Theory (The Temperaments Physiology)

Regarding an organism, physiology characterizes the interactions and coordination between different organs and systems within the same body. This inter-organ physiology plays a crucial role in maintaining the individual's homeostasis, performing essential bodily functions, and ensuring overall well-being. Physiology, therefore, implies hormonal communication by the organism, as well as neural communication by its nervous system, integration into the bloodstream through constant substance exchange, inter-organismic coordination, response mechanisms, and immune defense capability.

In this sense, we can refer to Temperamental Physiology as the description of the process through which an organism establishes and controls such relationships between itself and the physical and social environment to achieve a state of homeostasis, defined as the ability to maintain the internal world in a nearly constant balance, regardless of changes in the external environment. A Temperament, therefore, consists of the way an individual, understood as an organism, manifests, interacts, and balances in the world. Furthermore, it should be called Physiology because, essentially, all these states are related to each other, producing what we will call “blends”, variants, or temperamental combinations.

In the approach of Physiological Temperament, we will fundamentally understand organismic behavior from three dichotomies, which also grant this approach the name of “RPA”. Here, the existence of various other ways of dichotomizing behavior is not denied; however, this is the most fundamental among them: Rhythm (Slow-Fast), Perception (Pessimistic-Optimistic), and Attitude (Idealistic-Realistic) — which is a rework of @the flev-matic’s proposal. Starting from a process of homogenization and deepening of various other approaches to Hippocratic Temperament, we understand how each of the four fundamental types of human organismic behavior essentially arises from the alignment of these three aspects.

Thus, the Sanguine is a Fast-Optimistic-Idealistic (FOI), the Choleric is a Fast-Pessimistic-Realistic (FPR), the Melancholic is a Slow-Pessimistic-Idealistic (SPI), and the Phlegmatic is a Slow-Optimistic-Realistic (SOR). Subsequently, blends are addressed as a balance between two Temperaments, even though they are profoundly different. For example, a Phlegmatic-Choleric, who has enhanced their Realism (a common trait between both Temperaments) and diminished their Optimism and Slowness (distinct traits), is more willing to sacrifice the usual peaceful cooperation of the Phlegmatics for a bold assertiveness, more characteristic of the Cholerics.

It should also be understood that Temperaments are not necessarily inferior to the other typologies addressed by Homoscience. In fact, Temperaments are the basis of all human behavior. Observing the alignment of the typologies along the internal triangle of the Enneagram, we have the Enneagram as the right corner, Socionics as the left corner, and the Temperaments as the upper part, neutral in relation to the other two. In this relationship, we observe how Temperament (the individual's behavior concerning their energy, body, and social role) underpins Socionics (the individual's behavior as part of the socion, as an organism endowed with consciousness, i.e., perception of reality and movement capability), which in turn originates the Enneagram (the being's behavior based on how it was stripped of its original spiritual capacity and, therefore, now exists through preferred emotional, psychological, and social defense strategies).

Therefore, Temperaments go beyond joy, anger, sadness, and tranquility, constituting, at a deeper and more complex level, four basic forms of behavior, each based on the individual's relationship with their energy, body, and social/physical environment. Temperaments are based on four "fluids" or "essences", which in turn give rise to twelve "blends" and thus total sixteen personality types. The four essences are Blood, Choler, Melancholy, and Phlegm, each being an understanding of the three essential dichotomies of rhythm (related to energy), perception (rel. openness), and attitude (rel. social role). In summary: Blood represents tenderness; Choler represents combustion; Melancholy represents absorption; and Phlegm represents flowing.

When two temperamental essences unite, forming a blend, the traits that are distinct between the two bases are attenuated, and the common trait to both is elevated. For example, a countertype (i.e., a blend composed of two types opposite in rhythm and perception), the Sanguine-Melancholic has both mood regulation through expansion and tenderness and, to a greater or lesser extent, through mood and information absorption. And that is why it is understood as a countertype, because, although the basis of its behavior is the same, in its entirety it is especially distinct from other Sanguines. The same goes for the Choleric-Phlegmatic, the Phlegmatic-Choleric, and the Melancholic-Sanguine.

As part of the Homoscience Project, this approach to Hippocratic Temperaments includes descriptions that may not be completely identifiable. This is due to the fact that it is a correlational approach, focusing on the relationship between the three typologies aforementioned: Enneagram (3), Socionics (6), and, finally, Temperament (9). The descriptions, therefore, are elaborated with a structural, distinctive, and, of course, descriptive concern — they are basically diagnostic. Therefore, if the reader does not completely identify with a Temperament, that's okay. Some of the described characteristics may correspond to characters I used as a basis to understand the Temperament, such as the Phlegmatic-Choleric, in which I highlighted characteristics of both SP9 and SX5. Keep an eye on the whole structure, not just the traits. (Please, bless the world with your sharp thinking!)

That said, we can proceed to the theory. The essay will be elaborated as follows. First, the descriptions of each of the dichotomies will be presented, highlighting, first and foremost, a header that explains the functioning of the dichotomy and then detailed descriptions of the two within it. For the Temperaments, it will be the same: a summary followed by consonant descriptions. The temperamental essences will be described first, being Blood, Choler, Melancholy, and Phlegm. Then, the main Temperaments and, from the highest to the lowest frequency, their folds will be described. The countertypes were left at the end of each chapter.