Spirit-Controlled Temperament by Tim LaHaye

Choleric

Pure Choleric (C/C)

Choleric is the hot, quick, active, practical, and strong-willed temperament. C/C is often self-sufficient and very independent. He tends to be decisive and opinionated, finding it easy to make decisions for himself as well as for others.

C/C thrives on activity. In fact, to him, “life is activity”. He does not need to be stimulated by his environment. No, he stimulates the environment with his endless ideas, plans, and ambitions. His is not an aimless activity, for he has a practical, keen mind, capable of making sound, instant decisions or planning worthwhile, long-range projects. He does not vacillate under pressure of what others think. He takes a definite stand on issues and can often be found crusading against social injustice or unhealthy situations.

He is not frightened by adversities; in fact, they tend to encourage him. He has dogged determination and often succeeds where others fail, not because his plans are better than others, but because he is still “pushing ahead” after others have become discouraged and quit. If there is any truth in the adage “Leaders are born, not made” then the C/C is a born leader. He always lands on his feet.

C/C’s emotional nature is the least developed part of his temperament. He does not sympathize easily with others, nor does he naturally show or express compassion. He is often embarrassed or disgusted by the tears of others. He has little appreciation for the fine arts; his primary interest is in the utilitarian values of life. He is so optimistic, rarely anticipating failure, that he seldom fails, except at home. Love is not usually high on his priority list.

He is quick to recognize opportunities and equally as quick at diagnosing the best way to make use of them. He has a well-organized mind, though details usually bore him. He is not given to analysis but to quick, intuitive appraisal; that means he tends to look at the goal toward which he is working without seeing the potential pitfalls and obstacles in the path. Once he has started toward a goal, he may run roughshod over individuals that stand in his way. He tends to be domineering and bossy and does not hesitate to use people to accomplish his ends. He is often considered an opportunist.

C/C hates yard work. When he does it at all, it is with a vengeance. He is not mechanical by nature and detests repairs or pruning because, quite frankly, he is not very good at it. When he does take on the yard, he works at a frenzied pace to get the job done, but neatness is not his hallmark. In fact, the family of a C/C should never let him prune bushes, trees, or hedges, for he has only one idea in mind: “If you have to do it, you might as well do it once for the whole year!”

C/Cs might consider careers that require leadership, motivation, and productivity, provided they do not require too much attention to details and analytical planning. Committee meetings and long-range planning bore the C/C, a doer. Rarely will you find a C/C as a surgeon, dentist, philosopher, inventor, or watchmaker. Although not usually craftsmen (requiring a degree of perfection and efficiency usually beyond their capability), C/Cs often supervise craftsmen. They usually enjoy construction work, because it is so productive, and will frequently end up being foremen or project supervisors.

C/C is a developer by nature. When he drives through the countryside, he cannot share his passenger’s enjoyment of the “beautiful rolling hillsides,” for he envisions road graders carving out streets and builders constructing homes, schools, and shopping centers. Most of today’s cities and suburbs were first envisioned by a C/C. You can be sure, however, that he hired a Melancholic as the architect with the analytical and creative ability to draw the plans he outlined. He can’t fully understand why a few lines on the back of an envelope aren’t sufficient to gain the city planning department’s approval. No one fights city hall harder than a C/C, who bitterly laments “Why all this business of detailed plans, anyway? I’ve built enough projects to know that the best plans have to be modified during construction, so why not make up your mind as you go along on the little issues? I know what I want to accomplish!”

So a wise C/C hires a Melancholic assistant or goes into business partnership with a Melancholic. Together they make an unbeatable team.

Most entrepreneurs are C/Cs. They formulate the ideas and are venturesome enough to launch out in new directions. They don’t limit themselves to their own ideas either but sometimes overhear a creative idea from someone not sufficiently adventurous to initiate a new business or project. Once C/Cs start a new business, however, they are likely to get bored soon after its success. There are two reasons for this. First, as the business grows it creates more detail work. But since C/Cs are not by nature good delegators of responsibility (although with proper training they can learn) and like to see the fruits of their own productive and capable industry, they tend to evaluate negatively the efforts of others. Consequently, they end up trying to do everything themselves. Second, when C/Cs discover that they are “just too busy” they look for someone to buy their businesses. So the average C/C can be expected to start four to ten businesses or organizations in a lifetime.

Once C/Cs learn to delegate responsibility to others and discover that they are able to accomplish more through other people, they can complete an amazing amount of work. Other people cannot believe that C/Cs can be involved in so many things and keep their sanity. Well, here’s how they do it. Since they are completely performance-conscious and have no perfectionist hang-ups, they reason “I’d rather get a number of things 70 to 80 percent finished than a few things 100 percent completed”.

C/C is a natural motivator of other people. He oozes self-confidence, is extremely goal-conscious, and can inspire others to envision his goals. Consequently, associates may find themselves more productive by following the C/C’s lead. His primary weakness as a leader is that he is hard to please and tends to run roughshod over other people. The C/C subconsciously thinks that approval and encouragement will lead to complacency; he assumes that an employee’s productivity will fall off if he is too complimentary. So he resorts to criticism in the hope that this will inspire greater effort (unfortunately it doesn’t).

Western civilization has henefitted much from its C/Cs. But it has suffered much from them also. The world’s greatest generals, dictators, and gangsters have been predominantly C/C. What made the difference? Their moral values and motivations. If there is such a thing as a “success tendency”, C/Cs have it. That doesn’t mean they are smarter than other people, as is often assumed, but that their strong will and determination drive them to succeed where other, more gifted, people are prone to give up.

Choleric/Phlegmatic (C/P)

The most subdued of all the extraverted temperaments is the C/P, a happy blend of the quick, active, and hot with the calm, cool, and unexcited. C/Ps are not as apt to rush into things as quickly as the other extraverts; they are more deliberate and moderate. Though they may not impress you that way at first, they are extremely capable in the long run.

They are well-organized people who combine careful planning and hard work. People usually enjoy working with and for C/Ps, they know where they are going and have charted their course, usually in writing, yet they are not unduly severe with people. They have the ability to help others make the best use of their skills and rarely offend people or make them feel used. They often get more accomplished than any other temperament because they have no inclination to do it all themselves and invariably think in terms of enlisting others in their work. Their motto: “Why do the work of ten when you can get ten to do the work?”

C/P men are usually good husbands and fathers as well as excellent managers in almost any field. In spite of their obvious capabilities, C/Ps are not without a notable set of weaknesses. Although not as quick-tempered as some temperaments, they are known to harbor resentment and bitterness. Some of the cutting edge of the Choleric’s sarcasm is here offset by the gracious spirit of the Phlegmatic. Their barbs are tempered with cleverly disguised humor. You’re never quite sure whether they are kidding or ridiculing.

No one can be more bullheadedly stubborn than C/Ps. Repentance or the acknowledgment of a mistake is not easy for them. Consequently, they try to “make it up” to those they have wronged without really facing their mistakes. The worrisome Phlegmatic traits may so curtail their adventurous tendencies that they never quite measure up to their capabilities.

Choleric/Sanguine (C/S)

The second-strongest extravert among the blends of temperament is the C/S. C/Ss are almost completely given over to activity. Most of their efforts are productive and purposeful, but watch out for their reactions; they can become volatile in a moment! They are natural promoters and can sell almost anything. And they have enough charisma to attract and get along well with others.

They are the best at motivating others and thrive on a challenge. They face every new venture with fearless and boundless energy. Their spouses often comment “He has only two speeds: wide open and stop”. C/Ss are the people who never go anywhere unnoticed and attract friends with no effort. Convincing debaters, what they lack in facts or arguments they make up in bluff or bravado. Whatever their professional occupations, their brains are always in motion.

The chief weakness of this individual is hostility. C/Ss combine the quick, explosive anger of the Sanguine (without the forgiveness) and the long-burning resentment of the Choleric. This is the one personality type that not only gets ulcers but also gives them to others. Impatient with those who do not share their drive and energy, they pride themselves on being brutally or sarcastically frank.

It is difficult for them to concentrate on just one thing at a time, which is why they often enlist others to finish what they start. They are opinionated, prejudiced, impetuous, and inclined doggedly to finish projects that probably should not have been started in the first place. If not controlled by God, they are apt to justify anything they do, and rarely hesitate to manipulate or walk over other people to accomplish their ends.

Most C/Ss get so engrossed in their work that they neglect family and friends, even lashing out at them if they complain. A wife married to a C/S becomes an emotionally shell-shocked woman who feels unneeded and unloved. She usually admires him, fears him, and is resentful toward him. When the children grow up, she may leave him because he has made her a nonperson. Once he comprehends the importance of his love and approval to his family, however, he can learn to love them as individuals and transform his entire household.

Choleric/Melancholic (C/M)

C/M is extremely industrious and capable. The optimism and practicality of the Choleric overcome the moodiness of the Melancholy, making C/Ms both goal-oriented and detailed. Such an individual usually does well in school, possesses a quick, analytical mind, yet is decisive.

C/M develops into a capable leader, the kind you can always count on to do an extraordinary job. This person is the type of lawyer you would most want as defense attorney. The C/M makes an excellent debater and can remember most details with precision. In fact, never take on a C/M in debate unless you are assured of your facts! You’ll walk out as mincemeat. C/Ms are extremely competitive and forceful. Their battle strategy: “Go for the jugular vein!” They are usually successful, no matter what kind of business they pursue. The C/M can be a brilliant chief surgeon and at the same time an extremely capable religious teacher. This temperament probably makes the best natural leader.

Equally as great as their strengths are their weaknesses. C/Ms are apt to be autocratic “dictators” who inspire admiration and hate simultaneously. They are opinionated and rarely hesitate to express what they think, whether you want to hear it or not. They love an argument, even arguing against their own position just to argue. They are usually quick-witted talkers whose sarcasm can devastate others. They not only wound people, they destroy them. They are natural-born crusaders whose work habits are irregular and long. C/Ms can harbor considerable hostility and resentment. Unless they enjoyed a good love relationship with their parents, they find interpersonal relationships difficult, particularly family relationships.

C/M parents can be overly strict disciplinarians. They combine the hard-to-please tendencies of the Choleric and the perfectionism of the Melancholy.

Sanguine

Sanguine/Sanguine (S/S)

Sanguine is the warm, buoyant, lively, and fun-loving temperament. S/S is receptive by nature, and external impressions easily find their way to his heart, where they readily cause an outburst of response. Feelings rather than reflective thoughts predominate to form his decisions. S/S has an unusual capacity to enjoy himself and usually passes on his hearty outgoing nature. When he comes into a room of people, he has a tendency to lift the spirits of everyone present by his exuberant flow of conversation. He is a thrilling storyteller because his warm, emotional nature almost makes him relive the experience in the very telling of it.

S/S never lacks for friends. “His naive, spontaneous, genial nature opens doors and hearts to him”. He can genuinely feel the joys and sorrows of the person he meets and has the capacity to make that person feel important, as though the new acquaintance were a very special friend, which he or she is, until S/S meets the next person, who then receives the same attention.

Without any malice, S/S might forget his resolutions, appointments, and obligations. He’s on to the next exciting adventure, which makes him seem unstable. S/S does not like solitude but enjoys people and is at his best surrounded by friends, where he is the life of the party. He has an endless repertoire of interesting stories that he tells dramatically, making him a favorite with children as well as adults and usually gaining him admission at the best parties or social gatherings.

S/S is never at a loss for words, though he often speaks without thinking. His open sincerity, however, has a disarming effect on many of his listeners, causing them to respond to his mood. His free-wheeling, seemingly exciting, extraverted way of life makes him the envy of the more timid temperament types.

Riding in the backseat of an S/S’s car can be downright dangerous. They are so people-oriented that they want to look you (the passenger) in the face while driving. Being super-talkers, they spend very little time watching where they are going.

As for yard care, S/S gets up early Saturday morning to fix his yard. With great gusto he lines up all his tools (he has every gadget known to man because he totally lacks sales resistance) and prepares to cut, trim, shear, and prune. But within thirty minutes his wife can’t hear a sound outside. Looking down the street, she sees him chatting with a neighbor. Before the day is over, he orders his son to “put my tools away” and decides to fix the yard next week.

S/Ss eat everything in sight, and usually like it. Incidentally, in restaurants they almost never look at the menu until the waitress arrives, because they’ve been enjoying the conversation too much. S/Ss can rarely find their checkbook, and don’t always remember to write amounts in the right place or balance the accounts.

“An S/S enters a room mouth first.” Their noisy, blustering, friendly ways make S/Ss appear more confident than they really are, but their energy and lovable disposition get them by the rough spots of life. People have a way of excusing their weaknesses by saying “That’s just the way they are.” Sinful betrayal and easy repentance “with tears” is typically S/S. They always feel bad for wrongdoing, after they get caught.

The world is enriched by the cheerful S/Ss with their natural charisma. They usually make excellent salespeople and more than other groups seem attracted to that profession. You have doubtless heard this cliche: “He could sell refrigerators to the Eskimos.” That’s S/S. If you ever want to watch S/S in action, just visit your local used-car dealer. In addition to being good at sales, S/Ss make excellent actors, entertainers, and preachers. They are outstanding masters of ceremonies and auctioneers.

Because of our mass media today, they are increasingly in demand within the political arena, where natural charisma has proved advantageous. In the area of helping people, S/Ss excel as hospital workers. Most sick people respond to Nurse S/S’s “How are you today?” by saying “Fine”, while Nurse Melancholic asking the same question would probably receive the self-pitying lament “Miserable.” You may be on the verge of death, as white as the sheet you are lying on, when Dr. S/S bubbles into your room; but before the doctor leaves, your spirits will be lifted. This doctor’s obvious compassion in response to your tale of woe will almost make paying his exorbitant bill easy (S/Ss are never moderate about anything).

S/Ss should choose careers that allow them extensive exposure to people. Their chief contribution to life lies in making other people happy.

Sanguine/Phlegmatic (S/P)

The easiest person to like is an S/P. The overpowering and often obnoxious tendencies of a Sanguine are offset by the gracious, easygoing Phlegmatic. S/Ps are happy-go-lucky people whose carefree spirit and good humor make them lighthearted entertainers. The least extraverted of the Sanguines, they often react to their environment and circumstances rather than being proactive and self-motivated. S/Ps are usually good to their families, lavishing their spouses and children with lots of love. Unfortunately, unless restricted by strong moral convictions, they may extend that love to everyone else.

The S/Ps’ greatest weakness is their lack of motivation and self-discipline. They would rather socialize than work, and they tend to take life too casually. Their employers often have mixed emotions about them, enjoying their presence but wishing they would be more industrious. As one executive remarked: “He is the nicest guy I ever fired”.

S/Ps rarely get upset and tend to find the bright side of everything. They are the people most likely to walk into the house with a smile and say: “Look at this pink slip. I got fired today!” They have an endless repertoire of jokes and delight in making others laugh, often when the occasion calls for seriousness.

Sanguine/Choleric (S/C)

The strongest extravert of all the blends is the S/C: a mix of the two extraverted temperaments. The happy charisma of the Sanguine makes this person a people-oriented, enthusiastic sales type. But the Choleric nature will provide the resolution and character traits necessary to fashion a person more organized and productive than the pure Sanguine.

Almost any people-oriented field is open to them, but, to sustain their interest, a job must offer variety, activity, and excitement. Male S/Cs are invariably sports enthusiasts. Ordinarily such individuals are financially successful if properly trained and motivated and loved by their families, and not controlled by their weaknesses.

The potential weaknesses of an S/C are usually apparent. Customarily they talk too much, spilling out words before they know all the facts. To be honest, no one has more mouth trouble! S/C’s giant egos so dominate their conversations that they often destroy the good first impression they make and do not “wear well”. If they sense that people resist them, they may come on even stronger and make matters worse. If they are the life of the party, they are lovable, but if they feel threatened or insecure, they can become obnoxious. Their leading emotional problem is anger, which can catapult them into action at the slightest provocation.

S/C’s can be complimentary when it suits their purpose, but cross them and they may cut you down to smaller than life-size. Since they combine the easy forgetfulness of the Sanguine and the “end justifies the means” mindset of the Choleric, they may not have a very active conscience and tend to justify their actions.

Sanguine/Melancholic (S/M)

Melancholic

Melancholic/Melancholic (M/M)

Melancholic is often referred to as the “black” or “dark” temperament. Actually M/M is the richest of all the temperaments, for he is an analytical, self-sacrificing, gifted, perfectionist type, with a very sensitive emotional nature. No one gets more enjoyment from the fine arts than the M/M. When M/M’s feelings predominate, he is given over to a variety of moods. Sometimes his moods will lift him to heights of ecstasy that cause him to act more extraverted. However, at other times he will be gloomy and depressed; during these periods he is withdrawn and can be quite antagonistic.

M/M is a very faithful friend, but, unlike the S/S, he does not make friends easily. He will not push himself forward to meet people but lets people come to him. He is perhaps the most dependable of all the temperaments, for his perfectionist tendencies do not permit him to be a shirker or let others down. His natural reticence to put himself forward is not an indication that he doesn’t like people. He not only likes others, but he also has a strong desire to be loved by them. Since disappointing experiences make him reluctant to take people at face value, he is prone to be suspicious when others seek him out or shower him with attention.

His exceptional analytical ability causes him to diagnose accurately the obstacles and dangers of any project he has a part in planning. This is in sharp contrast to the C/C, who rarely anticipates problems or difficulties but is confident he is able to cope with whatever problems arise. This characteristic often finds the M/M reticent to initiate some new project or in conflict with those who wish to. Occasionally, when he is in one of his great moods of inspiration, he may produce some great work of art or genius. These accomplishments are often followed by periods of great depression.

M/Ms usually find their greatest meaning in life through personal sacrifice. They seem to have a desire to make themselves suffer and will often choose a difficult life vocation, involving great personal sacrifice. They tend to be very thorough and persistent in their pursuit of a chosen goal, and they are more than likely to accomplish great good. No one else is as capable of such high-quality “perfect” work.

When M/M motorists leave home, they’ve prepared for the trip well in advance. They study the map and know the best route from A to Z. Of all the temperaments, they are the most likely to keep a complete log of their driving history, including gas and oil consumption and car repairs. Legalists by nature, they rarely speed and may even drive one mile under the speed limit.

M/M has a natural aptitude for growing things and usually maintains the best yard in the neighborhood. He is one who talks to and babies his plants, and on almost any weekend you’ll find him on hands and knees, “manicuring” his lawn and hedges. M/Ms are very picky eaters. It takes them forever to make up their minds about what to order, but once their food arrives they savor every bite. M/Ms usually put everything on a computer, keep a rigid budget, and know exactly what everything cost them and whether it has been profitable.

Any vocation that requires perfection, self-sacrifice, and creativity is open to M/Ms. But they tend to place self-imposed limitations on their potential by underestimating themselves and exaggerating obstacles. In the building trades, the M/M may want to supervise construction. But he would be better off hiring a project supervisor who works better with people, and then spend his own time on the drawing board. He becomes frustrated by ordinary personnel problems and, with his unrealistic perfectionist demands, adds to them.

Melancholic/Phlegmatic (M/P)

M/Ps are not nearly as prone to hostility as the two other Melancholics and usually get along well with others. These gifted introverts combine the analytical perfectionism of the Melancholic with the organized efficiency of the Phlegmatic. They are usually good-natured humanitarians who blossom in a quiet solitary environment for study and research.

In addition to higher education, M/Ps excel in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, decorating, literature, theology, and many other “cerebral” fields. They are highly respected writers, philosophers, scientists, and masters in music and arts. M/Ps are extremely detail-conscious and accurate.

Despite these abilities, the M/P, like the rest of us, has potential weaknesses. M/Ps can easily become discouraged and develop a negative thinking pattern. M/Ps are unusually vulnerable to fear, anxiety, and a negative self-image. The people with the greatest talents and capabilities are often victimized by genuine feelings of poor self-worth.

Ordinarily quiet, they are capable of hostility caused by their tendency to be revengeful. In addition to enduring mood swings, they can be stubborn and rigid, even uncooperative. But once they learn to turn from criticism and to rejoice evermore, their outlook on life can be transformed.

Their strong tendency to be conscientious allows M/Ps to let others pressure them into making commitments that drain their energy and creativity. Even though humanitarian concerns may sometimes cause M/Ps to spend too much time away from their families, these people are often loved and admired by their families because their personal self-discipline and dedication are exemplary.

Melancholic/Sanguine (M/S)

M/S make good scholars and are probably the best of all teachers, particularly for high-school and college students. Their Melancholy nature will ferret out little-known facts and be exacting in the use of detail, while the Sanguine will communicate well with students. Sometimes M/Ss will go into sales-low-pressure selling that calls for the presentation of many facts and details, such as in computers, office machines, or textbooks. They make good lawyers and medical professionals. Almost any craft or trade welcomes M/Ss. Industry uses such individuals in production control and cost analysis. Although extremely capable, they usually work for someone else and rarely are venturesome enough to launch their own business or found an organization.

M/Ss are often loyal husbands or wives and are devoted parents, if they learn to accept people and children as they are and refuse to be too critical. M/Ss are usually gifted people, fully capable of being performing musicians who can steal the heart of an audience. Many great actors, opera stars, and country-western singers are M/Ss. As artists, they not only draw or paint well but can sell their own work-if they are in the right mood.

M/Ss show an interesting combination of mood swings. When circumstances are pleasing to them, they can reflect a fantastically happy mood. But if things work out badly, or they feel rejected, insulted, or injured, they drop into such a mood that their Sanguine nature drowns in a sea of selfpity. Like any predominant Melancholy, they must guard their thinking process! They are easily moved to tears, feel everything deeply, but can be unreasonably critical and hard on others. They tend to be rigid and usually will not cooperate unless things go their way, which is often idealistic and impractical.

As students, it is not unlike them to abandon their education, which makes it difficult for them to measure up to their potential. They are often fearful and insecure with a poor self-image that limits their potential. These people are much more capable than they realize, but they internalize so much that others often do not recognize their skills.

Melancholic/Choleric (M/C)

For M/Cs, the mood swings of the Melancholy are somewhat stabilized by the Choleric’s self-will and determination. There is almost nothing vocationally that these people cannot do, and do well. They are both perfectionists and drivers. They make excellent attorneys, particularly in fields that demand research and accuracy. And because they prepare twice as hard for a case as anyone else, they seldom lose. Many great orchestra leaders and choral conductors are M/Cs. They possess strong leadership capabilities, enjoy being “chairman of the hoard”, and never come to a meeting unprepared. As educators, they often leave the classroom for administration. They often go into politics. Unlike the M/S, they may found their own institutions or businesses and run them capably, not with noise and color but with efficiency.

The natural weaknesses of M/Cs are revealed in their minds, emotions, and mouths. They are extremely difficult to please. Once they start thinking negatively about something or someone (including themselves), they can he intolerable to live with. Their mood follows their thought processes. Although they don’t remain in a depression as long as the other two blends of the Melancholy, they can lapse into it more quickly. The Melancholy and the Choleric are the two basic temperaments haunted by self-persecution, hostility, and criticism. Put those together in an M/C and look for this person to be under the pile as soon as things go wrong. If such thoughts persist long enough, they may become manic-depressive.

Their penchant for detailed analysis and perfection can make them nitpickers who drive others up the wall. Unless they can maintain a positive frame of mind, they are not enjoyable company for long periods of time. No one is more painfully aware of this, of course, than their spouses and children. They not only “emote” disapproval, but also feel compelled to castigate others and correct their mistakes, in public as well as in private. If M/Cs don’t live up to their amazing potential it’s because of their internalized spirit of anger and revenge.

Phlegmatic

Phlegmatic/Phlegmatic (P/P)

P/Ps tend to be spectators in life, and they try not to get too involved with the activities of others. In fact, it is difficult for them to be motivated to move beyond their daily routine. This does not mean that they cannot appreciate the need for action and the difficulties of others.

Calm, cool, slow, easy-going, wellbalanced temperament, never seems to get ruffled. He has a high boiling point and seldom explodes in anger or laughter but keeps his emotions under control. Is usually kindhearted and sympathetic but seldom conveys his true feelings. He feels much more emotion that appears on the surface and has a good capacity to appreciate the fine arts and the “finer things” of life.

Beneath the reticent, almost timid P/P is a very capable combination of abilities. When once aroused to action, he proves to be a most competent and efficient person. P/Ps tend not to take leadership on their own, but when it is thrust upon them, they can be good leaders. I’ve labeled them “reluctant leaders.” Secretly, a P/P may aspire for a promotion on the job, but it would be against his nature to volunteer. Instead, he may patiently wait until more discordant and inept personalities make a mess out of things and then assume the responsibility only after it is forced upon him. In many instances P/Ps wait their lives away and opportunity never knocks, because, although employers appreciate their capabilities, they don’t envision them as leaders.

The world has benefitted greatly from the gracious nature of P/Ps. They have a conciliating effect on others and are natural peacemakers. In their quiet way, they have proven to be fulfillers of the dreams of others. They are masters at anything that requires meticulous patience and daily routine.

P/P seem drawn to the field of education. Their gentle nature assures the ideal atmosphere for learning. Because they are diplomatic and unabrasive, they work well with people. When given positions of leadership, they seem to bring order out of chaos and produce a working harmony conducive to increased productivity. They are well organized, never come to a meeting unprepared or late, tend to work well under pressure, and are extremely dependable.

P/Ps are definitely not risk takers. They often stay with one company for their entire working career. Rarely do P/Ps either live up to their full capabilities or launch out on a business venture of their own, although they are eminently qualified to do so. Instead, they usually enhance the earning power of someone else and are quite content with a simple lifestyle.

Phlegmatic/Sanguine

The easiest of the temperament blends to get along with over the long haul are the P/Ss. They are congenial, happy, cooperative, thoughtful, people-oriented, diplomatic, dependable, fun-loving, and humorous. They never display an abrasive personality and are neighborhood favorites, with adults and children. They are usually good family members who enjoy a quiet life and love their spouses and children.

The weaknesses of the P/Ss are as gentle as their personality, unless you have to live with them all the time. Since they inherited the Phlegmatic lack of motivation and the Sanguine lack of discipline, it is common for these people to fall short of their true capabilities. They often quit school, pass up good opportunities, and avoid anything that involves “too much effort”. They tend to putter around, enjoy solitude, and don’t seem to mind that the years pass them by, and they don’t go anywhere or accomplish very much.

Since opposites tend to attract each other, a female P/S will often marry an aggressive man who carries her through life. When the man is a P/S it’s a different ball game. A wife finds it difficult to carry her husband vocationally, and his passive ways often become a source of irritation to her. The P/S’s wife buys him every new self-improvement book that hits the market, but he falls asleep reading them.

Fear and worry are additional problems that churn up unrealistic feelings of insecurity. With just a little more faith, they could be transformed from their timidity and self defeating anxieties. However, they prefer to build a protective shell around themselves and avoid involvement or commitment to activity.

Phlegmatic/Melancholic (P/M)

Of all the temperament blends, P/Ms are the most gracious, gentle, and quiet. P/Ms are rarely angry or hostile and almost never say anything for which they must apologize (mainly because they rarely say much). They never embarrass themselves or others, always do the proper thing, dress simply, and are dependable and exact. They tend to have the gift of mercy and help. They respond to the needs of others, if they let themselves move out into the stream of life and work with people where they are. They are neat and organized in their working habits. They do well in anything that involves intricate detail and great patience. As Phlegmatics, they are handy around the house and, as energy permits, they keep their homes in good repair.

As for weaknesses, a P/M father may neglect the discipline necessary to help prepare his children for a productive, self-disciplined life. If the P/M husband has a wife who recognizes his tendencies toward passivity but tactfully waits for him to take the lead in their home, they will have a good family life and marriage. Other weaknesses of the P/M person revolve around fear, selfishness, negativism, criticism, and lack of self-image.

Most P/Ms have an obsession against involvement. They are so afraid of overextending themselves or getting overinvolved that they automatically refuse almost any kind of affiliation. Since they are not internally motivated, they need to accept more responsibility than they think they can fulfill; that external stimulation will motivate them to greater achievement. All Phlegmatics work well under pressure, but it must come from outside.

These individuals should give special thought to keeping their bodies toned up, which can give them a whole new lease on life.

Phlegmatic/Choleric (P/C)

The most active of all Phlegmatics are P/Cs. Predominantly Phlegmatic, these people will still never become balls of fire. Like other Phlegmatics, they are easy to get along with and may become excellent group leaders. Although P/Cs rarely offer their service to others, in their own organized offices where they exercise control, they are usually first-rate professionals. Their advice will be practical, helpful, and quite trustworthy. They can be expected to do the right thing but rarely go beyond the norm.

The weaknesses of P/Cs are not readily apparent but gradually come to the surface, especially in the home. In addition to the lack of motivation and the fear problems of the other Phlegmatics, they can be determinedly stubborn and unyielding. They don’t blow up at others but simply refuse to give in or cooperate. They are not fighters or crusaders by nature but often let their inner anger and stubbornness reflect itself in silence.

P/Cs often retreat alone to the “workshop” or “nest” or nightly immerse their minds in TV. The older they get, the more they indulge their sedentary tendency to become increasingly passive. Although they will probably live long and peaceful lives, they need to give themselves to the concerns and needs of their families and force themselves to become more active. If the male P/C’s wife can make an adjustment to his passiveness and reluctance to take the lead in the home, particularly in the discipline of their children, they can enjoy a long and happy marriage.