Temperament and Personality

Temperament is the innate, biologically-based aspect of personality that influences a person's characteristic way of behaving and reacting to situations.

Hippocrates' Four Temperaments Theory is an ancient theory of personality that proposed four basic temperaments: sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic.

Personality is the complex set of characteristics that make a person unique, including their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Costa and McCrae's Five-Factor Model is a widely accepted theory of personality that proposes five basic personality traits: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Temperament is the innate, biologically-based aspect of personality that influences a person's characteristic way of behaving and reacting to situations. Personality is the more complex and developed aspect of temperament that includes a person's thoughts, feelings, and learned behaviors.

The choleric temperament is characterized by high activity level, impulsivity, and a tendency to seek out new experiences.

The melancholic temperament is characterized by low activity level, shyness, and a tendency to avoid new experiences.

The sanguine temperament is characterized by high activity level, sociability, and a tendency to be outgoing and assertive.

The phlegmatic temperament is characterized by low activity level, calmness, and a tendency to be reserved and thoughtful.

Openness to Experience is one of the Big Five personality traits and is characterized by a tendency to be creative, imaginative, and open to new experiences.

Conscientiousness is one of the Big Five personality traits and is characterized by a tendency to be organized, responsible, and reliable.

Extraversion is one of the Big Five personality traits and is characterized by a tendency to be outgoing, sociable, and assertive.

Agreeableness is one of the Big Five personality traits and is characterized by a tendency to be cooperative, friendly, and helpful.

Neuroticism is one of the Big Five personality traits and is characterized by a tendency to be anxious, moody, and emotionally unstable.

Temperament and personality influence a person's behavior in some situations but not others. For example, a person with a choleric temperament may be more likely to be aggressive in competitive situations, but not in cooperative situations.