UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO MARANHO

CENTRO DE CINCIAS HUMANAS

CURSO DE LETRAS
INGLS IV PROF. EDSON DE JESUS
RENATA RIBEIRO LIMA

THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS

So Lus
2009

The four temperaments

The term temperament comes from the latin temperare, that means
balance. This notion is related to the theory of Empdocles, in which he says
that the health of the man depends on a balance among the elements that
constitute this human being.
In Psychology, temperament is more usually understood as an aspect
of the personality and is about the emotional reactions and their velocity and
intensity. C. L. Jung has used this concept, for example. But the concept of
temperament is one of these expressions that are difficult to specify, that can
mean different things to many psychologists. However, they have concluded
that the idea of temperament is useful, although it is tough to say directly how it
interacts with the environments influences. They also said that temperament
includes elements of energy: activity, intensity, power and rhythm of movement
on speaking and on thinking, emotionality and sociability. Other important point
is that the origin of temperament must be searched in biological sources and
the manifestations of temperament are stable during the individuals life, more
than any aspect of the personality.
Anyway, the study of temperament began in written terms with the
Greek philosopher Empdocles and his fellow countryman, the doctor
Hipcrates. Observing carefully the diversity of human behavior, Empdocles
created a theory to explain this problems, using biology and chemistry
statements to talk about the Four Temperaments, that he connected with the
body humors or organic fluids (nowadays we call it hormones and other
substances that can induct or affect the human behavior): Sanguine (related to
blood); Choleric (yellow bile); Melancholic (black bile) and Phlegmatic (phlegm).
Sanguine people was considered more energetic, while choleric was easy to
lose the balance, melancholic was analytic and a little sad and phlegmatic was
a little lazy or slow.
For many centuries this concept was kept, but the thought that the
temperament is determined by an organic fluid has already been overcame a
long time ago. Today, the temperament is understood as an allusion to the

aspects passed hereditarily and biologically, affecting the individual rhythm and
the vitalitys or emotionalitys degree of the individuals. The classification in four
types, on the other hand, carries on. The modern classification, perhaps the
most popular, is between extroverted and introverted, but each one of these
classes are related to two elements of the classical classification.
However, some aspects must be observed with attention before a fast
conclusion about ourselves or about someone: we should not judge the others
temperament before having an experience with that person, without really being
closer to her/him; neither ask a person what her/his temperament is, only if
she/he ask us directly; and we can have characteristics of all the four
temperaments, but one of them will always be dominant in our life.
In my case, with a test I discovered that I am Melancholic and
Phlegmatic. It was not a surprise for me, and I recognized myself in many of the
characteristics listed on the profiles. I was admired and happy with the
identification with personalities like Abraham and Moses, that were very good
men, used by God, although they had difficulties and thought they were not
capable for their mission. I agree with this classification when it says that this
kind of person like me is sensitive and has tendency for arts, science and
philosophy. I have already said to myself that these three things are my favorite
things in life; it is my essence. The sin of Melancholic and Phlegmatic person is
having the focus on him/herself, and to overcome this he/she has to serve
others and with others.
Therefore, this reflection is very important to every human being. Some
people criticize it because they think its origin is related to bad or occult things,
like death rituals; but the fact is that people are different and it is hard to us
dealing each other. So, it is necessary to identify aspects of each temperament
to live in peace with everyone, practicing love as a lifestyle.

REFERENCES

Wiki CN Enciclopdia Cano Nova.

Disponvel em: http://wiki.cancaonova.com/index.php/Temperamentos.
Acesso em: 23. nov. 2009.