Intro to Personality

Read pg. 477-478 (top) featuring a very unique
personality, Steve Irwin. Read the selection with this
question in mind:
 Which traits characterized Irwin’s personality?
 Why does personality form? In other words, what are the
major forces that make people “who they are?”
.

Personality Traits
 Dispositions and dimensions

The Five-Factor Model
 Extraversion
 Neuroticism
 Openness to experience
 Agreeableness
 Conscientiousness

Summarize the five-factor model of personality by
▪ Watching a clip from Inside Out: Personality and
▪ Reading about it on pgs. 478-480.
 How did the “Big 5” model originate?
 What are the different kinds of personality (focus on key
words within each category)? Describe each briefly.
 What is your personality type and why? You may choose
a primary type and a secondary type.
 My personality: 1. extraversion-positive emotionally (primary).
3. openness to experience: people’s political attitudes and
ideology. 4. promotes altruistic (helping) behavior in social
interactions (secondary). (Now add explanation).
 Where did this model come from?
 Raymond Cattell reduced a huge list of personality traits
compiled by Gordon Allport to just 16 basic dimensions of
personality.
 What are the different kinds of personality (focus on key words
within each category)?
 Robert McCreae and Paul Costa developed the five-factor
model of personality. “Big Five”: extraversion, neuroticism
(negative emotionally), openness to experience,
agreeable, and conscientiousness.
 What is your personality type and why? You may choose a
primary type and a secondary type.
 My personality: 1. extraversion-positive emotionally
(primary). 3. openness to experience: people’s political
attitudes and ideology. 4. promotes altruistic (helping)
behavior in social interactions (secondary). (Now add
explanation).
[Packet] An Interview With Sigmund Freud

Personality Theory #1:
You have just finished interviewing Sigmund Freud,
the father of the Psychodynamic Theory of
Personality. Highlights of your interview will appear
on the ten o’clock news. Your producer tells you that
you only have enough air time to highlight 10 major
points from your interview.
 Summarize Freud’s Personality Theory in 10 points
 Use pgs. 480-484 as a guide.



Grew out of Freud’s decades of interactions with his clients.
This theory focuses on the influence of
 early childhood experiences
 unconscious motives and conflicts
 the methods people use to cope with sexual and aggressive urges

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory
 Structure of personality
▪ Id - Pleasure principle
▪ Ego - Reality principle (delays the id’s urge for gratification until an
appropriate outlet can be found)
▪ Superego – Morality

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory
 Internal Conflict Among the Id, Ego,
and Superego
▪ ID: Sex and Aggression- two impulses controlled by
the id
▪ EGO: Anxiety- (1) fear that the id will get out of
control (2) fear that superego will get out of control
and make you feel guilty about real or imagined
transgressions
▪ SUPEREGO: Defense Mechanisms- a technique
used to satisfy the superego; unconscious reactions
that protect a person from anxiety and guilt
▪ EX. Rationalization, repression, projection,
displacement
Defense
Mechanism
Description
Example
Denial
Declaring or thinking whatever is true is false.
Refusal to accept reality, external facts, events,
implications bc nature of the reality threatens
individual. Emotional conflicts resolved by
refusal to acknowledge unpleasant external
realities.
Alcoholic who refuses to believe his drinking makes an impact
on his job performance or family life
Displacement
Aggression or even sexual impulses redirected
to a more acceptable party. Emotion pointed to
safer outlet. Separation of emotion from its real
object. Emotion dissuaded to object, party that
brings less risk.
Mother may yell at child when she feels angry at husband. In
this case she displaces her anger toward child bc child
appears to be a more acceptable target; less threatening, less
risk in outcome.
Projection
Attributing one’s own unacknowledged
unacceptable/unwanted thoughts and emotions
to another. Reduces anxiety, allows expression
of undesirable impulse or desire without
conscious awareness.
Assuming that someone you extremely dislike extremely
dislikes you. Severe prejudice, severe jealousy, hyper
vigilance to external danger, and “injustice collecting”.
Rationalization
Creating false but credible justifications.
Convincing oneself no wrong was done or all is
or was all right through faulty/false reasoning.
Indicator of this defense mechanism can be
seen socially as the formulation of convenient
excuses.
You are turned down by someone you are interested in, and
rationalize that you were not that attracted to them. Protects
self-esteem.
Regression
Reverting to coping at an earlier stage of
development.
Adult throwing a temper tantrum
Repression
Pulling thoughts into unconscious, preventing
painful or dangerous thoughts from entering
consciousness; seemingly unexplainable
naivety, memory lapse or lack of awareness of
one’s own situation and condition. Emotion is
conscious, idea behind it absent. Pushing
uncomfortable thoughts into the subconscious.
Individual abused as a child represses feelings and memories,
so that feelings and memories no longer remain in the
conscious memory. The abuse continues to affect the
individual’s behavior in relationships.
 Levels of awareness- THIS WAS THE BIG
DISCOVERY!
▪ Conscious: whatever one is aware of
▪ Preconscious: material just beneath the surface of awareness
that can easily be retrieved EX. Your middle name, what you
ate for dinner last night, etc.
▪ Unconscious: thoughts, memories, and desires well below
the surface of the conscious that greatly impact behavior
Group Question Minute: Name one example of knowledge that
you have for at least two of the three levels of consciousness
named above.
 EX. Conscious- I’m hungry.
Preconscious- My mother’s maiden name is Sanchez.
Unconscious- I think that I hate riding in Bob’s car because his
rap annoys me.

Figure 12.3 Freud’s model of personality
dynamics
Group Question Minute: Why is Freud’s three-tiered theory of personality
so controversial, especially regarding the id?
• People squeamish about talking about appetites and impulses
• Puts people on same level as animals
• Negative stereotypes and expectations, especially regarding men

Read the story written in italics on pg. 482.
Then write your own story featuring clear
conflicts among the id, the ego, and the
superego. Your story should be 5-7 sentences
long. Please ensure that your story is schoolappropriate, i.e. careful with the id! Ego Superego
Id
Illustrate the id, ego, and
superego somewhere on your
page.






Think of someone you know whom you don't like very much. Maybe you
even hate this person. On a piece of paper, write down a description of
that person. Write down what it is about this individual's personality that
you don't like. Be as specific as you can.
Draw a box around what you have written - and at the top of the box
write "MY SHADOW.“
Now write down the things about yourself that you don’t like. What are
the things about yourself that most annoy and upset you?
What you have written down is some hidden part of yourself - some part
that you have suppressed or hidden. It is what Jung would call your
SHADOW. Maybe it's a part of you that you fear, can't accept, or hate for
some reason. Maybe it's a part of you that needs to be expressed or
developed in some way. Maybe you even secretly wish you could be
something like that person whom you hate.“
http://users.rider.edu/~suler/shadow.html
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What key psychodynamic principles does Jung’s theory illustrate?
What’ the difference between the personal and the collective
unconscious?
Give a definition and an example of “archetype.”
According to Alfred Adler, what is the primary force that
unconsciously motivates people’s behavior?
What is overcompensation? Why do we do it?
Adler’s theory says that this force (see #4) can cause an unhealthy
personality development when people form an _________
complex.
How does Adler’s theory fit in with the ideas of other
psychodynamic theorists (Freud, Jung)?
What do you think are the most important pros and the most
important cons of psychodynamic personality theories?
Freud wouldn't accept any variations on his personality theory. So, his
disciples left him and came up with their own.
Carl, don’t you
realize that my
theories are always
right?
I am going to
un-friend you
on Facebook,
Siggy.
Enter CARL JUNG!

Carl Jung: Analytical Psychology: the unconscious mind is
composed of two layers
 Personal and collective unconscious:
 personal unconscious: houses material that is not within one’s
conscious awareness because it has been repressed or forgotten
 collective unconscious: houses latent memory traces inherited from
people’s ancestral past.
 Archetypes: emotionally charged images and thought forms that
have universal meaning. EX: symbols in dreams, culture, and
religions like the circle

Other of Jung’s Ideas
 Introversion/Extroversion
 Jung was the first to describe the introverted (inner-directed) and
extraverted (outer-directed) personality types.

Group Question Minute: Give one example of
the collective unconscious.

EX. Circle= unity, eternity
EX. Fire=comfort and safety


Some psychologists thought that Freud had gone overboard
with his focus on sexual conflict.

Alfred Adler: Individual Psychology
 Striving for superiority, not sex, is the foremost source
of human motivation in the unconscious part of our minds.
 Compensation is feeling inferior and striving to
overcome this feeling of inadequacy through mental or
physical action.
 Inferiority complex/overcompensation results when
feelings are excessive and people try to cover them up.
People seek power, the appearance of wealth, and brag for
this reason. These phenomenon begin in early childhood.
 Birth order is also a factor that governs personality.

Group Question Minute: What is your birth
order? How has it impacted your personality?

Adler and Birth Order
 First-borns: rebellious
 Only children: spoiled

Frank Sulloway and Birth Order
 First-borns: more conscientious but less agreeable and open to
experience; conscientious and achievement-oriented.
 Later-borns: liberal and rebellious

Pros- Groundbreaking insights on
 The unconscious
 The role of internal conflict
 The importance of early childhood experiences

Cons
 Poor testability
 Inadequate empirical base
 Sexist views (male-centered)



Read the “Featured Study” on pgs. 492-493.
Study Figure 12.8 on pg. 493.
Write a paragraph describing a space which you
have personalized. How does it reflect your
personality? Be specific.
Example: Piles are everywhere! They’re on my desks, in my room, and all
over my kitchen. They’re not “messy,” per se. On the contrary, their
purpose is to avoid messiness. When I receive new materials to
accomplish a specific task (mail to answer, papers to grade, books to
read), I deal with the most necessary items first and pile the rest. This
action upon my space represents my personality in that I am a very
conscientious. I am keenly aware of responsibilities and expectations.
You may even say that my superego is a bit out of control. Therefore, I
prioritize. I deal with the most necessary tasks first, and the rest of the
zillions of less-important obligations I have go “in the pile” until I have
time to get to them.
vs
vs
[Packet] Behaviorists and Personality
Pgs. 490-495

Key Points

Skinner and personality
1



Personality Structure and
determinism
Personality and Conditioning
Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory

Cognitive Processes
 Reciprocal Determinism
 Observational Learning
 Self-Efficacy
2
Mischel’s Person-Situation
Controversy
 Evaluation of Behavioral
Perspectives on Personality

3
Evaluation: Do you buy these theories?
Why or why not?

Notes
Step 1: Each person in each group
will research the parts within your
assigned area and write major ideas.
See the slip of paper you receive.
Step 2: Intragroup: Now get together!
Teach one member of your group
about the topic you researched.
He/she will add everything possible to
his/her notes.
Step 3: Intergroup: Go GLOBAL!
Teach members of other groups about
your section of notes. They will add it
to their notes. You will add their
information to yours as well.
If personality is based on
environment, is it stable?

Skinner’s views
 Conditioning and response tendencies
 Personality is learned through conditioning.
 Little interest in unobservable cognitive processes
 Environmental determinism
Determinism: behavior is fully determined by environmental stimuli,
and free will is an illusion.
Personality is based in response tendencies; acquired through learning
over the course of the lifespan. In other words, we tend to respond to
situations in patterns, which provide consistency from situation to
situation. This produces personality!
So, ho do we acquire our response tendencies? We are either reinforced
or punished (operant conditioning) for reacting to our environment in
certain situations. We therefore learn to react in certain patterns.
Group Question Minute: Name one aspect of your personality that
can be explained by conditioning.





Bandura’s views
 Social leaning theory
▪ Cognitive processes and reciprocal determinism
▪ cognitive factors such as expectancies regulate learning. His
concept of reciprocal determinism is the idea that internal mental
events, external environmental events, and overt behavior all
influence one another. People around us influence our personality,
but we also influence theirs!
▪ Observational learning
▪ behavior is shaped by exposure to models, or a person whose
behavior they observe.
▪ Models
▪ People we imitate. We imitate personalities of people we admire,
like, or are simply around a lot.
▪ Self-efficacy
▪ self-efficacy: one’s belief about one’s ability to perform behaviors
that should lead to expected outcomes.
▪ Self-efficacy (or lack thereof) influences which challenges people
tackle and how well they perform, which influences personality.
Are they gutsy extroverts, confident conscientious people, or
anxious about not being able to succeed? Are they calmly
confident and willing to try new things, or are then no-so-taskoriented and care more about relationships than getting things
done?
▪ Researchers believe that self-efficacy is fostered by parents who
are stimulating and responsive to their children.
▪ Group Question Minute: Name one aspect of your personality
that can be explained by self-efficacy.

Mischel’s views
 The person-situation controversy


An advocate of social learning theory
Focus on the extent to which situational factors govern behavior, instead of
person variables.
Figure 12.5 A behavioral view of personality
Figure 12.6 Personality development and operant conditioning
Figure 12.7 Bandura’s reciprocal conditioning

Pros
 Based on rigorous research
 Insights into effects of learning and
environmental factors

Cons
 Over-dependence on animal research
 Fragmented view of personality
 carving up personality into stimulus-response relations with no
unifying structural concepts tying these pieces together
 Dehumanizing views
 No free will

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/m
ind/articles/personalityandindividuality/lemo
ns.shtml
[Packet] Humanistic and Biological Perspectives RAFT
 Jacobo feels like the black sheep of the family. He is the half-brother of three other
siblings, all of whom live with his mother and step-father. He spends half of his week with
them and the other half at his biological dad’s house, where he is an only child. He notices
major similarities among the extroverted personalities of his siblings, but he is more like his
father, who has a conscientious, introverted personality. You are a therapist. Jacobo comes
to you inquiring about personality theories, and he asks you how these different theories of
personality could relate to him.

Instructions: You will be divided into 3 groups. You and members of your group must include the specified
words in your explanation to Jacobo. You must underline them. You must use them in a context that speaks
to Jacobo’s situation and makes it obvious that you know what each word means.

1. Humanistic Group: Rogers: Use pgs.495-497 as a resource.

Humanism, phenomenological approach, Carl Rogers, self-concept, incongruence, congruence,
conditional affection, unconditional affection, threats, behaving defensively

R= You are a therapist A= Jacobo F= Verbal explanation that you’re going to write down T=
Carl Roger’s view of Jacobo’s personality issues

2. Humanistic Group: Maslow: Use pgs.497-499 as a resource.

Humanism, hierarchy of needs, physiological needs, safety, belongingness, esteem needs,
cognitive needs, aesthetic needs, self-actualization

R= You are a therapist A=Jacobo F= Verbal explanation that you’re going to write down
T= Abraham Maslow’s view of Jacobo’s personality issues

3. Biological Group: Use pgs. 500-503 as a resource.


Eysenck’s theory, extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, conditionablity, extroversionintroversion, findings on identical twins, findings on fraternal twins, heritability, shared family
environment
R= You are a therapist A= Jacobo F= Verbal explanation that you’re going to write down
T= Biological psychobiologists’ views of Jacobo’s personality issues

Write 5 facts for each of the two perspectives
from the RAFT activity which were not your
own.


Pgs. 495-499 will be of great use to you
during this activity.
Study the perspectives of Carl Rogers and
Abraham Maslow on personality by
 examining graphics
 captions


Humanism emerged in the 1950’s as a
backlash against the dehumanizing views of
psychoanalysts and behaviorists.
Humanism emphasizes the unique qualities
of humans, especially their freedom and their
potential for personal growth.

Carl Rogers
 Person Centered Theory
▪ Self-concept (or “Self”)= a person’s overall view of him/herself
pg. 496
▪ Self-concept is subjective, so it doesn’t necessarily represent
reality
▪ Conditional/unconditional positive regard from parents
▪ Conditional regard causes incongruence (disparity between selfconcept and reality)
▪ Unconditional regard causes congruence (person’s self-concept
representative of reality)
▪ Incongruence produces anxiety, so people often lie, willfully
misunderstand, or reinterpret reality to conform to their self-concept.
pg. 497
Figure 12.9 Rogers’s view of personality structure
Figure 12.10 Rogers’s view of personality development and dynamics

Abraham Maslow
 Self-actualization theory: people have an innate drive
toward personal growth, and self-actualization is the
highest level
 Hierarchy of needs: human needs are prioritized into a
hierarchy; most basic needs at the bottom, more abstract
needs near the top. pg. 497
▪ “The healthy personality” exists in self-actualizing
people who are continually growing personally
Characteristics of self-actualizing
people:
• tuned in to reality and at peace
with themselves
• open and spontaneous
• sensitive to others’ needs
• rewarding interpersonal relations
“What a man can be, he must be.”
-Maslow
Figure 12.11 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Figure 12.12 Maslow’s view of the healthy personality






Pros
highlight the importance of a person’s subjective view
of reality
focus attention on the issue of what constitutes a
healthy personality
Cons
lacking a strong research base and have poor testability
an overly optimistic view of human nature (Maslow had
a hard time finding live people who had self-actualized).

Eysenk’s
theory

Traits

Role of
Genes
 personality can be characterized along three
genetically-determined dimensions
 3 higher order traits from which all other traits
spring
 Extraversion (sociable, assertive, active, lively),
neuroticism (anxious, tense, moody, low selfesteem), and psychoticism (egocentric, impulsive,
cold, antisocial).
 Believes that genes influence physiological
functioning, thereby influencing ease of acquiring
conditioned responses. Ex. Introverts “condition”
more easily than extroverts, because they are
more easily psychologically-aroused. They are
therefore more “inhibited.”

Twin studies

Novelty Seeking
 Identical twins raised apart were more
similar than fraternal twins raised together,
with heritability estimates in the vicinity of
40%.
 Shared family environment does not lead to
similar personality characteristics among
siblings, leading some theorists to assert
that parents matter very little in how their
children develop.
 Some studies have suggested that there is a
specific gene for novelty seeking, which
involves being impulsive, exploratory,
excitable, and extravagant. Evidence is, at
this point, inconclusive.
Figure 12.14 Twin studies of personality

The evolutionary
approach
 Evolutionary analyses of
personality suggest that
certain traits and the ability to
recognize them may
contribute to reproductive
fitness…a reproductive
advantage. i.e. certain
personality traits lead to
survival

Pros

Convincing evidence for genetic
influence

Cons

Heritability estimates vary
depending on sampling
procedures and other
considerations, and should only
be used as ballpark figures.
The results of efforts to carve
behavior into genetic and
environmental components are
artificial, as they interact in
complicated ways.
No comprehensive biological
theory


[Packet] Personality Family Tree
 Make a family tree wherein you list yourself, one of your biological parents (if possible), and
one of your biological grandparents (if possible).
 Write a mini-paragraph for each describing his/her personality using the Big 5 (pg. 479).
Then write a reflection paragraph in which you hypothesize whether or not each person’s
personality is a result of heredity or of his/her environment. You should include principles
you’ve learned about the psychodynamic, behavioristic, humanistic, and/or biological
views.
Grandma Jan: I remember that grandma was pretty neurotic. She was nice, but she was always
on-edge. She would become very upset when we messed up the house, but she’d always feel
guilty afterward and buy us cotton candy.
Mom: Mom is mostly conscientious, I think. I’ve never seen her doing nothing. She’s always
happily busy. She’s a bit neurotic, like Grandma, but mess doesn’t bother her as much.
Me: I’m also conscientious. I can’t stand not doing my best. I like to keep my space organized.
I’m more extraverted than Mom or Grandma, but maybe that’ because I’m a teenager.
Reflection: Our personalities are all very similar to each other, so I think that heredity accounts
for part of personality. Both neurotic and conscientious people work hard, and we all do.
However, friends have been a more key part of my generation, and since most of my friends
are extroverted, I’ve learned to value fun more than the previous generations. Grandma grew
up in a time when girls associated mostly with their families, and peers weren’t as important.
It’s easier to be neurotic when you don’t have to worry about having a social life in the modern
world. Therefore, I also see environment impacting my family’s personality.


Read the right-hand column of pg. 508
through the end of the section. Make a tchart comparing and contrasting American
views of self with Asian views of self. List five
characteristics on each side.
American
Asian









American
Self-reliant
Special individuals
Stand out from the crowd
Proud of accomplishments
Stand up for yourself
Competition
Independent
Self-enhancement




Extraversion
Conscientiousness
Neuroticism
Openness to experience?
Asian
Rely on family
Modest (self-criticism)
Value system
(communal)
 Encouraged to fit in
 Interdependent
 Work together







Conscientiousness
Agreeableness
Neuroticism

Does the five-factor model have any relevance in
non-Western cultures?

Yes, for the most parts there in continuity in the five-factor
model across cultures.

How do conceptions of self vary across cultures?

China vs. United States

How does an interdependent view of self relate
to self-enhancement?

An interdependent view of self suppresses self-enhancement
and fosters self-criticism. This phenomenon does not lead to
low self-esteem.

Key Points
Summary:

Notes

What is sensation seeking?

Sensation seeking is a generalized preference for high or low
levels of sensory stimulation.
Thrill and adventure seeking, experience seeking,
disinhibition, susceptibility to boredom


How does it influence adjustment and mental
health?


+tolerant of stress and anxiety
-impulsive, last-minute decision making
-poor health habits and addictions
-reckless driving
-High-risk sexual behavior




What is self-monitoring?

Self-monitoring is the degree to which people attend to and
control the impression they make on others in social
interactions.

What effects does it have on interpersonal
behavior?


Sensitive to how their self-presentation is
Seek information on how they]re expected to behave in a
situation
Adjust behavior to create the right impression
Good at “reading” others
Good at detecting whether or not people are “faking it”







Pg. 507
Number and complete the survey.
Rate yourself according to the fine print.
Categorize yourself on the board.

Read pgs. 511-514 on Personality Assessment
in order to understand what we’re doing
today. Write a 5-sentence summary at the
end.









(1) DO NOT WRITE ON THE PACKET! Read the instructions at the top.
(2) Organize the front of a spiral page into four columns, like you see the
division on the first page of the packet. Please include the column titles.
(3) Repeat Step #2 on t he back of a spiral page.
(4) Take the test yourself. Don’t worry about scoring yet.
(5) On the back of your spiral page, have an elbow buddy take the test
about you. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW THE PERSON WELL.
(6) Score both tests according to the instructions on the back of the first
page of the packet.
(7) Write the temperament type indicated by each of the two tests at the
bottom of each test. EX. Choleric Sanguine, Phlegmatic Melancholy, etc.
(8) View the implications of your results and your personality description on
the last page of the packet. THESE ARE BY NO MEANS COMPREHENSIVE.
You will be able to see more on the meaning of your type later.
(9) Reflection Paragraph: Does this test accurately pinpoint your
personality? Why or why not? Also, is your friend’s assessment of you
different than your own? Why or why not?
Positives:
Thoughtful,
rational,
insightful,
deep
Positives:
Leader
material,
driven,
reactive
Negatives:
Easilycontrolled,
indecisive,
prone to
group-think
Negatives:
Impulsive,
risk-prone,
unreliable
-Joyful/Cheerful
-Optimistic
-Passionate
-Outgoing/Attentionseeking
-Responsive to
emotions
-Charismatic
-Compassionate
-Impractical/Dreamer
-Storyteller
-Childlike
-Memory for smells &
colors
-Makes friends easily
-Doesn’t hold grudges
-Loves people
-Inattention
-Lack of
concentration
-Disorganization
-Easily distracted
-Forgetful
-Impulsive
-Restless
-Very talkative
-Interrupts
(Egotistical)
-Weak-willed
-Emotionally
unstable
-Unpredictable
-Circumstantial
Motivator: Fun
Sanguine- Overview
Easily excited by external influences, reacting quickly, although the impression is often
short-lived. There is somewhat of a superficiality, or better said, lack of depth (part v.
whole relationship), in the sanguine personality. The sanguine commonly follows others
and has little stability as a result. Fickle in ideas, opinions, and resolutions. Changes
moods often (from laughter to tears in a matter of seconds). The sanguine rarely
internalizes his/her focus and instead devotes attention to the external (his/her
appearance, and of others, to beautiful faces, fashions and manners). The sanguine is
full of optimism.
Sanguine- The not so great Characteristics
Vanity and self-complacency, loving the appearance of his/herself and the praise of
others. The sanguine is very inclined to flirt, and has a great degree of jealous
tendencies. The sanguine cannot be left alone. There is a cheerfulness and love of
pleasure that accompany the desire to always have someone around to enjoy life with.
The sanguine decision are likely to be the wrong decisions, their undertaking fail easily
since they believe success is inevitable and will therefore take it for granted, they are
unstable, and they have little understanding of themselves since they rarely internalize
conflict.
Sanguine- The wonderful Characteristics
Everyone loves and knows the sanguine. He/she has the most friends and easily makes
new friends. This is the extrovert of the four temperaments. The sanguine is extremely
friendly, pleasant, and willing to accommodate. Is often found entertaining others, is
compassionate towards others, and is graced with the gift of calling others out on their
faults without bringing humiliation or displeasure. Very virtuous. Rarely shows
resentment or defiance. Wishes the best for everyone.
-Self-sufficient
-Born leader
-Dynamic
-Practical
-Compulsive need for
change
-Must correct wrongs
-Unemotional
-Strong-willed
-Independent
-Optimistic
-Not discouraged
easily
-Confident
-Goal-oriented
-Knows the right
answers
-Can see the whole
-Quickly moves to
action
-Thrives on
opposition
-Little need for
friends
-Leads and
organizes
-Excels in
emergencies
-Delegates work
-Motivator
-Long-term thinker
-Hot-tempered
-Cruel
-Impetuous
-Impatient
Motivator: Power
Choleric- An Overview
Enthusiastic, having very high aspirations and cravings for success. The
choleric must be the best in everything and have the best of everything.
Extremely ambitious, having a keen intellect, a strong will, strong passions, an
impulse to dominate others becoming their superior and making them
subservient.
Choleric- The not so great Characteristics
The choleric is commonly prideful, full of him/her, thinking highly of his/her great
qualities and even considers his/her faults worthy of praise. Also, is stubborn
and has an opinion on everything. The choleric believes he/she is always right.
The choleric is confident, believes others are weak, ignorant, incompetent and
slow. Upon humiliation the choleric feels hurt resulting in anger, deceit, and
judgments towards others.
Choleric- The wonderful Characteristics
The choleric possesses a sharp, keen intellect and will combine with great
enthusiasm. Very successful in his/her profession, working diligently in spite of
obstacles. Cholerics are brief, precise, and sure in their speech.
-Sensitive to anguish of
others
-Analytical
-Deep thinker
-Self-introspective
-Artistic or musical
-Self-sacrificing
-Poetic and
philosophical
-Appreciates beauty
-Perfectionist with high
standards
-Detail conscious
-Neat and organized
-Sees the problem
-Seeks creative
solutions
-Must finish what is
started
-Behind the scenes
-Likes charts, numbers,
and lists
-Cautious to make friends
Will listen to complaints
-Problem solver for others
-Tries not to raise
attention
-Serious
-Conscientious
-Studious
-Reflective
-Not practical--Dreamer
-Self-centered
-Pessimistic
-Moody
-Revengeful
-Skeptical
Motivator: Knowledge
and understanding
Melancholic- Overview
Like the Sanguine, the Melancholic is also easily excited by things. However, unlike the Sanguine,
the initial reaction of excitement is weak, but the impression remains long and grows stronger by
subsequent impressions of a similar nature. A person of this temperament is inclined to deep,
thoughts and reflection, dwelling the past, looking ahead to the future, is very profound, finds
meaning in just about everything, and is not satisfied with the superficial. The melancholic is driven
by laws and principles. The melancholic is most comfortable alone, and in silence. He/she is very
introspective and always sees life from a serious perspective, often feeling burdened and brought
down by temporal affairs. Melancholies are commonly passive, reserved, irresolute, despondent,
lacking courage, slow in thought and speech. Melancholies despise the lime-light, and would rather
withdraw and let others receive recognition, even when they are praise worthy.
Melancholic- The not so great Characteristics
Easily falls into mental distress and this can be extremely intense. The melancholic, more than any
other temperament, has keen awareness of moral right and wrong, and has a deep longing for
morality. They are inclined to despair, intense expressions of grief, and occurrences of depression.
This can result in self-pity, and he/she may become a burden to friends and family. He/she can also
lose confidence in others, specifically superiors; there is a loss of trust and respect when the
melancholy becomes aware of a fellow man's weaknesses and faults. The melancholy vehemently
desires justice, and forgiveness of offences is hardly an option. He/she is suspicious, lacks trust in
people and fears that everyone is out to get him/her. He/she is pessimistic about everything.
Melancholic- The wonderful Characteristics
Loves solitude and is often productive in solitary hobbies encompassing the fine arts, liberal arts,
crafts, writing, analytics, drama, contributing deep and profound thoughts and ideas to poetics,
philosophy, science, and legislation, etc. There is a joy and a relaxation that results in the
melancholic devoting time to these activities. Melancholies are excellent counselors to friends,
encouragers, give great affirmation when necessary, they are trustworthy and genuine. They are
willing to make extreme sacrifices for the sake of others.
-Calm and collected
-Quiet
-Witty
-Sympathetic
-Kind
-Inoffensive
-Hides emotions
-Reconciled to life
-Not in a hurry
-Takes the good with the
bad
-Practical
-Dry sense of humor
-Mediator when
necessary
-Avoids conflict
-Cool under pressure
-Takes the easiest way
-Good listener
-Likes to watch people
-Compassionate and
concerned
-Pleasant
-Good administrative
ability
-Intuitive
-Dependable
-Efficient
-Slow and Lazy
-Teaser/Sarcastic
-Sometimes selfish
-Stubborn
-Indecisive
-Detached observer
Motivator: Peace
Phlegmatic- Overview
Not moved by impressions at all; the reaction is missing, or empty, and they fade
quickly. There is little interest in what is going on around him/her. Loves leisure, and
is often unmotivated to work. Everything proceeds at a slow pace.
Phlegmatic- The not so great Characteristics
Inclined to things that require little to no effort, EATING, drinking, is lazy, and
neglects duties. Often misses opportunities, has no ambition and no aspirations in
life.
Phlegmatic- The wonderful Characteristics
Perseverant. Not easily offended, and not moved by failures or sufferings. Always
maintains composure, is thoughtful and deliberate. He/she has a sober, objective,
rational, and practical judgment. Demands little in life, and has not intense
passions. Compassionate and empathetic. Helps people get along.


Read in pairs “Hindsight in Everyday Analyses
of Personality” (pg. 516)
(Spiral) Hindsight Synthesis: Give an
example from your life or from the life of
someone you know of hindsight bias.