Relationship Therapy- Is it Effective to Learn about the Four Temperaments

Introduction

Certain issues within a relationship might arise if you don't understand each other's temperaments. It's significant to understand that this does not mean that the relationship is "bad" or "wrong"- it just means that you are wired differently than your partner. We are born with our temperaments and unlike personality, it remains the same over time. Learning about your temperament and your partners can help you learn to meet each other's needs, recognize each-other's strengths and weaknesses, and learn how each other acts when the needs aren't being met.

Relationship Therapy- Is it Effective to Learn about the Four Temperaments

To begin with, it is important to understand that relationship therapy is a process by which you can learn about yourself and your partner. It is a way of improving communication, understanding each other's needs and feelings, and resolving conflicts in a healthy manner.

The Four Temperaments are an ancient concept that was developed by Hippocrates who was the father of modern medicine. He believed that there were four basic temperament types: Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic and Phlegmatic. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses but also share common characteristics.

The Four Temperaments

The Four Temperaments are a classification system that was first described by Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine. He believed that human bodies were made up of four basic types of fluids: blood (sanguine), black bile (melancholic), yellow bile (choleric) and phlegm (phlegmatic). Each person has one dominant fluid but can also have traces of other temperaments as well.

The relationship between your temperament and your partner's temperament

Sanguine (extroverted, people oriented): The Sanguine temperament speaks the language of people and fun! Each temperament has its strengths and weaknesses. The Sanguine’s strengths are being magnetic, inspiring, encouraging, great story tellers, bring joy and laughter, and bring optimism to everything they do. Sanguine’s are real people’s people! Although they have loud strengths, they also have some loud weaknesses which include having the tendency to exaggerate when their needs aren’t being met, speaking too loudly, interrupting others, being forgetful, and being naïve. When a Sanguine’s needs aren’t being met they might try to meet those needs through flattery or, exaggeration.

Choleric (extroverted, task oriented): The choleric temperament speaks the language of power and control! Cholerics have many strengths which include being responsible, decisive, good at delegating, being dynamic leaders, and excels at managing tasks and projects. They also have a few weaknesses which include arguing, dominating, using a harsh tone, having the tendency to be bossy, being impatient, and being intolerant. When a choleric’s needs aren’t being met they might try to meet those needs by using a harsh tone or, raising their voice.

Melancholic (introverted, task oriented): The melancholic temperament speaks the language of perfection and order! They are analytical, creative, perfectionists, detail oriented, orderly, compassionate, and often artistic or musical. They also have weaknesses which include holding on to the negatives, fearing failure, having low self-esteem, and having the tendency to be judgmental and critical. When a melancholic’s needs aren’t being met they might try to retreat or, become moody.

Phlegmatic (introverted, people oriented): The phlegmatic temperament speaks the language of calm and harmony. They are easygoing, steady, calm, patient, are loyal friends, good listeners, and are great at leading people. Their weaknesses include responding to stress by being slow and stubborn, having the tendency to avoid conflict, disengaging, or being too compromising. When a phlegmatic’s needs aren’t being met they might procrastinate or, become stubborn.

The temperaments that make the strongest bonds are the one’s opposite of eachother: for example, the phlegmatic and the choleric. This is because the choleric’s weaknesses are the phlegmatic’s strengths and vise versa.

Takeaway:

The takeaway from this article is that learning about the four temperaments can be beneficial for your relationships. If you are in a relationship, it's important to understand how your partner thinks and acts so that you can better communicate with each other. Knowing about the four temperaments will help you understand your partner better and make sure that both parties are happy in the relationship, which will lead to a more satisfying experience overall!

Conclusion

In sum, a relationship is a dynamic process that involves two people who are constantly interacting with each other. By understanding the relationship between your temperament and your partner's temperament, you can better understand how these interactions affect each other and what you can do to make them more positive.