Understanding the Choleric Personality Type Temperament from the Four Temperament Types
People who have a choleric personality type or temperament, are usually very action-oriented people with quick reactions, who are principled and strong-headed, pragmatic and task-oriented, and confident and optimistic in their outlook.
What are the key strengths and weaknesses of a Choleric Personality Type Temperament:
Strengths:
- Extraverted nature
- Social proficiency
- Active lifestyle
- Decisiveness
- Thrives in dynamic environments
- Resourcefulness
- Independence
- Rationality
- Pragmatism
- Leadership qualities
- Competitive spirit
- Motivation for success
- Expressiveness
- Ability to make effective decisions
- Strong emotional displays
- Forcefulness/Willfulness
Weaknesses:
- Anger issues
- Impulsiveness
- Hot-headed
- Difficulty showing emotions
- Scepticism
- Trust issues
- Reluctance to be vulnerable
- Trouble asking for help
- Excessive pride
- Stubbornness
- Rudeness
- Tactlessness
- Difficulty relaxing
- Intolerance
- Perfectionism
- Bossiness
- Dislike of authority
- Lack of self-awareness regarding manners
- Dislike for those opposite in nature
Background Story of the Four Temperaments
The four temperament theory It is based on the notion that people have essentially four temperaments, thus, four different personality traits according to temperament theory.
These four types of temperament explain why some people are quieter and calmer, while others are more fiery and talkative.
It shows in general behavior, reactions, the way we walk, the way we physically look. The temperaments are a reflection of ourselves, how we behave and how we are in this world.
If you are interested in knowing more about the roots of this ancient Greek theory, check our article about it.
On another note, the four temperaments theory is also based on the theory of the four elements. If you are curious to know how these theories are still present to this day, take a look at our article about it.
What are the Choleric Temperament traits?
Cholerics are extraverted people. They exude energy outward. They are at ease when they are focusing their thoughts/energy outward. They are at ease with other people. They don’t mind telling and showing others what they think. They are expressive.
Because they are active people, movement types, they don’t really dwell on life or its issues. They react fast. They are doers. Once an issue comes up, they try to immediately solve it and make a conclusion out of it and move on to the next problem. They don’t tend to “feel” the problems, they prefer to take action over them, not letting emotions overcome them.
Generally, these people are more rational and prefer to keep their ears open to new sounds and winds, so to speak. And because of this activeness, they can sense new opportunities and take quick steps to achieve their goals, as they are willful and independent and can will themselves out of any harsh situation.
They generally don’t need other people to help them be better or achieve their ideas. Because they have the ability to have the courage to identify what they want and then to act upon it to achieve those wishes. They are sure of their thinking, and they don’t like others to control them. For them, independence is key.
A choleric type is a rational thinker.
They have the ability to not let their emotions stick for too long. So they are able to distance themselves from their emotions and make more rational decisions because of it. They need independence, movement, and practicality, their minds are pragmatic and intellectual. But because they are always on the move, they don’t have much patience, so they don’t really like to look deeply into details and be in the same place analyzing something. That job is for other temperaments.
They feel things in bursts because they are so movement-oriented and thus quite impatient. They have a kind of nervous feeling to them, always doing something, always going somewhere, sometimes rushing things too much, other times, having too many new ideas to pursue.
They are like fire, quick to start and quick to disappear. They can be harsh and blunt. They can be direct and unemotional on the surface, however, they do keep their sorrows for a long time. They are the “angry” temperament.
Choleric Personality Type Temperament: Task-Focused/Pragmatic
The Choleric temperament is task-focused, goal-oriented. He doesn’t focus on how other people feel or what others are doing, or how others will see him. He focuses on achieving tasks. Because he is more rational, less emotional. Their weaknesses are not understanding how other people feel, being too blunt or direct, and stepping over others because of this. It is also harder to make friends, as they find no need to just have friends to talk over their feelings, they need to have something in common to have a purpose for the friendship. Otherwise, it’s going to be hard to just meet up instead of working or achieving their goals.
Because of this strong will and high need to achieve things, they are very perfectionistic, and want things their way (because they are also independent), so they tend to overwork themselves and not letting fun have a time in their life. However, they can be too quick to take actions towards those goals, unlike the Low expression types – Melancholic and Phlegmatic -, which take more time to analyze their decisions before taking any action.
The Choleric temperament can be very self-centred, and don’t think about how they might impact other people. Often, they don’t listen to other people, believing they are always right – which is a problem. When another person explains to them why they are wrong, if the Choleric temperament does not manage their anger, the other person might not even want to say anything else again for fear of provoking a harsh reaction from the Choleric.
A Choleric type is impatient.
Choleric types can get upset when they see imperfections, too emotional or slow-paced people.
Their long impression means that they have a long memory for things that matter to them. So they will hold grudges, they will remember when someone did something bad, it will be very hard for them to let that go. They can slam doors and call people out if they see things they don’t like. Again, because they are very independent people, and no one can stop them or come their way or step over their principles. And they won’t hold their tongues, they are extraverts.
As you can imagine, Cholerics are people have a confident self-esteem. They don’t bother much about what others might think or how they might come off. Their focus is on being the best, showing their confidence to others and leading them. That’s it.
And because they have a confident temperament style, they are also optimistic about life and also themselves. They spend much time doubting their abilities, wishes or goals. They just do things to get there.
The Choleric Personality Type Temperament in scale
Based on the FIRO theory by William Schutz, there are 3 spectrums or dimensions that can analysed when it comes to social interactions:
- Inclusion – related to social interaction, relationships with other people
- Control – related to leadership and the ability to take responsibilities, and need for independence
- Affection – related to emotional side
Inclusion Spectrum (social interaction, relationships with other people)
– who is in or out of their relationships
“Don’t call me; I’ll call you; until then, out!”
Although Choleric personality types are very exciting to be around, as they have lots energy and appear to be very confident, and are forever moving towards their goals. They don’t like to be disturbed by other people’s problems. They are not clingy. They don’t like being too emotional or express what is happening with their lives on an emotional level.
So because of that, they would rather not have other people constantly call them or try to be with them, as they have other more important matters to attend to, such as focusing on their work, their goals, their objectives.
They like to mingle with others on their terms. There has to be some kind of reason behind socializing. Because they don’t just socialize for socializing’s sake. They are task-focused people, not people-focused. They are constantly focused on their wishes, their goals.
And because they are generally confident in their skills, desires, wishes, needs, they can easily inspire others who need that inspiration. Choleric personality types like to have other people to help them achieve their set up goals. So they enjoy recruiting others. Thus, they are great at supervising others, leading them towards goals, and being on time with things, as they are very quick to make decisions and impatient, as they don’t like to dwell too much on feelings and details, so things appear to be very black or white for them.
Through other people, they can achieve great things, as they are outgoing and social, they don’t fear to be exposed to others and to share their ideas. So they can get a lot done with other people – those who will appreciate their energy and drive due to lack of it in themselves.
This way, because Choleric temperaments are more task-focused than people-focused, they can be too harsh, too direct, too blunt, too cruel, or even abusive. They don’t see how they impact other people with their bluntness. They are more sympathetic than empathetic. And for those people that are more people-focused (Phlegmatic and Sanguinic temperaments), it will be harder to be around them, because they can get hurt pretty easily by the Choleric temperament.
Also, due to their anger being almost as their primary emotion, they tend to use it with others. They express anger easily, and they don’t mind how they might appear or make others feel. The result is what matters most to this temperament.
Control Spectrum (leadership)
– who maintains the Power and makes the Decisions in relationships, ability to take responsibilities, and need for independence
“I’m the Boss!”
Choleric personalities need to be in control. Always. Pure Choleric temperaments are always in control in their relationships. They need to have the last saying. They have to be right. They have to be the rulers.
They are strongly independent and sure of their convictions, so they are naturally people who want to lead in everything. They prefer to take the role of the leader in almost everything they do. Or at least, not being controlled by others.
Choleric temperaments don’t like weak people, because they always try to be just about the opposite of that. It appears that Cholerics are wired in such a way that they can never show weakness to others, and anyone who shows it to them, they immediately spot that person and treat them badly. It is the result of their childhoods. Someone from their family made sure that they corresponded to the highest levels of “greatness”, and so the Choleric temperament grew with this huge need to be always strong and fearless. When they see someone week in their eyes, it’s like a mirror of their shadow self. They try to eliminate it from their sight.
Affection Spectrum (emotional side)
– how emotionally Close or Far the relationships are
“Emotionally far, unless I approach you for my purposes”
They don’t open up for other people. Only when they decide to. Only on their terms. And only when there is something to be done, or there is some kind of reason. They don’t simply open up just for the sake of opening up. They don’t reach out to others to share their feelings. That is not their purpose. Their purpose is to achieve goals, ideas, dreams, wishes. They are rational people. They don’t share feelings with others or be emotional about life. That is for other types to care about. They are here to be fierce and keep moving forward and achieving.
When they are with their selected trusted people and are happy and stable, they are very energetic and outgoing, and open to share their love, and will show affection in their special way – because they don’t want to get burned, so they will have their terms. So it is expected that they will show love in deeds, or through actions more than through emotional expressions. Although it depends on the Choleric personality type – as it’s important to keep in mind that we only take account of 4 temperaments, and we can’t be all the same.
For them, affection can be considered a weakness. They don’t show love easily. And they don’t want to be left behind. So they tend to test other people a lot, to make sure they are trusting.
But don’t expect them to understand deep emotional problems/issues. As I said, for them, the emotional side of life is like a hidden element in nature, not really seen by them. They don’t really understand it, and they tend to disregard feelings. Excluding anger, of course – that is their main weapon in life!
Combining the 3 spectrums of Temperaments together
The Choleric personality type of person will not want to have many friends, especially those types of friends who will want to always hang out and will want to constantly keep check of them. They are too independent for that. They have lots of important things going on, so friendships are not on the higher levels of their needs. They tend to have fewer true friends, a selected few that will really know them inside, with whom they will be able to share deeper issues and concerns of the heart.
However, they will have a significant amount of contacts and acquaintances, with whom they keep contact in case they will need something to do with them or have some kind of mutual interest or activity.
Because they have a high need for Control (need to maintain the power and make the decisions), they tend to choose people that they can exert that control over. They don’t like to be bossed around by others. So that is why they prefer to call others themselves, not the other way around. They want to decide on everything.
And in regards to the Affection spectrum (how emotionally close or far the person is in relationships), the Choleric personality type of person will be always emotionally far from everyone – excluding the need to show anger all the time, because for them anger is not an emotion/weakness, it’s a weapon they can use -, only allowing others to see what they want.
But the selected few that they choose to be on their side will be the ones who will see them for who they are, but again, they are the ones that choose when and how, not the other way around. They have immense free-will and will power, and because of their need to be independent, they decide when they want other people to join their lives. Not the other way around.
They will only reach out to other people when there is some kind of need attached to it. Something to be done. Some reason behind it. Not just for the sake of sharing. Because they don’t know how to share their emotions easily. They are afraid of showing weakness. They prefer to show strength instead. And they only trust so many with their fragile hidden hearts.
So, do you identify with the choleric temperament? Or maybe not so much? Stay tunned for more posts about the temperaments!
Stay healthy and curious!
