Overview History Of The Four Temperaments

overview history of the four temperaments - or four humours From various sources and references, including Keirsey and Montgomery, here is a history of the Four Temperaments and other models and concepts related to the Four Temperaments or Four Humours. The words in this framework (from Hippocrates onwards) can be seen as possible describing words for each of the temperaments concerned, although do not attach precise significance to any of the words - they are guide only and not definitive or scientifically reliable. The correlations prior to Hippocrates are far less reliable and included here more for interest than for scientific relevance. N.B. the colours in these charts do not signify anything - they merely assist (hopefully) with continuity between the different tables. The initials K and M denote interpretations according to Keirsey and Montgomery. Ancient dates are approximate. Some cautionary notes relating to the inclusion of some of these theorists and interpretations is shown below the grid. For believers in astrology and star-signs please resist the temptation to categorise yourself according to where your star-sign sits in the grid these associations are not scientific and not reliable, and are included merely for historical context and information. Keirsey/MBTI® reference

artisan/SP sensing- guardian/SJ perceiving sensing-judging

idealist/NF intuitive-feeling

rationalist/NT intuitive-thinking

Ezekiel 590BC

lion

ox

man

eagle

Empedocles 450BC

Goea (air)

Hera (earth)

Zeus (fire)

Poseidon (water)

The Seasons

Spring

Autumn

Summer

Winter

Signs of Zodiac

Libra, Aquarius, Gemini

Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo

Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Hippocrates 370BC

blood

black bile

yellow bile

phlegm

Hippocrates 370BC 'Four Qualities'

hot and moist

cold and dry

hot and dry

cold and moist

Plato 340BC (M)

artistic

sensible

intuitive

reasoning

Aristotle 325BC 'contribution to social order' (K)

'pistic' - common'iconic'- artistic and sense and careart-making taking

'noetic' - intuitive sensibility and morality

'dianoetic' reasoning and logical investigator

Aristotle 325BC Four Sources of Happiness (K)

'hedone' - sensual pleasure

'propraieteri' acquiring assets

'ethikos' - moral virtue

'dialogike' logical investigation

Galen 190AD Four Temperaments or Four Humours

sanguine

melancholic

choleric

phlegmatic

Paracelsus 1550 'Four Totem Spirits' (K)

Salamanders impulsive and changeable

Gnomes industrious and guarded

Nymph - inspiring and passionate

Sylphs - curious and calm

Eric Adickes 1905 Four World Views (K)

innovative

traditional

doctrinaire

sceptical

Eduard Spranger 1914 Four Value Attitudes (K)

artistic

economic

religious

theoretic

Ernst Kretschmer 1920 (M)

manic

depressive

oversensitive

insensitive

Eric Fromm 1947 (K)

exploitative

hoarding

receptive

marketing

Hans Eysenck 1950s (trait lively, talkative, examples from his carefree, outgoing inventory)

sober, reserved, quiet, rigid

restless, excitable, optimistic, impulsive

careful, controlled, thoughtful, reliable

Myers 1958 (M)

perceiving

judging

feeling

thinking

Myers 1958 (K)

probing

scheduling

friendly

tough-minded

Montgomery 2002 on Jung/Myers

SP - spontaneous and playful

SJ - sensible and judicious

NF - intuitive and fervent

NT - ingenious and theoretical

Montgomery 2002 on Keirsey's Four Temperaments

says what is, does what works

says what is, does what's right

says what's possible, does what's right

says what's possible, does what works