In the list of the most significant properties that a person possesses, one of the first positions is temperament. Interest in this concept arose a long time ago, 2.5 thousand years ago. In those days, certain differences between people were realized. The existing individual characteristics of the physiological and biological structure of man, as well as his social development, were considered an obvious fact. All of these factors have been thoroughly studied.
The concept of temperament
All people have certain behaviors. Some of them are mobile, emotional and energetic, the second are calm, slow and calm, the third are secretive, sad and closed.
Temperament belongs to the category of biological structures of personality and is a property of a person, characterizing the depth and strength of his feelings, general mobility and speed of movement. It is these basic features that give a special coloring to all the activities of people.
Individual characteristics of temperament determine the dynamics of behavior and mental activity of a person. They characterize the speed and intensity of response, the degree of emotional poise and excitability, as well as the ability to adapt to the environment.
Components
Temperament has two components. One of them is activity, and the second is emotionality. The first element is a characteristic of the degree of energy, speed and swiftness, or, conversely, inertia and slowness.
As for emotionality, this is an important characteristic of temperament, associated with the sensitivity of a person and his impulsiveness.
Types of temperament
Even the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates proposed his own concept in the study of the individual characteristics of man. In his teachings, the great doctor explained that temperament is directly dependent on a mixture of four body fluids - blood, red-yellow bile, mucus and black bile. The predominance of one or another component is the basis of a sanguine or choleric, melancholic or phlegmatic type of personality.
It should be emphasized that there are no bad or good temperaments. Each of them has its own positive and negative sides. When communicating with a person, one should not strive to change his behavior, because they are innate. It is necessary to use all the advantages of temperament wisely and level its negative sides.
Characteristic types of temperament
The main types of individual characteristics of personality behavior differ among themselves in the intensity of the emotional state and the dynamics of its occurrence. So, the choleric type is characterized by strong and rapidly arising feelings. Sanguine has weak feelings. Although they arise just as rapidly. The melancholic type of temperament is characterized by strong feelings that appear over a long period. In phlegmatic people, all psychoemotional processes are very slow. The feelings arising at the same time are very weak.
Temperamental nature - it is choleric and sanguine. Such people are quick in movement and mobile. They tend to outwardly express strong feelings. This is reflected in facial expressions, speech, movements, etc. The characterization of the types of temperament indicates that phlegmatic and melancholic, on the contrary, weakly express their feelings. Moreover, they have a slow movement.
System of dominant instincts
There is a slightly different classification of human temperaments. It is determined by dominant instincts and is represented by seven different species. The first of these is selfish. Such people from early childhood are distinguished by increased caution. They are characterized by intolerance to pain, a tendency to fear and conservatism, suspiciousness, incredulity and suspicion.
The next type of temperament is genophilic. In people who possess it, “I” is replaced by the concept of “We”. This type of personality is very responsive and subtly captures the problems of loved ones. If the circumstances are unfavorable, then the formation of an anxious personality occurs, which is focused on caring for the family and children.
The altruistic type of personality since childhood is characterized by generosity, kindness and empathy. Such people, understanding the condition of those around them, are ready to give them the last. An altruist will not be able to hit a person even in response.
With the research type of temperament, a special curiosity is noted from early childhood. Such a person always strives to get to the very core of the issue.
The dominant type of temperament is determined by the desire for leadership. At the same time, the ability to set a goal and organize, as well as to show will in solving any problem, is manifested. These people are distinguished by logical thinking and courage, the ability to highlight the main thing and responsibility.
Features of the temperament of the libertophilic type appear even from the cradle. The child already protests against diapers and a long bed. Over the years, with him, the tendency to impatience of any restriction of freedom is growing. People with such a temperament deny authorities, they are tolerant of deprivation and pain. Such individuals strive for independence. They are characterized by frequent changes in jobs, intolerance of routine. It is not difficult for them to change their lifestyle.
The psychological characteristic of the lignitophilic type of temperament is intolerance to any kind of humiliation. From an early age, these people are able to catch the mockery and irony in their address. Agree with such children is possible only with the help of affection.
Psychodiagnosis
Concerning the individual characteristics of a particular nature, conclusions can be drawn only after the test is conducted. The temperament that any psychodiagnostics reveals, however, cannot be considered one hundred percent inherent in a particular person. The fact is that each of us can become a little different tomorrow.
Tests to determine the various
abilities of a person have been used since ancient times. With their help, it is possible to identify not only mental abilities, but also the professional suitability of the employee, as well as his sincerity, etc.
However, it is a mistake to believe that conducting a temperament test will allow you to distribute people by its main types. Only a few are unconditional representatives of this or that type of behavior. The psychological characteristic of temperament reveals in most cases a combination of one species with the features of another.
Character basis
Temperament and personality are closely interconnected. Features of human behavior determine a number of its individual properties. First of all, they include character.
In the case when we say that the person is temperamental, this means that we are talking about a person emotional, impressionable, anxious and impulsive. This is such a nature, the nature of which is significantly affected by various incentives.
If a person is temperamental, this means a greater impact on him of those incentives that do not particularly affect a person less impressionable. The individual characteristics of the behavior of each of us directly depend on emotionality. If nature is temperamental, it means that she attaches great importance to the events that occur around her. At the same time, the depth and speed of emotional reactions is great.
A temperamental person has much stronger bodily reactions. Moreover, they are closely related to emotions. Such an individual is never calm. He is in constant captivity of any emotions or, conversely, depressed.
Temperamental character is very impulsive. This is manifested in the incontinence of reactions, their spontaneity. Moreover, actions in any given situation are performed by a person before he has time to think them over and make the right decision.
A temperamental woman or a temperamental man reacts first. Only after that they ponder the correctness of their actions, often regretting premature and wrong actions or statements. The temperamental person is distinguished by anxiety. She often has fears and fears, as well as fear of something. All these emotional experiences are directly related to emerging anxiety. To such a person it seems that the surrounding reality in many of its manifestations poses a direct threat to his own "I". This kind of temperamental person is afraid of phone calls and strangers, exams and public speaking, official institutions, etc.
The origins of temperament
Individual characteristics of human behavior also depend on those conditions in which the formation of his personality took place. Ultimately, temperament is influenced by education and training, the traditions of society and its culture, the customs of ethnic groups, and much more.
Influence on personality abilities
The ability to acquire certain skills also depends to some extent on temperament. This is especially true for the development of the ability to perform precise and complex movements that have an uneven pace and a difficult trajectory. Speed of reaction and speed of excitability are important for increased efficiency and concentration for a long time.
The difference between temperament and character
Features of human behavior do not characterize the content facets of the individual. They are not related to beliefs and views, worldviews and interests, they do not determine the limit of achievements. Temperament refers only to the dynamic side of activity. But at the same time, a person’s behavior can be used to judge his character and qualitative characteristics of his personality.