Four temperaments facts for kids

The Four Temperaments is an old idea about how people's personalities work. It suggests that different types of people have different ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. This idea comes from ancient times. It was believed that four special fluids in the body affected a person's personality. These four main personality types are called sanguine, choleric, melancholy, and phlegmatic.

Ancient Ideas About Humours

The four humours

Long ago, a famous doctor named Galen lived in the Roman Empire. He added ideas about how these four bodily fluids, called "humours," were linked to different qualities:

• Mucus (also called phlegm) was seen as cold and damp.
• Black bile was thought to be cold and dry.
• Yellow bile was considered warm and dry.
• Blood was believed to be warm and damp.

Galen thought that if you were sick, it meant these fluids were out of balance. To get better, you needed to balance them again. For example, if you had too much blood (which was warm and damp), you would need something cold and dry to fix it.

Here's a simple way to look at the humours and their old ideas:

• Blood: Linked to spring and air. It was thought to make people brave, hopeful, and loving. This was the sanguine type.
• Yellow bile: Linked to summer and fire. It was thought to make people easily angered or bad-tempered. This was the choleric type.
• Black bile: Linked to autumn and earth. It was thought to make people sad, sleepless, or easily annoyed. This was the melancholic type.
• Phlegm: Linked to winter and water. It was thought to make people calm and not easily emotional. This was the phlegmatic type.

Personality Types

These old ideas about humours led to the four main personality types we talk about today.

Sanguine Personality

A sanguine person is usually very energetic and happy. They are often friendly, enjoy talking, and are good at encouraging others. They can also be very creative. Sanguine people like to be noticed and have fun.

However, they might sometimes forget things they need to do. They can also be late for meetings or plans. If they feel like people don't appreciate them, they might get sad. They also tend to lose interest in new hobbies quickly once the fun part is over.

Choleric Personality

A choleric person is often seen as a leader. They are ambitious and like to be in charge. They are good at making plans and getting things done. They usually don't lose interest in their goals.

But they can sometimes be bossy, especially if they don't have control. They might also be critical of others. When they don't get their way, they can get into a bad mood.

Melancholy Personality

A melancholic person is often a deep thinker and a perfectionist. They usually prefer to spend time alone rather than in big social groups. They like to follow a schedule and are very honest. They say what they mean.

Because they want everything to be perfect, they can sometimes get sad or depressed. They might suffer quietly and not complain. Melancholics are often independent and can do things well by themselves. They can also be very creative in areas like poetry and music.

You might hear people say "Melancholic" instead of "Melancholy" when talking about this type. Both terms refer to the same personality.

Phlegmatic Personality

A phlegmatic person is usually quiet, kind, and peaceful. They enjoy showing and receiving affection, even though they might be a bit shy. They are often content with how things are and don't always try to change situations.

They tend to be relaxed and easygoing. Sometimes, they might seem a bit lazy or not have a lot of energy.

Images for kids

• 

  18th-century picture showing the four temperaments: Phlegmatic and choleric at the top, sanguine and melancholic at the bottom.

• 

  Choleric, sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic temperaments from the 17th century, part of the Grande Commande.

See also

In Spanish: Teoría de los cuatro temperamentos para niños