Four types of human temperament: how to determine where who is? Temperament tests.

Psychologists distinguish 4 types of temperament: sanguine, melancholic, phlegmatic and choleric. Depending on which of them dominates, a person has certain character traits. After reading this article, you can easily determine the type of temperament by describing your personal qualities. If you want to get a more accurate result, you can take tests created for this purpose. They will be discussed a little later.

Story

Searching for an answer to the question "How to determine a person's temperament?" deals with the science of psychology. At the origins of the doctrine of temperament is Hippocrates, who lived in the days of ancient Greece. He believed that vital juices (blood, yellow and black bile, as well as phlegm) in certain proportions determine personality traits.

This idea was developed by the Roman Claudius Galen, who in his treatise gave a name to each of the 4 types of temperament. The word "choleric" is derived from the stem "bile" in Greek. The terms "sanguine", "phlegmatic", "melancholic" are translated as "blood", "phlegm" and "black bile", respectively.

At present, it is not customary to identify the type of temperament with "vital juices". Personal characteristics depend on the functioning of the nervous system. This theory was proposed by Ivan Petrovich Pavlov. Modern scientists have come to the conclusion that the type of temperament is inherited, it is influenced by the social environment, upbringing, and the individual's ability to self-control.

Currently, there are a large number of books on how to determine the type of temperament. In addition to literature, you can take tests on the Internet or sign up for a consultation with a professional. However, do not expect that the result will be one hundred percent. The fact is that the presence of only one type of temperament is impossible. Each individual has features of all four types, just some of them are more pronounced.

Choleric

A person with a choleric temperament type does not know how to control himself. Such people are often unrestrained and quick-tempered. Despite the unbridled disposition, they are quick-witted and quickly calm down after the manifestation of violent emotions. They say about them: "Flashed like a match!". Indeed, these people “turn on” at a glance, but just as suddenly stop the surge of emotions. Choleric people experience both happy and sad moments deeply. The reaction to ongoing events is not long in coming, one might say, it is instantaneous.

All experiences are pronounced, intense and fleeting. To understand if you are a choleric, observe your behavior. Exploring the depths of your personality will help you answer the question: “How to determine your temperament?”. Cholerics are characterized by a rapid change of feelings and emotions. This can be seen in their facial expressions, facial expressions and gestures. Fervor and passion, however, do not mean that the emotions of choleric people are superficial. All experiences come from the depths of the soul, just people with this type of temperament quickly switch from one event to another.

Age features

Cholerics at any age are distinguished by impatience and harshness in communication, energetic gestures and facial expressions, and a fast pace of work. In childhood, guys with this type of temperament are the ringleaders in large companies, they easily incite peers to participate in various adventures. During puberty, teenagers become extremely active, they can get into fights, be rude to teachers, and even disrupt classes! In adulthood, choleric people often notice a dislike for monotonous work. They take up a new business with enthusiasm, but they “cool down” very quickly, complete the activity they have begun hastily, and work carelessly.

melancholic

To understand how to determine your temperament, you need to get acquainted with each of the four varieties. Melancholics are characterized by an unbalanced character. They deeply experience any events that happen to them, but do not give vent to emotions. Outwardly, they seem withdrawn and unemotional. Such people have inexpressive, monotonous, restrained facial expressions. They don't gesticulate too much.

The voice of melancholic is quiet and inexpressive. These people are characterized by anxiety, vulnerability and sensitivity. They are wary of new activities, afraid of difficulties and avoid any unforeseen situations. Melancholics prefer such actions that can be performed without experiencing mental stress.

And the emotions are very monotonous and stable. At first glance, these people seem too sad and gloomy, withdrawn and unsociable. They are very vulnerable, which is why they react painfully to failures and criticism. Any difficulties in life cause them depression. Melancholics are characterized by indecision and lack of strength, they are pessimistic about everything. They show disinterest in work. Melancholics are treated as ephemeral creatures, unadapted to life and flying in the clouds.

Age features

Children of a certain type of temperament behave differently. Melancholic children are calm and withdrawn, they are easily influenced by others. In the team they are offended, teased and called names. They cannot resist injustice, they do not know how to defend their rights, which is why they often become the object of ridicule.

In adolescence, melancholics have a hard time adapting to new groups. They can become a "punching bag" for stronger guys. Adolescents are distinguished by shyness, shyness, sometimes they show tearfulness and indecision. In maturity, these character traits are preserved.

sanguine

People with a sanguine type of temperament are balanced, quickly react to events happening to them, but at the same time their emotions are rather moderate. Mental processes are weakly intense, they are characterized by a constant change. New emotional states appear quickly, they are not characterized by depth.

To do this, you need to take care of yourself. For example, if you notice that you have expressive and rich facial expressions, active gestures, then most likely you are a sanguine person. Such people are very mobile and cheerful. They are impressionable, react to all external stimuli. Sanguine people practically do not go deep into their experiences, as they are passionate about the world around them.

People with this type of temperament are quick-witted, a sharp mind allows them to easily solve all kinds of problems, if they do not require much work and perseverance. Sanguine people have a positive attitude to the change of activity, they quickly “light up” with new ideas. However, with the same speed they leave what they started when they find something more interesting. Very often they make decisions hastily.

Sanguine people are sociable, they make contact with any people. Relations with them are very superficial, because the owners of this type of temperament do not become attached to others and easily part with friends and acquaintances. Sorrows and joys, resentment and reconciliation are quickly forgotten by sanguine people. The facial expressions and gestures of these people are very expressive, speech is fast.

Age features

Sanguine people are able to work for a long time without feeling tired. They tend to choose a variety of activities, feel uncomfortable doing monotonous work. From childhood, sanguine people show a penchant for leadership. They are able to take responsibility. They are constantly looking for ways to be the center of attention. Often people with a sanguine type of temperament make promises and do not keep them, admit their guilt and apologize, but continue to live as before.

Phlegmatic person

Personality features are manifested not only in the mental activity of a person. By movements, you can also determine the type of human temperament. Phlegmatic people, for example, do not differ in activity. Their gestures are slow, sometimes sluggish. For people with this type of temperament, increased feelings are not typical for them, they change infrequently and slowly. Phlegmatic people are very calm and unperturbed, so it is difficult to piss them off and force them to come into conflict with someone. These people are very rarely seen excited or uncollected.

Gestures and facial expressions are the same. Speech seems lifeless, as it is not accompanied by body movements. Phlegmatic people first think about their decisions, but if they want to do something, then they will confidently go towards their goal. They do not like change, so it is necessary to warn them in advance about innovations.

Methodology G. Eysenck EPI

If you are interested in how to determine the type of human temperament, then most likely you are familiar with the method of G. Eysenck. This test consists of 2 variants with 57 questions each. To pass this test, you must answer the questions "yes" or "no", while you need to be extremely honest with yourself. There can be no wrong answers, because they are absolutely individual.

Questions are aimed at determining behavior and reactions to various situations. The results are identified by several indicators, among which are the stability and instability of the reaction (neuroticism), introversion and extraversion.

A. Belov's test

One of the most popular tests for determining temperament is A. Belov's test. It consists of 40 questions divided into 2 blocks. The structure of the test is similar to the method of G. Isaac. The subject is presented with a series of statements, which must be answered "Yes" or "No". The results show the percentage of temperament types. Two of them are usually dominant.

Professional methods

How to determine your temperament? To do this, you can contact a professional. Psychologists use several methods, among which are Temperament and Sociotypes, as well as the Pavlovian Questionnaire. The first technique is aimed at determining the combination of behavior in society with the type of temperament. The Pavlovsk Questionnaire, on the other hand, makes it possible to reveal the stability of the nervous system and the strength of the processes of inhibition and excitation.

How to determine the temperament of a child?

To understand what type of temperament your child has, you do not need to take many tests. It is enough to observe a boy or a girl, to analyze the attitude of children to daily activities.

  • Cholerics, as a rule, have increased excitability. In the game, they strive for leadership, are distinguished by mobility and activity. Very quickly they get bored with monotonous activities. Such children prefer football, basketball and dancing. They can unknowingly offend the people around them, so it is necessary to be patient in their upbringing.
  • Sanguine people are very friendly and active, they easily switch to other activities and quickly clog grievances. These kids love team games like football and volleyball. Guys can be absent-minded and frivolous, but with the right upbringing, these character traits can be eliminated.
  • Phlegmatic people are silent and slow. These kids want their own space. They do not show interest in various games, as they like to sleep and do not have a rich imagination. They enjoy drawing, music and embroidery.

  • Determine the child's temperament type by describing his personality traits before he goes to school, otherwise difficulties may arise. For example, phlegmatic people get tired quickly, they switch from one activity to another for a long time. These children are very touchy and a little cowardly, so at first it may be difficult for them to get used to the new team. They are best suited for quiet activities, such as reading and drawing.

Temperament types are a combination of subjective personality traits of an individual that are stable and have some degree of innateness, associated with dynamic manifestations, and not meaningful ones. They are the basis for the development of the subjective character of the individual. The types of temperament are determined by the typology of higher nervous activity of subjects and reflect the emotional sphere of individuals.

All psychological and physiological activity of a person is reflected in the types of temperament. For the first time, the ancient physician K. Galen singled out the types of temperament. He subdivided four main types of temperament, depending on the predominance of one or another juice (for example, bile) in the human body.

Types of human temperament

Today there is the following division into types of personality temperament: choleric type; melancholic type; sanguine type; phlegmatic type.

♦ People of the choleric type of temperament are usually not very balanced, they are characterized by incontinence, irascibility, sometimes unbridled temper. Choleric people are characterized by a rather quick-tempered character, along with quick appeasement, after expressing violent emotions. They are easy to piss off. They are said to flare up like a torch. However, just like a torch, they are easy to extinguish. In such a person, all emotional experiences are clearly expressed, characterized by great intensity and transience.

Choleric people are hot and passionate people, characterized by a sharp change in feelings that differ in depth. Such feelings capture the choleric completely and completely for a while. He can equally deeply experience both sorrows and joys. All his experiences are expressed in facial expressions and gestures, sometimes even very violently manifested. Choleric is distinguished by strength and speed of reactions. Such a person is simply not able to perform monotonous work. Often takes on work with great enthusiasm, but is prone to rapid cooling of the fuse. Then he can treat the work with disregard, "slipshod".

In communication, it is characterized by sharpness and impatience. His gestures and facial expressions are quite energetic, and the pace of work is quite fast. Often, adolescents with a choleric type of temperament during puberty bring a lot of trouble to teachers and parents. They can disrupt lessons, be rude, get into fights and the like. They can be described as children prone to activity and mobility. Such children are perky and fighting ringleaders, able to involve their peers in various adventures.

♦ Individuals of the melancholic type of temperament are characterized by an unbalanced character, the depth of experience of absolutely any event with a completely weak and sluggish external manifestation. The reaction of such people is slow. Melancholic people are easy to spot by their facial expressions and movements. They are characterized by inexpressiveness, slowness, monotony, restraint, poverty.

People of the melancholic type have an inexpressive and quiet voice. Such people are characterized by excessive sensitivity and vulnerability. The melancholic is always afraid of difficulties and is characterized by high anxiety. Such people try to avoid any difficulties and unforeseen situations. For them, it is preferable to perform actions that do not require mental stress.

His moods and feelings are rather monotonous, but they are stable. Their character is rather asthenic. Therefore, when they talk about melancholic, they always represent a rather gloomy and eternally sad person. Melancholic people are very vulnerable, they react painfully to external stimuli, they experience any life difficulties very hard. Differ in unsociableness and isolation.

For melancholic people, a lack of determination and strength, constant decadence, and frequent hesitation are quite characteristic. In a deeper manifestation, the melancholic manifests itself in passivity, lethargy, disinterest in business. Melancholic people are usually presented as people "not of this world", airy and ephemeral creatures, people who are not very adapted to life.

Children of the melancholic type of temperament cannot and do not know how to resist injustice, they are often teased and offended, they tend to fall under the influence of other people or children. It is quite difficult for such children in a team. In adolescence, the melancholic type manifests itself in timidity and shyness, often tearfulness.

♦ The sanguine type of temperament is characterized by poise, speed and moderate strength of reactions along with a relative weakness of the intensity of mental processes. This type of temperament is distinguished by the rapid transition of some mental processes to others. A sanguine person tends to work for a long time without getting tired, if the activity is varied, he quickly learns new professional skills and knowledge. It is characterized by the ease and speed of the emergence of new emotional states, which do not differ in depth, as they quickly replace each other.

Sanguine people can easily be identified by their expressive and rich facial expressions, by emotional manifestations, which are always accompanied by various expressive movements. Such people are distinguished by cheerfulness and mobility. The sanguine person is quite impressionable, his brain quickly responds to any external stimuli and has much less focus and depth in his subjective experiences.

People with this type of temperament can easily cope with solving problems that require quick wit, provided that such a decision is not particularly serious and difficult. Sanguine people easily take on all sorts of things, but also quickly abandon them when there is interest in others, they are often hasty in making decisions.

A person of the sanguine type is quite sociable, easily makes contact. However, his relationships with other people are often characterized by superficiality, since the sanguine person calmly and easily parted with attachments, quite quickly forgets joys and sorrows, reconciliation and resentment. Their gestures, facial expressions and other movements are very expressive, and their speech is fast. Sanguine people are prone to leadership, they can take responsibility and command. They like to be in front, in the center of attention.

♦ People of the phlegmatic type of temperament, first of all, are characterized by low mobility, their gestures and movements are rather slow, even lethargic. You should not expect quick action from such people, since they are not energetic. Such people have a weak emotional excitability. Phlegmatic people are characterized by evenness of feelings and moods, which change rather slowly. They are characterized by equanimity, regularity, calmness. Such a person is quite difficult to get out of himself, out of his calm and even emotional state. He is rarely agitated and affective manifestations are far from him.

In external manifestation, it is characterized by monotony, inexpressive facial expressions and gestures. His speech is slow, not lively, not accompanied by expressiveness and gestures.

Before doing anything, phlegmatic people can think about future actions for a long time and in great detail. However, if the phlegmatic has made a decision, he will carry it out calmly and purposefully. Such people are usually very attached to the work that is more familiar to him, and with great difficulty can change to other activities. They are able to rebuild only on the condition that they are warned in advance, and they will be able to comprehend, think over and get used to this thought. When the phlegmatic is accustomed to and thought about the upcoming change of activity, such a change itself will be much easier and easier for him.

But do not think that any person can be attributed to one of these four types of temperament. The types of personality temperament described above are quite rare in real life in their pure form. Usually each person combines different features of these types. This is called a mixed type of temperament. Only if a person has pronounced certain traits of temperament, then he can be attributed to one of the above types of temperament.

Psychological types of temperament

The psychological main types of temperament are characterized by the following characteristics: sensitivity, reactivity, activity, the ratio of activity and reactivity, rigidity and plasticity, the rate of reactions, introversion, extraversion, emotional excitability.

Sensitivity is characterized by the amount of the smallest forces of external actions that are necessary for the appearance of any, even the most insignificant, reaction of the psyche.

Reactivity is determined by the level of unintentionality of reactions or manifestations to internal or external actions of equal strength (for example, offensive words, critical remarks, etc.).

Activity shows how much a person can energetically (intensively) influence the world around him and overcome the obstacles that have arisen in achieving various goals (for example, purposefulness, perseverance, concentration, etc.).

The ratio of activity and reactivity characterize the degree of dependence of people's activities. Activity can depend both on external stimuli and on internal ones (for example, random events).

Rigidity and plasticity show the degree of adaptability of a person to external stimuli, circumstances (plasticity) or inertia and inertia of human behavior.

The rate of reactions determines the speed of various reactions and processes of the psyche, such as: the rate of speech or the dynamism of gestures, the speed of the mind.

Introversion, extraversion shows the predominant dependence of the reaction and activities of people. The reactions and activities of subjects may depend either on external manifestations that arise at this very moment (extraversion), or on ideas, images, thoughts that are directly related either to the future or to the past, but not to the present (introversion).

Emotional excitability is determined by the necessary amount of weak exposure for the appearance of any emotional reaction, and with what speed it can occur.

Based on all of the above properties, Strelyau gave psychological characteristics to the main classical types of temperament identified by Galen.

So, according to his theory, a sanguine person is a person characterized by increased reactivity and balanced activity and reactivity. His movements are quick, his mind is flexible, he has resourcefulness and a fast pace of speech, as well as a quick inclusion in work. It is distinguished by high plasticity, which manifests itself in a change of feelings, interests, mood and aspirations. The sanguine type of temperament is characterized by extraversion.

Choleric is a person who is characterized by a rather small sensitivity, along with increased activity and reactivity. Since in such people reactivity clearly prevails over activity, they stand out for their unbridled disposition, intemperance, impatience, and irascibility. Choleric is not particularly plastic and rather inert when compared with a sanguine person. Therefore, he has a sufficiently greater stability of interests and aspirations, perseverance. He has difficulty shifting attention. Choleric refers more to extroverts than to introverts.

A phlegmatic person is a person with high activity, which greatly prevails over insignificant reactivity, sensitivity and emotionality. Characterized by slow speech and movement. The phlegmatic is also quite difficult to switch attention and adapt to new environments. Along with this, he is distinguished by efficiency and energy. A phlegmatic person can rather weakly respond to external stimuli. Refers to introverts.

A melancholic is a person with very high sensitivity along with very little reactivity. It is also characterized by inexpressive gestures, facial expressions, movements, a quiet voice, and poor movements. He is not energetic and does not have perseverance, he is distinguished by rather rapid fatigue and low efficiency. His attention is easily distracted and unstable. The pace of absolutely all mental processes is characterized by slowness. Melancholic refers to introverts.

Pavlov deduced and proved the theory that the basis of the physiology of temperament is precisely the type of higher nervous activity, which is determined directly by the ratio of the defining properties of the nervous system, such as: strength, mobility and balance of the processes of inhibition and excitation occurring in the nervous system. But the typology of the nervous system depends on the genotype, i.e. heredity. He identified four subspecies of the nervous system:

A weak subspecies consists in the weakness of both inhibitory and excitatory processes, it includes a melancholic;

An unbalanced strong subspecies consists in the strength of the irritable process and the comparative strength of inhibition, this subspecies includes the choleric or "unrestrained type";

A balanced, mobile and strong type is a sanguine or "living type";

Balanced and strong, along with the inertia of nervous processes, is a phlegmatic or “calm type”.

Wundt admitted that the fundamental in those psychological properties, the compounds of which form different types of temperament, are two main (basic, basic) characteristics that are associated with the dynamism of the flow of the emotional sphere of subjects. He attributed to them: the strength of emotional reactions, on the one hand, and the degree of stability of emotional manifestations, on the other. It is strong emotional manifestations, along with emotional instability, that contribute to the formation of those mental properties that can usually be attributed to an individual with a choleric temperament type. But instability, along with the insignificant strength of emotional manifestations, is characteristic of the owners of the sanguine type of temperament.

It is in this way that Wundt departed from specifically descriptive typological characteristics of temperament and introduced two features that can serve as an object of experimental analysis and research. And since the stability of emotional manifestations and their strength can be measured empirically, then the assignment of a person to one or another typological characteristic of temperament can be based on objective information and research data.

A distinctive feature of Wundt's theory is that typology is no longer tied only to those extreme manifestations of psychological characteristics characteristic of various types of temperament. According to his theory, people who have different emotional strength can be equally attributed to both the choleric type and the melancholic type. The main thing is that they observe the ratio of weakness and strength of emotion in the direction of strength.

Determining the type of temperament

Different types of temperament can be determined using specialized techniques based on the use of tests and questionnaires. There are many such methods. They consist in the fact that every person who wants to determine his typological characteristics of temperament is invited to answer a series of questions that are aimed at recognizing in him his usual way of responding to internal and external stimuli, as well as his behavior. Basically, the questions are quite simple and relate to the personal qualities of the subjects, behavior in specific situations from life.

The main recommendations for passing the tests are that the individual is invited to answer clearly, accurately, quickly, trying not to think too much about what came to mind first, then you should answer. In such tests, there are no known good or bad answers. Therefore, the subjects are advised not to be afraid to answer correctly or incorrectly, badly or well. After all, the definition of the type of temperament largely depends on the honesty of the answers.

Why is it necessary to determine the types of temperament? Psychologists recommend nevertheless to determine your typological characteristics of temperament in order to know your strengths and weaknesses, and be able to correct them throughout your life. It’s also good to understand temperaments in order not to demand the impossible from the people who surround us, or from children. So, for example, you can not demand from the phlegmatic the speed of work. You should not rush the slow phlegmatic, as this will not add speed, but will only cause his aggression towards you.

Knowing temperaments will help a lot in family life. For example, let's take the phlegmatic again, before any work he needs to pre-tune, so it's better to inform him in advance about the upcoming general cleaning or shopping trip. He needs some time to get used to the thoughts about the upcoming, albeit small, but still changes in his life. But, after a while, he will create the right mood for himself, and all changes will be more comfortable.

Also, the type of temperament can be determined by activity, by appearance, facial expressions and gestures.

If there is a person among you who easily adapts to an unfamiliar environment, easily contacts other people and can quickly switch from one type of activity to another, does not like monotony in work, then most likely he is a person of a sanguine type of temperament.

If you see a person in front of you who is distinguished by excitability and imbalance, increased irritability, swiftness of action, often under the influence of an impulse, then this will be a choleric person.

A colleague annoys you with his slowness, slowness and amazes with his calmness, then most likely a phlegmatic person works with you.

If you met a person who, as it were, is always in himself, overly touchy, prone to strong feelings due to the slightest troubles, does not converge well with others, is closed, then this is a melancholic.

However, in real life, it is not easy to identify a true melancholic or, for example, a sanguine person. Basically, we are surrounded by people of a mixed type. A slow person may well have the excitability of a choleric person and vice versa.

Test for the type of temperament

As mentioned above, there are many tests and techniques that determine the types of temperament and their properties. Basically, the study of personality temperament can be directed either to its general characteristics, or to an in-depth study of its properties.

According to Rusalov's questionnaire, one can determine the formal dynamic properties of individuality. The questionnaire is represented by 150 questions that are aimed at clarifying the usual behavior of the individual. The subjects are presented with a series of typical situations where they need to give one answer, the first one that comes to mind.

The method for determining the type of temperament that prevails in a particular individual is presented by Belov and consists in sequentially presenting four cards to the subject. Each of the proposed cards contains twenty properties that are characteristic of a particular type of temperament. The subject will need to mark in each card those features that are most characteristic of him.

The most popular method for determining the types of temperament is the test in the form of questions, developed by Eysenck. It involves the diagnosis of types and properties of temperament. This technique consists in the fact that the subjects are asked 100 test questions that characterize the characteristics of their behavior and feelings. In cases where the feature or property described in the test coincides with the self-image of the subjects, then they are recommended to put a plus sign, if it does not match, then a minus sign. These questions should also be answered quickly, honestly, and without thinking. This questionnaire is designed to determine the level of neuroticism, introversion and extraversion, psychotism.

The study of the psychological structure of temperament according to the Smirnov questionnaire makes it possible to detect the polar properties of temperament, such as: extraversion and introversion, balance and excitability, the pace of reactions is slow and fast, activity is low and high. In this questionnaire, a scale of sincerity was additionally developed, which makes it possible to assess the veracity and reliability of the answers received and the results as a whole.

According to the Smishek questionnaire, it is possible to diagnose types and identify accentuations of temperament and character traits. This questionnaire is based on Leonhard's theory of accentuated personalities. Accentuated personalities are such personalities that have individual features that have a high degree of severity. Leonhard singled out 10 such types of accentuations: demonstrative, emotive, excitable, pedantic, affective-exalted, stuck, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, anxious-fearful, dysthymic.

In psychology, along with the term "temperament", the term "character" is widely used, which literally means - a sign, trait, seal. Character is a set of subjective features of an individual that are stable, develop and manifest themselves in the process of communication, activity, thereby causing the typicality of behavior. Among the variety of character traits, leading and secondary traits are distinguished. If these traits are in harmony with each other, then such a person can be considered the owner of such a quality as integrity of character. And if such features contrast sharply with each other, then this means the presence of inconsistency in character.

In the process of socialization, an individual, in addition to such personality traits as honesty, deceit, rudeness, politeness, tact, acquires such temperamental properties as introversion and extraversion. That is why psychologists have a question about the relationship between character and temperament. That is why many questionnaires are also equipped with an introversion and extraversion scale (for example, the Eysenck test).

There is also a method for determining the type of temperament according to Obozov. It uses fifteen empirical characteristics in which temperament manifests itself. This technique allows you to determine the type of temperament even without the participation of the subject. To determine its type, a line-by-line selection of the level of manifestation of each of the fifteen characterological features given is made. So, for example, in the “balance of behavior” scale, the line “well balanced” corresponds more to the subject, and the line “perfectly balanced” is slightly less suitable. In this case, the first line is assigned two points, and the second - one point. The rest of the lines in this scale receive a mark of "0" points. Other indicators are also evaluated for all remaining characterological features. Next, you should calculate the number of points for each column separately. The type of personality that scored the most points is the main one for the subject.

It must always be remembered that it is impossible, using one or another of the above methods, to calculate one hundred percent the type of temperament. Temperament is not one hundred percent innate property. Also, traits of temperament can be strengthened and reduced in the process of human life. After all, temperament is just the biological basis of all personal qualities that a person educates and develops in himself in the course of his life. And knowing your personal characteristics and yourself as a whole will allow you to choose such a style of interaction with others and such an activity that will bring even greater success and the realization of personal potential.

What makes us so different from each other? Why are we different?

The behavior and fate of a person is influenced by his upbringing, development, tastes, and also such an important parameter as temperament.

What is temperament, how and why to define it? These are special innate qualities that do not change throughout life and create the general behavioral background of a person.

Temperament does not affect tastes, preferences, life goals. Rather, it determines reactions to any external or internal events, as well as the type of behavior.

For example, a person is standing near the road in rainy weather, and a passing car pours water on him. One will begin to swear with the most nasty words, cursing the driver. The other will be upset, but will not show it - rather, he will hold a grudge deep inside.

The third will not pay attention to the incident at all, and the fourth will only laugh at this curiosity. It is precisely this behavior that directly depends on the type of temperament.

Determining the type of temperament is very important, because it will allow you to better understand yourself, make meaningful decisions in life situations, treat your life consciously.

The test will not let you make a mistake!

Before defining your own type, it is worth understanding what they are and what are their features. There are only four of them: melancholic, choleric, phlegmatic and sanguine.

melancholic

This is a deeply vulnerable person, inclined to experience problems inside, destroying himself. Such a problem as “they don’t like me”, “they don’t understand me” is about him.

The melancholic is an absolute introvert, it is difficult for him to be in the spotlight, he often changes his mood and is prone to depression. Main qualities:

  • Closure.
  • Vulnerability.
  • Discretion.
  • Distrust.
  • Pessimism.

This does not mean that the melancholic is a gloomy snob, but he is more prone to quiet, depressive states than others, cannot bring aggression out, and keeps everything in himself.

Phlegmatic person

It is well known that a person is phlegmatic - rather peaceful, friendly and positive, but he never shows bright emotions.

He is a reliable and calm person. Its qualities:

  • Discretion.
  • Hardness.
  • Calm.
  • Attentiveness.
  • Inertia.
  • Kindness.

These are good qualities, which, perhaps, just lack a little emotionality. Such a person will never exclaim: “I love you!” - rather, he will show it by deed or whisper in his ear.

Choleric

This is an aggressor and at the same time a big entertainer. Choleric is an active, nervous person, he cannot sit in one place.

It depends on upbringing and fate whether he becomes a screen star or a serial killer, but he will never remain in the shadows. Such a person as a choleric has the following qualities:

  • Impermanence.
  • Nervousness.
  • Activity.
  • Emotionality.
  • Impulsiveness.

sanguine

This is a “zhivchik”, nature is positive and cheerful. Luck smiles at him, others love him, and troubles bypass him.

And he solves problems easily and playfully. The most striking signs of sanguine:

  • Cheerful disposition.
  • Carelessness.
  • Sociability.
  • Optimism.
  • Kindness.

Test: determine your type

A simple and quick temperament test will allow you to determine your type online. To do this, select only one answer in each proposed question, and write the chosen letter under the corresponding question number.

As a result, this or that letter will be repeated more often. According to it, you will determine your predominant type of temperament.

So, let's start the test, what type of temperament do you have.

1. Your strengths:

A) rationality.

B) balance.

B) activity.

D) positivity.

2. Your shortcomings:

A) indecisiveness.

B) passivity.

B) inconsistency.

D) frivolity.

3. What mood are you in most often?

A) Pessimistic.

B) calm.

C) restless, changeable.

D) good.

4. How sociable are you?

A) uncommunicative.

B) uncommunicative.

C) moderately sociable.

D) Very sociable.

Find out the results:

BUT - . Your dominant temperament type indicates that it is difficult for you to enjoy life and solve problems. You often "hang out" in adverse situations and can survive them for years.

You are advised to choose a field of activity where there is a minimum of negative and a maximum of good - to work with animals or flowers, and not in the police, for example. You are shown creativity and any creative activity.

G - . You are lucky: sanguine people are considered the happiest. Direct your potential in a good and right direction: help people, give them positive and belief that life is beautiful.

Whatever you do in life, you can make the world around you brighter and brighter. And how not to use such talent!

Please note that there are practically no “pure” temperaments. Watch yourself, try to understand what type of temperament prevails in you and how to live in perfect harmony with yourself.

If you are interested in learning more

There are much longer and more complex tests that will also help determine the type of temperament of any person. One of the most popular is a test for determining temperament, a psychiatric scientist who first created a classification of types.

This test consists of many questions and contributes to a fairly accurate determination of the type of human temperament. You can take the Eysenck psychological test online completely free of charge, for this you just need to find it on the Web, it is in the public domain.

However, the Eysenck online test gives a one-sided answer, that is, it determines one, the main type of temperament. As a rule, one psychological type predominates in a person, and some second one approaches it in percentage terms.

The temperament test, or online Eysenck test, allows you to determine the type of temperament, but does not explain in detail what this classification is based on. But it is better to know the main theoretical provisions before determining the type - this will allow you to better understand your own psychology.

This means that it is correct to act in various life situations, choose the appropriate field of activity and social circle, live in a natural, natural rhythm that will correspond to the type of temperament.
Author: Vasilina Serova

The test will help you determine your temperament type.

Take a sheet of paper. Write the numbers of questions from 1 to 20, in front of them mark the letter of the answer (“a”, “b”, “c”, or “d”). After passing, count the total number of letters.

Temperament test

Of the four statements, you need to choose the one that is most suitable for you.

a) fussy and restless;

b) cheerful and cheerful;

c) cool and calm;

d) shy and shy.

a) quick-tempered and unrestrained;

b) businesslike and energetic;

c) thorough and consistent;

d) you get lost in a new environment.

a) are straightforward and sharp in relation to other people;

b) tend to overestimate themselves;

c) know how to wait;

d) Doubt yourself.

a) unforgiving;

b) if something ceases to interest, you quickly cool down;

c) strictly adhere to the system in work and daily routine;

d) adapt involuntarily to the nature of the interlocutor.

a) you are the owner of choppy, abrupt movements;

b) fall asleep quickly

c) it is difficult for you to adapt to a new environment;

d) submissive.

a) intolerant of shortcomings;

b) efficient, hardy;

c) in their interests are constant;

d) easily vulnerable, sensitive.

a) impatient

b) quit the things you started;

c) prudent and careful;

d) it is difficult to establish contact with new people.

a) you have expressive facial expressions;

b) fast, loud speech with lively gestures;

c) slowly get involved in the work;

d) very touchy.

a) you have a fast, impassioned speech;

b) get involved in a new job quickly;

c) you hold back the impulse easily;

d) very impressionable.

a) work in jerks;

b) you take on any new business with enthusiasm;

c) do not waste your energy;

d) you have a quiet, weak speech.

a) you are inherently incoherent;

b) persistent in achieving the goal;

c) lethargic, inactive;

d) seek the sympathy of others.

a) decide and act quickly;

b) keep your composure in difficult situations;

c) equal relations with everyone;

d) uncommunicative.

a) initiative and decisive;

b) quickly grasp the new;

c) do not like to talk in vain, are silent;

d) endure loneliness easily.

a) strive for something new;

b) you are always in a cheerful mood;

c) love accuracy;

d) timid, inactive.

a) stubborn;

b) interests and inclinations are not constant;

c) you have a calm, even speech with stops;

d) when you fail, you feel confused and depressed.

a) have a tendency to be hot;

b) burdened by monotonous painstaking work;

c) are not very susceptible to censure and approval;

d) you have high expectations for others and yourself.

a) propensity to take risks;

b) adapt easily to different circumstances;

c) finish what you started

d) you are easily fatigued.

a) sudden mood swings

b) tend to be distracted;

c) have endurance;

d) too susceptible to censure and approval.

a) be aggressive, bully;

b) responsive and sociable;

c) gentle;

d) suspicious, suspicious.

a) resourceful in a dispute;

b) you experience failures easily;

c) patient and restrained;

d) tend to withdraw into yourself.

Count how many times you chose the answer "a", how many "b", how many "c" and how many "d". Now multiply each of the 4 numbers received by 5. You will receive the percentage of answers.

For example:

"a" - 7 times * 5 = 35%

"b" - 10 times * 5 = 50%

"in" - 2 times * 5 \u003d 10%

"g" - 1 time * 5 \u003d 5%

Four types of answers correspond to 4 types temperament.

"a" - type of choleric

"b" - type of sanguine

"c" - type of phlegmatic

"g" - type of melancholic.

In our example, type "b" dominates - sanguine (50%). Determine your dominant type.

Temperament types

Choleric.

unbalanced type. Stormy emotions, flashes. Speech is slurred and slurred. Sudden change of mood. With people quarrelsome, straightforward. Can't wait, impatient. Strives for something new constantly, unstable in interests.

Sanguine.

"Alive", sociable, maintains composure in a difficult environment. Easily enters a new team, not constrained. Quickly switches from one job to another. The decisions are often not collected. Speech is clear, loud and fast.

Phlegmatic person.

Balanced. Reasonable, cautious, sociable in moderation. Inactive, inert. Steady in interests. Adheres to a strict routine at the workplace. Slowly switches from one job to another.

Melancholic.

Inactive, unbalanced. All emotions inside. Indecisive, does not believe in himself, very sensitive. Closed, prone to loneliness. Steady in interests. Contact is hard.

Or even just the speed of movements are completely different. Sometimes such a difference is touching, sometimes annoying, and now we say in our hearts that we are completely different in temperament. But what does it all mean and is it possible to change your temperament to the ideal? We propose to deal with the types of human temperaments and determine their pros and cons, and also, if you wish, take a test and find out what temperament you have.

Temperament - what is it?

What is temperament? Temperament is called the innate characteristics of a person, which determine the dynamics of the course of his mental processes. It is temperament that determines a person's reactions to external circumstances. It largely forms a person, his individuality and is a kind of link between the body and cognitive processes. There are four simple types of temperament: sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic.
The term "temperament" itself was introduced by the ancient physician Claudius Galen and comes from the Latin word "temperans", which means moderate. The very word temperament can be translated as "the proper ratio of parts." Hippocrates believed that the type of temperament is determined by the predominance of one of the fluids in the body. If blood predominates in the body, then the person will be mobile, that is, have a sanguine temperament, yellow bile will make a person impulsive and hot - choleric, black bile - sad and timid, that is, melancholic, and the predominance of lymph will give a person calmness and slowness, make a phlegmatic.
MirSovetov would like to immediately clarify this point: in its pure form, temperaments are very rare, usually in every person they are present in various proportions. It is also not necessary to equate character and temperament. The latter only characterizes the type of the nervous system, its properties, is associated with the structure of the body and even metabolism. But it is in no way connected with the views of the individual, beliefs, tastes and does not determine the possibilities of the individual.

Characteristics of temperaments

Sanguine temperament
People of this type easily adapt to a new environment, respond vividly to what attracts their attention. They control their emotions well and willingly take on new things. Representatives of this type of temperament are subject to frequent mood changes, but their characteristic state is cheerfulness.
Is it possible to determine that a particular person is sanguine? Yes, there are features inherent only to them, according to them you can always distinguish sanguine people from the society around you. As a rule, people with this type of temperament have a smooth and confident gait, movements are light and fast. Sanguine is easy to distinguish by good and expressive gestures. Facial expressions and gestures are rich and natural, and speech is loud and clear.
As a minus for a sanguine temperament, one can write down the fact that people of this type are quickly distracted from business or emotions if external stimuli do not change for a long time. As soon as the novelty of sensations is dulled, sanguine people become lethargic and indifferent.
If your colleague or subordinate is sanguine, then remember that his decisions are often rash. His activity is most effective when he is busy with new interesting projects that keep him in suspense. Do not forget that the duality of this temperament requires control over the progress of work.
choleric temperament
Cholerics are easily excitable and unbalanced, it is difficult to switch their attention. They are very mobile, up to excessiveness, their feelings are strong and manifest themselves vividly. They take on new cases with great ardor, give themselves completely to them, but at the same time, an inadequate assessment of their strengths leads to a sharp decline in activity. The disadvantages of this type of temperament lie precisely in the imbalance, due to which there are outbreaks of harshness, irritability, exhaustion.
Cholerics also have characteristic features: people of this type have hasty, often confused speech, bright and expressive facial expressions. It is difficult for choleric people to sit in one place, they often jump up or change positions, gesticulate a lot and sharply. There is something defiant about their uneven gait.
Is your employee choleric? You are lucky, because despite their imbalance, they are efficient and proactive people. They sometimes put forward fantastic ideas, recklessly overcome difficulties. But, carried away, they may lose their adequacy in assessing their strengths. In order to prevent decline, it is worth monitoring their activities and normalizing the working day of such employees.
Melancholic temperament
They are passive, unstable, easily vulnerable and react little to external influences. Most often, melancholics are immersed in themselves, they prefer a calm, familiar environment. The undoubted advantages of this type of temperament are the depth and constancy of their feelings.
People of this type of temperament have a restrained, albeit quick, gait. They are immersed in their thoughts, so they can think and slow down. Their gestures are sparing, but sharp because of the awkwardness they experience in the company of strangers. Speech is slow, often halting, its speed is uneven.
MirSovetov draws your attention to the fact that if you manage to organize a calm workplace for your melancholic employee, then his efficiency will amaze you. With support and a measured rhythm of work, they are able to work miracles, but they will painfully experience any difficult psychological situation. Subtly feeling melancholics are very receptive and observant, which makes them indispensable in working with staff.
Phlegmatic temperament
Such people are persistent and stubborn, smoothly and calmly go along the path of life. These are reliable people who are difficult to piss off. They are stingy with emotions, detailed to the point of tediousness and reliable like no other. The disadvantages can be called the fact that phlegmatic people react very poorly to external stimuli, slowly rebuild, converge with people, and are unresourceful.
Phlegmatic people move heavily and thoroughly, their gait is often lazy, unhurried. Sitting, they can maintain the same posture for a long time. Gesticulation and facial expressions are sparing, it is impossible to read something on their face. Speech leisurely, they are taciturn, do not like idle chatter.
In difficult situations, your most reliable employee will be a phlegmatic person. A person of this type will not argue, in any discussion he will limit himself to summing up, and he will skillfully take into account the opinion of each side. These are reliable and executive workers who do not need to be controlled. But in no case should you entrust a person of this type of temperament with work that requires initiative.

How to determine your temperament?

As mentioned above, pure temperaments are very rare. There are not only mixed types of temperaments, but also intermediate, transitional ones. To determine the type of temperament, many methods and tests have been developed.
MirSovetov brings to your attention the following test, which will allow you to determine the percentage of each type of temperament and highlight your main type.
Put a plus if you agree with the statement and a minus if you don't. So,

You: Now let's take a look at the test results. There are 4 groups of questions in the test, 14 statements in each group. The first 14 (from the first to the fourteenth statement) describe the choleric temperament. The second group, from the 15th to the 28th statement, describes a sanguine person. The third group, from 29 to 42 - phlegmatic type of temperament. And the last group, from 43 to 56, the statement describes the melancholic temperament.
If in any of the groups you received more than 10 pluses, then this type of temperament is dominant for you. If the number of pluses is 5-9, then these traits are expressed in you to a large extent. And if there are less than 4 positive answers, then the features of this type of temperament are poorly expressed.

As you have seen, there is no unambiguous ideal among the types of temperaments. And you can’t change it, because. this is not a character trait, but just a feature of the body's reactions. But, having learned more about each of the types of temperament, having determined what type of temperament you have, it will be easier for you to build your relationships with people. MirSovetov hopes that now colleagues and relatives will become clearer to you.
Good luck with your communication!

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