MELANCHOLIC

The melancholic temperament employs passive control as a strategy in social interactions and life in general, with a goal of increasing security by thoroughly understanding their environment and adapting to it, or “coming to terms with reality.” They derive their sense of well-being from making correct predictions and mitigating potential problems through careful analysis and preparations.
While melancholics appear to share the phlegmatic temperament’s conflict aversion, they achieve this through selective social withdrawal rather than conformity. Unlike phlegmatics who generally dislike solitude, melancholics often prefer it, avoiding conflict by maintaining distance from incompatible others and protecting their ideas from external criticism. Like cholerics, they tend to be deeply concerned with order, though their approach stems from a need to predict and prevent negative outcomes rather than enforce their will on others, reflecting their stronger orientation toward preventing harm and being prepared.
Individuals with strong melancholic tendencies are generally more susceptible to and experience stronger emotions of sadness, fear, and disgust.
When circumstances lead to uncertainty or sudden/radical changes, melancholic individuals are particularly vulnerable to experiencing anxiety, with depression as a close secondary. Their ideal state of contentment is found in feeling untroubled, with being resolute as a close secondary preference, making unpredictable or challenging situations especially difficult. This lack of security often manifests as vigilance, potentially leading to withdrawal when they’re unable to establish or maintain the level of certainty they naturally seek. Unlike more easygoing temperaments, melancholic individuals find it especially difficult to maintain emotional equilibrium in situations of uncertainty or perceived risk.
The melancholic temperament represents an evolutionarily significant adaptation for risk assessment and mitigation, characterized by primary dispositions of adversity, vulnerability, and jeopardy. This temperamental pattern naturally emerges in situations requiring careful analysis and prediction of potential defeat, harm, danger, and threat – particularly when individuals find themselves in complex and unknown environments. Their disposition toward adversity drives them to predict problems before they occur, while their inherent sense of vulnerability pushes them improve themselves and become more resilient, and their jeopardy-awareness means they are naturally attuned to potential risks. These dispositions form interconnected clusters that facilitate analysis, preparation, and risk mitigation behaviors. While this might appear as mere pessimism or excessive vigilance, it actually reflects a deeply ingrained evolutionary mechanism that promotes group survival through careful assessment of threats and thorough preparation for potential problems; which is especially practical in tough environments where unexpected change is not uncommon.
The melancholic temperament tends to be more salient in human females where goal directives of security, safety, protection, and justice are naturally amplified by specific hormones. This hormonal influence serves an evolutionary purpose, as these individuals historically played crucial roles in identifying potential difficulties and ensuring personal, kin, and in some cases group survival. Their heightened need for security, safety, protection, and justice makes them particularly adept at anticipating problems and developing strategies for self and group preservation. They often need solitude for introspection and analysis, using this time to learn from past experiences and develop strategies to avoid future mistakes. This introspective nature, combined with their tendency toward self-criticism, often leads to the development of deeper wisdom compared to other temperaments.

PHLEGMATIC

The phlegmatic temperament employs conflict resolution and conflict avoidance as a strategy in social interactions, with a goal of increasing comfort by passively conforming to the environment, or “going with the flow.” They derive their sense of well-being from positive interactions that create emotional connections with others.
While phlegmatics share the sanguinic temperament’s inclination towards social enjoyment and fun, they derive their deepest satisfaction from love and emotional connection rather than pure joy. Like melancholics, they tend to be risk-averse, though their emotional distress typically stems from the need to avoid shame and guilt by conforming rather than avoiding social situations common of melancholics, reflecting their stronger orientation toward maintaining harmonious relationships and meeting social expectations.
Individuals with strong phlegmatic tendencies are generally more susceptible to and experience stronger emotions of shame, guilt, and love.
When circumstances lead to social isolation or unsuccessful relationship building, phlegmatic individuals are particularly vulnerable to experiencing profound loneliness, as their emotional well-being heavily depends on meaningful connections. Their ideal state of contentment is found in tranquility, with serenity being a close secondary preference, making the absence of harmonious social bonds especially challenging. This lack of social fulfillment often manifests as a deep sense of emptiness as a type of boredom, potentially leading to depression when they’re unable to establish or maintain the intimate connections they naturally seek. Unlike more self-sufficient temperaments, phlegmatic individuals find it especially difficult to maintain emotional equilibrium in solitude.
The phlegmatic temperament represents an evolutionarily significant adaptation for social cohesion, characterized by primary dispositions of sympathy, affinity, and inferiority. This temperamental pattern naturally emerges in situations requiring social integration and hierarchical adaptation, particularly when individuals find themselves in subordinate positions or novel social environments. It is made of clusters from before mentioned dispositions that facilitates group harmony and social bonding, making individuals naturally more approachable and less threatening to others. While this might appear as people-pleasing behavior, it actually reflects a deeply ingrained evolutionary mechanism that promotes social stability and cooperation through emotional attunement and conflict avoidance. This temperamental adaptation has been crucial for human social evolution, enabling smooth integration into new social groups and maintaining harmonious relationships within hierarchical structures.
The phlegmatic temperament tends to be more salient in human females, where goal directives of affiliation, cohesion, approval, and security are naturally amplified through specific hormones. This hormonal influence serves an evolutionary purpose, as women historically played crucial roles in maintaining social bonds and ensuring group stability. Their heightened sensitivity to their ingroup (sympathy), their strong sense of bond (affinity), and their tendency to maintain a low social profile (inferiority) makes them particularly adept at nurturing relationships and fostering social harmony.

SANGUINIC

The sanguine temperament employs positive activity as a strategy in life as well as in social interactions, with a goal of increasing pleasure by engaging with the potential the environment has to offer, or “diving into action.” They derive their sense of well-being from novel experiences and dynamic social interactions that create opportunities for enjoyment.
While sanguines share the phlegmatic temperament’s inclination towards social enjoyment, they derive their pleasures from fulfilling their desires for certain people, be it romantic or associative. Like cholerics, they tend to be natural leaders, though their leadership style is often a consequence of seeking pleasure rather than achievement or status, reflecting their stronger orientation toward maintaining high energy levels and meeting hedonic expectations. They derive well-being from experiencing life’s pleasures, and they tend to prioritize having fun over fulfilling obligations. As a result, they often make plans that revolve around enjoyable activities, naturally attracting others who are drawn to their enthusiasm and zest for life. This tendency to prioritize pleasure-seeking behaviors makes them excellent at creating social opportunities and fostering environments where others can relax and enjoy themselves, though it may sometimes come at the cost of neglecting more serious responsibilities.
Individuals with strong sanguine tendencies are generally more susceptible to and experience stronger emotions of joy, marvel, and desire.
When circumstances lead to monotony or lack of stimulation, sanguine individuals are particularly vulnerable to experiencing profound boredom, as their emotional well-being heavily depends on novel experiences and enjoyable experiences. Their ideal state of contentment is found in excitement, with serenity being a close secondary preference, making the absence of stimulating experiences especially challenging. This lack of stimulation often manifests as restlessness or mania, potentially leading to impulsive behavior when they’re unable to find or maintain the level of arousal they naturally seek. Unlike more reserved temperaments, sanguine individuals find it especially difficult to maintain emotional equilibrium in low-stimulation environments.
The sanguine temperament represents an evolutionarily significant adaptation for risk seeking, outlined by primary dispositions of prosperity, curiosity, and appealability. This temperamental pattern naturally emerges in situations requiring expansion and novel exploration, particularly when individuals find themselves in promising environments or opportunities for enhancing life quality. Their disposition toward prosperity drives them to seek and create abundance, while their inherent curiosity pushes them to explore new experiences, and their natural appealability means they are prone to approach different ventures. These dispositions form interconnected clusters that facilitate engagement, exploration, and approach behaviors, making individuals naturally more engaging and attractive to others. While this might appear as attention-seeking behavior, it actually reflects a deeply ingrained evolutionary mechanism that promotes social dynamism and progression through positive emotional expressiveness. This temperamental adaptation has been crucial for human social evolution, as these individuals historically served as catalysts for group expansion and innovation. Their natural ability to spot opportunities has been essential in discovering new resources, establishing new social connections, and maintaining group vitality within social structures.
The sanguine temperament tends to be more salient in human males where goal directives of success, stimulation, hedonism, and affiliation are naturally amplified by specific hormones. This hormonal influence serves an evolutionary purpose, as these individuals historically played crucial roles in maintaining group morale and ensuring social expansion. Their heightened drive for prosperity, their strong sense of curiosity, and their natural appealability makes them particularly adept at creating opportunities and fostering social dynamics.