When it comes to self-awareness, there truly is no shortage of different tests and diagnostic assessments. These tools, although using different verbiage and structure, are all created with one purpose: helping people to better understand themselves.
Why is this helpful?
When we understand the nuances of our own personalities (strengths, weaknesses, habits, tendencies, etc.) we are better equipped to set ourselves up for success in the relationships and endeavors that fill our lives.
Let’s take “overwhelm” for example. Each person experiences “overwhelm” in different ways. The situations that cause me to feel overwhelmed are likely different from those that overwhelm you
If we can accurately identify what types of situations overwhelm us, we can begin creating strategies to help ourselves when those situations naturally occur in life. A little bit of self-knowledge can go a long way in improving our response to difficult situations.
See what I mean?
Self-assessments, though by no means the “end all, be all” of self-awareness, can be helpful tools for understanding yourself more deeply.
One of the oldest, though perhaps lesser-known, self-assessments is The Four Temperaments Test.
The concept of the Four Temperaments originally began as a medical theory by the Ancient Greeks. They believed that personality differences could be attributed to varying levels of bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) contained within each individual. They coined the terms for the Four Temperaments as a way to describe these medicinal and personality differences in people that affected the way in which they behaved.
Although the “fluid concept” is no longer accepted medically, the Four Temperaments are still a popular way to describe different personality types.
The Temperaments Test, like most self-assessments, involves reading a series of personality statements (ex: I try to please everyone) and assessing to what degree each statement describes you. After answering the questions, you will be classified as one of the four main temperaments: Sanguine, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, or Choleric.
Sanguine
This personality type is characterized by a love for adventure, creativity, and curiosity. These individuals tend to be the life of the party and love the opportunity to interact with friends, old and new. The sanguine may struggle with becoming easily bored by situations or relationships and may resist things that feel too mundane or repetitive.
Words to describe a sanguine: spontaneous, cheerful, creative, energetic, optimistic, impulsive
Melancholic
The melancholic personality prefers things which are ordered, structured, and routine. They enjoy predictability and maintain a high attention to detail. When it comes to relationships, they are deeply loyal to and derive a sense of purpose and security from a smaller circle of friends and family. The melancholic may struggle with becoming pessimistic, overly critical of others, or stubbornly dogmatic in their approach to life.
Words to describe a melancholic: loyal, careful, respectful, orderly, patient, traditional, calm
Phlegmatic
This personality trait loves cooperation, harmony, and peace in relationships. They possess a unique ability to understand other people’s thoughts and feelings, and tend to be compassionate and empathetic. They value positive relationships above most other things. The phlegmatic may struggle with appearing needy or being indecisive. They easily fall into people-pleasing habits out of a desire to maintain the peace.
Words to describe a phlegmatic: agreeable, empathetic, warm, cooperative, trusting, intuitive
Choleric
The choleric personality tends to be goal-oriented, hardworking, and independent. They consider work to be a form of fun, and are always taking steps to improve themselves both professionally and personally. For this reason, cholerics tend to be high-achieving in most arenas in life. The choleric struggles with being in subordinate positions. They do not enjoy being told what to do and have little patience for anything (or anyone) that distracts them from their goals.
Words to describe a choleric: practical, logical, decisive, analytical, competent, tough-minded
The Four Temperaments Test is designed to give you one temperament as a result. For some people, these results are totally accurate. They really DO embody one temperament fully. BUT – this isn’t necessarily the case for most people. Rather, the majority of individuals have a primary temperament and a secondary temperament.
Take my team writer, Maria Lees, for example:
Her primary temperament is phlegmatic and her secondary temperament is sanguine. The phlegmatic traits in her personality make her prone to people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, and make her an excellent “maintainer of the peace.” Her sanguine traits highlight her love for interpersonal connection and her generally optimistic approach to life. Unlike a “pure sanguine”, however, who craves adventure, spontaneity stresses Maria out. She’d rather sit at home chatting with her husband or drinking tea with friends than spending the evening out on the town.
See what I mean?
It’s totally possible (probable even) to embody traits from more than one temperament.
As with all self-assessments, it’s important to keep in mind that these categories are simply intended to be helpful descriptors of personality, not your hard and fast identity. This tool can give you helpful insight into yourself, but I encourage you to resist the urge to put yourself squarely into your “temperament box.”
I.e – “This is my temperament. This is WHO I am. Take it, or leave it.”
That just simply isn’t the case. You may classify as a melancholic, for example, and that likely is a good description of your personality, but that isn’t all that you are. It’s important not to let these assessments entirely define our identities or become our excuse for our weaknesses.
Interested in learning more about The Four Temperaments? Check out these books:
Have you ever taken this assessment? Which temperament did you receive? Did you feel it was an accurate description of your personality?
RESOURCES:
https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/O4TS/
https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/O4TS/development
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
