SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION: TEMPERAMENT
By: Sylvanus Yao Kpodonu
Personal Development and Psychology
Have you ever wondered why some people flourish in busy social gatherings while others find strength and renewal in moments of quiet reflection? Why does one child appear calm and easy-going, whilst another is highly energetic or emotionally sensitive, even though both were raised in the same home?
As a counsellor, teacher, and Reverend Minister, I have often observed that many people spend years trying to change aspects of themselves without first understanding how they were naturally wired. The answer to many of our behavioural differences lies not merely in upbringing, education, or life experiences but in something far more fundamental:
Temperament
Temperament is the inborn framework upon which personality is built. It influences how we think, feel, respond to challenges, interact with others, and perceive the world around us. Understanding temperament—both our own and that of others—can be one of the most transformative tools for personal growth, healthy relationships, effective parenting, and successful leadership.
Simply put, when we understand temperament, we begin to understand ourselves.
What Is Temperament?
Temperament refers to the innate and biologically based patterns of emotional response, behaviour, and self-regulation that are present from early childhood and remain relatively stable throughout life.
Unlike personality, which is shaped by experiences, culture, education, and social influences, temperament represents our natural predisposition. It is the foundation upon which our personality develops.
Research has shown that temperament can be observed even in infancy. Some babies are naturally calm and adaptable, whilst others are more reactive, cautious, or intense. These tendencies often continue into adulthood, influencing how individuals approach life and relationships.
Psychologists Thomas and Chess (1977), pioneers in temperament research, described temperament as the “how” of behaviour—not what a person does or why they do it, but the manner and intensity with which they do it.
In my counselling practice, I have found that many personal struggles arise when people compare themselves unfairly with others rather than appreciating their unique temperament. What appears to be a weakness may simply be a different way of engaging with life.
The Four Classical Temperaments
One of the oldest and most enduring approaches to understanding human temperament originated in ancient Greece through the work of Hippocrates and was later developed by Galen.
Whilst modern psychology has expanded significantly beyond this framework, the four classical temperaments continue to provide valuable insights into human behaviour.
1. Sanguine — The Enthusiast
Sanguine individuals are sociable, energetic, expressive, and optimistic. They enjoy connecting with people and often bring enthusiasm wherever they go.
●Strengths
Excellent communicators
Creative and adaptable
Optimistic and encouraging
Naturally charismatic
●Challenges
May struggle with organisation
Can become easily distracted
Sometimes, act impulsively
●Best Environment
Dynamic, people-oriented, and creative settings.
Personal Reflection: Many sanguine individuals possess the remarkable ability to bring joy into difficult situations. However, they often benefit from developing greater discipline and consistency to complement their natural enthusiasm.
2. Choleric — The Leader
Choleric individuals are driven, decisive, ambitious, and goal-oriented. They naturally gravitate towards leadership and enjoy achieving meaningful results.
● Strengths
Strong leadership abilities
Confidence and determination
Strategic thinking
High productivity
● Challenges
Can become impatient
May appear controlling
Sometimes, overlook the feelings of others
● Best Environment
Leadership positions and results-driven environments.
Personal Reflection: Choleric individuals are often visionaries who inspire progress and innovation. Their greatest growth occurs when they learn to balance achievement with empathy.
3. Melancholic — The Thinker
Melancholic individuals are analytical, thoughtful, conscientious, and emotionally deep. They value excellence, meaning, and precision.
● Strengths:
Attention to detail
Creativity and insight
Loyalty and commitment
Strong sense of responsibility
● Challenges: Prone to perfectionism
May become overly self-critical
Susceptible to worry and anxiety
●Best Environment: Structured, intellectual, or creative environments where quality is valued.
Personal Reflection: Some of history’s greatest artists, scholars, and innovators possessed melancholic traits. Their depth of thought is a gift, but they must guard against becoming trapped by unrealistic expectations of themselves.
4. Phlegmatic — The Peacemaker
Phlegmatic individuals are calm, dependable, patient, and cooperative. They value harmony and stability and often serve as mediators during conflict.
● Strengths:
Reliable and trustworthy
Excellent listeners
Emotionally stable
Diplomatic and patient
● Challenges :
May avoid confrontation
Can resist necessary change
Sometimes, struggle with assertiveness
● Best Environment:
Stable and collaborative settings that encourage teamwork.
Personal Reflection: In a world often characterised by tension and division, phlegmatic individuals provide a stabilising influence. Their quiet strength is frequently underestimated but immensely valuable.
Modern Perspectives on Temperament
Contemporary psychological research has expanded our understanding of temperament far beyond the classical categories.
Researchers such as Jerome Kagan and Mary Rothbart have identified several important dimensions of temperament, including:
●Reactivity: How strongly an individual responds to internal or external stimuli.
●Self-Regulation: The ability to manage emotions and behaviours effectively.
●Sociability: Comfort and enjoyment in social interactions.
●Inhibition: The tendency to approach unfamiliar situations cautiously.
These dimensions interact in countless ways, creating the rich diversity of personalities we encounter every day.
Why Does Temperament Matter?
● In Parenting
One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is understanding.
A highly sensitive child should not be labelled “weak,” nor should an energetic child be described as “difficult.” When parents understand temperament, they learn to guide rather than frustrate, nurture rather than criticise.
Children flourish when their environment respects their natural temperament.
● In Relationships
Many relationship conflicts arise not from lack of love but from differences in temperament.
A decisive partner may become frustrated with someone who needs time to reflect. Likewise, a highly sociable person may misunderstand a partner’s need for solitude.
Understanding temperament fosters patience, empathy, and healthier communication.
● In the Workplace
Successful organisations recognise that people contribute differently.
The detail-oriented melancholic, the visionary choleric, the enthusiastic sanguine, and the dependable phlegmatic each bring unique strengths to a team.
The most effective workplaces are not those that seek uniformity but those that value diversity of temperament.
● In Mental Health
Temperament can influence vulnerability to certain emotional and psychological challenges.
For example, highly reactive individuals may be more susceptible to anxiety, whilst perfectionistic tendencies may increase vulnerability to stress and burnout.
Understanding temperament enables counsellors, educators, Reverend Ministers, and mental health professionals to provide more personalised and compassionate support.
Can Temperament Change?
One of the most common questions people ask is whether temperament can be changed.
The answer is both yes and no.
The underlying temperament with which we are born remains relatively stable. However, maturity, life experiences, faith, education, counselling, and intentional personal development can significantly influence how that temperament is expressed.
For example:
A naturally impatient person can learn patience.
An introverted person can develop strong social skills.
A highly anxious person can learn effective emotional regulation.
We may not completely change our natural wiring, but we can certainly grow beyond its limitations.
This is why self-awareness is so important. Growth begins when we understand both our strengths and our vulnerabilities.
Discovering Your Temperament
If you wish to understand your temperament more deeply, consider the following:
● Observation:Observe Yourself
How do you respond under pressure?
What energises you?
What drains you?
How do you naturally relate to others?
●Assessment:Use Assessment Tools
Frameworks such as MBTI, DISC, and temperament inventories can provide useful insights.
●Feedback: Seek Honest Feedback
Family members, close friends, mentors, and colleagues often see patterns in us that we overlook.
Remember: no temperament is superior to another. Each has strengths to celebrate and weaknesses to manage.
Final Thoughts
Temperament is not an excuse for poor behaviour, nor is it a limitation on what we can become. Rather, it is a starting point for understanding ourselves and others more deeply.
In my experience as a counsellor and minister of the Word and Sacrament, many interpersonal conflicts, leadership challenges, and personal frustrations could be reduced if people took the time to understand temperament. When we appreciate that others are wired differently from us, we become less judgemental, more compassionate, and better equipped to build meaningful relationships.
Your temperament is God’s unique blueprint for your life. It shapes how you contribute to the world, how you connect with others, and how you fulfil your purpose.
The goal is not to become someone else.
The goal is to become the very best version of who you were created to be.
Your temperament is the blueprint. Understanding it is the beginning of wisdom. Building upon it is the journey of growth.
References
Briggs Myers, I., & Myers, P. B. (1995). Gifts differing: Understanding personality type. Davies-Black Publishing.
Buss, A. H. (1995). Personality: Temperament, social behaviour, and the self. Allyn and Bacon.
Kagan, J. (1994). Galen’s prophecy: Temperament in human nature. Basic Books.
Merenda, P. F. (1987). Toward a four-factor theory of temperament and/or personality. Journal of Personality Assessment, 51(3), 367–374. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5103_4
Roberts, B. W., & DelVecchio, W. F. (2000). The rank-order consistency of personality traits from childhood to old age: A quantitative review of longitudinal studies. Psychological Bulletin, 126(1), 3–25. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.126.1.3
Rothbart, M. K., & Bates, J. E. (2006). Temperament. In N. Eisenberg, W. Damon, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 3. Social, emotional, and personality development (6th ed., pp. 99–166). Wiley.
Thomas, A., & Chess, S. (1977). Temperament and development. Brunner/Mazel.
