Find out What is your temperament?
The four temperaments are a proto-psychological theory first attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. He hypothesized that four major bodily fluids (black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm) affected people’s health and personalities.
The four temperaments were also adopted by other physicians and psychiatrists throughout history.
The four temperaments are:
1. Sanguine (blood)
Sanguine people are boisterous, bubbly, chatty, openly emotional, social extroverts.
* Social
Sanguines find social interactions with faces both familiar and unfamiliar invigorating. This is how they recharge, and time alone - while sometimes desirable - can bore them quickly.
The more people they're surrounded by, the better they feel, and they're not picky about who they get to know. They enjoy having many, many friends.
While sanguines enjoy being around other people, it's largely because they enjoy the attention of others and feel good about the fact that they are not lonely.
They are talkers more than they are listeners.
They may move away from friends that they consider to be boring or dull.
They are bubbly, fun-loving, extroverted people-people who are always in the mood for a good time. They love wild nights out.
They make friends quickly, and they'll cheerily talk to strangers. People of the melancholic temperament might perceive a room of twenty strangers as frightening or uncomfortable, while a sanguine might see them as opportunities to meet new friends.
They are not picky, and will usually like more things than they dislike. They tend to enjoy things that are trendy, popular, and so on.
They enjoy social situations, and believe that everyone else would too. They're likely to convince people to come along with things like 'come on, you'll enjoy it!' or 'you don't know what you're missing!'
Being friends with a Sanguine is often as simple as knowing each other's face and name.
They aren't particularly trustworthy... as they'll be too eager to spill secrets with others, and their general flightiness can make them unreliable as they're likely to get easily distracted by other things.
* Expressive
They are talkative, and speak in a friendly, energetic, playful kind of way; they're often charismatic, and when interacting with them, you can feel like you've known them all your life.
They are very emotional, and their emotions can be extreme but fleeting. They are the sorts who will be screaming "I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!!" one day, then mere hours later, they'll be profusely apologising about it, then expecting everything to all be water under the bridge after that.
They are quick to 'forgive and forget' - and expect others to do the same - because they live in the moment rather than dwelling in the past.
They tend to have open senses of humour (rather than dry or subtle humour), and laugh and smile often and clearly.
They may tease others in a 'playful' way, expecting them not to 'take it so seriously'.
They are very show-offy and have high self-esteem. They're prone to bragging, in a 'look how amazing I am!!' kind of way rather than 'I am better than you' (which is more choleric).
They are extreme in their emotions, and may go through stages of melodramatic misery and self-loathing as well.
They can be very easy-going, suggesting that more serious people 'mellow out' or 'take a chill pill'.
Sanguines can be great motivators, as they'll enthusiastically encourage others towards action, and they see things positively, optimistically, and would convince others to see things that way too.
They are naturally physical with others, very 'touchy-feely', openly expressing their affection through hugs and stroking and grabbing shoulders and things like that.
They could not be said to be neat and tidy. They live in the moment, which can lead to poor planning or disorganisation, messiness.
* Attention-Seeking
They love attention. They desire to be in the spotlight, and for people to compliment and praise them. Everyone loves compliments, but sanguines will go out of their way to get them.
They are often performers, party animals, drama queens.
They wish to fit in and be popular. Or, they'll seek to be Different in a way that will make them remarkable.
The embarrassment of making a fool of themselves is outweighed by the pleasure of putting on a show. They will go to extraordinary lengths to add the life they feel is missing from any party, such as dancing on tables, eating food off the ground, etc.
Of course, the reason they'd do silly things isn't JUST to get attention. They do these things because them find them amusing themselves.
They require constant entertainment, and will complain about being bored if they are not sufficiently entertained, often at another person who's failing to entertain them.
They will show off their abilities to others in order to get praise.
They are dramatic, and will exaggerate to make things seem more extreme than they are.
They have a tendency to be vain, and to care about how they look.
If nobody is paying attention to them, they will barge into a conversation or say something in order to attract some attention. They are very uncomfortable being left out.
Role
In our distant past, the sanguine members of the pack might have played a supportive, encouraging, social role. They would have been the glue that kept the group together.
In modern society, you might see them as entertainers, singers, dancers, or perhaps simply as the energetic people at parties. In fantasy, they might be Bards.
2. Choleric (yellow bile)
Choleric people are the proud, extroverted 'alphas' of our species.
* Dominant
Cholerics people are leaders and directors. They seek to be in control of situations, to be on top, to be the best.
This doesn't necessarily mean that they are all driven to reach the top of the corporate ladder or anything, or that they all want to have leadership roles, but in day-to-day interactions with other people, they have a tendency towards one-upsmanship.
They use imperative, commanding language, wording things as orders rather than requests. Compare "get me a drink" to "can I have a drink?". They probably use phrases like 'deal with it', 'get over yourself', 'stop being such a wimp', etc, or may start sentences with "look", or maybe "look, buddy" or "listen, pal" or things like that.
They word things with confidence and certainty. Compare "X is this way" to "maybe X is this way, or something?".
They are firm and forceful in their approach to problems. They believe in 'tough love', and try to 'help' others by challenging them to prove themselves, as they themselves would.
They're more likely to tell someone who they are trying to 'help' that they're pathetic, expecting the person to say 'no, I'm not pathetic, I'll show you!', as indeed a choleric would in response to such a thing.
If met by opposition, they react confrontationally to defend themselves. They are constantly trying to be 'dominant' in every situation, subconsciously, either by being louder and better than those around them, or more restrained and therefore superior to those who lose their cool.
Most bullies are choleric, but few cholerics are bullies. Many will in fact stand up to those who bully others, rather than letting them get away with things.
Their confidence and demanding natures make them natural leaders, though this doesn't mean that they would necessarily enjoy leadership positions; they're just more likely to take charge if necessary rather than fumbling around worrying.
They will 'challenge' others aggressively in order to show their respect for the person's strength. They believe that it is important to 'prove oneself'.
They have a tendency to argue for reasons that are different to the melancholic. They're more driven by a desire to prove themselves greater than whoever they're arguing with, to assert that they are right, rather than to reach some kind of truth or compromise. They can lie in order to maintain the dominant position. The argument is about them moreso than the issue; a battle of egos rather than a quest for truth.
They say things like "if anyone tries to mess with me, I make them wish they'd never started on me in the first place".
They love competition... but hate to lose.
They are defiant of authority, challenging them as if to knock them off the top spot and assert their own dominance as the alpha of this pack, the leader of this tribe.
They can be very condescending to those that they look down upon.
They may take pleasure in the pain, misfortune, or humiliation of people they are not on good terms with. This is because it brings them pleasure to feel superior to others. "Haha! Look at that loser messing up! Hilarious!" (Compare this with the phlegmatic, who'd be more likely to feel distress when seeing someone being harmed, even if it was their worst enemy.)
Words like 'hot-blooded', 'brash', 'domineering', 'overbearing', might be used to describe this temperament.
They blame others for their own mistakes, often to the point of lying to save face.
They feel that they can define and understand and advise others, but laugh at the thought that others could do the same to them. This is because analysing and defining another puts you in the superior position, while being defined would put them in the inferior position, which they resist.
* Extroverted
Cholerics are extroverted in the sense that they will meddle in others' affairs and 'speak their mind' if they feel it is necessary, rather than minding their own business.
They generally respond well to new situations, and seek thrills.
They seek to prove themselves externally, to show that they are great and the best and things like that. They must prove that they are strong.
They believe that it is important to 'say things how they are', to be bluntly honest about their opinions rather than 'sugar-coating' them.
They speak their mind, but often don't mind their speech.
Their pride and drive for dominance, as well as their open expression of emotion, naturally leads to outright aggression when challenged. They will raise their voices and get angry to show that they are the biggest and strongest, and to assert superiority.
They brag and boast to show how amazing they are, in an 'I am better than others' kind of way.
They are pragmatic, doing what needs to be done bluntly rather than worrying about fantasy scenarios.
They will plough through obstacles that bar their path (metaphorically speaking); they are single-minded in moving towards their goals.
* Proud
They generally believe that they are right, and have immense stubbornness about admitting their flaws, UNLESS admitting these flaws would make them look better than others ("I'm strong enough to admit I'm wrong, unlike you").
They demand respect from others, and will hold grudges against those that they consider to be rivals.
They can be great, supportive friends who'd take a bullet for those close to them, unless you get on their bad side, in which case they'll try their best to 'rub your nose into the dirt'.
It is important to them that they are strong and courageous, not afraid of anything. If they are afraid, they will deny it (again, unless admitting it makes them look strong).
They often - but not necessarily - have high self-esteem.
They will 'rise to the challenge', in order to prove themselves, and look for opportunities to do so.
It's important for them to be tough and strong.
They are in many ways the opposite of the phlegmatic in that they are controlling, assertive, and see conflict and challenge and competition as a desirable form of interaction.
They have similarities to the melancholic in that both are stubborn and opinionated, but the choleric is more forceful and 'tough' while the melancholic is uncertain and
* sensitive.
Cholerics strive for independence, because to be dependent is to rely on others, to not be in the superior position. Dependence is weakness.
They are 'thick-skinned', in many cases bulletproof against the criticisms of others, able to shrug or laugh them off.
Role
In our distant ancestors, the choleric members of the pack would be the alphas, the leaders. They would command their subordinates, and assert their dominance using force. If challenged, they would respond by getting angry, larger, in order to intimidate and to prove that THEY were the strongest, the most fit to lead.
In current society, they often tend towards leadership roles, such as managers, politicians, captains, team leaders, and so on, though not necessarily. In fantasy, they might be the proud warriors, the esteemed Kings.
3. Melancholic (black bile)
Melancholic people are emotionally sensitive, perfectionistic introverts.
* Perfectionistic
The defining feature of a melancholic attitude is perfectionism. They are idealists who wish for things to be a certain way, and they get distressed when they are not.
They hold themselves and others to unrealistically high standards, and get distressed when these standards are not met.
This leads to them being self-deprecating - because they do not meet their own standards - and critical of others - because those others do not meet their standards.
Their generally dour demeanour comes from their inner struggle between an imperfect world and a desire for perfection.
Many melancholics wish to learn and to understand, to know the details of every little thing, because to be ignorant is to stray from perfection. They are not content to just accept things the way that they are.
They are inquisitive and ask specific questions in order to come to a clearer understanding.
This leads many of them to be overanalytical, neurotic worriers.
They are very stubborn, because they try very hard to stick to their own carefully considered views and standards of perfection, and are not easily shifted from this path. They do not go with the flow.
They are tenacious and cannot let things go, because 'good enough' is not good enough. They strive for perfection.
They are very pessimistic, and assume the worst due to these unrealistic standards.
They think and plan before they act; they are not the types who will resort to rash, impulsive behaviour, and will panic if they are unable to plan in advance.
It's easier for them to reject and hate things than it is for them to love and embrace them. Their interests and tastes are picked carefully, and they give a lot of attention to each one, and hold them close to their hearts, rather than having many fleeting interests that change quickly and often.
They complain a lot, in a 'whining' kind of way rather than a 'put down' or 'demanding' kind of way.
They tend to argue, because they cannot simply let things be if they seem wrong. They argue using reason, evidence, logic, and explanations, delivered analytically or with pleading. They only argue to set wrongs right, rather than to assert dominance. The argument is about the issue, not about them.
They respond poorly to compliments, often 'rebutting' them by saying that they're not so great after all.
"Wow, that's a really nice painting you just made!"
"I don't know, the eyes are probably too big..." (rather than "Thanks!")
They will blame themselves for mistakes, because they are acutely aware of their own imperfection.
They tend to prefer things to be tidy, organised in some way or another. This doesn't necessarily mean 'neat' as such; often they have very idiosyncratic organisation methods.
They are idealists, who imagine perfect fantasies and feel upset when things don't live up to these fantasies.
They prefer to tackle the heart of the matter, which can lead to them avoiding 'beating around the bush'.
* Introverted
Melancholics are the most introverted of the temperaments in that they crave time alone, and are most at ease in their own company.
They can enjoy spending time with others, but this drains their energy, and they need alone time in order to recharge.
Much of their introversion comes from their perfectionism. They are picky about the sorts of people that they associate with; people who meet their standards and share their outlook. People that don't will make them uncomfortable; they do not wish to talk to 'anyone and everyone'.
Their self-deprecation also makes them think that they might not be very interesting anyway, that they aren't really worth spending time with, even if they know in the depths of their minds that they are very interesting indeed.
Once they have someone to talk to in a quiet and relaxed environment, they can talk a lot and will enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas.
They are very wary of making friends. Unlike sanguines, it can take them a very long time for them to consider someone they're familiar with a 'friend', but once they've reached this point, they will likely stick with that person loyally.
They prefer having a few close friends to many acquaintances.
They can be seen as selfish, because they prefer to be alone with their thoughts, to have their own things, rather than sharing time or possessions socially with others.
They are usually very possessive about the things that they own and are reluctant to let others borrow or use them, because they treat their own things well, care about everything deeply, and will worry that others will not look after them with the same level of care.
They could be described as 'intense', rather than 'easy-going'.
* Sensitive
Melancholics are very emotional. They are moved deeply by beauty, and by distress. They are very easily hurt, because of their perfectionistic tendencies.
Often their moods are like delicate glass sculptures; built up slowly, deliberately, and carefully, but easily broken, and hard to repair once shattered.
They respond to things that they dislike with misery and with tears rather than with rage.
They are very slow to 'snap', but will hold onto emotions for a very long time. They hold grudges, because people who have failed to meet their standards, who have hurt them, will not just suddenly meet those standards without changing drastically.
They can become very 'moody', and they can be difficult to interact with because they are so easily hurt.
They are not aggressive, and wish to flee from things that cause them distress.
If they want to get back at another person, they are more likely to make them feel guilty than to insult them bluntly.
They are 'thin-skinned'.
Role
In our distant ancestors, the melancholic members of a pack may have been the analysts, the information gatherers. They scouted for potential danger, or for food, and reported back to the pack leader. The more accurate their findings were, the better; this led to a trend towards perfectionism, as the 'analysts' closer to perfection survived better than those that made sloppy mistakes.
In current society, they often tend towards analytical roles such as scientists, analysts, programmers, logicians, and so on. In fantasy settings, they may be wizards or sages.
The four temperaments are a proto-psychological theory first attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. He hypothesized that four major bodily fluids (black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm) affected people’s health and personalities.
The four temperaments were also adopted by other physicians and psychiatrists throughout history.
The four temperaments are:
1. Sanguine (blood)
Sanguine people are boisterous, bubbly, chatty, openly emotional, social extroverts.
* Social
Sanguines find social interactions with faces both familiar and unfamiliar invigorating. This is how they recharge, and time alone - while sometimes desirable - can bore them quickly.
The more people they're surrounded by, the better they feel, and they're not picky about who they get to know. They enjoy having many, many friends.
While sanguines enjoy being around other people, it's largely because they enjoy the attention of others and feel good about the fact that they are not lonely.
They are talkers more than they are listeners.
They may move away from friends that they consider to be boring or dull.
They are bubbly, fun-loving, extroverted people-people who are always in the mood for a good time. They love wild nights out.
They make friends quickly, and they'll cheerily talk to strangers. People of the melancholic temperament might perceive a room of twenty strangers as frightening or uncomfortable, while a sanguine might see them as opportunities to meet new friends.
They are not picky, and will usually like more things than they dislike. They tend to enjoy things that are trendy, popular, and so on.
They enjoy social situations, and believe that everyone else would too. They're likely to convince people to come along with things like 'come on, you'll enjoy it!' or 'you don't know what you're missing!'
Being friends with a Sanguine is often as simple as knowing each other's face and name.
They aren't particularly trustworthy... as they'll be too eager to spill secrets with others, and their general flightiness can make them unreliable as they're likely to get easily distracted by other things.
* Expressive
They are talkative, and speak in a friendly, energetic, playful kind of way; they're often charismatic, and when interacting with them, you can feel like you've known them all your life.
They are very emotional, and their emotions can be extreme but fleeting. They are the sorts who will be screaming "I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!!" one day, then mere hours later, they'll be profusely apologising about it, then expecting everything to all be water under the bridge after that.
They are quick to 'forgive and forget' - and expect others to do the same - because they live in the moment rather than dwelling in the past.
They tend to have open senses of humour (rather than dry or subtle humour), and laugh and smile often and clearly.
They may tease others in a 'playful' way, expecting them not to 'take it so seriously'.
They are very show-offy and have high self-esteem. They're prone to bragging, in a 'look how amazing I am!!' kind of way rather than 'I am better than you' (which is more choleric).
They are extreme in their emotions, and may go through stages of melodramatic misery and self-loathing as well.
They can be very easy-going, suggesting that more serious people 'mellow out' or 'take a chill pill'.
Sanguines can be great motivators, as they'll enthusiastically encourage others towards action, and they see things positively, optimistically, and would convince others to see things that way too.
They are naturally physical with others, very 'touchy-feely', openly expressing their affection through hugs and stroking and grabbing shoulders and things like that.
They could not be said to be neat and tidy. They live in the moment, which can lead to poor planning or disorganisation, messiness.
* Attention-Seeking
They love attention. They desire to be in the spotlight, and for people to compliment and praise them. Everyone loves compliments, but sanguines will go out of their way to get them.
They are often performers, party animals, drama queens.
They wish to fit in and be popular. Or, they'll seek to be Different in a way that will make them remarkable.
The embarrassment of making a fool of themselves is outweighed by the pleasure of putting on a show. They will go to extraordinary lengths to add the life they feel is missing from any party, such as dancing on tables, eating food off the ground, etc.
Of course, the reason they'd do silly things isn't JUST to get attention. They do these things because them find them amusing themselves.
They require constant entertainment, and will complain about being bored if they are not sufficiently entertained, often at another person who's failing to entertain them.
They will show off their abilities to others in order to get praise.
They are dramatic, and will exaggerate to make things seem more extreme than they are.
They have a tendency to be vain, and to care about how they look.
If nobody is paying attention to them, they will barge into a conversation or say something in order to attract some attention. They are very uncomfortable being left out.
Role
In our distant past, the sanguine members of the pack might have played a supportive, encouraging, social role. They would have been the glue that kept the group together.
In modern society, you might see them as entertainers, singers, dancers, or perhaps simply as the energetic people at parties. In fantasy, they might be Bards.
2. Choleric (yellow bile)
Choleric people are the proud, extroverted 'alphas' of our species.
* Dominant
Cholerics people are leaders and directors. They seek to be in control of situations, to be on top, to be the best.
This doesn't necessarily mean that they are all driven to reach the top of the corporate ladder or anything, or that they all want to have leadership roles, but in day-to-day interactions with other people, they have a tendency towards one-upsmanship.
They use imperative, commanding language, wording things as orders rather than requests. Compare "get me a drink" to "can I have a drink?". They probably use phrases like 'deal with it', 'get over yourself', 'stop being such a wimp', etc, or may start sentences with "look", or maybe "look, buddy" or "listen, pal" or things like that.
They word things with confidence and certainty. Compare "X is this way" to "maybe X is this way, or something?".
They are firm and forceful in their approach to problems. They believe in 'tough love', and try to 'help' others by challenging them to prove themselves, as they themselves would.
They're more likely to tell someone who they are trying to 'help' that they're pathetic, expecting the person to say 'no, I'm not pathetic, I'll show you!', as indeed a choleric would in response to such a thing.
If met by opposition, they react confrontationally to defend themselves. They are constantly trying to be 'dominant' in every situation, subconsciously, either by being louder and better than those around them, or more restrained and therefore superior to those who lose their cool.
Most bullies are choleric, but few cholerics are bullies. Many will in fact stand up to those who bully others, rather than letting them get away with things.
Their confidence and demanding natures make them natural leaders, though this doesn't mean that they would necessarily enjoy leadership positions; they're just more likely to take charge if necessary rather than fumbling around worrying.
They will 'challenge' others aggressively in order to show their respect for the person's strength. They believe that it is important to 'prove oneself'.
They have a tendency to argue for reasons that are different to the melancholic. They're more driven by a desire to prove themselves greater than whoever they're arguing with, to assert that they are right, rather than to reach some kind of truth or compromise. They can lie in order to maintain the dominant position. The argument is about them moreso than the issue; a battle of egos rather than a quest for truth.
They say things like "if anyone tries to mess with me, I make them wish they'd never started on me in the first place".
They love competition... but hate to lose.
They are defiant of authority, challenging them as if to knock them off the top spot and assert their own dominance as the alpha of this pack, the leader of this tribe.
They can be very condescending to those that they look down upon.
They may take pleasure in the pain, misfortune, or humiliation of people they are not on good terms with. This is because it brings them pleasure to feel superior to others. "Haha! Look at that loser messing up! Hilarious!" (Compare this with the phlegmatic, who'd be more likely to feel distress when seeing someone being harmed, even if it was their worst enemy.)
Words like 'hot-blooded', 'brash', 'domineering', 'overbearing', might be used to describe this temperament.
They blame others for their own mistakes, often to the point of lying to save face.
They feel that they can define and understand and advise others, but laugh at the thought that others could do the same to them. This is because analysing and defining another puts you in the superior position, while being defined would put them in the inferior position, which they resist.
* Extroverted
Cholerics are extroverted in the sense that they will meddle in others' affairs and 'speak their mind' if they feel it is necessary, rather than minding their own business.
They generally respond well to new situations, and seek thrills.
They seek to prove themselves externally, to show that they are great and the best and things like that. They must prove that they are strong.
They believe that it is important to 'say things how they are', to be bluntly honest about their opinions rather than 'sugar-coating' them.
They speak their mind, but often don't mind their speech.
Their pride and drive for dominance, as well as their open expression of emotion, naturally leads to outright aggression when challenged. They will raise their voices and get angry to show that they are the biggest and strongest, and to assert superiority.
They brag and boast to show how amazing they are, in an 'I am better than others' kind of way.
They are pragmatic, doing what needs to be done bluntly rather than worrying about fantasy scenarios.
They will plough through obstacles that bar their path (metaphorically speaking); they are single-minded in moving towards their goals.
* Proud
They generally believe that they are right, and have immense stubbornness about admitting their flaws, UNLESS admitting these flaws would make them look better than others ("I'm strong enough to admit I'm wrong, unlike you").
They demand respect from others, and will hold grudges against those that they consider to be rivals.
They can be great, supportive friends who'd take a bullet for those close to them, unless you get on their bad side, in which case they'll try their best to 'rub your nose into the dirt'.
It is important to them that they are strong and courageous, not afraid of anything. If they are afraid, they will deny it (again, unless admitting it makes them look strong).
They often - but not necessarily - have high self-esteem.
They will 'rise to the challenge', in order to prove themselves, and look for opportunities to do so.
It's important for them to be tough and strong.
They are in many ways the opposite of the phlegmatic in that they are controlling, assertive, and see conflict and challenge and competition as a desirable form of interaction.
They have similarities to the melancholic in that both are stubborn and opinionated, but the choleric is more forceful and 'tough' while the melancholic is uncertain and
* sensitive.
Cholerics strive for independence, because to be dependent is to rely on others, to not be in the superior position. Dependence is weakness.
They are 'thick-skinned', in many cases bulletproof against the criticisms of others, able to shrug or laugh them off.
Role
In our distant ancestors, the choleric members of the pack would be the alphas, the leaders. They would command their subordinates, and assert their dominance using force. If challenged, they would respond by getting angry, larger, in order to intimidate and to prove that THEY were the strongest, the most fit to lead.
In current society, they often tend towards leadership roles, such as managers, politicians, captains, team leaders, and so on, though not necessarily. In fantasy, they might be the proud warriors, the esteemed Kings.
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3. Melancholic (black bile)
Melancholic people are emotionally sensitive, perfectionistic introverts.
* Perfectionistic
The defining feature of a melancholic attitude is perfectionism. They are idealists who wish for things to be a certain way, and they get distressed when they are not.
They hold themselves and others to unrealistically high standards, and get distressed when these standards are not met.
This leads to them being self-deprecating - because they do not meet their own standards - and critical of others - because those others do not meet their standards.
Their generally dour demeanour comes from their inner struggle between an imperfect world and a desire for perfection.
Many melancholics wish to learn and to understand, to know the details of every little thing, because to be ignorant is to stray from perfection. They are not content to just accept things the way that they are.
They are inquisitive and ask specific questions in order to come to a clearer understanding.
This leads many of them to be overanalytical, neurotic worriers.
They are very stubborn, because they try very hard to stick to their own carefully considered views and standards of perfection, and are not easily shifted from this path. They do not go with the flow.
They are tenacious and cannot let things go, because 'good enough' is not good enough. They strive for perfection.
They are very pessimistic, and assume the worst due to these unrealistic standards.
They think and plan before they act; they are not the types who will resort to rash, impulsive behaviour, and will panic if they are unable to plan in advance.
It's easier for them to reject and hate things than it is for them to love and embrace them. Their interests and tastes are picked carefully, and they give a lot of attention to each one, and hold them close to their hearts, rather than having many fleeting interests that change quickly and often.
They complain a lot, in a 'whining' kind of way rather than a 'put down' or 'demanding' kind of way.
They tend to argue, because they cannot simply let things be if they seem wrong. They argue using reason, evidence, logic, and explanations, delivered analytically or with pleading. They only argue to set wrongs right, rather than to assert dominance. The argument is about the issue, not about them.
They respond poorly to compliments, often 'rebutting' them by saying that they're not so great after all.
"Wow, that's a really nice painting you just made!"
"I don't know, the eyes are probably too big..." (rather than "Thanks!")
They will blame themselves for mistakes, because they are acutely aware of their own imperfection.
They tend to prefer things to be tidy, organised in some way or another. This doesn't necessarily mean 'neat' as such; often they have very idiosyncratic organisation methods.
They are idealists, who imagine perfect fantasies and feel upset when things don't live up to these fantasies.
They prefer to tackle the heart of the matter, which can lead to them avoiding 'beating around the bush'.
* Introverted
Melancholics are the most introverted of the temperaments in that they crave time alone, and are most at ease in their own company.
They can enjoy spending time with others, but this drains their energy, and they need alone time in order to recharge.
Much of their introversion comes from their perfectionism. They are picky about the sorts of people that they associate with; people who meet their standards and share their outlook. People that don't will make them uncomfortable; they do not wish to talk to 'anyone and everyone'.
Their self-deprecation also makes them think that they might not be very interesting anyway, that they aren't really worth spending time with, even if they know in the depths of their minds that they are very interesting indeed.
Once they have someone to talk to in a quiet and relaxed environment, they can talk a lot and will enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas.
They are very wary of making friends. Unlike sanguines, it can take them a very long time for them to consider someone they're familiar with a 'friend', but once they've reached this point, they will likely stick with that person loyally.
They prefer having a few close friends to many acquaintances.
They can be seen as selfish, because they prefer to be alone with their thoughts, to have their own things, rather than sharing time or possessions socially with others.
They are usually very possessive about the things that they own and are reluctant to let others borrow or use them, because they treat their own things well, care about everything deeply, and will worry that others will not look after them with the same level of care.
They could be described as 'intense', rather than 'easy-going'.
* Sensitive
Melancholics are very emotional. They are moved deeply by beauty, and by distress. They are very easily hurt, because of their perfectionistic tendencies.
Often their moods are like delicate glass sculptures; built up slowly, deliberately, and carefully, but easily broken, and hard to repair once shattered.
They respond to things that they dislike with misery and with tears rather than with rage.
They are very slow to 'snap', but will hold onto emotions for a very long time. They hold grudges, because people who have failed to meet their standards, who have hurt them, will not just suddenly meet those standards without changing drastically.
They can become very 'moody', and they can be difficult to interact with because they are so easily hurt.
They are not aggressive, and wish to flee from things that cause them distress.
If they want to get back at another person, they are more likely to make them feel guilty than to insult them bluntly.
They are 'thin-skinned'.
Role
In our distant ancestors, the melancholic members of a pack may have been the analysts, the information gatherers. They scouted for potential danger, or for food, and reported back to the pack leader. The more accurate their findings were, the better; this led to a trend towards perfectionism, as the 'analysts' closer to perfection survived better than those that made sloppy mistakes.
In current society, they often tend towards analytical roles such as scientists, analysts, programmers, logicians, and so on. In fantasy settings, they may be wizards or sages.
Pagdating din sa mga ginagawa ko, perfectionist din talaga ako. Gusto ko laging nasusunod yung standards ko, ayoko kasi nung "pwede na" quality.
