The Four Temperaments

The four temperaments are a type of personality classification which derives from the four basic elements in nature. Temperaments have been around for thousands of years. Temperaments are widely accepted in the Catholic faith. We all have a nature that comes with some pre-packaged habits of thinking, feeling, acting and reacting.

I will briefly describe the four temperaments and the impact on the spiritual life, and explain how understanding our temperaments can support a person’s human formation in accord with the pillars of priestly formation outlined by John Paul II in Pastores Dabo Vobis.

Cholerics, signified by fire, are extroverted, intelligent, passionate people and make great leaders. On the other hand, a choleric can become easily angered, egocentric, prideful, judgmental, and impatience. In terms of the spiritual life, such persons are capable of great penance and suffering.

Spiritual blockers for a choleric are lack of compassion for members of the mystical body of Christ and uneasiness in prayer and contemplation.

Sanguines, signified by air, are extroverted, cheerful, optimistic people with a good eye for detail, and can make friends easily. On the other hand, a sanguine can be superficial, suffer from vanity, and have a disordered attachment to pleasure. In terms of the spiritual life, such persons are more capable of obedience. Spiritual blockers for a sanguine are lack of contemplation in prayer, a dislike for penance, and difficulties in keeping to a structured life of prayer, study and work.

Phlegmatics, signified by water, are introverted, thoughtful, calm, caring people. On the other hand, a phlegmatic can work slowly, and lack ambition and motivation. In terms of the spiritual life, such persons are capable of accepting Church teaching without question, and methodical thoughts and reflections. Spiritual blockers for a phlegmatic are sloth and lack of perseverance.

Melancholics, signified by earth, are introverted, analytical, soft-hearted, and organised people. On the other hand, a melancholic can be pessimistic, despairing and struggle to make decisions. In terms of the spiritual life, such persons are capable of great contemplation, deep prayer lives, profound reflections and a deep restlessness for God. Spiritual blockers for a melancholic are scrupulosity and minimising God’s mercy and maximising God’s justice.

Human formation seeks to develop a person’s human character to foster a well-balanced personality for personal growth and ministry. Every person has a dominant temperament and all temperaments have weaknesses. If a person understands their temperament they can lean into strengths and combat weaknesses. If we understand other people’s temperament it will help in our relationships and avoid mis-understanding or offence of behavioural traits. St Paul tells us in scripture to: “bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). If we understand where certain characteristics stem from, this may help us bear one another’s burdens more patiently.

In summary, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of our temperaments is helpful for human formation. We all have a primary and secondary temperament. We cannot change our temperaments but we can overcome the weaknesses inherit in our temperaments. St Thomas Aquinas wrote that grace does not destroy nature but perfects it. Nature includes how we think, feel, and act, which is driven by the temperaments. Therefore, one must have an awareness of one’s nature and thus temperaments, for that perfection to occur.