Jesus Is Lord Ministries

TEMPERAMENT THEORY:
THE SANGUINE

The Sanguine in Inclusion (social interaction, surface relationships and intellectual energies) is a social person who likes to be with people. Of all the temperaments, they are the easiest to be around socially. They bring life and energy into a room by their very presence. Their cheerfulness and humor brighten everyone’s life. They are an optimistic type of person who believes life is an exciting, fun-filled experience that should be lived to the fullest. Inactivity causes them stress because the pace at which they like to live their lives is fast and furious. They are very impulsive.

The Sanguine in Inclusion excels in communication-oriented things, but does not relate well to tasks. They are the least disciplined and organized of all the temperaments. While they are outgoing, enthusiastic, warm, compassionate, and seem to relate well to other people’s feeling, yet they can be rude and uncaring. They tend not to be faithful nor loyal friends, since they do not want to be “burdened down” with commitments; they just want to have fun. Since they live as thought hey have no past or future, they rarely learn from past mistakes. They are prone to exaggerate. They never recognize failures but exaggerate to make themselves appear more successful than they are. The Sanguine’s major weakness is that they adopt severe and destructive behavior.

The Sanguine in Control (decision-making abilities, willingness to take on responsibilities, and the need for independence) is unique and very rare. Only two (2%) percent of the population have this control, and they are predominately male. What makes them so unique is they swing. All the other temperaments are stabilized. A Choleric is always domineering. But the Sanguine in Control behaves like a Choleric one day, totally in charge and domineering, and the next day they are totally dependent. In their independent/domineering mode, they are aggressive, responsible, demanding and capable of undertaking any task. In their dependent/self-indulging mode they are irresponsible, self-indulgent and nearly drown in their own pool of self-pity.

What causes the swing? An unquenchable need for recognition and approval; when this is withheld by people they consider “important”, or if they are criticized, they do a “nose dive” into the dependent mode. When they swing, they drop everything and shirk responsibilities. This person will volunteer for difficult tasks and they can and will complete the project so long as their ego is being fed. However, at the first sign indicating that they are not “the greatest thing that ever happened to the world,” they quit! They just walk away and inwardly turn into themselves - caring nothing about the project or those depending upon them.

However, when they have remained in the dependent, self-indulgent side of their swing for a short period, they begin to feel ugly. This is an emotional “ugly” made up of feelings like guilt, worthlessness and selfishness. These feelings begin turning them around and soon they are back to the “take charge,” responsible and dependable person everyone knows, loves and reveres.
Until the Sanguine in Control learns to control the swing instead of continuing to allow the swing to control them, AND until this person learns to be self-indulgent in godly ways (they are very prone to gambling and alcoholic binges, drugs, sexual sins, etc.), they will have a confusing and frustrating life. But once this is learned, what a wonderful and productive life they can have.

Inclusion Strengths: friendly, outgoing, inspiring to others, relationship oriented, enthusiastic, warm, optimistic, ability to see the bright side of life and the good in other people. They genuinely like people, are rarely found alone, and freely interact with people.

Inclusion Weaknesses: talkative, always the center of the conversation, apt to take on the behavior and morals of the people around them, impulsive, undisciplined, rude, prone to exaggerate, need to appear successful (even to the point of exaggeration), will ignore responsibilities in order to be with people.

Control Strengths and Weaknesses: correlate with their dependent/independent conflict. Dependent: to be narcissistic, self-indulgent (the need to be self-indulgent is not a weakness, but the way this self-indulgence is met is the weakness), lacking persistence and weak-willed. Independent: solicitous, caring person who will do things for other people, almost to the point of servitude.  A very charming, gracious person. Takes on responsibilities and makes decisions very well, until driven to the dependent mode.

Affection Strengths: Able to express and receive large amounts of love and affection. They are warm and easy to get to know and emotionally open.

Affection Weaknesses: Easily devastated if not constantly reassured they are loved and appreciated. Very demanding of other people for love and affection, plagued with feeling of jealousy when the love and attention they feel belongs exclusively to them is given to others.

With those who receive counsel is wisdom.
(Proverbs 13:10b NASV)

  More Info About:

Melancholy          Choleric
Supine                                     Sanguine          Phlegmatic

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Page Revised 04/10/00