This is my first article on steemit and I hope I make a good first impression(smiles). This topic isn’t so popular as its importance in our day to day lives. Today you guys are going to be finding out ‘’why people behave the way they do’’. Understanding this topic would improve our relationships with others and would allow us to come to terms with some of our short comings. It’s true that some of the factors that can determine why we act the way we do are our upbringing and environment, state of mind, age (level of maturity), educational background, religious background etc. but the most important factor is our “temperament”. What is temperament? This is a person’s nature, especially as it permanently affects their behavior. It is a person’s innate character that’s typically recognized within the first few weeks after birth. [study.com](https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-temperament-definitions-meaning-types.html) defines temperament as an individual characteristic level of emotional excitability or intensity and is typically recognized within the first few weeks after birth. It is a person temperament that make him an outgoing person or a shy person. This is a person’s truest being. There are four basic types of temperament and they are as follows. - The Popular Sanguine - The Perfect Melancholy - The Powerful choleric - The Peaceful Phlegmatic Each one of us has at least two of the above temperaments. What people find hard to believe is that our temperaments influences virtually everything we do, the way we sleep, eat, walk, drive etc. I personally can tell what type of temperament a person has by the way they sit in an office waiting to be attended to. The Popular Sanguine can’t sit for too long without being restless and restive. The Perfect Melancholy would always check the clock from time to time as they sit so as not to spend an extra second more than the expected waiting period. They are usually very calculative. The Powerful Choleric happens to always want to cut corners. They tend to believe that they are too important to wait. You hear them unnecessarily raising their voice at the attendant for keeping them waiting. The Peaceful Phlegmatic would be so calm and quiet waiting endlessly as if to say he has no other assignments for the day which may not be the case. Most would even sleep off while waiting to be attended to(smiles). Funny enough, I’m a Peaceful Phlegmatic(smiles). This is just a glimpse of the temperaments. I would be telling you more about each of them in this article, their strengths and weaknesses, their perfect compliment. Let’s examine each of them in greater detail. - THE POPULAR SANGUINE: They are the outgoing kind of persons, the extroverts. The very charming ones. The peoples’ person. They strive more when they are in the midst of people because they love to talk a lot. They are the extremely social ones and easily make friends. The Sanguine excels more in activities that are communication-oriented. They usually light up an environment with their presence. They could be fun to be with. They live as though the world would be coming to an end at the end of the day. They also tend to be affectionate and expressive. In spite of how seemingly cool this temperament appears to be, they have their weaknesses. They are the most impulsive of all the temperaments. They are usually very disorganized. They are unable to plan properly because planning requires critical thinking and may come across as unserious at times. They get easily bored when involved in routine activities. They sometimes have difficulty managing their feelings and emotions. Some of the professions that a sanguine could mostly excel at are a stage performer(Singer), a MC (Master of Ceremony), Sales, PR, Customer Service, Marketing among others. For more readings on Sanguine, download an ebook: "why you act the way you do" by Tim LaHaye [here](https://www.overdrive.com/media/899731/why-do-act-the-way-you-do) ![sangvine-personality.jpg] (https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWBxMqM4LS1uJayJt3gsZuAaQk3x7f3yeWwE4fdUb1xZn/sangvine-personality.jpg) *[A happy Sanguine. Source: [ProjectRussia.ru](https://projectrussia.ru/assets/a3e75a352610ac6061b-722x990.jpg). CCO Licensed]* - THE PERFECT MELANCHOLY: As their name implies, they are perfectionist: setting very high standards for themselves and could sink into a depressed state of mind if they fall short of such pre-determined high standards and expectations. They, by nature, are introvert and by so meaning, find it difficult making friends. They are very analytical and sound intellectually with the capabilities of accurately predicting the outcome of an event from the beginning. They are usually very detailed oriented and are very cautious. They are also very super sensitive emotionally and can get hurt and offended very easily. They are very loyal to loved ones: often very reliable and dependable as family members and friends unlike the Popular Sanguine(smiles). Some of their weaknesses include the fact that they often take life too seriously. When Melancholies sink into depression, they become destructive to themselves and those close to them. Their ideal of what is right could be unattainable within their immediate environment. They are usually very inflexible. They fear taking risks, making wrong decisions, and being viewed as incompetent. Some of the professions that a Melancholy could mostly excel at are research, art, science, accounting among others. For more readings on Melancholy, download an ebook: "why you act the way you do" by Tim LaHaye [here](https://www.overdrive.com/media/899731/why-do-act-the-way-you-do)![Depressed Melancholy.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYUqDCxgVfZLiMX5tCxagNFeE1eZzJdBb8u4q6V6mM96s/Depressed%20Melancholy.jpg) *[A Depressed Melancholy. Source: [historitejetes](https://historitejetes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/11.jpg). CCO Licensed]* - THE POWERFUL CHOLERIC: They super active, strong willed, goal getter kind of people. They are result oriented and would stop at nothing to achieve their desired result. They usually do not require as much sleep as other temperament as they are constantly thinking about new and faster ways to achieve their goals. They are always stimulating their immediate environment with endless plans, goals, ideas and ambitions rather than wait to be stimulated by their environment. They are very decisive, quick and fast. Choleric are ever full of self-confidence and are independent thinkers. They are usually very domineering and forceful: coercing persons around them to do their bidding. They are excellent risk takers. They strive on activities and could easily manufacture tasks from nowhere just not to be idle(smiles). however, they are the least sensitive emotionally of the other temperament. They could get carried away with achieving their goals that they begin to hurt and offend people around and would not give a damn. They tend to look at the objectives in view without considering the possible challenges and pitfalls in the way of achieving such objectives. Some of the professions that Choleric could excel at include business, law, security, engineering among others. For more readings on Choleric, download an ebook: "why you act the way you do" by Tim LaHaye [here](https://www.overdrive.com/media/899731/why-do-act-the-way-you-do) ![powerful choleric.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme2vexcnpAAhpvRHGP2yTUQYYSRcoWnRybfRt6za6rug5/powerful%20choleric.jpg) *[A super active Choleric. Source: [blogspot](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjm5hYqYVjE/TflJFuXJJsI/AAAAAAAAACE/q5l9w4uJj6o/s1600/New+Picture+%252828%2529.bmp). CCO Licensed]* - THE PEACEFUL PHLEGMATIC: They are peace loving and easy going kind of people. They are, by their nature, an introvert and are very passive. They prefer to maintain a quiet and low key life not wanting to attract too much attention to themselves unlike the popular Sanguine(smiles). They usually don’t keep much friends but they are the most liked by people among the rest temperament because of their easy going nature. They almost don’t get angry(smiles). They hardly get offended by people but once are offended, they could keep a grudge till the world comes to an end(smiles). Just like the Perfect Melancholy, the Phlegmatic are very loyal friends: almost loyal to a fault. They are also very emotionally sensitive although they appear not to be because of their poker face(smiles) and they appreciate art and music to a very large extent. They live a well-balanced life and are very critical and practical thinkers which makes them very slow decision makers. Phlegmatics seldom exert themselves on others or push their way along in their career. They just let it happen. They make good team player. However, they tend not to be highly ambitious and they can be masters of procrastination(smiles). If only you knew how long it took me to put this sketchy article together(smiles). They tend to be overly passive lacking a sense of urgency. They tend to strongly resist change and are always more comfortable with routine activities. Some of the professions that a Phlegmatic could excel at include education, psychology, human and social services among others. For more readings on Phlegmatic, download an ebook: "why you act the way you do" by Tim LaHaye [here](https://www.overdrive.com/media/899731/why-do-act-the-way-you-do) ![Lazy Phlegmatic.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSnevdrHFvLocHPUNeEFuZkLT9b5tapesJDW9ptYSVCyJ/Lazy%20Phlegmatic.jpg) *[An overly relaxed Phlegmatic. Source: [Livestrongcdn](https://img.aws.livestrongcdn.com/ls-article-image-673/ds-photo/getty/article/240/202/157603689.jpg). CCO Licensed]* Having examined each temperament in greater detail, I would want to believe that some of their strengths and weaknesses were duly noted. It’s also my personal opinion that there isn’t any preferred or supposedly better temperament among the others like for example having an idea or a conception that the choleric are more successful or live better lives, isn’t an ideal way to think. A person’s chances in life to be successful improves when he knows what sought of temperament he has and has found a way to take advantage of the strengths that relates to such temperament and at the same time, taking the necessary steps to reduce the weaknesses of such temperaments. ![Qualities of Temperament.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmauyv1hGNUrEv62qbTXYQgRoKdmTCcHH3YQrVKsJ6UGQB/Qualities%20of%20Temperament.jpg) *[Qualities of the Temperaments. Source: [pinimg](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bb/4e/2c/bb4e2ceeccc26d7f8fbff85863897f92.jpg). CCO Licensed]* #### COMPATIBILITY OF THE TEMPERAMENTS Having examined all the temperaments along with their strengths and weaknesses, we want to delve into the issue of compatibility: which two temperaments would produce the most happiness in a long term relationship? Before that question is answered, I would like to bring our attention back to the fact that in the four temperaments talked about in this article, two are introvert (Phlegmatic and Melancholy) while the other two are extrovert (Sanguine and Choleric). For some of us who have a little background in science, it would be common knowledge that negative and negative never produce a spark neither does positive and positive. What produces energy is a blend of positive and negative. In this light then, two introvert would most likely not produce the most happiness in a relationship neither would two extrovert produce the most happiness. For two introvert, I’m sure the both parties would be bored with eachother and the relationship would most certainly lack the necessary positive energy that it requires to be successful while for two extrovert, the relationship would definitely be too noisy(smiles). In fairness, Choleric could easily be compatible with Phlegmatic while Sanguine would easily flow with Melancholy. Before you guys say what’s my basis for such seemingly hurried conclusion, let me back up my conclusions with logical reasons. - The Phlegmatic-Choleric: although this blend might seem odd, but come to think of it, which of the other temperament would be able to easily cope with the ever demanding, hot-tempered and over-domineering Choleric- The Sanguine wouldn’t tolerate the choleric for one minute and on the other hand, the choleric may not be all that too comfortable with the playful, fun, party lifestyle of the Sanguine. The Melancholy would suffer too many heart aches under Choleric. But the peace loving, humble Phlegmatic wouldn’t mind being under the powerful choleric for peace to reign in their relationship. On the other hand, the phlegmatic benefits from the relationship by having a partner who motivates and pushes him to always get the job done and by so doing kills the habit of procrastination in him, giving birth to a more zealous, active and ambitious Phlegmatic(smiles). - The Sanguine-Melancholy: While the melancholy may not always enjoy the Sanguine noticeble carelessness and sense of playfulness and lack of seriousness, it is worthy to note that, only the sanguine could lift up the soul of the melancholy during periods of his down times and depression. On the other hand, the Sanguine benefits from the relationship by having a partner who put him on track and makes his life more organized. ![Happy couple3.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSnFxfUmkVjTHhbyV76eEXVMjoJ63kpLRSrPnWEz3ie3v/Happy%20couple3.jpg) *[Happy couple. Source: [Authorlove](https://www.authorlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Happy-Couple-Love-Pure.jpg). CCO Licensed]* it is my hope that this article would have provided us with the knowledge to understand why people act the way they do and with this knowledge, we are better able to understand our individual peculiarities and by so doing, we can take advantage of them for a successful and a happier life. *Till I Come Your Way Next Time, Stay Safe* ***Thanks For Reading*** #### References > [Ref 1](https://www.fourtemperaments.com/4-primary-temperaments/) [Ref 2](https://www.quora.com/which-temperaments-are-most-compatible#) [Ref 3](https://josephchris.com/sanguine-personality-type) *All images used in this article are free source licensed under the Creative Commons and are liable for commercial use.*