Have you come across the Four Humours as a way of categorising personality? There are many systems for examining personality and I do believe that understanding ourselves is vital if we are to develop and to create systems to maintain our mental health. The Meyers Briggs system is one that most people have heard of; the enneagram is another. The Four Humours seems to me to be one of the simplest but is still potentially useful.

The Four humours are these:

·       Sanguine

·       Choleric

·       Melancholic

·       Phlegmatic

We can all be divided into one of these categories as a major, and most people have a minor too.

Sanguine people are the happy sociable souls. They love to party and do things with other people. They are lively, talkative, easy-going and carefree. They are the people we often envy because they seem to glide through life, unaffected by the troubles and pain life inevitably brings. Sometimes it even seems they live a charmed life without those troubles and pains.

Choleric people are driven and results led. They take charge and make things happen. Once it has happened they are onto the next thing. They can be aggressive and abrasive, excitable and touchy. They are not generally comfortable people to be around – unless you want to get something done.

Melancholics are almost the opposite of that. They are the pessimists of the world, seeing the glass permanently half empty. They are quiet, unsocial and reserved. They are often creative and compassionate people who think deeply,

Phegmatics are calm, even tempered and reliable. They seek a quiet life, and it is very difficult to pick a quarrel with them. They are careful, thoughtful and always controlled in everything they do and say. They are restful people to be around.

These are broad brushstrokes, but you will probably recognise yourself in one or two of these. You may find it easier to recognise members of your family. I can see my husband and one of my daughters here, although the other daughter is more of a mystery.

Of what use it is to recognise oneself in these humours? I wish I had known more about personality traits when I was choosing my career; I would not have chosen accountancy as a job, let alone spent fifteen years trying to make a success of it. It may be useful in choosing a mate. I would not have chosen a Choleric as a husband all those years ago. My second husband is a Phlegmatic and we have a much more peaceful relationship. Understanding others means one can work around traits which are hardwired in.

But can we change, or start to balance out our traits as we mature? I know that I would have put myself as a Melancholic Sanguine when I first came across this method. Now I display far more Phlegmatic traits. I’d also be interested to know if all people who live with depression would categorise themselves as Melancholics. Please do add a comment if you recognise yourself here.

Mary

A Moodscope member