Modern psychology has detached itself from the antique definition of temperamental types, but we must admit that science has not totally freed itself from the belief that there are four temperaments—a concept which dates back to the remote age when men first began to investigate psychic life. The division of the temperaments into sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic belongs to Hippocrates. From ancient Greece is found its way to Rome, and today remains an honorable relic in the midst of our present psychology.

The sanguine type

The sanguine type governs those individuals who evince pleasure in life, who do not take things too seriously, and who attempt to see the most pleasant and beautiful side of every event. When the occasion demands, they are sad, but temperately so, without breaking down. On the other hand, they derive pleasure from happy events without a loss of perspective in their rejoicing. They are generally positive, and healthy in mind and body.

Sample 22. A sanguine temperament, an impressionable type:

The quick features written with even pressure, and the long low loops show that this young woman possesses an intel­ligent and active nature, filled with the emotion and affection of the sensual type. She is very impressionable and reacts to every stimulus and impression of the external world. The large and rightward angle betrays the writer's interest in life and the future. The unequalness of the size and height of the letters discloses, however, her lack of control and perse­verance. An instability of interests, and even of purpose, prevents her from following a consistent pattern of activity. She possesses artistic and intellectual abilities, and shows, through the width and largeness of her letters, an enthusiastic and adventurous mind.

This woman occasionally dedicates herself with fervor to studies and ambitious aims of which she soon wearies. Though she is positive and able, it is difficult for her to re­main for long in the same environment, and engaged in the same work. While at the beginning everything seems attrac­tive and rich in prospects, it becomes annoying as time goes on. Not knowing how to discipline herself and her moods, she may run the risk of wasting her life, in spite of her mani­fold abilities.

The melancholic temperament, and sensitive type

This type is the consistently hesitating neurotic who has no confidence in his ability to overcome difficulties, or to suc­ceed in anything. Rather than risk a new adventure, he would prefer to remain still, even in sight of his goal. If such an individual does drive himself forward, he only begins each movement with the greatest caution. Doubt plays a promi­nent part in his life.

This type of man thinks much more about himself than about others, and this attitude eventually excludes him from happier possibilities. Therefore he can only stare back into his past, or spend his time in fruitless introspection.

Sample 23. The handwriting of this thirty-five-year old woman mirrors her passivity and lack of initiative. She is a most talented musician, but has no success because she will not take advantage of her gifts. In comparison to her apti­tude and high intelligence, her writing assumes a rather slow tempo, and shows heavy falling endings, uncovering the fa­tigue which inhibits her actions. This woman is easily dis­couraged; she needs to gain self-confidence and must learn to rely upon her great musical talent. She lives in an imaginary world and lacks the courage to bring herself back to ambition and reality.

The unequalness in the size and height of all her letters, together with the wavering basic line, show her sensibility as well as her lack of physical resistance.

The choleric temperament and excitable type

The choleric individual is one whose striving for power is so intense that his whole life is based upon emphatic and vio­lent actions, for he feels that he is forced to demonstrate his power at all times. He believes that he is forced to overcome all obstacles, and does so in an aggressively straight-line ap­proach. We find that the first intense movements of these individuals began in their early childhood, when they lacked a realization of their power, and were forced to demonstrate it on every occasion in order to convince themselves of its existence.

Sample 24. Excitability is revealed in the sudden pressure on an occasional stroke of this rather light writing, together with angularity. The rightward slant discloses liveliness and a sociable nature. The narrow angle reveals, however, a re­served and self-contained character who displays reticence concerning his personal affairs.

The small writing of this intelligent and well-educated man shows that he is a keen observer, and that he will forget neither his own faults, nor the injuries which he has re­ceived. He is exceedingly depressed by his failures, but is not apt to display his feeling publicly. He generally conceals his suffering, but his emotions sometimes explode in the form of vehement words and actions. In his use of pointed angles, his tendency toward sarcastic criticism is revealed.

The small and angular style of writing indicates his perse­verance, and the inexhaustible energy which he exerts for the realization of his projects. This man is endowed with a clear and alert intellect (well-spaced words and letters), coup­led with sticktoitiveness and a great depth of passion. Since he is excessively ambitious, he completely exhausts his ener­gies, and spends his life in a turmoil of activity, feeling ill-at-ease when he is forced into inaction.

The phlegmatic temperament, or the indolent type This type of person is, in general, a stranger to life. He gathers impressions, but cannot follow them to their appro­priate conclusions. Nothing can make a great impression on him; he is barely interested in anything; he makes no friends, and, in short, has almost no connection with life. Of all the types, it is he, perhaps, who stands at the greatest distance from the business of living.

Sample 25. This handwriting is typical of the low impres­sionability and sluggishness of the phlegmatic merchant. The slow and monotonous traits indicate the writer's dulled reaction to any stimulus from the external world. Indeed, he is not easily brought out of himself. This young man exhib­its a calm attitude which expresses itself in slow gestures. The regular writing reveals self-control, pertinacity and pru­dence. He is incapable of any passionate impulse and will never be driven by immoderate aims. When he is occupied in a position which has been provided for him by Providence, he will avoid any changes, though he utilizes all his abilities. He maintains his mental balance, and remains happy or un­happy.

Generally "admixtures"

In spite of what we have seen, clearly defined tempera­ments are seldom found. Generally, one deals with admix­tures of one or more types, and even then they are not fixed. Frequently we find that one temperament dissolves into an­other, as when a child who begins life as a choleric individual, later becomes melancholic, only to end his life as a phleg­matic. Of all types, the sanguine seems to have been least exposed to any feelings of inferiority in childhood, and as a result has been allowed to follow his own bent, and develop into maturity with a certain love for life which enables him to approach it on a surer footing. There is no individual who is phlegmatic during the entire course of his life. We must realize that his temperament is only a shell, a defense mechanism which an over-sensitive being has created for him­self, a fortification which he has thrown between himself and the outer world.

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