A person begins to get acquainted with the concept of "temperament" from a very early age. While still a child, he notices that some of his peers are more persistent, cheerful and active, while others are slow in actions and words, shy and slow.
It is this personality trait that is called "temperament". This characteristic of the individual determines the mental rhythm and pace, the speed of occurrence and duration of feelings, the focus on contacts with objects and people, ingenuity, and the manifestation of interest in oneself and others.
About temperament
What does this concept mean? By temperament we understand mental differences expressed in a person by the depth, stability and intensity of emotions, the pace and vigor of actions, emotional impressionability and many other features. The problem of a precise description of this concept is still unresolved and controversial. However, if we take into account all the diverse approaches that have been applied to study it, we can note:researchers are unanimous in their opinion that temperament is the foundation that plays the most important role in the formation of a person's personality as a purely social being.
In the properties of the psyche inherent in an individual, his dynamic characteristics of behavior, mostly innate, are reflected. Moreover, the most striking nuance of temperament is that all its manifestations are perfectly combined with each other. And this does not happen by accident. All features inherent in human behavior have inextricable links with each other, forming a certain conglomerate. It is the main characteristic of temperament.
In other words, this concept means individual peculiar properties of the psyche. They determine the dynamics of an individual's behavior and always manifest themselves in the same way, regardless of the person's activity, its motives, content and goals. These properties remain unchanged in adulthood, characterizing the type of temperament in the aggregate.
Hippocratic Theory
Humanity has long attempted to reduce an infinite number of individuals to a limited number of personality portraits. The oldest and most famous example of such a typology is the typology of the four temperaments proposed by Hippocrates. This thinker was able to identify general patterns among the many individual variants of the psyche.
This so-called humoral typology of temperament carriedpractical benefit. With its help, it became possible to predict the behavior of people with a certain mental makeup in a given life situation.
Translated from Latin, the concept of "temperament" means "proportionality", "mixture". This comes from the typology of Hippocrates. Temperament, according to the "father of medicine", is determined by the predominance of one of the four fluids in the body. If it is blood (in Latin "sanguine"), then the type of human behavior will be sanguine. He belongs to people who are energetic and fast, cheerful and sociable, easily enduring failures and life's difficulties.
There is a concept of temperament in the Hippocratic theory of the typology of temperaments, in which bile predominates in the body. In Latin, its name sounds "chole". Such a person is a choleric. Among all the others, he is distinguished by biliousness and irritability, excitability and incontinence, mobility and a sharp change in mood.
The third type in Hippocrates' temperament typology is phlegmatic. It is inherent in a person whose body is dominated by mucus (in Latin "phlegm"). Such people are distinguished by calmness and slowness, balance and difficulty in switching between activities, poor adaptation to new conditions.
The fourth type of mental behavior in the typology of Hippocrates' temperament is characterized by a somewhat painful shyness and impressionability of a person, a tendency to sadness and isolation, fatigue and excessive sensitivity to failures. Such people the ancient thinker called melancholic,indicating that their body is dominated by black bile, or "melana-chole".
Humoral this theory is called from the Latin word "humor" - "fluid". Hippocrates studied the manifestations of various types of temperament. At the same time, he was the first to raise the question of their connection with the lifestyle of the individual. All this was understood by the thinker in the broadest sense, starting from drinking and eating, ending with natural conditions and features of communication.
Humoral theorists can still be found today. They are researchers who have shown that the manifestation of the choleric type of temperament is influenced by the balance and ratio of thyroid hormones in the body. With their overabundance, a person experiences increased excitability and irritability.
Galen Theory
Among the authors of the typology of temperament was the most famous ancient doctor after Hippocrates. In the 2nd century BC. Galen developed a typology of temperaments and outlined it in his treatise De temperamentis. In this work, he described in detail nine different psychological characteristics of human behavior. Of these, he singled out four that are still in use today. These types of temperament, according to Galen, directly depend on which of the "juices" prevails in the body. These include blood (sanguine), phlegm (phlegmatic), bile (choleric), and black bile (melancholic).
Galen (following Hippocrates) developed the doctrine of temperaments, which are proportions with a mixture of several basic "juices". If a "warm" liquid prevailed, then a person by this scientistdescribed as energetic and courageous. With a larger proportion of "cold juice" - slow, etc.
This concept has been used by scientists for centuries.
Chigo's Theory
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. new descriptions of the typology of temperament were developed - constitutional. Their idea came into being thanks to the influence of anthropologists, who drew attention to the existing differences in the structure of the body, as well as psychiatrists, who pointed out individual differences in people that affect the predisposition to mental illness. Based on this, the concept of the constitutional typology of temperament was formed. She pointed out the connection between the human body and the traits of his character.
The first to finally form such a theory was the French doctor Claude Sigot in 1904. This author of the constitutional typology of temperament pointed out that the human body itself, as well as its disorders, depend on innate predispositions and the environment.
At the same time, certain external conditions correspond to each system of our body. For example, air is a source of respiratory reactions, food that has entered the body contributes to food processes. In the physical environment, human motor reactions take place, and in the social environment, brain reactions.
K. Seago identified four body types. Their formation, according to the author, occurs on the basis of the predominance of one system or another in the body. These are body types such as respiratory and digestive, muscular, as well as brain (cerebral).
One or another prevailing systemcontributes to the emergence of a specific human reaction to changes in the external environment. That is why each variety of the described physique corresponds to constitutional typologies of temperament.
K. Seago's concept connected the constitution of the body with the peculiarities of human behavior. She played an important role in the formation of modern theories of typology in the psychology of temperament.
E. Kretschmer's theory
This German psychiatrist was also the author of the constitutional typology of temperament. In his work, which he published in 1921, the scientist paid attention to the correspondence of a certain body type to such diseases as manic-depressive psychosis and schizophrenia.
In the theory of E. Kretschmer about the typology of temperament, it was argued that in nature there are 4 constitutional body types. These conclusions were made by a psychiatrist based on multiple measurements:
- Leptosomatic. People with this constitutional type have a cylindrical body. Their physique is fragile, their height is high, their chest is flat, their face is elongated. The head of forest optomatists has an egg-shaped shape. They have a thin, long nose, which, together with an undeveloped lower jaw, forms an angular profile. Leptosomatics are distinguished by narrow lower limbs, long bones and thin muscles. In his typology of the temperament of people in whom these features are extremely pronounced, E. Kremer called asthenics, which means “weak” in Greek.
- Picnic. These are excessively obese people with rich adipose tissue, small or medium height, largebelly, swollen torso and round head on a short neck. With relatively large body parameters and narrow shoulders, their shapes seem to be barrel-shaped. This type of people also has a tendency to stoop. The name "picnic" by E. Kretschmer in the typology of temperament was given from the Greek word "pyknos", which means "dense", "thick".
- Athletic. This name also comes from the Greek language, where it means "fight", "struggle". These are people with good muscles, medium or high growth and a strong physique. They have broad shoulders and narrow hips. From this, the body in its appearance resembles a trapezoid. There is practically no fat layer. The face of athletics has the shape of an elongated egg, and their lower jaw is quite well developed.
- Dysplastic. The name of this body type comes from two Greek words: "bad" and "formed". The structure in this case is irregular and shapeless. People of this type have various body deformities (for example, being too tall).
E. Kretschmer classified the constitutional features of his patients only on the basis of the proportions of the parts of the body. At the same time, in his opinion, schizophrenia overtakes, as a rule, leptosomatic patients. Although among his patients there were also athletes. Picnics are subject mainly to manic-depressive psychosis. The author of the theory also pointed out that athletes suffer the least from mental illnesses, but have a predisposition to epilepsy.
Based on the tendency to various emotional reactions, E. Kretschmer divided people into two large groups. One of them, in his opinion, has a cyclothymic type of temperament. The emotional life of these people is characterized by a mood with poles from cheerful to sad. The second group is characterized by schizothymic temperament. The emotional scale of these people ranges from sensitive to unexcitable.
Schizothymics have a leptosomatic or asthenic physique. In the case of a mental disorder, they show a predisposition to schizophrenia. Such people are closed, prone to fluctuating emotions, stubborn and inflexible to changes in attitudes and attitudes. It is difficult for them to adapt to the environment and think concretely.
The direct opposite of schizothymic is cyclothymic. These are people with a picnic physique, realistic in their views, easily in contact with the environment and oscillating between sadness and joy.
The connection of some mental properties of a person with a certain type of physique E. Kretschmer explained by the fact that both of them are due to the functioning of the endocrine glands and the composition of the blood.
Theory of I. P. Pavlov
When trying to reproduce the results of E. Kretschmer's study, it became clear that extreme options are not suitable for most people. Critics of this theory, among whom was academician I. P. Pavlov, argued that the mistake of the German psychologist was the spread of pathological patterns to the norm and the assignment of all mankind to only two types - schizoids and cycloids.
That is why a new theory of temperament typology was created. ATthe concept of temperament was understood by Academician I. P. Pavlov.
Scientists have long known the fact that human behavior and the course of mental processes in his body depend on the functioning of the nervous system. However, I. P. Pavlov's theory of the typology of temperament for the first time pointed to the connection of various types of character with the properties possessed by nervous processes. Subsequently, this concept was further developed by the followers of the great physiologist.
I. P. Pavlov drew attention to the dependence that takes place between a person's temperament and the type of his nervous system. In the course of his experiments, he proved that the reflection of the activity of the brain can be seen in two main processes - inhibition and excitation. It is they who have different strengths in people from their very birth. Based on the ratio of these properties, Pavlov identified four main types of higher activity of the nervous system:
- Unrestrained. In the typology of temperament, choleric people have such a strong, unbalanced and mobile nervous system.
- Alive. In the typology of temperament according to Pavlov, such a balanced, mobile and strong NS belongs to a sanguine person.
- Calm. Phlegmatic people have this type of NA, which is distinguished by strength, poise and inertia.
- Weak. This type of NS is characterized by low mobility and imbalance. Such traits are characteristic of the melancholic temperament.
W. Sheldon Theory
In the 1940s, a newconstitutional concept concerning the typology of temperament and character. Its author was the American scientist W. Sheldon. The basis of this theory was the views of Kretschmer.
U. Sheldon adhered to the hypothesis that there are several basic body types, which he described using photographic techniques and complex anthropometric measurements. At the same time, the scientist highlighted:
- Endomorphic type. These are people with a weak physique and an excess of adipose tissue.
- Mesomorphic type. He is characterized by a strong, slender body, great mental stability and strength.
- Ectomorphic type. These are people with a weak body, a flattened chest and thin long limbs. Their nervous system is easily excitable and sensitive.
Carrying out long-term observations allowed W. Sheldon to conclude that a certain temperament corresponds to all the described body types. As a result, the scientist identified viscerotonics, somatotonics and cerebrotonics.
Choleric
Let's consider each of the types of temperament with its psychological characteristics.
Cholerics are people whose nervous system functioning is dominated by excitation over inhibition. That is why such a person is able to react very quickly to any situation, but often does it completely thoughtlessly. As a result, he does not have time to restrain himself and does not show patience.
Choleric people are characterized by sharpness and impulsiveness of movements, unbridledness, irascibility and incontinence. The imbalance of the nervous system of such people causes a cyclical change in their activity and cheerfulness. Being carried away by any business, they work with full dedication and passion. However, they do not have enough strength for a long time. This becomes a consequence of the appearance of a bad mood, lethargy and loss of strength.
Exposure to alternating cycles of ups and downs with negative periods of depression and downswings causes uneven behavior, neurotic breakdowns and conflicts with others.
Sanguine
These people have a mobile, balanced and strong NA. They have a quick yet deliberate response. Sanguine people are cheerful, thanks to which it is not difficult for them to resist the difficulties that arise. The mobility of the NS causes the variability of feelings, interests, attachments, as well as a high level of adaptation to new conditions. These people are sociable and have a wide circle of acquaintances.
Sanguine people are productive people, but in the absence of interest they become boring and lethargic. When stressful situations arise, such people deliberately and actively defend themselves, fighting to normalize the situation.
Phlegmatic
These people are characterized by a strong, balanced, but at the same time inert NA. That is why their reaction is slow. Phlegmatic is difficult to cheer up and anger, but at the same time he has good resistance to prolonged and strong irritants, as well as high performance. Such people do not like to change their usual way of life and slowly adapt to new conditions.
Melancholic
The nervous system of such people is very weak. Exactlytherefore, they are overly sensitive, which manifests itself even in the presence of weak stimuli. Under severe stress, melancholic people fall into a stupor.
Because of the increased sensitivity, these people get tired quickly. Their working capacity quickly falls, which can be restored only with a longer rest. Even with an insignificant reason, they are offended and cry. Their mood is changeable, but basically such people try not to show their feelings to others.
Due to their high sensitivity, melancholics reveal pronounced intellectual and artistic abilities.
