I get many emails with questions about temperament. Here is one on temperament combinations.
“I ws told that I have all four (types) and was told this is unusual. Am I blessed or cursed. Ewa.”
My response: I have encountered many who have said that they had “all four temperament types” and this points up the differences between temperament and personality. Let’s examine a person with a Phlegmatic (laid back, easy-going) temperament. If this person is raised by Cholerics (hard driving, non-emotionally sensitive),the Phlegmatic will, by necessity, take on some Choleric behaviors simply by being around Cholerics.
Remember that temperament is in-born; personality is your life experience added to your temperament. You are still most likely a blend of two main types, but circumstances in your life may have caused you to take on the behaviors of temperament types not naturally your own.
To better see your natural temperament, ask yourself two questions. First, what are my natural weaknesses; the things I “just can’t seem to help”? If laziness is your weakness, you are probably Phlegmatic. If you are disorganized, you may be Sanguine. If you have a tendency to analyze the behaviors of others you may be Melancholy. If you tend not to care much about how your behavior affects others, you’re probably Choleric.
Secondly, ask yourself how you respond under stress and pressure. A Phlegmatic will procrastinate, a Sanguine will have sharp emotional outbursts that will quickly go away, a Melancholy will begin to over-analyze everything and a Choleric will get quiet and angry.