent. In a person's life this temperament is usually most influential in young childhood.

■ Choleric (yellow bile): corresponds to the hot and dry fire element. Extroverted and task oriented persons that seek success and competition at any cost. They posses strong leadership skills, ambition and powerful domineering traits. They are very passionate about their work, can easily get angered and don't usually show any of their emotions. In a person's life this temperament is usually most influential in adolescence and young adulthood.

■ Melancholic (black bile): corresponds to the cool and dry earth element. Introverted and task oriented loners that are as passionate as they are creative. They are respectful, traditionalists, intuitive and compassionate. Also prone to moodiness, to blaming others and not very confident in their own abilities. In a person's life this temperament is usually most influential in middle aged adulthood.

■ Phlegmatic (Phlegm): corresponds to the cool and moist water element. People oriented, care givers that spread kindness, forgiveness and try to restore peace. Generally calm, quiet and rational beings they can sometimes be too relaxed and prone to slow acting, laziness and passive aggressiveness. In a person's life this temperament is usually most influential in older adulthood.

Example of a temperament result

You are:

■ 46% Sanguine;

■ 42% Choleric;

■ 38% Melancholic;

■ 33% Phlegmatic.

Since everyone is considered to be a combination of the four temperaments, you will receive a blend of percentage representative for the choices of characteristics you made.

From this result you can assess what is your Primary and Secondary Temperaments since these are the ones with the highest score.