What is temperament in simple words. Temperament types

Every person is unique. Our psyche is multifaceted, we perceive the world differently. The perception of what is happening around depends on many factors, for example, upbringing, type of temperament, social experience. Let's look at what temperament is and its 4 main types.

Temperament: 4 types of human temperament

A person’s temperament can be called a kind of biological foundation on the basis of which the personality itself is formed. These are the social properties of the psyche that determine the dynamics mental activity, behavior and social adaptation of people.

Hippocrates is considered to be the founder of the doctrine of types of temperament. He argued that people are divided depending on the ratio of the four main substances of the body: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. Claudius Galen supported the idea of Hippocrates and wrote an entire scientific treatise called “Right Measure”. Claudius Galen identified four main types of human temperament. These are sanguine (blood), choleric (bile), phlegmatic (phlegm), melancholic (black bile).

Properties of temperament in psychology

Human temperament is based on a number of specific properties, such as:

Sensitivity. This is the degree of force of external influence necessary for a reaction to occur on the part of the psyche. Some people react calmly to external stimuli, others react violently;

Reactivity. The property of reactivity is determined by the level of involuntary reaction to internal or external influence (sharp sound, tone of voice);

Activity, relationship between activity and reactivity. These properties indicate how a person reacts to life difficulties. Is he ready to overcome various obstacles in life, to be focused, persistent, attentive;

Rigidity and plasticity. These properties of temperament can indicate how skillfully a person can adapt to external influences of the social environment;

Reactive Activity Rate. They characterize the speed of mental processes and reactions to external stimuli;

Introversion and extroversion. These properties depend on the speed of human reactions and the speed of solutions applied;

Emotional excitability. Characterizes the degree of external influence on a person in the form of manifestations of signs of emotional arousal;

Choleric - characteristics of temperament: pros and cons

Cholerics have a strong-willed character.

Type nervous system : unbalanced, unrestrained, overly mobile.

A choleric person takes on any difficult task, no matter how difficult it is. Such people are excellent speakers, they are eloquent and convincing in almost any dispute.

Choleric people are not vindictive, they quickly forget grievances and cannot hold within themselves for a long time a feeling of anger towards the offender.

Cholerics are excellent leaders, they can organize people and accept them complex solutions. In a critical situation, a choleric person is able to group, repel the enemy, and protect a weak person.

The choleric person is not restrained in his statements in relation to current events, and can sometimes become rude.

Cholerics have a certain tendency to dominate other people. Often people with such temperaments are prone to rapid mood changes and excessive gesticulation.

In the love sphere, the choleric person is quite jealous, and for him the loved one becomes a kind of property. People with this type of temperament quickly fall in love and become attached to another person. Sometimes choleric people in relationships are prone to anger and scandals.

Choleric children are quite capricious and are often the center of attention in the family. A child can use his emotions to achieve the desired result. Such children are often capricious, adolescence They are hyperactive and may be interested in sports or music, but they quickly become bored with their hobbies.

Disadvantages of a choleric person

The main disadvantages of a choleric person include:

Excessive haste in your actions and actions;
Cholerics are not patient;
Excessive impulsiveness and imbalance;
Excessive straightforwardness and harshness when communicating with other people;
Aggression that occurs periodically;

Psychologists recommend that choleric people learn to work on themselves. This work should include the ability to control oneself in any conflict situations. Often choleric people make rash decisions and literally throw themselves into the pool headlong. The ten-second tactic suits them, which consists of mentally counting to ten before making an important decision or expressing an opinion.

Sanguine person - characteristics: pros and cons of sanguine person

Sanguine people are cheerful and incorrigible optimists. These people cannot sit still; they need constant movement.

Sanguine people are very active, and this activity manifests itself in literally all areas of a sanguine person’s life. They love to be the center of attention, but unlike choleric people, they do not have the habits of dictators.

The peculiarity of the psychological behavior of sanguine people is characterized by a high degree of excitability.

Sanguine people know how to get along with people and find a compromise in any difficult life situations. They are resourceful and enterprising. A sanguine person can literally lead a crowd, because these people are excellent speakers who know how to convince others that they are right.

Hyperactivity does not give a sanguine person the right to sit still. He tries to make his life brighter and more interesting. Such people love to travel, discovering more and more new facets of the world around them. Many artists, musicians, and actors are sanguine.

Psychological feature of a sanguine person

If we talk about the psychological component of sanguine people, then in these people the degree of excitement in the central nervous system is quite high. On the contrary, the inhibition threshold is low, and therefore sanguine people perceive the world in a somewhat illusory way. But at the same time, memory functions are remarkably developed. Often sanguine people focus their memory only on what arouses their interest. They can remember funny cases, but at the same time forgetting the birthday dates of your friends. Sanguine people pay attention to noticeable details, such as bright clothes or the unusual hairstyle of their interlocutor.

The emotional background of sanguine people is quite diverse. These people are emotional and are not afraid to show their experiences to others. They often gesture when talking, and may hug or kiss when meeting. These emotions are completely sincere; a sanguine person wants to please people and receive the same reaction from them in return. Sanguine people are distinguished by unconventional thinking; they are constantly trying to learn something new, change their image or type of activity. Monotonous work and loneliness lead them to severe depression.

People with this type of temperament have a lot of friends. A sanguine person knows how to be friends, and always comes to a person’s aid in difficult situation. In personal relationships, sanguine people are sometimes flighty. An excessive thirst for communication prevents them from building a strong family.

The main disadvantages of sanguine people:

Inconsistency in actions and deeds. A sanguine person often gets down to business, but rarely completes it; such people cannot work in monotonous work;
Sanguine people often overestimate themselves and their capabilities;
People with a similar temperament have mood swings, it is difficult for them to develop strong-willed qualities;

Phlegmatic - characteristics: pros and cons

A phlegmatic person is a balanced person who carefully thinks through his every step. Usually such people have an analytical mind and look at life around them soberly.

Phlegmatic people are quite lazy, often prefer not to be active and go with the flow. They are always calm and unperturbed. Even if they have experienced stress or an unpleasant life situation, they do not always show their temper.

It is difficult to anger a phlegmatic person; his nervous system is like a scale keeping balance. If it is difficult to bring him to simple emotions, then making him show activity or joy is even more difficult.

In other words, the phlegmatic type of human temperament is recognized as the most balanced and emotionally stable.

Phlegmatic people do not immediately make contact with people; they need time to assess the situation. A sudden change in the environment is like a tragedy for them and it is very difficult to bear. These people do not like active entertainment, they like a cozy home environment, and often prefer to spend time alone with themselves.

Phlegmatic people are painstaking and diligent in their work, they have a good memory and can remember large amounts of information.

Phlegmatic people are rather closed and hidden; they are reluctant to show sympathy for another person. But if a phlegmatic person likes a representative of the opposite sex, then he will do everything to achieve his favor.

It is quite difficult to find friends with a phlegmatic person; he does not make contact well. But if a person with this type of temperament finds a friend, then this friendship can last a lifetime. For phlegmatic people, family is a kind of fortress in which they feel comfortable. Such people get married late and may spend a long time searching for a partner.

The main disadvantages of phlegmatic people:

They are often not receptive, do not take initiatives, and react poorly to external stimuli;
They may be stingy with emotions, slow to get involved in work, and have poor contact with people around them;
Difficulty adapting when changing living conditions;

Melancholic - characteristics: pros and cons of melancholic

Melancholic people are prone to attacks of despair and depression. The temperament of such people is sluggish and pessimistic. Any event, even a minor one, makes a melancholic person worry. He does not know how to enjoy life, and sees it exclusively in a negative tone. Sadness and melancholy can cover such a person for no reason; melancholic people often experience a feeling of self-pity.

People with this type of temperament have to resort to secrecy and suppression of emotions. They experience everything within themselves, which is why depressive mental states appear. Psychologists note that great amount people who commit suicide are melancholic.

A melancholic person reacts slowly to external stimuli, does not remember information well, and often suffers from a lot of complexes and an excessively low level of personal self-esteem. Motor activity is sluggish and inexpressive.

Melancholic people cannot work intensively and monotonously, as they necessarily need rest or short breaks to stabilize psychological state. In a social environment, such people are lethargic, uncommunicative, and it is difficult for them to find a soul mate or a close friend. It is difficult for them to be active and cheerful. They choose sanguine or choleric people as people, since this choice is explained by the melancholic’s subconscious desire to be taken care of.

It can be difficult for melancholic people to arrange them personal life. Often a big role in the fiasco love relationship plays their indecision and cowardice. They choose to be their life partner strong man. There are also advantages to this type of temperament.

Melancholic people are kind, vulnerable, and will always share the last thing they have. They subconsciously want to help a person in need.

Disadvantages of melancholic people:

Emotional instability, indecisiveness, lack of self-confidence and strength;
Difficulty with the perception of the surrounding world, vulnerability, pessimism;
Tendency to depressive states psyche;

Psychologists strongly recommend that melancholic people not close themselves off. Try to explore the world, travel, communicate with new people. You can try mentoring to improve your personal self-esteem. Engage in active sports, dancing, any creativity. A melancholic person needs to be close to loved ones and friends, and not withdraw into himself and his feelings.

Temperament is another secret door for those who want to know the soul of another person. Character and temperament are instinctive personality traits, and temperament is primary in relation to character. Temperament is the basis for the development of character, and from the point of view of physiology, it is a type of higher nervous activity person.

It expresses the individual psychological characteristics of a person, and also determines the procedural side of the psyche. Sometimes some are considered to be temperament physiological characteristics, on which it depends. Transmitting and receiving cells are organized into nerve circuits or networks. The actual connection points - specific points on the surface of nerve cells where their contact occurs - are called synapses (synapsis; Greek “contact”, “connection”), and the process of transmitting information in these places is called synoptic transmission.

For the first time, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates spoke about temperament as a personality trait.

What characterizes temperament

Temperament characterizes the dynamic characteristics of mental activity, i.e. the speed of the reaction, its pace, rhythm, intensity, sharpness, amplitude. It also reflects a person’s emotionality. These are impressionability (susceptibility, sensitivity to influences), speed (the speed with which emotion becomes the motivating force of actions) and emotional lability (the speed with which an emotional state ends, or is replaced by one another). (sensitivity to emotions), reflects the origin, duration, the speed of onset and cessation of various feelings, sensations and moods. Basic emotional states impressionability, impulsiveness and stability/instability of emotional states.

Impressionability reflects the subject's level of sensitivity, impulsivity, the speed with which emotions influence a person's behavior, and the speed with which a given emotional state passes or is replaced by another. Temperament is characterized by the dynamics of mental processes, depending on excitation and inhibition. Excitation is the functional activity of nerve cells and the cerebral cortex, inhibition is the attenuation of the activity of the cerebral cortex and nerves. Temperament is an innate quality, and can be corrected by about 25%. Why is this an innate quality? Since parents have physiological similarities with children, which are passed on genetically.

There are various neurons in our body that receive and transmit information. Nerve cells (neurons) perform their functions together, even the work of neurons in our brain is to receive signals from some other nerve cells and transmit them to others. Mature neurons, unlike other cells, cannot divide, and the genetically determined products of any neuron must ensure the preservation and change of its functions throughout its life. The nervous system generates electrical impulses, which are transmitted. That is, how strong they will be, how quickly they will be transmitted, in what rhythm, how quickly they will fade, etc., depends on our physiology.

Temperament is a reflection of all psychological and physiological activities of a person. Sometimes people with a strong, bright temperament are said to be full of vitality, or it is also called activity. Vitality can vary from a state of lethargy and inertia to extreme energy and even drive. The motor component of temperament is not just a characteristic, but a means of updating the internal dynamic and mental state of the individual. Dynamics

include: such characteristics

like: speed, strength, sharpness, rhythm, and variety. Many of these characteristics apply to speech activity.

It depends on the habitat of the race to which a person belongs; the warmer the country, the more pronounced the temperament. That is why we have a lot of jokes about temperamental Estonians and Englishmen. And tales about temperamental representatives of the African continent. Most of these ideas are exaggerated, but nevertheless, they are partially true. The northern temperament is not comparable to our more southern one, and if we take into account that there were infusions of even more southern peoples into our blood, then everything becomes clear. Quite a few types of temperament and approaches to them have been described. Let's look at the main 2.

Temperament and fear

Temperament types Pavlov's classification of temperaments. Strong, unrestrained, inert, weak. Pavlov identified 4 types of temperament, and classified them depending on: strength, balance, mobility.
nervous processes
2. Balance - a feature of the relationship between the processes of inhibition and excitation
3. Mobility - shows the ability to quickly (fast or slow) change the processes of excitation and inhibition.

Correspondence to Galen's temperament types and characteristics.
Strong - sanguine. Characteristics of this type of temperament: strength, agility of processes, extreme balance, a tendency to look for joyful moments everywhere, playing to the public.
Unrestrained - choleric. Characteristics: strength, mobility, imbalance.
Inert - phlegmatic. Characteristics: strength, poise, inactivity, calmness.
Weak - melancholic. A special feature of this type of temperament is a constant tendency towards melancholy, as well as weakness, imbalance, and inactivity.

Types of temperament and their characteristics

Here are presented types of temperament, according to Galen's classification and their characteristics. Galen developed it based on Hippocrates' classification of temperaments. Temperament is represented by 4 types, but it must be borne in mind that pure types are found only ideally, that is, in a book, and rarely do people approach them in life. There are about ten intermediate types of temperament. But the main ones are: choleric, phlegmatic, sanguine, and melancholic. The name of the types of temperament comes from the name of the types of fluid in the human body. Sanguine from sangua - blood, phlegmatic - from phlegm - mucus. Choleric - from chole, red (yellow) bile, melancholic from melanin - black bile. Many people do not fit pure types, including characteristics from one and from the other. The type of temperament is usually determined by the predominant characteristics.

Melancholic

People with a melancholic type of temperament have a weak nervous system, they are usually introverts (introverts are closed from emotions, communication, their thoughts are directed to the inner world, they prefer thinking and imagination to real actions) with high level neuroticism (neuroticism is a personality trait characterized by emotional instability, anxiety, low self-esteem, and sometimes autonomic disorders). They have a predominance of inhibition over excitation. A melancholic person is easily vulnerable, deeply worries about even minor failures, and outwardly reacts sluggishly to what is happening. Has increased sensitivity of the nervous system and an acute reaction to shades of feelings. His emotional experiences are deep and characterized by great duration and stability. Melancholic people are most susceptible to depression and imagining frightening situations, fear of physical pain and social punishment, they are also afraid of conflicts in communication, quarrels, and natural disasters. They are often subject to the blues, which is expressed in extreme pessimism, and fear of action.

People of this temperament type are perfectionists. They are idealists who want everything to be perfect, everything to go as usual and have its place in life. Their perfectionism is addressed to themselves: constant self-censorship and the desire for perfection. To the world and to others: inflated demands on others. If melancholic people do not meet their own standards, they criticize themselves; if others do not meet their standards, others do, and this often happens because their standards are too high. Many melancholic people dig in order to find out the secret of every little thing. Because "vegetating in ignorance" they can deviate from perfection. They are inquisitive and ask specific questions in order to come to a clearer understanding of everything in the world. They are very persistent and stubborn, because it is quite difficult to stick to such a course in life.

Choleric

Choleric temperament is characterized by a strong unbalanced nervous system, a significant predominance of excitation over inhibition, a high degree of extraversion (extroversion is an orientation towards the outside world, suggesting sociability, they prefer the social and practical aspects of life, are open to emotions) and low neuroticism, and are most prone to rage. The movements of a choleric person are fast and impetuous, as are actions, the flow of thoughts, and reactions; he is able to devote himself to work and love with all passion, they always go to the end. This type of temperament is unbalanced, prone to violent expressions of emotions and sudden changes in mood. Cholerics easily overcome difficulties, but have trouble controlling themselves and easily explode. They are leaders by nature, they are obeyed already in kindergarten. Choleric people have a feeling of anxiety. Their fears often relate to everyday life situations, and imaginary fears. The fear experienced by a choleric person contributes to the emergence of anxiety, fearfulness, and caution.

Cholerics are leaders and directors in life. They strive to be a leader, to be at the top, to be in control. They want to dominate and often use commanding imperatives in their speech. Cholerics love competition... but hate losing. They love to argue, but not in order to find out the truth, like melancholic people, but in order to confirm that they are right. People of this type of temperament are quick-tempered, but easy-going. They may blame others for their own mistakes in order to save face.

Sanguine (cycloid)

The temperament of a sanguine person is characterized by a strong, balanced, mobile nervous system, balanced reactions of excitation and inhibition, as well as a high degree of extraversion and neuroticism; of the emotions, he is most predisposed to joy. A sanguine person is characterized by such traits as mobility, liveliness, quick response to the events of the surrounding world, comparative speed of psychological reactions and psychological response, he experiences failures and troubles relatively easily, he simply does not get hung up on them. He strives for frequent changes of impressions. A sanguine person is resistant to the emotion of fear. But he sometimes exhibits elementary obsessions; more often than others, they have a fear of heights. The most powerful hypochondriacal fear manifested in a sanguine person is the fear of going crazy; they are not so much afraid of death as of losing their comfortable, habitually down-to-earth healthy and sound mental existence.

Sanguine people love to be surrounded by other people. How more people all the better, it makes them feel less alone. Loneliness frightens and depresses them. Sanguine people want to be the center of attention, recognition of compliments and praise. They are talkative, energetic, and often joke and laugh.

Phlegmatic person

The temperament of a phlegmatic person is characterized by a strong, inert and balanced nervous system, composure and balance of nervous processes, introversion and low neuroticism. They are characterized by slowness in everything, in reactions, deeds, actions, they are calm, thorough, restrained, sometimes even too much. Phlegmatic people in general were not prone to violent emotional reactions. They have a persistent desire for more or less constant moods; the external expression of mental states is rather weak. A phlegmatic person is characterized by feelings of anxiety and melancholy. He is not able to get scared quickly and easily, he needs time; when he finds himself in a new environment, he will be lonely, since he needs time to get used to it. A phlegmatic person is little susceptible to fear; they are afraid mainly of imaginary actions, but they are afraid of sudden changes and the unknown.

The temperament of these people dictates submission. They are quite easy to lead, they are easy to persuade. They are not confrontational, and try to diffuse the situation when the situation approaches its climax.

They are empathetic and keenly aware of the feelings of those around them, and are very sensitive to the feelings of others. But they themselves are often used for their own purposes. They are obligatory and indecisive. As a rule, they do not see themselves as a leader; they work better if you tell them what to do. They are afraid to make decisions and lead.

Pure and transitional types of temperament

Phlegmatic and melancholic people have a calm (inhibited) temperament. And among choleric and sanguine people, temperament is strongly expressed. Accordingly, fears and other emotions will be felt more strongly. The strongest type of temperament in relation to the manifestation of emotions is sanguine, and the weakest is phlegmatic. There are more people with which types? Pavlov said that in the process of evolution, the weak type should have disappeared altogether. But it didn't disappear! On the question of the quantitative relationship between types of temperaments. The most numerous is the sanguine group (44%), in second place is the melancholic group (29%), in third place is the choleroid group (14%), and in fourth place is the phlegmanoid group (9%). The number of “balanced” people in the human population is only 4%. Data from the article are pure and transitional types of temperament.

transitional types

But this cannot be said to be very good. Scientists have noticed that the strongest and most outstanding individuals, as a rule, have a strong character, and a pure type of temperament. Thus, O.V. Suvorov, A.S. Pushkin, I.P. Pavlov approached “pure” choleric people. Famous melancholic people: Mozart, Poganini. Sanguine - Yu. A. Gagarin. Many other equally famous people also had pure, or close to pure, types. So don't hide your temperament type and don't change yourself.

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The very first ideas about temperaments belong to Hippocrates. Ancient Greek philosopher and the doctor classified people according to the fluid that predominated in them. Sanguine - blood, choleric - bile, phlegmatic - mucus, melancholic - black bile. Modern ideas about temperaments have changed somewhat, although the names have remained the same. What is temperament and what role does it play in a person’s life? Let's figure it out.

Temperament is based on the type of higher nervous system. People (like animals) differ from each other from birth:

by the strength of the processes of excitation and inhibition;
the balance of these processes;
mobility (changeability) of excitation and inhibition processes.

Taken together, this determines the endurance of nerve cells, that is, the endurance of the psyche.

Discovery of temperament

When excitation predominates over inhibition, conditioned reflexes are formed quickly and slowly subside, and when the ratio is reversed, conditioned reflexes are formed slowly and quickly fade away. These patterns were discovered by the domestic scientist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov.

This discovery made an invaluable contribution to the further development of psychology and pedagogy. Currently, there is no doubt that each person requires an individual approach in the process of education, training or psychological correction.

Temperament and personality

Temperament is a set of innate mental properties. It serves as the basis for character formation. This is what is biological in a person.

At the same time, temperament is involved in. As a totality individual characteristics it affects the dynamics and emotional side and behavior of a person.

Depends on temperament:

speed of occurrence of mental activity;
stability of mental processes;
mental tempo and rhythm;
intensity of mental processes;
direction of mental activity.

Anxiety, impulsiveness, emotionality, impressionability and other properties depend on temperament.

Temperament and character

Temperament is often confused with. I propose to put an end to the differentiation of these issues once and for all.

If character is a product of socialization, then temperament is an innate, unchangeable feature of an individual.
You cannot change your temperament, but you can learn to manage it. Character can be changed.
Temperamental traits can be masked by personality traits, making it difficult to determine what type of temperament a particular person belongs to.

Temperament and activity

Temperament provides an individual style of activity, that is, work methods characteristic of a particular person. So, for example, one child, when solving a problem, can sit idle for a long time, think about it and immediately write down the result, while another will immediately start writing something down, sketching it out, crossing it out, and after a while will isolate the main thing from it. Same result - different ways to achieve it.

Properties of temperament

Each temperament has certain properties.

Sensitivity

This implies the necessary minimum force of external stimulation to initiate reactions in the individual’s psyche. In addition, sensitivity involves assessing the speed of this reaction.

Reactivity

Determines the strength and speed of response to an unexpected stimulus, that is, it involuntary reactions to light, loud sound, unexpected action. A person’s distractibility and ability to concentrate depend on reactivity.

Activity (passivity)

The degree of influence of temperament on the stimuli surrounding it. Simply put, this is the speed with which a person can influence the circumstances and obstacles that prevent him from achieving his goal. Activity stems from the relationship between a person’s orientation to the outside world (previous point) and focus on his goals, desires, needs, and beliefs.

Plasticity (rigidity)

This characterizes the speed of a person’s adaptation to change. external environment. Plasticity is a good ability to adapt, rigidity is the impossibility, difficulty in changing beliefs, views, interests.

Extraversion (introversion)

A person’s orientation towards the external or internal world (direction of vital energy). The second interpretation: a person’s orientation towards the external present () or figurative past or future ().

Excitability of emotions

Determines the speed of emotional response to a minimal external stimulus (the minimal force to which an emotional reaction occurs).

Rate of reactions

This is the speed of mental processes and reactions (duration): speed of reaction, rate of speech, speed of mind.

The properties of temperament manifest themselves depending on the situation and specific conditions. Therefore, people of different temperaments can act completely differently in identical situations, but in the same way under different conditions.

Temperament types

In psychology, it is customary to distinguish 4 types of temperament, or types of the nervous system (according to its properties). But at the same time, there are several typologies.

According to the processes of excitation-inhibition

Sanguine

This is a strong, agile and balanced type. It is characterized by a rapid process of excitation and its rapid change to inhibition.

A person with this type of psyche is characterized by love of life, activity, sociability, and responsiveness.
He is not prone to worry, easily adapts to new conditions, and strives for leadership.
A sanguine person is successful in work, friendship and love.
He easily switches from one activity to another and changes hobbies with the same ease.
However, without external stimuli, he begins to get bored and becomes lethargic.
He is always distinguished by some superficiality in his perception of people and phenomena, which sometimes causes difficulties in interpersonal relationships. But a sanguine person can easily cope with them.
Sanguine people are bright, but unstable.
Laughs often and loudly, but gets angry over trifles.
Resourceful and agile, can manage emotions.
As a rule, he has fast speech.

Phlegmatic person

This is a strong, inert and balanced type. Conditioned reflexes are developed slowly, but then become very stable.

A person with this type is always passive, cautious and reasonable. Sometimes it comes to the point of “tediousness and nausea.”
At the same time, he is peaceful and friendly.
It is easy to manage and control its actions.
A phlegmatic person is not emotional or sensitive, but you can always rely on him.
He has great perseverance, self-control, patience, high efficiency, but is slow.
Stable in relationships, not prone to change.
Provides good resistance to negative long-term stimuli from the outside. The self-control and composure characteristic of a phlegmatic person sometimes turns into indifference to oneself, others, and work.

Choleric

Strong, agile and unbalanced type. Excitation processes prevail over inhibition processes.

Easily excitable, aggressive and restless type.
Choleric is characterized by variability, inconstancy, impulsiveness, activity and optimism.
Together with the big one vital energy One can highlight incontinence and abruptness of movements and actions, loudness, low level of self-control, impatience and frequent sudden changes moods.
A choleric person is distinguished by expressive facial expressions, fast speech and rapid movements.

Melancholic

Weak, inert (or mobile) and unbalanced type.

Characterized by a pessimistic attitude, a tendency to anxiety and reasoning.
He is reserved and uncommunicative, easily vulnerable, emotional, and highly sensitive.
Shows little resistance to external stimuli, is inhibited and passive.
A melancholic person, as a rule, is not self-confident, timid, timid, and touchy.
But his inner world and associative thinking are very reeking.
A melancholic person is not distinguished by expressive facial expressions and movements, and does not adapt well to new conditions.
Characterized by quiet speech, poor attention and fatigue.

Galen's typology

The Roman philosopher and physician Galen also identified 4 types of temperament, but he focused on feelings. This typology does not contradict the others, on the contrary, it complements them and, in my opinion, is of particular interest from the position of everyday psychology.

Sanguine

Pliable to feelings, but quickly cools down. Strives for pleasure, a trusting and gullible person.

Choleric

A man of passions. He is characterized by pride, vindictiveness and ambition.

Phlegmatic person

Resistant to the influences of feelings. Doesn't complain or be indignant, gets irritated with great difficulty.

Melancholic

Sadness is his main characteristic. Any suffering seems unbearable, and desires are saturated with sadness. He often thinks that he is being neglected and is offended by small things.

According to the ratio of signaling systems

The signal system is usually called a set of mental processes responsible for perception, analysis of information and response. A person has two such systems:

the first signaling system (the assimilation of information through the activity of the cerebral cortex, through receptors);
second signaling system (everything related to speech and words).

Based on the relationship between signaling systems, 3 types of people (temperaments) can be distinguished.

Artist

The first signaling system predominates.

Thinker

The second signaling system predominates.

Mixed type

Approximately equal influence of both systems.

This classification is considered relative, since the severity of the systems depends on the specific type of activity.

Constitutional theory of E. Kretschmer

The German psychiatrist and psychologist Kretschmer compiled a typology of temperaments depending on a person’s physique.

Schizothymic (asthenic type)

Weak-willed and withdrawn type, prone to emotional swings. A gentleman and a dreamer, an idealist. At the same time, the schizothymic person is stubborn and selfish, prone to abstract thinking.

Cyclothymic (pyknic type)

Like the first type, it is distinguished by emotional waves. He is a cheerful chatterbox and humorist, a realist, and a good conversationalist.

Ixothymic (athletic type)

He is not flexible in thought, calm and unimpressive. His gestures and facial expressions are restrained. Ixothymic has difficulty adapting to new conditions.

By observing a person’s behavior and assessing his physique, we can guess what type of temperament he belongs to. This will be useful for establishing contact.

Definition of temperament and brief instructions for interaction

You can guess the temperament of your interlocutor based on observations of him, but this is an ambiguous and complex method. Currently, there are many accurate methods for diagnosis and self-diagnosis.

Eysenck test. The most popular technique that determines the type of temperament on two scales: stable and unstable, introversion and extroversion. Allows you to determine the severity of each type and the nature of mixed temperament. Suitable for self-diagnosis.
Another popular technique is the Belov formula. This questionnaire is smaller than the previous one, characterizes only temperaments (without scales), but also gives the value and percentage of each type in a person.

Determining temperament is the first stage, but far from the main one. Much more important is the ability to understand the person opposite and interact with him competently, taking into account his innate characteristics.

Interaction with a choleric person

Remember that not everything that a choleric person says is really true. It's just that his speech is ahead of his thoughts.
The conditions and specific emotions of the choleric person at the moment are to blame. Under other conditions, he may say the opposite.
If, in a fit of anger, a choleric person said something unpleasant, this does not mean at all that he really has a bad opinion of you.
In a relationship with a choleric person, you should be lenient, not take everything to heart, take into account situations that are individually dangerous for him and avoid them.
Remember that choleric people do not get hung up on quarrels and conflicts (especially random and momentary ones), they actually forget them and never return to discussions.
Do not put pressure on the choleric person, especially in work matters.
Instead, give yourself a break and provide support.

Interaction with a sanguine person

Communication is the air for a sanguine person. It’s worth getting used to and accepting the fact that there are always a lot of people around him. People are drawn to a sanguine person, and he is drawn to them.
It seems that it is impossible to argue with him, but this is not so. Despite their optimism and friendliness, sanguine people are rich in “cockroaches”.
Due to the superficiality of their judgments, sanguine people often make the wrong conclusions. But they cannot be superficial. Remember this and give them a second chance.
It is difficult for a sanguine person to admit his mistakes; he does not know how to do this. That's why you shouldn't wait for it.
Face - instructions for a sanguine person. The case when everything is really written on the face. Be observant, and the facial expressions of a sanguine person will tell you everything: what a person thinks, what is pleasant to him, what is unpleasant, and so on.
Constantly feed it with impressions and events. With monotony and the same type of sensations, a sanguine person gets bored and may leave the relationship. But they become attached to those who always give them new emotions, sensations and conditions of reality for a long time.
Sanguine people like it when they are asked for advice or asked for their opinion.
Reason with him, solve problems, make plans.
Don't neglect extreme sports and adrenaline.

Interaction with a melancholic person

Avoid loud and sharp sounds and screams.
Do not resort to a negative assessment of the melancholic person and what is dear to him.
Avoid criticism, punishment, and reproach. If necessary, choose soft, non-accusatory forms.
Getting close to a melancholic person is simple - you need to evoke self-pity, tell a sad story, evoke and show sympathy.
Avoid extreme situations and entertainment.
Preference should be given to warm, sincere conversations.
When it comes to films, a melancholic person will prefer drama to horror and thrillers.
Never say “urgently”, don’t push, don’t demand, don’t order. This drives the melancholic person into a stupor, he begins to frantically make the wrong movements, panics, and does not understand anything.
In detailed work that requires focus and attention, a melancholic person is an excellent candidate.
A melancholic person should be introduced to new people gradually and carefully. Don’t “throw him into the hole with all his might.”
Melancholic people have well-developed intuition, they rarely make mistakes.

Interaction with a phlegmatic person

You can recognize a phlegmatic person only through communication, but you need to pull everything out with pincers.
Phlegmatic people are conservatives, so you shouldn’t demand that they quickly get used to and accept something new.
In new situations or after a non-standard proposal, give the phlegmatic person enough time to think.
Don’t expect efficiency and speed in other matters either. A person interacting with a phlegmatic person must be able to wait and be patient.
Don't expect sympathy or other emotional responses, especially momentarily.
But this does not mean that they are completely indifferent and do not experience emotions. A phlegmatic person may worry about you, but it is difficult for him to squeeze out words or gestures; he would rather silently do something useful for you.
By the way, they expect the same sympathy from others: support in deeds, not in words.
If you want to win the favor of a phlegmatic person, then you need to be realistic, avoid fantasies, demonstrate logic and prudence, equanimity and rationality.
Entertainment, holidays, creativity, and conversations do not attract a phlegmatic person. The matter is important to him.
The second thing that attracts you is its clear, practical, understandable speech. It is recommended to avoid imagery and slang when communicating with a phlegmatic person.
It is better to write out all requests or tasks for a phlegmatic person on paper, writing them down as clear instructions.

There are no bad or good temperaments; you can find a common language with any person, however, provided that your temperaments coincide.

For example, a choleric person is incompatible with a sanguine person. These are two leaders.
Neither a choleric person nor a melancholic person can get along. One does not intentionally, but constantly offends, the other is offensive in itself.
Choleric and phlegmatic are the best option.
A sanguine person and a phlegmatic person will often quarrel, but at the same time they can resolve these conflicts. However, dissatisfaction with each other will increase.
A sanguine person will be suited to his opposite - a melancholic person. Moreover, it is ideal if the sanguine person is a man.

I would like to introduce you, dear friends, to some interesting facts about temperaments.

Happy married couples come from people with different temperaments.
For friendship, on the contrary, it is important that the temperaments are the same (except for choleric people).
Phlegmatic people are universal partners in any relationship, but not with phlegmatic people.
Sanguine people make excellent leaders. A choleric or phlegmatic person is completely unsuitable for such a role.
Job descriptions and other information should be presented in different forms for each temperament type.
The phlegmatic person is slow to respond to questions.
A sanguine person because of haste, and a choleric person because of impetuosity is prone to rash and incorrect answers.
You need to ask a melancholic person gently and kindly.
The specificity of people’s speech and the nature of information transfer depend on temperament. We can present the same picture from words of different types in completely different ways.

It is worth noting that in practice pure types of temperament are rarely found; mixed ones are more common. This makes it even more difficult to determine temperament and choose an approach to interacting with a person.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the compatibility of people in temperament, or at least understanding the characteristics of another person, is important for any area of relationships (family, professional, friendly). We often hear the phrase “We didn’t get along in character,” but in fact it would be more correct to say “We didn’t get along in temperament.” And this really can happen.

The problem that will be discussed in this lecture has occupied humanity for more than 25 centuries. Interest in it is associated with the evidence of individual differences between people. The psyche of each person is unique. Its uniqueness is associated both with the peculiarities of the biological and physiological structure and development of the organism, and with the unique composition of social connections and contacts. The biologically determined substructures of personality include, first of all, temperament. When they talk about temperament, they mean many mental differences between people - differences in depth, intensity, stability of emotions, emotional sensitivity, pace, energy of actions and other dynamic, individually stable features mental life, behavior and activity. Nevertheless, temperament today remains a largely controversial and unresolved problem. However, with all the diversity of approaches to the problem, scientists and practitioners admit that temperament- the biological foundation on which the personality is formed as a social being. Temperament reflects the dynamic aspects of behavior, mainly of an innate nature, therefore the properties of temperament are the most stable and constant compared to other mental characteristics of a person. The most specific feature of temperament is that various properties The temperaments of a given person are not accidentally combined with each other, but are naturally interconnected, forming a certain organization that characterizes the 3 temperaments.

So, under temperament one should understand the individually unique properties of the psyche that determine the dynamics of a person’s mental activity, which, equally manifested in a variety of activities regardless of its content, goals, motives, remain constant in adulthood and in interconnection characterize the type of temperament.

Before we look at various types and characteristics of temperament, it should immediately be noted that there are no better or worse temperaments - each of them has its own positive sides, and therefore the main efforts should not be aimed at correcting it, but at the reasonable use of its advantages in specific activities. Man has long made attempts to isolate and realize typical features mental make-up different people, trying to reduce all their diversity to a small number of generalized portraits. Since ancient times, such generalized portraits have been called types of temperaments. Typologies of this kind were practically useful, since with their help it was possible to predict the behavior of people with a certain temperament in specific life situations.

Typologies of temperament

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (VXVIII century BC) is considered the creator of the doctrine of temperaments. He argued that people differ in the ratio of the 4 main “body juices” - blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile - that make up its composition. Based on his teachings, the most famous physician of antiquity after Hippocrates, Claudius Galen (II century BC), developed the first typology of temperaments, which he outlined in the famous treatise “De temperamentum” (Latin “proportionality”, “correct measure”) . According to his teaching the type of temperament depends on the predominance of one of the juices in the body. They identified temperaments that are still widely known today: sanguine(from Latin sanguis - blood), phlegmatic(from Greek phlegma - phlegm), choleric(from Greek chole - bile), melancholic(from the Greek melas chole - black bile). This fantastic concept has had a huge influence on scientists for many centuries.

A variety of typologies of temperaments emerged. Of greatest interest are those in which the properties of temperament, understood as hereditary or innate, were associated with individual differences in physique characteristics. These typologies are called constitutional typologies. Among them are the typologies of E. Kretschmer, W. Sheldon and others.

IN psychological science Most constitutional concepts have become the object of intense criticism. The main disadvantage of such theories is that they underestimate, and sometimes simply openly ignore, the role of the environment and social conditions in the formation of the psychological properties of an individual.

In fact, the dependence of the course of mental processes and human behavior on the functioning of the nervous system, which plays a dominant and controlling role in the body, has long been known. Theory of connection of some general properties nervous processes with types of temperament was proposed by I.P. Pavlov and was developed in the works of his followers.

I. P. Pavlov understood the type of nervous system as innate, relatively weakly susceptible to changes under the influence of environment and upbringing. According to I.P. Pavlov, the properties of the nervous system form the physiological basis of temperament, which is mental manifestation general type of nervous system. I. P. Pavlov proposed to extend the types of nervous system established in animal studies to humans.

Each person has a very specific type of nervous system, the manifestations of which, i.e. Characteristics of temperament constitute an important aspect of individual psychological differences. Specific manifestations of the type of temperament are diverse. They are not only noticeable in the external manner of behavior, but seem to permeate all aspects of the psyche, significantly manifesting themselves in cognitive activity, the sphere of feelings, motives and actions of a person, as well as in the nature of mental work, characteristics of speech, etc.

To compile the psychological characteristics of the traditional 4 types, the following basic properties of temperament are usually distinguished:

Sensitivity is determined by the minimum force of external influences necessary for the occurrence of any psychological reaction.

Reactivity characterized by the degree of involuntary reactions to external or internal influences of equal strength (a critical remark, an offensive word, a harsh tone - even sound).

Activity indicates how intensely (energetically) a person influences the outside world and overcomes obstacles in achieving goals (perseverance, focus, concentration).

Relationship between reactivity and activity determines on what a person’s activity largely depends: on random external or internal circumstances (moods, random events) or on goals, intentions, beliefs.

Plasticity and rigidity indicate how easily and flexibly a person adapts to external influences (plasticity) or how inert and skeletal his behavior is.

Rate of reactions characterizes the speed of various mental reactions and processes, the pace of speech, the dynamics of gestures, and the speed of the mind.

Extroversion, introversion determines what a person’s reactions and activities primarily depend on - on external impressions arising in this moment(extrovert), or from images, ideas and thoughts associated with the past and future (introvert).

Emotional excitability characterized by how weak an impact is necessary for the occurrence of an emotional reaction and with what speed it occurs.

Taking into account all the listed properties, Ya. Strelyau gives the following psychological characteristics main classical types of temperament:

Sanguine

A person with increased reactivity, but at the same time his activity and reactivity are balanced. He responds vividly, excitedly to everything that attracts his attention, has lively facial expressions and expressive movements. He laughs loudly for a minor reason, but an insignificant fact can make him very angry. From his face it is easy to guess his mood, attitude towards an object or person. He has a high sensitivity threshold, so he does not notice very weak sounds and light stimuli. Having increased activity, and being very energetic and efficient, he actively takes on new work and can work for a long time without getting tired. He is able to concentrate quickly, is disciplined, and, if desired, can restrain the manifestation of his feelings and involuntary reactions. He is characterized by quick movements, flexibility of mind, resourcefulness, fast pace of speech, quick inclusion in new job. High plasticity is manifested in the variability of feelings, moods, interests, and aspirations. A sanguine person easily gets along with new people and quickly gets used to new requirements and surroundings. Without effort, he not only switches from one job to another, but also responds to a greater extent to external impressions than to subjective images and ideas about the past and future, an extrovert.

Choleric

Like a sanguine person, he is characterized by low sensitivity, high reactivity and activity. But in a choleric person, reactivity clearly prevails over activity, so he is unbridled, unrestrained, impatient, and quick-tempered. He is less plastic and more inert than a sanguine person. Hence - greater stability of aspirations and interests, greater perseverance, difficulties in switching attention are possible, he is more of an extrovert.

Phlegmatic person

The phlegmatic person has high activity, which significantly prevails over low reactivity, low sensitivity and emotionality. It is difficult to make him laugh and sadden - when people laugh loudly around him, he can remain calm. In big troubles he remains calm. Usually he has poor facial expressions, his movements are not expressive and are slow, as is his speech. He is not resourceful, has difficulty switching attention and adapting to a new environment, and slowly rebuilds skills and habits. At the same time, he is energetic and efficient. Characterized by patience, endurance, self-control. As a rule, he has difficulty meeting new people, responds poorly to external impressions, and is an introvert.

Melancholic

A person with high sensitivity and low reactivity. Increased sensitivity with great inertia leads to the fact that an insignificant reason can cause him to cry, he is overly touchy, painfully sensitive. His facial expressions and movements are inexpressive, his voice is quiet, his movements are poor. Usually he is unsure of himself, timid, the slightest difficulty makes him give up. A melancholic person is unenergetic and unstable, gets tired easily and has little capacity for work. It is characterized by easily distracted and unstable attention, and a slow pace of all mental processes. Most melancholic people are introverts.

Temperament and activity

A person’s work productivity is closely related to the characteristics of his temperament. Thus, the special mobility (reactivity) of a sanguine person can bring additional effect, if the work requires a change in objects of communication, type of occupation. A false impression may be created that inert people do not have advantages in any type of activity, but this is not true: it is they who carry out slow and smooth movements especially easily. For psychological and pedagogical influence, it is necessary to take into account the possible type of human temperament. Advice from R. M. Granovskaya: it is useful to monitor the activities of a choleric person as often as possible; when working with him, harshness and lack of restraint are unacceptable, as they can cause a negative response. At the same time, any of his actions must be strictly and fairly assessed. At the same time, negative assessments are necessary only in a very vigorous form and as often as required to improve the results of his work or study. A sanguine person should be constantly given new, if possible interesting, tasks that require concentration and tension from him.

Phlegmatic need to be involved in active activities and interested. He demands to himself systematic attention. It cannot be quickly switched from one task to another. In relation to a melancholic person, not only harshness and rudeness are unacceptable, but also simply a raised tone and irony. It is better to talk to him alone about the action committed by a melancholic person. He requires special attention; he should be praised in time for his demonstrated success, determination and will. Negative evaluation should be used as carefully as possible, mitigating its negative impact in every possible way. Melancholic- the most sensitive and vulnerable type. You have to be extremely soft and friendly with him.

It can be considered already firmly established that a person’s type of temperament is innate; what specific properties of his innate organization it depends on has not yet been fully clarified. Innate characteristics of temperament are manifested in a person in such mental processes that depend on upbringing, social environment and the ability to control one’s reactions. Therefore, a specific reaction to a situation can be determined both by the influence of characteristic differences in the nervous system and as a result of training and professional experience. However, the limits possible development determined by the innate properties of the nervous system. Professional selection helps to identify applicants with the most suitable for a given specialty.

Four types of temperament

Temperament (lat. Temperamentum- proper correlation of parts) is a stable combination of individual personality characteristics associated with dynamic rather than substantive aspects of activity. Temperament is the basis of character development; in general, from a physiological point of view temperament is a type of higher nervous activity of a person.

Temperament is an individually unique property of the psyche that reflects the dynamics of a person’s mental activity and manifests itself regardless of its goals, motives and content. Temperament changes little throughout life, and, in fact, it is not even the temperament that changes, but the psyche, and the temperament is always stable.

Four temperaments in the form of visual emoticons (phlegmatic, choleric, sanguine, melancholic) are shown in Fig. 7.

The magic of numbers in the Mediterranean civilization led to the doctrine of four temperaments, while in the East a five-component “world system” developed. The word “temperament” and the Greek word “krasis” (Greek hraots; “merging, mixing”), which is equal in meaning, were introduced by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. By temperament he understood both the anatomical, physiological, and individual psychological characteristics of a person. Hippocrates, and then Galen, explained temperament, as behavioral characteristics, by the predominance in the body of one of the “vital juices” (four elements):

the predominance of yellow bile (“bile, poison”) makes a person impulsive, “hot” - choleric;
the predominance of lymph (“phlegm”) makes a person calm and slow - phlegmatic;
the predominance of blood (“blood”) makes a person active and cheerful - sanguine;
the predominance of black bile (“black bile”) makes a person sad and fearful - melancholic.

Rice. 7. Four temperaments

This system still has a profound influence on literature, art and science.

A truly turning point in the history of the natural scientific study of temperaments was the teaching of I.P. Pavlova about the types of the nervous system (types of higher nervous activity) common to humans and higher mammals. I.P. Pavlov proved that the physiological basis of temperament is the type of higher nervous activity, determined by the relationship between the basic properties of the nervous system: strength, balance and mobility of the processes of excitation and inhibition occurring in the nervous system. The type of nervous system is determined by the genotype, i.e. hereditary type. I.P. Pavlov identified four clearly defined types of the nervous system, i.e. certain complexes of basic properties of nervous processes.

The weak type is characterized by weakness of both excitatory and inhibitory processes - melancholic.

The strong unbalanced type is characterized by a strong irritability process and a relatively strong inhibition process - choleric, “uncontrollable” type.

A strong, balanced, mobile type is a sanguine person, a “living” type.

Strong, balanced, but with inert nervous processes - phlegmatic, “calm” type.

Strength is the ability of nerve cells to maintain normal performance under significant stress in the processes of excitation and inhibition, the ability of the central nervous system to perform certain work without the need to restore its resources. A strong nervous system is able to withstand a heavy load for a long time and, conversely, a weak nervous system cannot withstand a large and long-term load. It is believed that people with a stronger nervous system are more resilient and more resistant to stress. The strength of the nervous system in terms of excitation is manifested in the fact that it is relatively easy for a person to work in unfavorable conditions, a short rest is enough for him to recuperate after tiring work, he is able to work intensively, does not get lost in an unusual environment, and is persistent. The power of the nervous system to inhibit is manifested in a person’s ability to restrain his activity, for example, not to talk, to show calmness, self-control, to be restrained and patient.

The balance of nervous processes reflects the ratio, balance of excitation and inhibition. In this case, balance means the same expression of nervous processes.

The mobility of the nervous system is expressed in the ability to quickly move from one process to another, from one activity to another. Persons with a more mobile nervous system are characterized by flexible behavior and adapt more quickly to new conditions.

Describing the characteristics of different temperaments can help to understand the traits of a person’s temperament if they are clearly expressed, but people with clearly expressed traits of a certain temperament are not very common; most often people have mixed temperament in various combinations. Although, of course, the predominance of traits of a particular type of temperament makes it possible to classify a person’s temperament as one or another type.

Temperament and human abilities

A person with any type of temperament can be capable or incapable - the type of temperament does not affect a person’s abilities, it’s just that some life tasks are easier to solve by a person of one type of temperament, others - by another. The following depend on a person’s temperament:

the speed of occurrence of mental processes (for example, speed of perception, speed of thinking, duration of concentration, etc.);
plasticity and stability of mental phenomena, ease of their change and switching;
pace and rhythm of activity;
intensity of mental processes (for example, strength of emotions, activity of will):
the focus of mental activity on certain objects (extraversion or introversion).

From the point of view of psychologists, four temperaments - just one of the possible systems for assessing psychological characteristics (there are others, for example, “introversion - extraversion”). Descriptions of temperaments vary quite a lot among different psychologists and, apparently, include quite a large number of factors.

Attempts have been made to provide a scientific and experimental basis for the theory of temperaments (I.P. Pavlov, G.Yu. Eysenck, B.M. Teplov, etc.), however, the results obtained by these researchers are only partially compatible with each other. Of interest is the study by T.A. Blyumina (1996), in which she attempted to compare the theory of temperaments with all psychological typologies known at that time (more than 100), including from the point of view of methods for determining these types.

In general, the classification by temperament does not satisfy modern requirements for factor analysis of personality and at the moment is more interesting from a historical point of view.

Modern science sees in the doctrine of temperaments an echo of the ancient classification of four types of mental response in combination with intuitively noticed types of physiological and biochemical reactions of the individual.

Currently, the concept of four temperaments is supported by the concepts of “inhibition” and “excitation” of the nervous system. The ratio of “high” and “low” levels for each of these two independent parameters gives a certain individual characteristic of a person, and, as a result. - a formal definition of each of the four temperaments. On emoticons (see Fig. 7) you can interpret a smile; as the ease of inhibition processes, and frowning eyebrows - as a manifestation of the ease of excitation.

The work of scientists on the human genome creates conditions for revealing the functions of human genes that determine temperament through hormones (serotonin, melatonin, dopamine) and other biochemical mediators. Biochemistry and genetics make it possible to establish and formalize the psychological phenotypes of people, noticed even by doctors of antiquity.

The original concept of temperament is presented in the books by Y. Feldman “The Theory of Levels and the Model of Man” (2005) and “The Philosopher on the Beach” (2009). They consider the situation of “a person in a stream of similar tasks.” It turns out that a person is involved in the solution gradually, the number of errors and the time to solve one problem gradually decreases. Then they say that “performance is increasing” or “heating is increasing.” Then a maximum occurs (plateau), then the warming up drops to zero (refusal of the decision, rest). It is believed that for each person such a curve is repeated periodically; this is his individual characteristic. If randomly selected people are placed in the same task flow, their warm-up curves will fall into four groups. These four types of warm-up curves correspond exactly to the four temperaments:

rapid rise - high and short plateau - rapid decline (choleric);
moderately fast rise - moderately high and short plateau - moderately fast decline (sanguine);
slow rise - low and long plateau - slow decline (phlegmatic);
a very slow rise - a high surge in the middle and a return to a low point - and then a slow decline to zero (melancholic).

So, temperament is the most general formal-dynamic characteristic of individual human behavior.