Melancholic, sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic are types of human temperament. This term should be understood as a stable combination of individual characteristics that are associated with dynamic, but not substantial aspects of his activity. The division of temperament into 4 groups is due to the peculiarity and intensity of the course of nervous processes and human metabolism. Sometimes this includes the type of physique.
What is temperament?
In psychological practice, it is generally accepted that an individual always has a mixed temperament, that is, he cannot be only a sanguine person or a melancholic person. Traits of all types of temperaments are inherent in every person, but in various proportions. At the same time, some scientists put forward a theory according to which a person can have only one type of temperament (in connection with the type of higher nervous system). Thus, the features of other types of temperament are individual characteristics of the psyche of each person, but not a manifestation of a certain type.
In today's article, we want to focus on only one type of temperament - such as a melancholic. This is due to the vastness of the topic.
Melancholic - who is it?
People in this category belong to the intuitive-logical type. They have a weak, unstable type of nervous system. Melancholic is the instability of emotions, the presence of unreasonable fears and anxieties, volatility and mild excitability. In addition, people with this type of temperament have high fatigue and indecision. The feelings of the melancholy are unbalanced, the reaction is slow, from the side they seem inexpressive, without active accompaniment of facial expressions. But despite the apparent slowdown, the nervous system of such an individual is very sensitive to irritants. External influences greatly affect the mood of the melancholic. Just a few minutes of communication can completely spoil or, conversely, raise his mood. This property is characteristic only of this type of temperament. As you can see, the melancholic is not so closed either. What is this in relation to others? This is a violent reaction to the words of the interlocutor, but without the outward manifestation of emotions.
Outwardly, a melancholic can be distinguished by its mobility. This type of person changes flexibly under the influence of the situation, environment or behavior of the interlocutor. A melancholic is a person who is attracted to movement. The constitution of such a person is generally dry and changeable. By the level of thinness and weight loss, the melancholic is second only to choleric.
Professional suitability
Melancholic - who is this by profession? The mental abilities of a person with this type of temperament are as good as unstable. He can easily understand the material, but just as easily forget it. Such people need to engage themselves in the intellectual sphere of activity. Here he will feel most confident. Recommended areas of activity include:
- programming;
- data-mining;
- planning and design;
- analytics.
At the same time, melancholic people need to avoid emotional stress and do not overload themselves with contacts with other people.
External signs
A melancholic is a person with a high metabolic rate. Therefore, he rarely gains weight. But at the same time, the metabolism is unbalanced, which can lead to severe fatigue.
A melancholic person can be characterized by such signs:
- Refined facial features. The appearance is a little fragile. Sufficiently expressed thinness.
- The parts of the body are elongated. The limbs are noticeably elongated (compared to the general proportions of the body).
- The muscles are weak, thin. The bones are protruding, flat.
- The chest is concave or flat. The rib angle is sharp. The back is flat and narrow.
- The narrow waist, at the same time, the pelvis and shoulders are wide.
- The forehead is high, square. The skull narrows down. The volume of the upper part of the head is greater than the bottom.
- There are protrusions on the back of the head. The shape is strongly mowed to the neck. The parietal region is usually pointed.
- The chin comes forward. The lower jaw is weak, with a noticeable narrowing down.
- Cheekbones well-defined, often pointed.
- The nose is pronounced, protrudes forward, has a sharpness.
- The neck is thin or medium thick, long. Adam's apple is well defined.
The importance of temperament
The determination of temperament is important in building relationships in both professional and personal spheres. In many ways, the success of a business or relationship depends on an understanding of the fundamental characteristics of the human psyche. It is especially important to understand the type of temperament of the child, because the difference or incompatibility of its type with parents can cause additional problems.
So, a melancholic child is very difficult to understand the imbalance and harshness of his choleric father. This greatly complicates the child’s communication with the parent. At the same time, a child with such a temperament adapts well to the structure of time and activity in a school or kindergarten, but it is difficult for him to fight for a place in a group of one-year-olds.
The parent of such a child should understand that some slowness and vulnerability is a natural feature of the perception of the world, and active insistence on one's position or attempts to change the child can lead to problems in the future. Remember, a melancholic is a person who passes everything through the prism of inner emotions!