Interaction of character and temperament. Human temperament: types and properties Common features between character and temperament

MOSCOW PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL INSTITUTE

Department of Psychology

Coursework in general psychology

The relationship between temperament and character in the structure of personality.

Completed: ________________

Group:

Checked:

Chelyabinsk - 2007

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………...3

Chapter I. The concept of temperament, character and personality structure in psychology…………………………………………………………………………………......5

§ 1. Approaches to the structure of personality and its individual components…………5

§ 2. The problem of temperament in psychology………………………………...10

§ 3. The study of character in psychology, and its relationship with others

components……………………………………………………………………..27

Conclusion for Chapter 1………………………………………………………….....39

Chapter II. Experimental study of the relationship between temperament and character in

personality structure……………………………………………………….41

§ 1. Approaches to the study of personality structure and its individual

components………………………………………………………………………………….41

§ 2. Research programs for the relationship between temperament and character...48

Conclusion on Chapter 2……………………………………………………………………………….53

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………54

List of references………………………………………………………...56

Introduction

In this course work we will consider one of the important problems of psychology - the relationship between temperament and character in the structure of personality.

The problem of temperament and character is one of the most significant problems of modern psychology.

The purpose of the work is the relationship between the study of character and temperament in the structure of personality. The object is the personality structure, the subject is the relationship between temperament and character.

Tasks:

1) define the concepts of temperament, character and personality.

2) identify the relationship between temperament and character in the personality structure.

3) consider the main methods of experimental research into the relationship between temperament and character in the structure of personality.

The personality structure includes the following components:

Universal properties of the psyche

Individually – unique properties of the psyche.

Distinguish 4 main type of temperament:

1) sanguine (alive);

2) phlegmatic (slow, calm)

3)choleric (energetic)

4) melancholic (closed).

A scientific explanation of temperaments is provided by I.P. Pavlov’s teaching on the types of higher nervous activity. I.P. Pavlov discovered 3 properties of excitation and inhibition:

2) balance;

3) mobility.

Character manifests itself in activity and communication (like temperament) and includes what gives a person’s behavior a specific, characteristic shade (hence the name character). Character, unlike temperament, is determined not so much by the properties of the nervous system as by the culture of a person, his upbringing.

Both character and temperament depend on the physiological characteristics of the individual, on the types of higher nervous activity. If temperament is genetically fixed, then character is formed throughout a person’s life.

Thus, we just need to approach very carefully the relationship between temperament and character in the personality structure and understand what it is all about from the point of view of psychology.

CHAPTER 1. THE CONCEPT OF TEMPERAMENT, CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY STRUCTURE IN PSYCHOLOGY.

_§1 Approaches to the structure of personality in psychology and its individual components.

Consider the definition personalities, from the point of view of psychology, this is a specific person, taken in the system of his stable socially conditioned mental characteristics, which manifest themselves in social connections and relationships determine his moral actions and are of significant importance for himself and those around him.

Personality structure – a holistic systemic formation, a set of socially significant mental means, relationships and actions of an individual that have developed in the process of ognogenesis and determine his behavior as the behavior of a conscious subject of activity and communication.

The personality structure traditionally includes the following components:

1) intra-individual or intro-individual subsystem, formed by the structural features of temperament, character and other properties of a person. This system is necessary, but not sufficient for understanding personality psychology.

2) the interindividual subsystem is located in the interindividual space outside the framework of the human organic body. This subsystem is represented in the form of interpersonal relationships between a person and other people. These two subsystems also do not completely exhaust all personal manifestations.

3) inter-individual subsystem - this component describes the “contribution” of the personality of other people in society, the representation of society in each individual person. Analyzing this system, the psychologist directs attention to the active process of continuation of oneself by one person in others, and not only of the momentary plan. The process of teaching education is the creation by a person of material and spiritual values!

The process and result of the subject’s reflection in other people of his ideal representativeness and the implementation of his contributions in them is called personalization. The phenomenon of personalization makes it possible to explain the problem of personal immortality, which has always worried people.

These 3 personality substructures are included in the overall structure, forming its unity and integrity. For example, let’s consider the unity of these substructures in the formation of such a person’s characteristic as authority. Authority is formed in a system of inter-individual relations, and depending on the level of development of the group, it appears in some cases as strict authoritarianism, the implementation of the rights of the strong.

To understand a personality, it is necessary to consider it in a system of relationships with people around it. It is necessary to study the groups in which this person belongs and study the personal characteristics of this person.

There are statistical dynamic structures of personality. Statistical stricture is understood as abstract from the actually functioning personality

an abstract model characterizing the main components of the individual’s psyche. The basis for identifying personality parameters in its statistical model is the difference between all components of the Human psyche according to the degree of their representation in the personality structure. The following components are distinguished:

Universal properties of the psyche. .That is, all people

(sensations, perceptions, thinking, emotions);

Socially specific features, i.e. inherent only to certain groups of people or communities (social attitudes, value orientations);

Individually – unique properties of the psyche, i.e. characterizing the individual typological characteristics of only one or another personality (temperament, character, abilities).

In contrast to the statistical model of personality structure

The model of dynamic structure fixes the main components in the individual’s psyche, no longer abstracted from the everyday existence of a person, but, on the contrary, only in the immediate context of human life. At each specific moment of his life, a person appears not as a set of certain formations, but as a person who is in a certain mental state, which is one way or another reflected in the individual’s every-minute behavior.

If we begin to consider the basic components of the statistical structure of personality in their movement,

interaction and living circulation, we thereby make a transition from the statistical to the dynamic structure of personality (15)

One of the common concepts by K. Platonov is the concept of the dynamic functional structure of personality, which identifies the determinants that determine certain properties and characteristics of the human psyche, conditioned by social, biological and individual life experience 9 (Table No. 1)

TABLE No. 1 Dynamic structure of personality according to K. Platonov.

Recognizing the role of the biological and social in the structure of personality, it is impossible to identify biological substructures of a person’s personality in which they already exist in a transformed form (A.V. Petrovsky).

Personality structure according to A.V. Petrovsky:

The structure of a personality according to A.V. Petrovsky primarily includes the systemic organization of its individuality, i.e. intradivisional subsystem represented in the structure of a person’s temperament, character, and abilities, which are necessary but not sufficient for understanding the psychology of personality

The personality is the subject of a system of actual relations with society, with the groups in which it has integrated; it cannot be enclosed in some closed space of the intra-orgonic body; the individual finds himself in the space of inter-individual relations.

The individual contribution of a person to the life of a group or society largely depends on this person, his attention to others and the psychological atmosphere that is created by this influence

Psychology characterizes the relationships of surrounding people in a given specific individual. Petrovsky designates as meta-individuality, the third component of the personality structure is the meta-individual subsystem.

Thus, the structure of a person’s personality includes three constituents, three subsystems: the individuality of the individual, its representation in other models

§ 2. The problem of temperament in psychology.

Even in ancient times, scientists, observing the external characteristics of people's behavior, drew attention to large individual differences in this regard. Some are very active, emotionally excitable, and energetic. Others are slow, calm, unperturbed. Some are sociable, easily make contact with others, and cheerful, while others are reserved and secretive.

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (V-IV centuries BC), and then Galen, observing the individual characteristics of people’s behavior, made an attempt to describe and explain these characteristics. They noted that innate characters are not the properties of the nervous system, but the ratios of various fluids in restriction. With the correct mixture of liquids, a person is healthy, with the wrong mixture, he is sick, and if one of the liquids predominates, this determines the person’s temperament. The names of temperaments, given by the names of liquids, have survived to this day. Thus, choleric temperament comes from the word chole (bile), sanguine - from sanguis (blood), phlegmatic - from phlegma (mucus), melancholic - from melan (black bile).

Hippocrates believed that temperament to a certain extent depends on a person’s lifestyle and climatic conditions. So, with a sedentary lifestyle, phlegm accumulates, and with an active lifestyle, bile accumulates, hence the corresponding manifestations of temperament.

Temperameter should be understood as natural behavioral characteristics that are typical for a given person and manifest themselves in the dynamics, tone and balance of reactions to life influences.

Temperament- a personality quality that is formed in a person’s personal experience on the basis of the genetic determination of his type of nervous system and largely determines the style of his activity.

Temperament ((lat. temperamentum) - proper state of parts, proportionality) - general type of nervous system; the totality of individual mental characteristics of a person (strength of feelings, their depth, speed of flow, stability).

There are four main types of temperament, which received the following names: sanguine (lively), phlegmatic (slow, calm), choleric (energetic, passionate) and melancholic (closed, prone to deep experiences).

Now let's look at the four types of temperature in more detail:

Sanguine temperament. A representative of this type is a lively, inquisitive, active (but without sudden, impetuous movements) person. As a rule, he is cheerful and cheerful. Emotionally unstable, easily succumbing to feelings, but they are usually not strong or deep. He quickly forgets insults and experiences failures relatively easily. He is very team-oriented, easily establishes contacts, sociable, friendly, friendly, quickly gets along with people, and easily establishes good relationships.

With proper upbringing, a sanguine person is distinguished by a highly developed sense of collectivism, responsiveness, and an active attitude towards academic work, work and social life. Under unfavorable conditions, when there is no systematic, purposeful upbringing, a sanguine person may exhibit a frivolous, carefree and careless attitude to business, scattered thoughts, inability and unwillingness to complete things, a frivolous attitude towards learning, work, other people, and an overestimation of oneself and one’s capabilities.

Phlegmatic temperament. A representative of this type is slow, calm, unhurried. In his activities he demonstrates thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and perseverance. He is inclined towards order, familiar surroundings, and does not like changes in anything. As a rule, he brings the job he starts to completion. All mental processes in a phlegmatic person proceed slowly. This slowness can interfere with his educational activities, especially where he needs to quickly remember, quickly understand, figure out, and do quickly. In such cases, a phlegmatic person may show helplessness, but he usually remembers for a long time, thoroughly and firmly.

In relationships with people, a phlegmatic person is always even-tempered, calm, moderately sociable, and has a stable mood. The calmness of a person of phlegmatic temperament is also manifested in his attitude towards the events and phenomena of life: a phlegmatic person is not easily enraged and emotionally hurt, he avoids quarrels, he is not unbalanced by troubles and failures. With proper upbringing, a phlegmatic person easily develops such traits as perseverance, efficiency, and perseverance. But in unfavorable circumstances, a phlegmatic person may develop such specific negative traits as lethargy, inertia, passivity, and laziness. Sometimes a person of this temperament may develop an indifferent, indifferent attitude towards work, the surrounding life, people and even towards himself.

Choleric temperament. Representatives of this type are distinguished by their speed (sometimes feverish speed) of movements and actions, impetuosity, and excitability. Their mental processes proceed quickly and intensely. The imbalance characteristic of a choleric person is clearly reflected in his activities: he gets down to business with enthusiasm and even passion, takes initiative, and works enthusiastically. But his supply of nervous energy can quickly be depleted in the process of work, especially when the work is monotonous and requires perseverance and patience, and then cooling may set in, elation and inspiration disappear, and the mood drops sharply. The predominance of excitement over inhibition, characteristic of this temperament, is clearly manifested in communication with people with whom the choleric person allows harshness, hot temper, irritability, emotional restraint (which often does not give him the opportunity to objectively evaluate people’s actions) and on this basis sometimes creates conflict situations in the team .

The positive aspects of the choleric temperament are energy, activity, passion, initiative. Negative manifestations - general lack of restraint, rudeness and harshness, short temper, tendency to affect - often develop in unfavorable conditions of life and activity.

Melancholic temperament. In representatives of this temperament, mental processes proceed slowly, people have difficulty reacting to strong stimuli; prolonged and strong stress causes them to slow down their activity, and then stop it. They get tired quickly. But in a familiar and calm environment, people with this temperament feel calm and work productively. Emotional states in people of melancholic temperament arise slowly, but are distinguished by depth, great strength and duration; melancholic people are easily vulnerable, they have a hard time withstanding insults and grief, but outwardly these experiences are expressed weakly in them.

Representatives of a melancholic temperament tend to be withdrawn, avoid communicating with unfamiliar, new people, are often embarrassed, and show great awkwardness in a new environment. In unfavorable conditions of life and activity, based on a melancholic temperament, traits such as painful vulnerability, depression, gloominess, suspiciousness, and pessimism can develop. Such a person alienates the team, avoids social activities, and immerses himself in his own experiences. But in favorable conditions, with proper upbringing, the most valuable personality traits of a melancholic person are revealed. His impressionability, subtle emotional sensitivity, acute sensitivity to the surrounding world allow him to achieve great success in art - music, drawing, poetry. Melancholic people are often distinguished by softness, tact, delicacy, sensitivity and responsiveness: those who are vulnerable themselves usually subtly feel the pain that they themselves cause to other people.

If one temperament, as is usually thought, combines with another, they either oppose each other or are neutralized. The first happens when it is believed that in one and the same subject a sanguine temperament is combined with a melancholic one, or a choleric one with a phlegmatic one, because they (A and B, as well as C and D) contradict each other. The second, namely neutralization, occurs as if through a (as if chemical) mixing of the sanguine temperament with the choleric and the melancholic with the phlegmatic. It is impossible to imagine good-natured fun with menacing anger or the torment of self-torture merged in one and the same act with the contented calm of an undemanding soul. But if one of these two states in the same subject should be mixed with the other, then only quirks and caprices are obtained, and not a definite temperament.

Therefore, there are no complex temperaments.

Since ancient times, researchers, observing a significant diversity of behavior, coinciding with differences in physique and physiological functions, have tried to organize them, to somehow group them. This is how a variety of typologies of temperaments arose. Of greatest interest are those in which the properties of temperament, understood as hereditary or innate, were associated with individual differences in physique characteristics. These typologies are called CONSTITUTIONAL TYPOLOGIES. Thus, the typology proposed by E. Kretschmer, who in 1921 published his famous work “Body Structure and Character,” became most widespread. His main idea was that people with a certain type of build have certain mental characteristics. He took many measurements of body parts, which allowed him to identify 4 constitutional types:

LEPTOSOMATIC - characterized by a fragile physique, tall stature, and a flat chest. The shoulders are narrow, the lower limbs are long and thin.

PIKNIK - a person with pronounced adipose tissue, excessively obese. characterized by small or medium height, a spreading body with a large belly and a round head on a short neck.

ATHELETIK - a person with developed muscles, a strong physique, characterized by high or medium height, broad shoulders, narrow hips.

DISPLASTIC - people with a shapeless, irregular structure. Individuals of this type are characterized by various physique deformations (for example, excessive height, disproportionate physique).

With these types of body structure, Kretschmer correlates 3 identified types of temperament, which he calls: schizothymic, ixothymic and cyclothymic. A schizothymic person has an asthenic physique, he is closed, prone to fluctuations in emotions, stubborn, difficult to change attitudes and views, and has difficulty adapting to the environment. In contrast, the ixothimic has an athletic build. This is a calm, unimpressive person with restrained gestures and facial expressions, low flexibility of thinking, and often petty. The picnic physique is cyclothymic, his emotions fluctuate between joy and sadness, he easily contacts people and is realistic in his views.

E. Kretschmer's theory was very widespread in Europe, and in the USA, W. Sheldon's concept of temperament, formulated in the 40s of our century, gained popularity. Sheldon's views are also based on the assumption that the body and temperament are 2 human parameters that are interconnected. The structure of the body determines the temperament, which is its function. W. Sheldon proceeded from the hypothesis of the existence of basic body types, describing which he borrowed terms from embryology. They distinguish 3 types:

ENDOMORPHIC (primarily internal organs are formed from the endoderm);

MESOMORPHIC (muscle tissue is formed from the mesoderm);

ECTOMORPHIC (skin and nervous tissue develop from the ectedermis).

At the same time, people with the endomorphic type tend to have a relatively weak physique with excess adipose tissue; the mesamorphic type tends to have a slender and strong body, greater physical stability and strength; and the ectomorph has a fragile body, a flat chest, long thin limbs with weak muscles.

According to W. Sheldon, these types of physiques correspond to certain types of temperaments, which he named depending on the functions of certain organs of the body: viscetronia (Latin viscera - “insides”), somatonia (Greek soma - “body”) and cerebrotonia (Latin cerebrum - "brain").

Table 2. Types of temperament according to W. Sheldon

In psychological science, most constitutional concepts have become the object of sharp criticism. The main disadvantage of such theories is that they underestimate, and sometimes simply openly ignore, the role of the environment and social conditions in the formation of an individual’s mental properties.

Characteristics of temperament, for example, socialization of food needs, love of company and friendly outpourings, tolerance and lack of compassion, cannot be considered hereditary properties of the same order as physique. It is known that such properties, arising on the basis of certain anatomical and physiological characteristics of the individual, are formed under the influence of upbringing and the social environment.

In fact, the dependence of the course of mental processes and human behavior on the functioning of the nervous system, which plays a dominant and controlling role in the body, has long been known. The theory of the connection between some general properties of nervous processes and types of temperament was proposed by I.P. Pavlov and received development and experimental confirmation in the works of his followers.

I. P. PAVLOV’S TEACHING ABOUT TEMPERAMENT

I.P. Pavlov. While studying the peculiarities of the development of conditioned reflexes in dogs, he drew attention to individual differences in their behavior and in the course of conditioned reflex activity. These differences were manifested primarily in such aspects of behavior as the speed and accuracy of the formation of conditioned reflexes, as well as in the characteristics of their attenuation. This circumstance made it possible for I.P. Pavlov to put forward the hypothesis that they cannot be explained only by the variety of experimental situations and that they are based on some fundamental properties of nervous processes - excitation and inhibition. These properties include the strength of excitation and inhibition, their balance and mobility.

I.P. Pavlov distinguished between the power of imagination and the power of inhibition, considering them two independent properties of the nervous system.

Excitation strength reflects the performance of the nerve cell. It manifests itself in functional endurance, i.e. in the ability to withstand long-term or short-term, but strong excitation, without passing into the opposite state of inhibition.

Braking force is understood as the functional performance of the nervous system during the implementation of inhibition and is manifested in the ability to form various inhibitory conditioned reactions, such as extinction and differentiation.

Equilibrium- balance of excitation and inhibition processes. The ratio of the strength of both processes decides whether a given individual is balanced or unbalanced, when the strength of one process exceeds the strength of the other.

Mobility- nervous processes - manifests itself in the speed of transition from one nervous process to another. The mobility of nervous processes is manifested in the ability to change behavior in accordance with changing living conditions. A measure of this property of the nervous system is the speed of transition from one action to another, from a passive state to an active one, and vice versa.

Inertia- the opposite of mobility. The nervous system is more inert the more time or effort it takes to move from one process to another.

The properties of nervous processes identified by I.P. Pavlov form certain systems, combinations, which, in his opinion, form the so-called type nervous system, or type of higher nervous activity. It consists of a set of basic properties of the nervous system characteristic of individual individuals - strength, balance and mobility of processes, distinguishing between strong and weak types. A further basis for the division is the balance of nervous processes, but only for strong types, which are divided into balanced and unbalanced, while the unbalanced type is characterized by a predominance of excitation over inhibition. Strong, balanced types are divided into mobile and inert, when the basis of the division is the mobility of nervous processes.

The types of nervous system identified by I.P. Pavlov not only in quantity, but also in basic characteristics correspond to 4 classical types of temperament:

strong, balanced, agile - sanguine;

strong, balanced, inert - phlegmatic;

a strong, unbalanced type with a predominance of excitement - choleric;

weak type - melancholic.

I.P. Pavlov understood the type of nervous system as innate, relatively weakly susceptible to changes under the influence of environment and upbringing. According to I.P. Pavlov. The properties of the nervous system form the physiological basis of temperament, which is a mental manifestation of the type of nervous system. Pavlov proposed to extend the types of nervous system established in animal studies to humans.

Currently, science has accumulated a lot of facts about the properties of the nervous system, and as they accumulate, researchers attach less and less importance to the types of the nervous system, especially the magic number (4), which appears in almost all of I.P. Pavlov’s works on temperament. First of all, the importance of research into individual fundamental properties of the nervous system is emphasized, while the problem of division into types recedes into the background. Since types are formed from combinations of these properties, only a deeper knowledge of the latter can ensure the understanding and implementation of typologies.

However, undoubtedly. that each person has a very specific type of nervous system, the manifestation of which, i.e. Characteristics of temperament constitute an important aspect of individual psychological differences.

TYPES OF TEMPERAMENTS AND THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Temperament should be understood as individually unique properties of the psyche that determine the dynamics of a person’s mental activity, which are equally manifested in a variety of activities, regardless of its content, goals, motives, remain constant in adulthood and, in their mutual connection, characterize the type of temperament. Specific manifestations of the type of temperament are diverse. They are not only noticeable in the external manner of behavior, but seem to permeate all aspects of the psyche, significantly manifesting themselves in cognitive activity, the sphere of feelings, motivations and actions of a person, as well as in the nature of mental work, features of speech, etc.

Currently, science has enough facts to give a complete psychological description of all types of temperament according to a certain harmonious program. However, to compile the psychological characteristics of the traditional 4 types, the following basic properties of temperament are usually distinguished:

Sensitivity is determined by what is the smallest force of external influences necessary for the occurrence of any mental reaction in a person, and what is the speed of occurrence of this reaction.

Reactivity characterized by the degree of involuntary reactions to external or internal influences of equal strength (critical remark, offensive word, harsh tone - even sound).

Activity indicates how intensely (energetically) a person influences the outside world and overcomes obstacles in achieving goals (perseverance, focus, concentration).

Relationship between reactivity and activity determines what a person’s activity depends on to a greater extent: on random external or internal circumstances, mood, random events) or on goals, intentions, beliefs.

Plasticity and rigidity indicate how easily and flexibly a person adapts to external influences (plasticity) or how inert and inert his behavior is.

Extraversion, introversion determines on what a person’s reactions and activities primarily depend - on external impressions arising at the moment (extrovert), or on images, ideas and thoughts associated with the past and future (introvert).

Taking into account all the listed properties. J. Strelyau gives the following psychological characteristics of the main classical types of temperament:

SANGUINE. A person with increased reactivity, but at the same time his activity and reactivity are balanced. He responds vividly, excitedly to everything that attracts his attention, has lively facial expressions and expressive movements. For an insignificant reason he laughs, but an insignificant fact can make him angry. From his face it is easy to guess his mood, attitude towards an object or person. He has a high sensitivity threshold, so he does not notice very weak sounds and light stimuli. Possessing increased activity and being very energetic and efficient, he actively takes on new work and can work for a long time without getting tired. He is able to concentrate quickly, is disciplined, and, if desired, can restrain the manifestation of his feelings and involuntary reactions. He is characterized by quick movements, flexibility of mind, and resourcefulness. fast pace of speech, quick integration into new work. High plasticity is manifested in the variability of feelings, moods, interests and aspirations. A sanguine person easily gets along with new people and quickly gets used to new requirements and surroundings. Without effort, he not only switches from one job to another, but also retrains. mastering new skills. As a rule, he responds more to external impressions than to subjective images and ideas about the past and future, an extrovert.

For a sanguine person, feelings arise easily and are easily replaced. The ease with which a sanguine person forms and remakes new temporary connections, the greater mobility of the stereotype, is also reflected in the mental mobility of sanguine people, and reveals a certain tendency to instability.

CHOLERICK. Like a sanguine person, he is characterized by low sensitivity, high reactivity and activity. But in a choleric person, reactivity clearly prevails over activity, so he is unbridled, unrestrained, and impatient. Hot-tempered. It is less plastic and more inert. Than sanguine. Hence - greater stability of aspirations and interests, greater perseverance, difficulties in switching attention are possible, he is more of an extrovert.

PHLEGMATIC has high activity, significantly prevailing over low reactivity, low sensitivity and emotionality. It is difficult to make him laugh and sadden - when people laugh loudly around him, he can remain calm. In big troubles he remains calm. Usually he has poor facial expressions, his movements are inexpressive and slow, just like his speech. He is unresourceful, has difficulty switching attention and adapting to a new environment, and slowly rebuilds skills and habits. At the same time, he is energetic and efficient. Characterized by patience, endurance, self-control. As a rule, he has difficulty meeting new people, responds poorly to external impressions, and is an introvert.

The disadvantage of a phlegmatic person is his inertia and inactivity. Inertia also affects the rigidity of its stereotypes and the difficulty of restructuring it. However, this quality, inertia, also has a positive meaning, contributing to the solidity and constancy of the personality.

MELANCHOLIC A person with high sensitivity and low reactivity. Increased sensitivity with great inertia leads to the fact that an insignificant reason can cause him to cry, he is overly touchy, painfully sensitive. His facial expressions and movements are inexpressive, his voice is quiet, his movements are poor. Usually he is unsure of himself, timid, the slightest difficulty makes him give up. A melancholic person is not energetic, unstable, gets tired easily and is not very productive. It is characterized by easily distracted and unstable attention and a slow pace of all mental processes. Most melancholic people are introverts.

The melancholic person is shy, indecisive, timid. However, in a calm, familiar environment, a melancholic person can successfully cope with life’s tasks.

TEMPERAMENT AND ACTIVITY

The dynamic traits of a person’s personality appear not only in the external manner of behavior, not only in movements - they also appear in the mental sphere, in the sphere of motivation, in general performance. Naturally, the characteristics of temperament affect educational activities and work activities. But the main thing is that differences in temperament are differences not in the level of mental capacity, but in the originality of its manifestations.

It has been established that there is no relationship between the level of achievement, i.e. the end result of actions, and characteristics of temperament, if the activity takes place under conditions that can be defined as normal. Thus, regardless of the degree of mobility or reactivity of an individual, in a normal, non-stressful situation, performance results will in principle be the same, since the level of achievement will depend mainly on other factors, especially the level of motivation and ability. At the same time, research establishing this pattern shows that the way the activity itself is carried out changes depending on temperament.

Depending on their temperamental characteristics, people differ not in the final result of their actions, but in the way they achieve results. Research has been conducted to establish the relationship between the method of performing actions and temperamental characteristics. These studies examined individual style of activity as a path to achieving results or a way to solve a specific problem, determined mainly by the type of nervous system. The results of studies by the vast majority of authors, regardless of the characteristics of the groups studied and the experimental situations in which the typical way of performing actions for these individuals was studied, show that it is the type of nervous processes that has a significant impact on the formation of a certain style of activity.

A sanguine person should be constantly given new, if possible interesting, tasks that require concentration and tension from him. It is necessary to constantly include his active work and systematically encourage his efforts.

A phlegmatic person needs to be involved in active activities and interested. It requires systematic attention. It cannot be switched from one task to another. In relation to a melancholic person, not only harshness and rudeness are unacceptable, but also simply a raised tone and irony. He requires special attention; he should be praised in time for his demonstrated success, determination and will. Negative assessment should be used as carefully as possible, mitigating its negative effect in every possible way. A melancholic person is the most sensitive and vulnerable type; with him you need to be extremely soft and friendly.

The way a person implements his actions depends on temperament, but their content does not depend on it. Temperament is manifested in the peculiarities of the course of mental processes. Influencing the speed of recollection and strength of memorization, fluency of mental operations, stability and switchability of attention.

Thus, the way a person implements his actions depends on temperament, but the substantive side of these actions does not depend on him. Temperament is manifested in the characteristics of mental processes; it affects the speed of recollection and the strength of memorization, the fluency of mental operations, the stability and switchability of attention.

§3 The study of character in psychology, and its relationship with other components.

The word “character” originally meant a special stamp (marking), which was placed by ancient craftsmen on a manufactured item in order to indicate its difference from others. Although the word itself has not disappeared from use over the past two thousand years, most psychologists prefer to use the narrower term “characteristic” or “trait”.

Sadly, characterology, which served as the source and beginning of differentiational psychology, at the present stage of development of human science has turned out to be “not a destiny”

Character as one of the main structures of individuality, fixing the specificity of the transition from psychobiological and general psychological patterns to socio-mental, personal processes, non-acceptance of the psychological community as the most important differential psychological dimension. But the vitally fixed reality of character as a psychological carrier of the socio-psychological properties of the subject of behavior of activity did not disappear under the pressure of scientific thought that ignored it, manifesting itself in the fundamental characteristics of the human self.

Today there are various definitions of character. Now let's look at them in more detail:

Character is a set of stable personality traits that determine a person’s attitude towards people and the work performed (17)

Character is the totality of individually acquired psychological stable properties of a person, which manifests itself in the behavior of the individual and his relationship to reality. (28)

Character is a certain holistic totality that denotes the structuring of the nature of the individual by various manifestations of the human “I”.

Character is a lifetime acquisition of personality that is included in the system of social relations, in joint activities and communication with other people, and thereby gaining its individuality.

Character appears in activity and communication (like temperament) and includes what gives a person’s behavior a specific, characteristic shade (hence the name “character”).

Character can be found in the characteristics of the activities that a person prefers to engage in. Some people prefer the most complex and difficult activities; for them it is a pleasure to seek and overcome obstacles; others choose the simplest, problem-free paths. For some, it is important with what results they completed this or that work, whether they managed to surpass other people. For others, this may not matter, and they are content with the fact that they did the job no worse than others, achieving mediocre quality.

When communicating with people, a person’s character is manifested in his behavior, in the way he responds to people’s actions and actions. The manner of communication can be more or less delicate, tactful or unceremonious, polite or rude. Character, in contrast to temperament, is determined not so much by the properties of the nervous system as by the culture of a person and his upbringing.

A person’s character is what determines his significant actions, and not random reactions to certain situations or prevailing circumstances. The action of a person with character is almost always conscious and deliberate, and can be explained and justified, at least from the position of the actor. When we talk about character, we usually think of it as a person’s ability to behave independently consistently, regardless of the circumstances, showing his will and perseverance, determination and perseverance. A person without character in this sense is one who does not show such qualities not in activity, not in communication with people. Goes with the flow, depends on circumstances, is controlled by them.

In its formation, development and functioning, a person’s character is closely related to temperament. The latter represents the demonic side of the character. Character, like temperament, is quite stable and little changeable.

There is a division of human personality traits into motivational and instrumental. Motivational ones encourage, direct activity, support it, while instrumental ones give it a certain style. Character can be considered one of the instrumental personal properties. It is not the content that depends on it, but the manner in which the activity is performed. True, as was said, character can also languish in the choice of the goal of action. However, the goal is defined, the character enters more in its instrumental role, i.e. as a means to achieve the appearance of a goal.

Let us list the main personality traits that make up a person’s character. Firstly, these are those personality properties that determine a person’s actions in choosing goals (more or less difficult). Here, rationality, prudence, or qualities opposite to them can appear as certain character traits. Secondly, the character structure includes traits that relate to actions aimed at achieving set goals: perseverance, determination, consistency and others, as well as alternatives to them (as evidence of a lack of character). In this regard, character comes closer not only to temperament, but also to the will of a person. Thirdly, character includes purely instrumental traits directly related to temperament: Extraversion - introversion, calmness - anxiety, restraint - impulsiveness, switchability - decisiveness, and more.

Typology of characters

Attempts to construct a theptology of characters have been repeatedly made throughout the history of psychology.

One of the most famous and early of them was the one that was proposed by the German psychiatrist and psychologist E. Kretschmer at the beginning of our century. Somewhat later, a similar attempt was made by his American colleague W. Sheldon, and today by E. Fromm, K. Leongard, A. E. Stichko and a number of other scientists.

All typologies of human characters were based on a number of common people:

The main ones are the following:

A person’s character is formed quite early in oncogenes and throughout the rest of his life manifests itself as more or less stable.

Those combinations of personality traits that make up a person’s character are not random. They form clearly different types, which manifest themselves in identifying and building a typology of characters.

Most people, in accordance with this typology, can be divided into groups.

Let us refer to the German psychologist E. Kremer who identified and described the three most common types of human body structure or constitution: asthenic, athetic, pyknic. He associated each of them with a special type of character.

The asthenic type, according to Kremer, is characterized by a small body thickness in profile with average or above average height. An asthenic person is usually a thin and thin person, who, because of his thinness, seems somewhat taller than he actually is. An asthenic person has thin skin of the face and body, narrow shoulders, thin arms, an elongated and flat chest with underdeveloped muscles and weak fat accumulations. This is basically the characteristic of asthenic men. Women of this type, in addition, are often short.

The athletic type is characterized by a highly developed skeleton and muscles. Such a person is usually of medium or tall height, with broad shoulders and a powerful chest. He has a dense, high head.

The picnic type is distinguished by highly developed internal body cavities (head, chest, abdomen). Prone to obesity with underdeveloped muscles and musculoskeletal system. Such a person is of average height with a short neck sitting between his shoulders.

The type of body structure, as was shown by Kremer and partly confirmed by the latest research in the field of psychogenetics, is in certain way associated with a tendency to mental illness. For example, manic-depressive psychosis most often affects people with extremely pronounced asthenic and athletic traits.

Diseases, according to Kremer, are “caricatures of certain normal personality types” (8).

That type of normal people who, in their psychological characteristics, resemble schizophrenics, patients with manic-depressive psychoses, - “cyclothymics.” “Schizothymics” are characterized by such character traits as aristocracy and subtlety of feelings, a tendency to abstract thinking and aloofness, coldness, selfishness and imperiousness , dryness and lack of emotion. “Cyclothymics” are described by him as people with cheerfulness, talkativeness, carelessness, sincerity, energy, a penchant for humor and an easy perception of life.

Although Kremer's typology was constructed in a speculative way, it contained a number of vitally true observations. Subsequently, it was indeed discovered that people with a certain type of body structure have a tendency to diseases that are accompanied by accentuations of the corresponding character traits.

The classification of characters depending on belonging to the extroverted and nitroverted type, proposed by C. Jung, has become widespread. The first type is characterized by the personality’s focus on the surrounding world, objects that, like a magnet, attract interests, vital energy, the energy of the subject, which in a certain sense leads to the application of the personal significance of the phenomena of his subjective world. Extroverts are characterized by impulsiveness, initiative, and flexibility of behavior. Introverts are characterized by a fixation of individual interests on the phenomena of their own inner world, unsociability, isolation, a tendency to introspection, and difficulty in adaptation.

We also note that in the process of constructing various psychological concepts of character, they are often associated with temperament, and in some cases these concepts are mixed. In modern science, among the dominant views on the relationship between character and temperament, four main approaches can be distinguished:

Firstly, very often there is an identification of character and temperament.

Secondly, in some psychological concepts one can detect a contrast between character and temperament.

Thirdly, while studying psychological concepts, we can come across the opinion of various researchers that temperament is an element of character, its core, an unchanging part.

For example, S.L. Rubinstein adhered to this theory.

The existence of these approaches is due to the biosocial nature of man. On the one hand, it is indisputable that character is formed after a person’s birth, in the process of his interaction with the social environment. However, on the other hand, no one will deny that the physiological characteristics of the body still leave an imprint on the personality.

In Russian psychology, there is an opinion that temperament and character are very close, since the characteristics of temperament in one form or another are reflected in a person’s character. This is due to the fact that the basic properties of temperament are formed much earlier, and the formation of character is completed. Therefore, most well-known researchers are of the opinion that character develops on the basis of temperament.

Temperament determines character traits such as balanced or unbalanced behavior, ease or difficulty of entering a new situation, mobility or inertia of reactions, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to be aware that temperament does not predetermine a person’s character. People with the same temperamental properties can have completely different characters. Features of temperament can only promote or counteract the formation of certain character traits.

It should be noted that all existing concepts of character types have one very significant drawback. The fact is that each person is individual and cannot always be classified as a certain type. Very often, the same person turns out to have quite developed different character traits. Therefore, a question arises to which there is still no satisfactory answer: what to do with those people who do not fit into the classification and cannot be unambiguously assigned to one of the proposed types? This intermediate group of people makes up a fairly significant part - up to half of all people.

Character is a lifetime education. This means that it is formed after a person is born. The origins of a person’s character and the first signs of its manifestation should be sought at the very beginning of life. The main role in the formation and development of a child’s character is played by his communication with the people around him. In his characteristic actions and forms of behavior, the child first of all imitates his loved ones. With the help of direct learning through imitation and emotional reinforcement, he learns the forms of adult behavior.

The sensitive period for the development of character can be considered the age from two to three to nine to ten years, when children communicate a lot and actively both with the adults around them and with peers. During this period, they are open to outside influences and readily accept them, imitating everyone and in everything. At this time, adults take advantage of the child’s unlimited trust and have the opportunity to influence him with word, deed and action, which creates favorable conditions for consolidating the necessary forms of behavior.

The style of communication between adults with each other, as well as the way adults treat the child himself, are very important for the development of a child’s character. First of all, this applies to the treatment of parents, especially the mother, with the child. The way a mother and father act towards a child many years later becomes the way he treats his children when the child becomes an adult and starts a family.

Before others, such traits as kindness, sociability, responsiveness, as well as their opposite qualities - selfishness, callousness, indifference to people - are laid down in a person’s character. There is evidence that the beginning of the formation of these character traits goes deep into preschool childhood, and in the first months of life is determined by how the mother treats the child.

Those character traits that are most clearly manifested in work - hard work, accuracy, conscientiousness, responsibility, perseverance - develop somewhat later, in early and preschool childhood. They are formed and reinforced in children’s games and the types of household work allowed to them. In the child’s character, mainly those traits that are constantly supported (positive reinforcement) are preserved and consolidated.

In the elementary grades of school, character traits that manifest themselves in relation to people are developed. This is facilitated by the child’s sphere of communication with others. If what a child as an individual acquired at home receives support at school, then the corresponding character traits are reinforced and most often remain throughout his life.

In adolescence, strong-willed character traits are actively developed and consolidated, and in early adolescence, the basic moral and ideological foundations of the personality are formed. By the end of school, a person’s character can be considered basically established, and what happens to him in the future almost makes the person’s character unrecognizable to those who interacted with him at school.

It should be noted that character is not a frozen formation, but is formed and transformed throughout a person’s life path. Character is not fatally predetermined. Although it is determined by the objective circumstances of a person’s life path, these circumstances themselves change under the influence of a person’s actions. Therefore, after graduation, a person’s character continues to form and change. At this stage, a person himself is the creator of his character, since character develops depending on the worldview, beliefs and habits of moral behavior that a person develops, on the deeds and actions that he performs, on all his conscious activities. This process in modern psychological literature is considered as a process of self-education.

The most effective means of character formation is work. Strong characters are people who set themselves big tasks in their work, persistently achieve their solution, overcome all obstacles standing in their way to achieve these goals, and exercise systematic control over the implementation of their plans. Therefore, we have the right to assert that character, like other personality traits, is formed in activity. (14)

CONCLUSION ON CHAPTER No. 1: The concept of temperament and character play an important role in the structure of personality. There are statistical and dynamic personality structures. The following components are distinguished in the personality structure:

Universal properties of the psyche

Socially specific features

Individual - unique mental properties

There are 4 main types of temperament:

Sanguine

Phlegmatic

Choleric

Melancholic

Of the four types of temperament, the following main properties of temperament are usually distinguished:

Reactivity

Activity

Relationship between reactivity and activity

Extraversion

Introversion

Personality and temperament are interconnected in such a way that temperament acts as the basis for many other personal properties, especially character. Personality traits such as:

Impressionability

Emotionality

Impulsiveness

Anxiety

In the general structure of personality, character occupies a central place, uniting all other properties and behavioral characteristics. A person’s character undoubtedly influences his cognitive processes:

Perception

Attention

Imagination

Thinking

A person's emotional life is directly influenced by character. Character determines the individuality and originality of a person.

CHAPTER No. 2 EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF TEMPERAMENT AND CHARACTER IN THE STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY.

§ Approaches to the study of personality structure and its individual components.

In this section, which is devoted to trait theory, we will consider the points of view of different authors. Let's leave aside the question of who is the main author of trait theory and instead consider the essence of this position as a current one. The essence is that people have certain general predispositions to react in a certain way, which are called traits. In other words, people can be described in terms of the likelihood that they will act, feel, think in a certain way, for example, that they will act friendly, or feel nervous and restless, or think mainly about the actual side of a project or ideas . People with strong tendencies to behave in this way may score high on these traits, such as high scores on the trait extraversion or nervousness, while people who are less likely to behave in this way will score correspondingly low on these traits.

Theorists are unanimous that human behavior and personality can be hierarchically oriented. Let us give an illustration of such a hierarchical point of view from the works of Eysenck. (Figure No. 2). Eysenck suggests that at the lowest and simplest level, behavior can be viewed as a set of specific reactions. However, some of these reactions are related to each other and form more general habits. Some habits tend to fester together, forming traits. For example, individuals who prefer to socialize with people rather than read books tend to enjoy being at lively parties, and these two habits cluster together under the trait of sociability.

Trait level

Level of habitual reactions

Diagram of the hierarchical organization of personality.

At an even higher level of organization, various features themselves can combine with each other and form what Eysenck called secondary factors - factors of a higher order, or superfactors.

Trait theories suggest that people have broad, generalized predispositions to respond in certain ways and that personality is organized hierarchically.

TRAITS THEORY DEVELOPED BY GORDON W. ALPORT.

Allport's first publication focused on traits as an important aspect of personality theory. Allport believed that traits are the basic units of personality. Traits are generalized personality dispositions that explain the repeatability of personality functioning across occasions and at different times. Traits can be characterized by 3 properties - frequency, intensity and range of situations.

TYPES OF TRAITS:

Cardinal (expresses a disposition that is so prominent and pervasive in a person’s life that virtually every action can be traced to a person, a trait that actually perceives everything in black and white, stereotypical tones).

central (express dispositions that cover a more limited range of situations, which cover a more limited range of situations compared to cardinal traits.).

secondary (represent dispositions that are least noticeable, generalized and consistent).

It should be noted that Allport, who explained why a person does not behave the same always and everywhere, understood the importance of the situation. He wrote: “...traits are caused by one situation and not caused by another.” For example, it can be described that even the most aggressive people will change their behavior if the situation stimulates non-aggressive behavior. A trait expresses what a person typically does in many situations, not what he will necessarily do in a given situation. Understanding behavior is necessary to explain the consistency of behavior, while recognizing the role of the situation is necessary to explain its variability.

The concept of functional autonomy is that while adult motivations may stem from childhood stress-reduction motivations, adults grow out of them and become independent of the tension-reduction drives of early childhood. An activity that begins in order to earn a living, then gives pleasure in itself and becomes self-esteem. What was once external and instrumental becomes internal and necessary.

An activity that once served to satisfy a drive or some simple need now serves itself, or in a broader sense, works for the person’s self-image.

Allport emphasized the value of ideographic research, or deep study of an individual in order to learn more about his life as a whole.

In ideographic research, it is possible to use the same measurement methods for all people, but in this case, an individual’s assessments on one parameter are compared with his own assessments on other parameters, and not with the assessments of other people.

Our analysis of the literature showed that Allport's idea of ​​the uniqueness of personality led to the assumption that each person has unique traits that cannot be studied scientifically. The ideographic approach to research has proven important and has recently gained renewed popularity. However, Allport's emphasis on unique traits was interpreted to mean that a science of personality was impossible, resulting in significant controversy that did not advance the field of research.

Consider the approach of Raymond B. Cattal.

Cattal distinguishes 3 methods of studying personality:

1. bivariate (an experiment that, in the physical sciences, includes two variables: an independent one, which is manipulated by the experimenter, and a dependent one, which is measured in order to observe the result of the experimental manipulations.)

2.multivariate (studies the relationships of many variables simultaneously. Moreover, the researcher does not manipulate the variables. Instead, the experimenter allows life to set up the experiment and then apply a statistical method to extract significant parameters and reveal causal relationships.)

3. clinical (A researcher can study behavior that is significant for a person in natural conditions and look for patterns in the functioning of the entire organism as a whole)

Cattal's description of bivariate, clinical, and multivariate personality research methods.

Our analysis of the literature showed that Cattal’s research touched on almost all parameters. Cattal was a major driving force in the development of new multivariate methods. To develop research further, Cattal founded the Society for Multivariate Experimental Research in the 60s.

In addition to differences in methodology and number of traits, these theorists also differ in their approaches to motivation.

AND FINALLY, ALLPORT WAS A VERY VERY CRITICIST OF PSYCHOANALYSIS, WHILE CATTELL WAS NOT SO STRONG.

§2. RESEARCH PROGRAMS ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF TEMPERAMENT AND CHARACTER

Both character and temperament depend on the physiological characteristics of the individual, on the types of higher nervous activity. If temperament is genetically fixed, then character is formed throughout a person’s life.

A person’s character and temperament determine typical reactions to relevant life situations. Temperament determines only the dynamic characteristics of an individual’s behavior (level of general mental activity, speed of reactions, pace of work, etc.), while character determines the awareness of people’s actions in accordance with their moral and ethical values, social norms, needs and interests. (3)

Each type of temperament has its own merits. Characterological traits that are most characteristic of certain temperaments, under certain conditions, can appear quite clearly, and under other conditions - to an insignificant extent. The relationship between different types of temperament in the same individual can be determined, for example, using the “temperament formula” test.

Thus, it is possible to attribute a particular person to a particular type of temperament only conditionally, having determined which characterological features are most inherent in the individual. For example, it is very difficult for a choleric person, especially at the beginning, to engage in activities that require smooth movements, since his natural characteristics are opposite to the required qualities. It is better to entrust such work to those with a weak nervous system, weak nervous processes with a predominance of “external inhibition”. Distinguished by high sensitivity (not characteristic of choleric people), a melancholic person in a familiar environment can successfully and efficiently perform monotonous work requiring smooth, measured movements and constant control over the qualitative characteristics of technological processes. Let us refer to the American psychologist Eysenck, who proposed a method for determining the temperament of a particular individual, based on processing psychological test.

Figure 1 shows scales for determining human temperament:

horizontal scale(from 0 – the extreme left point – to 24 – the extreme right point) emotional sensitivity scale – characterizes the level of a person’s sociability;

2 points or less – deep introvert – extremely uncommunicative, withdrawn,

10 or less, up to 2 points – introvert, uncommunicative, reserved

11 – 13 points – average level of sociability, a person is not oppressed by either the lack of communication or its excess

14 or more points – extrovert, sociable

Vertical scale – neuroticism (anxiety) scale characterizes emotional stability - instability of the human psyche

The norm is 11 – 13 points – the personality is moderately emotionally stable. Stimuli are perceived adequately: if you need to - worry, if you don’t need to - don’t worry;

10 or less points – an emotionally unstable person, always worried, even when there is no need to worry;

14 or more points – an emotionally stable person, even to the point of emotional coldness.

The combination of a person’s personality indicators, according to the results of psychological tests using Eysenck’s method, characterizes the type of temperament of an individual:

Fig. 2 “Scales for determining human temperament”

Knowing the type of temperament and the ability to determine the type of a specific person or group of people helps the human personality to find an approach to a specific person and better build relationships with him and in the team.

There is also a technique for “Studying the strength of the nervous system.” The purpose of this study is to determine the type of nervous system using a temping test. We carried out this technique in a student group. At the first stage, the subjects were asked to mark points on the form with a pencil with their right hand. At the signal, subjects must move to placing dots from one square to another. At the second stage, subjects must take pencils in their left hand and put dots on a new form with their left hand.

The purpose of processing the results is to determine the nature of the subject’s performance during the task of the temping test. To do this, students had to count the number of dots placed every 5 seconds in the squares of the first and second forms, and write the results in the form of a table.

Then the subjects need to construct performance graphs separately for the right and left hands. To do this, five-second time intervals must be plotted on the abscissa axis, and the number of points in each square must be plotted on the ordinate axis.

When analyzing the results of the student group, we first compare the performance graphs of the left and right hands. In most cases, they are the same in nature for right-handers - the performance of the right hand is higher than the performance of left-handers, and vice versa for left-handers.

It is important to compare the strength of the nervous system with the temperamental characteristics of the subject; on this basis, you can make a diagnosis of performance and come up with recommendations for increasing it.

Study and diagnosis of character

using V.S. Ivashkin’s methods

With a differential component, the study of character is considered as a holistic, organized set of traits. Since their number is large, these traits are combined into synthetic ones, with the help of which one can quite fully write the essential characteristics of the character of any person

To study the character of a schoolchild, a conversation is held with him, in which the experimenter ensures that the child correctly understands the essence of character in accordance with the definition. Next, the concepts of “character traits” and meaningful definitions of the seven synthetic traits chosen for consideration are given. After mastering these definitions, the subject is given a card containing a list of selected traits and their definitions:

CONCLUSION ON CHAPTER 2: In this chapter, we paid special attention to trait theories developed by Gordon W. Allport; five-factor theory of Hans Y. Eysenck; factor-analytical approach of Raymond P. Cattell. Olpakt believed that traits are the basic units of personality; traits can be characterized by three properties - frequency, intensity, range of situation. Allport divided traits into cardinal, central and secondary. Allport is also known for the concept of functional autonomy. G. Eysenck's theory. In developing methods for measuring and classifying traits, Eysenck relied on the statistical technique of factor analysis. Eysenck's theory of personality is closely related to his theory of psychopathology and behavior change. And finally, Cattol's third factor analytical approach. He distinguishes three methods of studying personality; bivariate, multivariate, clinical.

We also paid special attention to psychodiagnostic methods, namely the method of determining the temperament of a particular individual, the method of “studying the nervous system” as well as the “study and diagnosis of character using the methods of V.S. Ivashkin.”

Conclusion.

Then the teacher offers the subjects the task: “On the lines located to the right of each character trait, place a vertical line so that the distance from its beginning to the line shown shows how much the corresponding character trait has been formed in you. Keep in mind that the full length of the entire line corresponds to the highest level of development of the corresponding character trait. Then mark a cross on the same line; to what level do you hope to develop it in yourself by the time you graduate from school? Do the same for each character trait on the list.”

Subjects then measure the lengths of the segments in millimeters and express their ratings of character traits in numerical form. They build individual profiles of the actual (by strokes) and desired (by crosses) levels of formation of character traits. Finally, a meaningful analysis of the obtained data is carried out.

Thus, we come to the general conclusion that temperament and character are interrelated. Temperament and character depend on the physiological characteristics of the individual, on the types of higher nervous activity. If temperament is genetically fixed, then character is formed throughout a person’s life.

A person’s character and temperament determine typical reactions to relevant life situations. Temperament determines only the dynamic characteristics of an individual’s behavior (level of general mental activity, speed of reactions, pace of work, etc.), while character determines the conscious actions of people in accordance with their moral and ethical values, social norms, needs and interests.

Currently, diagnostic techniques are increasingly becoming part of our daily lives. We will look at several techniques:

Definition of temperament (Eysenck).

Study of the strength of the nervous system.

Study and diagnosis of character using the methods of V. S. Ivashkin.

These methods are simpler, but they are also reliable and reliable tools for studying certain features of human psychology, which can also be used by non-professionals for self-test. At the same time, we must not forget that not a single technique or even several of them will solve the problem of knowing yourself, your abilities and capabilities. They will only help you get to know yourself better, provide a system of certain guidelines that allow you to imagine some of the main features of your self-image and, if necessary, correct them.

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IN personalities. Communicative structure personalities- This... temperament interconnected such properties personalities, such as impressionability, emotionality, impulsiveness and anxiety. V. Communication traits character ...

Character often compared to temperament, and in some cases they replace these concepts with each other.

In science, among the dominant views on the relationship between character and temperament, four main ones can be distinguished:

§ identification of character and temperament (E. Kretschmer, A. Ruzhitsky);

§ contrasting character and temperament, emphasizing the antagonism between them (P. Viktorv, V. Virenius);

§ recognition of temperament as an element of character, its core, an unchanging part (S. L. Rubinstein, S. Gorodetsky);

§ recognition of temperament as the natural basis of character (L. S. Vygotsky, B. G. Ananyev).

Based on the materialistic understanding of human phenomena, it should be noted that what character and temperament have in common is dependence on the physiological characteristics of a person, and above all on the type of nervous system. The formation of character significantly depends on the properties of temperament, which is more closely related to the properties of the nervous system. In addition, character traits arise when temperament is already sufficiently developed. Character develops on the basis of temperament. Temperament determines character traits such as balanced or unbalanced behavior, ease or difficulty of entering a new situation, mobility or inertness of reaction, etc. However, temperament does not determine character. People with the same temperamental properties can have completely different characters. Features of temperament can promote or counteract the formation of certain character traits. Thus, it is more difficult for a melancholic person to develop courage and determination than for a choleric person. It is more difficult for a choleric person to develop restraint and phlegmatic behavior; a phlegmatic person needs to spend more effort to become sociable than a sanguine person, etc.

However, as B.G. Ananyev believed, if education consisted only of improving and strengthening natural properties, then this would lead to a monstrous uniformity of development. The properties of temperament may, to some extent, even come into conflict with character. In P.I. Tchaikovsky, the tendency to melancholic experiences was overcome by one of the main features of his character - his ability to work. “You always need to work,” he said, “and every honest artist cannot sit with folded hands under the pretext that he is not in the mood.. If you wait for favor and do not try to meet him, then you can easily fall into laziness and apathy . Dislikes very rarely happen to me. I attribute this to the fact that I am gifted with patience, and I train myself never to give in to reluctance. I learned to conquer myself.”

In a person with a formed character, temperament ceases to be an independent form of personality manifestation, but becomes its dynamic side, consisting in a certain speed of mental processes and personality manifestations, a certain characteristic of expressive movements and actions of the individual. Here it should be noted the influence exerted on the formation of character by a dynamic stereotype, i.e. a system of conditioned reflexes that form in response to a steadily repeating system of stimuli. The formation of dynamic stereotypes in a person in various repeated situations is influenced by his attitude to the situation, as a result of which excitation, inhibition, mobility of nervous processes, and, consequently, the general functional state of the nervous system can change. It is also necessary to note the decisive role in the formation of dynamic stereotypes of the second signaling system, through which social influences are carried out.

Ultimately, the traits of temperament and character are organically connected and interact with each other in a single, holistic appearance of a person, forming an inseparable alloy - an integral characteristic of his individuality.

Character has long been identified with a person’s will; the expression “a person of character” was considered as a synonym for the expression “a strong-willed person.” Will is associated primarily with strength of character, its firmness, determination, and perseverance. When they say that a person has a strong character, they seem to want to emphasize his determination, his strong-willed qualities. In this sense, a person’s character is best demonstrated in overcoming difficulties, in struggle, i.e. in those conditions where human will is most manifested. But character is not limited to strength; it has content, determining how the will will function under various conditions. On the one hand, character is formed in volitional actions and is manifested in them: volitional actions in situations that are significant for the individual pass into a person’s character, becoming fixed in him as his relatively stable properties; these properties, in turn, determine human behavior and his volitional actions. The strong-willed character is distinguished by certainty, constancy and independence, firmness in achieving the intended goal. On the other hand, there are often cases when a weak-willed person was called “spineless.” From a psychological point of view, this is not entirely true - and a weak-willed person has certain character traits, such as, for example, timidity, indecisiveness, etc. The use of the concept “characterless” means the unpredictability of a person’s behavior, indicates that he lacks his own direction, an internal core that would determine his behavior. His actions are caused by external influences and do not depend on himself.

The originality of character is also reflected in the peculiarities of the flow of a person’s feelings. K. D. Ushinsky pointed out this: “nothing, neither words, nor thoughts, nor even our actions express ourselves and our attitude to the world as clearly and truly as our feelings: in them one can hear the character of not a separate thought, not a separate decision, but the entire content of our soul and its structure.” The connection between feelings and character traits of a person is also reciprocal. On the one hand, the level of development of moral, aesthetic, and intellectual feelings depends on the nature of a person’s activity and communication and on the character traits formed on this basis. On the other hand, these feelings themselves become characteristic, stable personality traits, thus constituting a person’s character. The level of development of a sense of duty, a sense of humor and other complex feelings is a rather indicative characteristic of a person.

The relationship between a person’s intellectual traits is especially important for characterological manifestations. Depth and sharpness of thought, unusualness in posing a question and its solution, intellectual initiative, confidence and independence of thinking - all this constitutes the originality of the mind as one of the aspects of character. However, how a person uses his mental abilities will depend significantly on character. It is not uncommon to encounter people who have high intellectual abilities, but who do not provide anything valuable precisely because of their characterological characteristics. An example of this is the numerous literary images of superfluous people (Pechorin, Rudin, Beltov, etc.). As I. S. Turgenev said well through the mouth of one of the characters in the novel about Rudin: “Perhaps there is genius in him, but there is no nature.” Thus, a person’s real achievements depend not on abstract mental capabilities alone, but on a specific combination of his characteristics and characterological properties.

Experts call temperament a set of individual dynamic characteristics of behavior, which serves as the basis for the development and formation of character. Thus, in psychology, temperament and character are considered as complementary phenomena that also have a strong influence on each other. Of course, it is a mistake to believe that these concepts are synonymous, but at the same time their close relationship is obvious.

Temperament and character: main differences

To put it in simple language, character is usually called the features of a person’s behavior that affect communication with him, and temperament is the features of the manifestation of this behavior, the strength and brightness of the emotional response. At the same time, it should be said that temperament is rather the individual properties of the human psyche, which determine the mental activity of the individual.

Thus, by temperament we mean the totality of a person’s innate properties, and by character we mean a generalization of qualities acquired during life. Temperament and character in psychology are also separated by definition: temperament is determined by various biological characteristics of a person, while character is determined, first of all, by the social environment in which it exists and develops.

Thus, we can generalize that in different social conditions people exhibit different character traits, which cannot be said about temperament: it, as a rule, remains unchanged in any conditions. Also, character is not least determined by upbringing and culture, while temperament is greatly influenced by the individual characteristics of the nervous system.

In addition, character traits can be assessed, but the properties of a certain type of temperament cannot be assessed. That is, it is quite possible to say that a person has a good or bad character, but such a characteristic is not applicable to temperament. That is why in psychology, temperament and character, although they usually appear together, can sometimes be considered separately from each other.

The relationship between character and temperament: basic principles

To identify the relationship between character and temperament, it is necessary to consider the types of the latter:

• Sanguine;
• Phlegmatic person;
• Choleric;
• Melancholic.

A sanguine person is a type of temperament characterized by mobility and sociability. He reacts quickly to any events and endures various troubles and failures with relative ease. People of this type have very lively facial expressions, they are quite emotional, but their emotions replace each other too quickly. That is why sanguine people are often attributed to inconstancy and superficiality.

The properties of the temperament and character of a person belonging to the choleric type can often be characterized as constant impetuosity and passion. He is subject to sudden and frequent mood swings and violent emotional outbursts. Additional properties include imbalance, emotionality, increased excitability, and often irritability and aggression.

Phlegmatic people are distinguished by relative constancy both in their beliefs and aspirations, and in their mood. It is very difficult to piss off such a person or find out what is happening inside him: they have practically no external expressions of emotional experiences. The main properties of this type can be called calmness, endurance, sometimes laziness and indifference to surrounding events and people.

The temperament and character of a melancholic person are characterized by hypersensitivity, vulnerability and impressionability. People of this type experience any minor failures for a very long time and painfully; they often have problems with self-esteem and an inferiority complex. This type is usually prone to anxiety and isolation.

As you can see, a person’s temperament and character are closely interconnected, however, as noted above, it is temperament that determines the dynamic features of the manifestation of character. This means that such a trait as, for example, sociability will have a different manifestation in a phlegmatic person and a sanguine person.

In addition, temperament can both greatly influence the development of individual character traits and hinder it in specific cases. Also, some features of a person’s character can restrain the manifestation of temperamental properties in various situations.

Character traits and temperament

It is a mistake to believe that character traits and temperament constitute a single whole and that specific traits can be used to judge the type of temperament. Rather, the latter simply affects the form of manifestation of certain features of the former.

So, all 4 types can have such a character trait as hard work, but it will be expressed differently in all of them:

• A sanguine person will take the initiative, take on new projects, easily experience troubles, quickly forget about them and again get carried away with a new business;
• The choleric person will devote himself to work with the passion characteristic of his type, but will either be irritated by trifles, then be inspired again and get angry again, reaching the point of real aggression;
• A phlegmatic person will prefer to calmly concentrate on the matter at hand, thoroughly understand its essence, think about and calculate all the nuances. Moreover, outwardly it may seem that he is not at all interested in his work. But in fact, he simply does not like to rush: this is how his concentration and balance are manifested;
• The character traits and temperament of a melancholic person in this case will lead to the fact that he will think about his task day and night, work hard, but at the same time reproach himself for the slightest mistakes. This type is inclined to see possible mistakes and failures in any business, which he is insanely afraid of, which is due to his natural suspiciousness.

Thus, the relationship between character and temperament is not a given. Moreover, experts note: a clear type of sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic or melancholic with its characteristic properties can rarely be found in real life. Most often, people have a mixed type of temperament, that is, they have properties that are endowed with different types. Of course, it is possible that one type has an advantage over others, due to which a person, as a rule, belongs to a particular type.

Alexander Gaponenko, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Head of the Department of General and Special Management of the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.

If temperament is initially fixed genetically and is basically constant during the life of an individual, then the same cannot be said about character. It is formed and changes throughout a person’s life. Temperament traits are hereditary and therefore extremely difficult to change. Based on this, a person’s efforts should be aimed primarily not at change, but at identifying and realizing the characteristics of his temperament. This will make it possible to identify methods of activity that are most consistent with his natural qualities and natural talent.

Character is understood as a set of stable individual personality characteristics that develop and manifest themselves in activity and communication, determining typical human behavior patterns. Temperament and character have a fairly close relationship with each other and depend on the psychophysiological characteristics of the body and the types of higher nervous activity. However, if temperament is initially fixed genetically and is basically constant during the life of an individual, then the same cannot be said about character. It is formed and changes throughout a person’s life. Temperament traits are hereditary and therefore extremely difficult to change. Based on this, a person’s efforts should be aimed primarily not at change, but at identifying and realizing the characteristics of his temperament. This will make it possible to identify methods of activity that are most consistent with his natural qualities and natural talent.

Temperament and abilities. Both temperament and abilities are characterized by high stability. Of course, inclinations, the education system and sensitive age play a big role in the formation of abilities. Abilities are manifested in the dynamics of the formation of knowledge, skills and abilities in the conditions of specific activities.

1. individual psychological characteristics that distinguish one person from another;
2. not any individual characteristics, but only those that are related to the success of any specific activity;
3. ability is not reducible to psychological formations, i.e. to knowledge, abilities, skills.

Based on these characteristics, the following definition of abilities is given. Abilities are individual psychological characteristics that are a condition for the successful implementation of one or another productive activity.

Abilities are divided into general, special and communication abilities. General abilities are understood as a system of individual mental properties that ensures productivity in mastering knowledge, skills and abilities to carry out various types of activities. The basis for the development of general abilities is laid in cognitive (mental) processes.

Special abilities include such a system of personality properties that helps to achieve high results in any special field of activity (musical, stage, sports, mathematics, military leadership, etc.).

The ability to communicate presupposes a developed degree of socio-psychological adaptation, that is, the individual’s active adaptation to the conditions of the new social environment. Manifests itself in the ability to exert a psychological influence on others, to convince them and to win them over.

Ya. Strelyau studied the relationship between the levels of intellectual abilities and the properties of temperament. The study gave a negative result. No correlations were found between levels of intellectual abilities and temperament properties. This means that among individuals with a high level of intellectual abilities one can find both sanguine and phlegmatic people, both choleric and melancholic people, or various combinations of these types of temperament.

Abilities are revealed in the process of mastering an activity. They are closely related to the general orientation of the individual and a person’s inclinations towards a particular activity.

Temperament and personality orientation. Personal orientation is a set of stable motives independent of current situations that orient a person’s activities in accordance with his interests, inclinations, beliefs and ideals. The stable, basic motives are interests, inclinations, beliefs, ideals, etc. Together, these conscious motives form the worldview of the individual. Unconscious motives also play an important role in shaping a person’s orientation, one of which is psychological attitude. A psychological attitude is a person’s unconscious readiness to act in a certain way, ensuring a stable, purposeful nature of the course of activity. It manifests itself in the purposeful selective activity of a person when he anticipates a certain object or situation.

Temperament and motivation. Motivation is the impulses that cause the activity of the body and determine its direction. In the motivational sphere, an individual’s behavior is explained by a combination of internal and external reasons of a psychological nature. How the motivational sphere of an individual manifests itself in educational activities can be judged from the following example: “We are often convinced that the assessment of temperament in one specific situation does not correspond to the assessment of the same property in other conditions. For example, a student’s performance, diagnosed by behavior in mathematics lessons, may be very different from an assessment of the same property in history lessons. So, in the first case, the student shows great efficiency, solves problems quickly, almost without rest, is completely focused on his actions and can work like this for a long time, without interruption. Analyzing all these manifestations, it should be recognized that we are dealing with a hardy, low-reactive individual. However, the assessment of the behavior of the same student in history lessons is completely different. He cannot concentrate on the subject, constantly looks tired, works slowly, is constantly distracted, as a result of which, naturally, he does not achieve the same results as in mathematics.”

A type of motivation for activity is achievement motivation. It is associated with the individual's need to achieve success or avoid failure.

The theory of motivation to achieve success in various activities was developed by D. McClelland and D. Atkinson. According to this theory, people who are motivated to succeed set goals, the achievement of which they clearly regard as success. They strive to achieve success in their activities at any cost, they are courageous and decisive, and expect to receive approval for actions aimed at achieving their goals. They are characterized by mobilizing all their resources and focusing on achieving their goals. People who are motivated to avoid failure behave completely differently. For them, the explicit goal of activity is not to achieve success, but to avoid failure. A person motivated to avoid failure exhibits self-doubt, does not believe in the possibility of success, is afraid of criticism, and does not enjoy activities in which temporary failures are possible.

It follows from the above that individuals who are oriented toward achieving success are able to correctly assess their capabilities, successes and failures, adequately assessing themselves. They reveal a realistic level of aspirations. On the contrary, people focused on avoiding failure evaluate themselves inadequately, which, in turn, leads to unrealistic aspirations (overestimated or underestimated). In behavior, this is manifested in the selection of only difficult or too easy goals, in increased anxiety, lack of confidence in strength, in the tendency to avoid competition, rivalry; they are uncritical in assessing what has been achieved.

In general, temperament, character, abilities and motivation of an individual refer to the same individual psychological characteristics in which people differ significantly from each other. Taken together, these individual psychological characteristics constitute the subject of the psychology of individual differences.

Character and its features

A person is called “with character” if he exhibits such qualities as independence, consistency, independence from circumstances, will and perseverance, determination and perseverance. On the contrary, a person who goes with the flow, depends on circumstances, and does not show strong-willed qualities is called spineless.

The formation of character is largely predetermined by a person’s lifestyle. As a person's lifestyle is formed, the corresponding character is formed. This occurs at different levels of development of social groups (family, school, sports team, work team, etc.). Much here depends on what social groups are reference for a person. Character is manifested in behavior, habits, actions and actions. Such actions are always conscious, deliberate and, from the point of view of the individual, always justified. In groups of a high level of development (teams), the most favorable opportunities are created for the development of the best character traits.

In a social group, a person always interacts with other people. His actions and actions influence others in a certain way and cause reactions. Without knowing his own character and the character of those around him, a person can misinterpret the behavior of people and their actions. As a result, unfounded grievances and unfair judgments about the actions of others arise.

Both character and temperament depend on the physiological characteristics of the individual, on the types of higher nervous activity. If temperament is mainly a lifetime formation, fixed genetically, then character is formed throughout a person’s life.

Temperament traits are hereditary and therefore extremely difficult to change. Based on this, a person’s efforts should be aimed not at change, but at identifying and realizing the characteristics of his temperament. This makes it possible to identify those characterological properties that are inherent in one or another type of higher nervous activity.

Along with temperament, a certain connection between character also exists with other personality properties, such as abilities, personality orientation, motivation, and will. In a person’s character, individual traits can be identified, which in unity form an integral character structure.

The basis for character classification can be a person’s attitude towards the world around him, other people, and himself. According to this criterion, A.V. Petrovsky suggests dividing the main character traits into the following groups:

1. Character traits that manifest themselves in a person’s relationship to other people (relatives and loved ones, work and study friends, acquaintances and strangers, etc.): stable and unstable attachment, integrity and unprincipledness, sociability and isolation, responsiveness, etc.
2. Character traits that manifest themselves in a person’s attitude towards himself: self-love, self-esteem, selflessness; or lack of self-confidence, selfishness, egocentrism, etc.
3. Character traits that are revealed in a person’s attitude to business: conscientiousness and diligence, seriousness, enthusiasm, responsibility for the assigned work, concern for one’s results; or qualities that are opposite in meaning - dishonesty, irresponsibility, passivity, etc.
4. Character traits that manifest themselves in a person’s attitude towards things: a person’s careful and careful attitude towards his things, clothes, shoes, books, property in general, etc.

It is generally accepted that the most general character properties are located along the axes: strength - weakness, hardness - softness, integrity - inconsistency. Strength of character is the energy with which a person achieves his goals. When faced with difficulties, all the energy of a person with a strong character is directed towards overcoming them, while with a weak character this most often becomes impossible due to instability of views and indecision, cowardice or cowardice. Strength of character presupposes perseverance in achieving goals, defending views, etc., while gentleness of character is manifested in adapting to changing living conditions, in finding reasonable compromises in everyday situations. A trait such as integrity means the manifestation of basic, leading traits in achieving a goal, which greatly contributes to the formation of an individual’s sense of purpose. The inconsistency of character is manifested in the frequent change of leading and secondary character traits.

However, no matter how accurate and successful a portrait of a person is, his character can most fully be described on the basis of his usual actions and movements. Conscious and intentional actions and deeds are the basis for describing the characterological characteristics of an individual.

National character is associated with the traditional forms of reactions of the people to relevant everyday situations, with established norms of behavior and activity. It is also a set of ways of responding in communication, formed on the basis of social values ​​at both conscious and unconscious levels. Based on this, V.A. Sukharev and M.V. Sukharev understands national character as something acquired, obtained in the process of contacts within a certain community of people throughout their centuries-old life. It is necessary to distinguish national character from national style, which refers to the manner of behavior typical of the inhabitants of a particular country. Thus, a Chinese living in the USA, to a certain extent, retains the features inherent in the Chinese national character, but his style will most likely be American. This is facilitated by the system of values ​​and the conditions in which a person works, as well as what country he considers himself to be a citizen of.

This is what V.A. says. and M.V. Sukharev, for example, about the Swedish character: “The main feature of the Swedish character is hard work. Swedes are quite cautious and are usually reluctant to express their opinions. Somewhat more boring and reserved than other Europeans. Swedes are considered non-contact and uncommunicative people. Perhaps the Swedish climate itself influences the isolation of people and contributes to the development of various psychoses. Swedes are afraid to show their emotions to others, especially mental suffering. They don't like to talk about themselves. But this is not snobbery, not the remnants of aristocracy, this is simply lack of contact. For a foreigner, the worst torture is to be in a Swedish living room among people who say nothing interesting, to be stunned by the ensuing silence, to know that you should say something, but to be afraid to say it in the wrong way. Once a Swede starts talking, it’s hard to stop him, but it’s almost impossible to get him to talk.”

And here is an excerpt from a description of the American national character:

“Americans do not like stiffness, prefer comfortable casual clothes, and address each other simply, informally, even if there is a big difference in age and social status between the interlocutors. They love competitions, value achievements and records. Although their behavior is quite natural, from the outside it may seem domineering and intrusive.”

There are many character classifications. American psychologist Ernst Hartman proposed building a classification of characters based on the thickness of a person’s protective barriers. Such barriers are too permeable for some, and almost “impregnable” for others. Those who, according to the test results, have thin mental boundaries, are more likely than others to suffer, for example, from loud sounds, bright lights, etc., they are also more sensitive in relationships. Persons with too thick boundaries of the psyche often experience difficulties in contacts with others. At the everyday level, these mental boundaries are called “thick-skinned - thin-skinned.” “Thin-skinned” and “thick-skinned” have their advantages and disadvantages. In communication, “thin-skinned people” look at “thick-skinned people” as dull and boring, and they believe that “thin-skinned people” are rather strange individuals, eccentrics.

• Psychology: personality and business

Temperament is the individual personality characteristics of each person. The behavior of each of us from birth and our attitude towards the world around us depends on it. To ensure success in any activity and reduce the likelihood of conflict situations, you need to take into account the peculiarities of the temperaments of the people around you and your own.

What is temperament?

Each person has individual psychophysiological properties. They are there from birth and are very stable. The combination of these properties is called temperament, and it is on them that the dynamic characteristics of mental processes and human states depend.

Features of temperament do not in any way affect a person’s cognitive abilities or his moral qualities. But they must be taken into account when choosing an activity - for example, people with slow reactions will not find it easy to operate mechanisms at high speed, but they will ideally cope with work that requires concentration and perseverance.

It is worth noting once again that these properties are precisely psychophysical. This is part of human physiology. Not only a person’s behavior and character, but also his energy, performance, pace and speed of completing tasks, ease of changing forms of activity and general emotional background depend on temperament. These differences can be noticed even in newborns: some children are more active, scream more often, sleep less, while others, even during periods of wakefulness, can lie quietly, looking at toys.

Differences between temperament and character

What types are there?

Scientists distinguish four main types of temperament. When determining them, the dynamic characteristics of mental activity are taken into account: for example, its pace and rhythm, sharpness, intensity and amplitude. No less important are indicators of a person’s emotionality - impressionability or sensitivity to various kinds of influences, the speed with which emotions cause actions and end, the pace of their change, strength and depth. This allows all people to be divided into four groups according to their temperament type:

• sanguine people,
• phlegmatic,
• choleric people,
• melancholic people.

Usually, special tests are carried out to determine the type of temperament. But sometimes, knowing a person well, this can be determined “by eye”, taking into account only the main characteristics of different types.

Sanguine

Owners of this type of temperament have a strong and dynamic, yet very balanced nervous system, characterized by a high degree of extraversion. Most sanguine people are energetic, active and sociable people. They quickly react to external stimuli, but their experiences are not very deep. They easily cope with losses and failures, simply without dwelling on them.

Most of all, sanguine people are afraid of going crazy and losing their normal, measured and stable mental existence.

Such people love new experiences, sometimes even to the point of being reasonable. They are very resistant to the emotion of fear, but at the same time they often suffer from banal phobias - for example, acrophobia or claustrophobia. People with this type of temperament love to be around people. They are depressed by loneliness, but in company they often joke and laugh and are the center of attention. They are excellent organizers and leaders, but sometimes they can be superficial.

Phlegmatic person

Phlegmatic temperament is characterized by the balance of all nervous processes and introversion. Its owners usually have a strong nervous system, are characterized by composure and some inertia. Such people can be slow, but at the same time they are thorough and calm. Phlegmatic people are not prone to violent reactions and strong emotional experiences. They are rarely afraid of anything, but at the same time they have difficulty adapting to a new environment, so they may feel anxious and depressed.

A phlegmatic temperament often makes its owner subordinate. Such people do not like conflicts; it is easier for them to agree with their interlocutor, so they are easily persuaded and more often become followers than leaders. Phlegmatic people are usually sensitive and understand others well, so they are careful about their feelings. They are indecisive, yet sweet and charming. With the correct and clear formulation of the task, they can become ideal performers, but not leaders. In the absence of stimulus, phlegmatic people can be passive, boring, lazy and weak-willed.

Choleric

People with this type of temperament have a stable nervous system. In them, the processes of excitation greatly predominate over inhibition, so their movements are sharp and impetuous, all their thoughts flow quickly, and their feelings are completely captivating. Cholerics are extroverts, very sociable, open to emotions, but their mood can change too quickly. Usually their experiences are not too deep, so the owners of this temperament cope with difficulties easily. Their main problem is the inability to restrain themselves.

Choleric people are born leaders. They easily captivate people and enjoy it. They love to argue, but not to find the truth, but simply to prove that they are right and again find themselves above everyone else. People with this temperament are quick-tempered and often suffer from bouts of rage, but at the same time they quickly move away and forget the insults. In order to save face, they are able to blame others for their mistakes.

With the right motivation, a choleric person can be very proactive, inventive, energetic and principled. The lack of upbringing and positive goals in life makes him irritable, prone to affect and loss of self-control.

Melancholic

People with a melancholic temperament have a weak nervous system. Most of them are emotionally unstable introverts. This is often accompanied by autonomic disorders and panic attacks. Inhibition processes prevail over excitation in them.

Melancholic people usually look calm and outwardly react sluggishly to stimuli, but at the same time they react very sharply to any shades of feelings. The emotional experiences of such a person are always very deep and last for a long time. People with this type of temperament often suffer from depression and invent frightening situations for themselves, which leads to depression and blues.

Melancholic people are prone to creative activities and often engage in science. Their constant desire for improvement and perseverance in achieving goals, calm nature and non-conflict nature make them excellent employees. But only in small companies, where you don’t have to constantly be in sight and communicate with someone. Conditions that require quick decisions and activity can cause prolonged inhibitory reactions in them. Simply put, such a person will give up and stop any activity.

What does temperament depend on?

As we have already said, temperament is an innate characteristic of a person. It is believed that it is genetically determined, but there is no strong evidence of this today. In addition, it was noted that some factors may influence it.

• Climatic conditions. Probably everyone has noticed that southerners more often have an explosive choleric temperament than residents of northern countries.
• Lifestyle. Lack of sleep and poor diet, night work and alcohol abuse can make noticeable adjustments.
• Age. Gradually, a person's hormonal levels change. For example, a decrease in testosterone levels, which occurs over the years, leads to a decrease in energy, aggressiveness, and weakening leadership qualities.

In addition, there is a theory that temperament may depend on the time of year when a person was born. Researchers have noticed that those born in the summer are more likely to experience rapid mood swings, those born in the spring are more positive, and “winter people” are less irritable, but are prone to depression. Unfortunately, there is no scientific confirmation of this fact, as well as an explanation.

Is there a dependence on blood type?

The idea of ​​linking temperament with blood type is not new and has been haunting scientists for a long time. There is a lot of research on this topic. The most popular theory is based on the assertion that all blood groups have different origins and did not appear on Earth at the same time. That is why their owners have different temperaments, must eat certain foods and choose the appropriate type of activity.

• The most ancient, according to this theory, is the first blood group. It belonged to ancient hunters who constantly fought for survival. According to researchers, these people are born leaders and optimists, have a strong will and always try to manage all processes.
• The second blood group appeared when people united into tribes and began farming. At this stage, connections between people became closer, and norms of behavior became stricter. People with the second group inherited a more stable nervous system from their ancestors. They are calm, patient and diligent. These are extroverts who make contact easily. At the same time, they can be stubborn and conservative, sometimes they do not tolerate stress well and do not know how to relax.
• The third group was formed among the nomads. They needed to constantly adapt to new conditions, so the descendants of these people also have high stress resistance and sensitivity. These are creative and inventive individualists who often hide a tremulous soul behind external calm.
• The fourth group is the youngest. It was formed in the process of mixing the second and third. Its owners are kind and calm people, pleasant and sociable. But at the same time, they often live for today and do not think about the consequences.
  The creators of this theory were unable to somehow correlate blood groups with specific types of temperament. It also turned out to be impossible to prove it, so for the scientific world it is nothing more than an interesting fairy tale.

Is it possible to change temperament?

You can often hear from people that they don’t like their temperament and would like to change it for the better. But this is an innate quality that is not so easy to change. You need to understand that temperament cannot be good or bad, each of them has its own strengths and weaknesses, and they must be identified and used correctly.

Those who want to change their temperament should think about why they should do it. For example, a melancholic person envies his choleric director and wants to become just as successful and active. He can overcome himself and begin to move, talk and act more energetically. He might even be able to convince everyone that he is a strong leader and become a director. But will this make him happier? Hardly. From such stress and constant communication, a concentrated melancholic introvert, who is used to achieving the ideal result in everything, will simply burn out emotionally.

You need to understand that it is possible to learn to act like someone with a different temperament, but changing your essence is not. It would be much more correct to study your characteristics and strengths and try to organize your life so that you don’t want to change anything.

Temperament is an important innate psychophysiological characteristic of a person. In many ways, the character and behavior of a person depends on it. It is impossible to change it or somehow program it before birth. But it is very important to consider temperament when choosing an activity.