MBTI and the Four Temperaments
One thing I like to do when trying to find out a person’s MBTI type is look at the “air” or “vibe” they give off. This is useful because the types match strikingly well with the classical Four Temperaments.
As useful for typing, temperament relates to the common or peculiar “vibe” or “air” that you have.
It is the tone that pervades how you express yourself in your identity. This vibe/air/tone is more about inward expressions than your physical ones, but sometimes the two are similar.
But please be careful that you don’t confuse it with emotion. Temperament and emotion are two different things:
There’s a wide range of emotions; your Temperament is limited to a blend at most.
Emotion is a reactive state; Temperament is not a reaction to anything when it is expressed.
Emotion quickly changes or is changed; Temperament is essential and is always expressing itself, even if only inwardly.
When trying to give an image of what a Temperament is like, we should be careful to focus more on its essence. This stops us from creating descriptions that are either overpacked or too restrictive for typing.
NOTE: These descriptions mainly apply to your primary temperament. Your secondary one will have a diluted effect, especially if an opposite like Mel-San or Phleg-Chol is blended.
“+” means this is a “pure” or “true” temperament (i.e., there is no clear secondary one)
“-“ means this is a contradictory blend (and what I mentioned already about opposites goes here).
A.) Sanguine - “The Talker”
Primary Temperament: ESFP+, ENFP, ENTP, and ESFJ
Secondary Temperament: ESTP, ISFP, and ISTP-
Usually cheerful and active
Desires influence of some sort (not necessarily in the sense of “power” but initiative)
Expressive in personality
Likes being involved and enjoying things with others
Not insistant upon acceptance of their ideas or plans
Likes curiosity or interest from others
Generally not selective or exclusive
Doesn’t care for ceremony or excessive formality
Makes adjustments easily and welcomes changes
B.) Melancholic - “The Thinker”
Primary Temperament: ISTJ+, INTJ, INFJ, and ISTP
Secondary Temperament: ISFJ, ESTJ, and ESFJ-
Usually occupied/worried about or working on something
Self-reliant and often anxious
Desires caution in oneself and things
Tends to be perfectionistic or precise in things
Tries to avoid being singled out in a crowd
Pensive, deep thinkers/feelers
Can be deliberative and overcautious even in minor matters
Often self-conscious, easily embarassed or bashful
C.) Phlegmatic - “The Watcher”
Primary Temperament: INFP+, INTP, ISFP, and ISFJ
Secondary Temperament: INFJ, ENFP, and ENFJ-
Often keeps things to themselves
Usually patient or accepting
Desires steadiness in some way
Also deliberative, maybe overcautious in minor matters (for a different why than Melancholics)
Tends to be reluctant and indecisive
More indifferent to external affairs
Intuitive in some sense (not necessarily as the MBTI term)
Generally reserved/distant
Might judge others easily/quickly from an outsider’s view; self-righteous
D.) Choleric - “The Doer”
Primary Temperament: ENTJ+, ESTJ, ESTP, and ENFJ
Secondary Temperament: INTJ, ENTP, and INTP-
Want to accomplish definitive things
Also analytical and/or pragmatic (good at figuring things out)
They do not like or work well in “subordinate” positions
Can have problems with anger or impatience
Tend to seek control (either for themselves or their surroundings)
May react strongly to praise or blame
“Capable” in the long run, regardless of first impressions
MBTI Associations Summary
ENFP: Sanguine/Phlegmatic
ESFJ: Sanguine/Melancholic
ESTJ: Choleric/Melancholic
ENFJ: Choleric/Phlegmatic
ISFJ: Phlegmatic/Melancholic
ISFP: Phlegmatic/Sanguine
INTP: Phlegmatic/Choleric
INFJ: Melancholic/Phlegmatic
INTJ: Melancholic/Choleric
ISTP: Melancholic/Sanguine
