Question

Describe the type theory of personality put forward by Hippocrates.

Answer 1

Type theories advocate that human potentialities can be classified into a few clearly defined types and each person can be described as belonging to a certain type.
Greek physician, Hippocrates gave a classification on the basis of dominant fluids. According to him, the human body consists of four types of humor or fluids — blood, yellow bile, phlegm (mucus) and black bile. The predominance of one of these four types of fluids in one’s body gives him unique temperamental characteristics leading to a particular type of personality classification is as follows-

Sanguine personality (Blood: Predominant fluid in the body): Light-hearted, carefree, optimistic, easy-going, hopeful, accommodating, happy, responsive, sociable, talkative, lively, has leadership qualities.

Choleric personality (Yellow bile: Predominant fluid in the body): Irritable, restless, aggressive, impulsive, excitable, active, angry but passionate, strong with an active imagination, touchy, flexible.

Phlegmatic personality: (Phlegm/Mut c: Predominant fluid in the body): calm, tempered, controlled, reliable, slow/sluggish, indifferent, thoughtful, peaceful, passive, careful.

Melancholic personality (Black bile: Pre-dominant fluid in the body): Pessimistic, rigid, unsociable, bad-tempered, sad, deplorable, self-involved, dejected, anxious, moody, reserved.