The four Temperaments
Came about when the first known Greek physician Hippocrates began to look at the human body in a more practical way versus a religious way. Hippocrates began to study the human body and to make his life’s work that of observation of the body and its functions. Using this work and the work of those who came after him a 2nd century Roman physician named Galen came up with the four humours and the temperament names are derived from the names of these fluids.
Sanguine- blood
Phlegmatic-phlegm or mucus
Choleric-gall
Melancholic- black bile
And their relating elements:
Sanguine- air
Choleric- fire
Melancholic-earth
Phlegmatic- water
Story of the four temperaments in my class:
We went on our Second grade nature walk in Great Meadows in the spring after a heavy rain and we got stuck just before the spot on Hawk’s Hill where it had flooded the marsh.
The four temperament responses were:
“I knew this would happen!”- This was the melancholic who began to notice their wet socks.
“Can we eat our snack?” – This was the phlegmatic who found a nice dry sitting spot.
Fascination with the new tadpole population ensued with the sanguine child and they had forgotten all about getting stuck.
And industrious log moving until we are able to cross the marsh was the activity of the choleric child.
What is the Temperament in the human being?
We are born to a family with particular physical traits- these are genetic gifts. How we grow into our bodies and “meet” our bodies depends on what we bring from our “self” which exists from before we were born.
For children, this “coat” that they wear is temporary, so it is important not to label children with a temperament but to be aware of how an individual might meet a certain body if certain elements were strongly evident. It is also of utmost importance to understand that children continually change as development occurs, and in adults the temperament is oriented very differently. This makes completing a temperament judgment futile.
The Temperaments reflect how the child is meeting his/her body, life, soul and spirit.
Sanguine- air- well balanced body, interest in everything, emotional roller coaster, many friends, extrovert (in adults astral body is most present)
In children the etheric is strongly living
Choleric- fire- strong lower body- leader- blustery- worker bee, not so sensitive to others, willful (in adults self-consciousness is most present)
In these children the astral is strongly living
Melancholic- earth- feels things deeply, tall and stooped, pale and feels cold introvert (in adults the physical body is most present)
In these children the self is strongly living
Phlegmatic-water- slow moving- not too interested- objective bystander introvert (in adults the etheric/chi body is most present)
In these children the physical is strongly living
What do we do to help if our students are a little one-sided in their temperament?
Address their temperament during Speech, story time, during challenges, form drawing, and even the way one gives instruction. Here are some teaching tools best suited to temperaments:
Choleric child? She needs to respect those in charge. Give her difficult tasks and keep critics few. Solo work. Have them draw borders around their form drawings.
Poetry Rhythm for the Choleric: Anapest ∪∪⎪
I am monarch of all I survey,
My right there is none to dispute;
From the centre all round to the sea,
I am lord of the fowl and the brute.
(Cowper)
Sanguine Child? Wants to love. They need irregular repetition. Varied tasks. They are socially confident. Artistic. They love the melody of the song, and wind instruments.
Rhythm: Iamb ∪⎪
As night drew on and, from the crest
Of wooded knolls that ridged the west,
The sun, a snow-blown traveler, sank
From sight beneath the smothering bank.
(Whittier)
Melancholic Child? Wants to sympathize with others. Acknowledge their hurts but not overly, be more a witness. Try to illicit compassion. String instruments. Solo singing. Counterpoint in music.
Rhythm: Dactyl ⎪∪∪
THIS is the forest primeval.
The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green,
indistinct in the twilight,
(Longfellow)
Phlegmatic Child? Wants to share interest with others. Needs to socialize. Take down the barrier. Surprise. Wake up! Choral singing. Harmony.
Rhythm: Trochee ⎪∪
Tell me not in mournful numbers
Life is but an empty dream
For the soul is dead that slumbers
And things are not what they seem.
(Longfellow)
