Mary’s School of Sanctity

Lesson #35:  About the Temperaments – Beginning our Study of the Choleric Temperament

In this lesson we begin our study of the choleric temperament.

As we stated in lesson #34, we speak of four basic types of temperaments.  Yet we usually see that a person is a combination of two.  There is a predominant temperament and a secondary one.  One curious and very interesting thing we find when we get to know more about the temperaments, and when we discover our own particular temperament or blend of temperaments, is that we wouldn’t want to trade temperaments.  We are used to ourselves and only really know what it is like being just the temperament(s) we are – in other words, we have no experiential knowledge of actually being another temperament.

So how do we recognize the other temperaments?  The answer is that all the temperaments have certain key traits that are recognizable.  Suppose someone were to think, “What is all this stuff about temperaments?” or  “I have gotten along fine not knowing about them.”  In such a case, we respond that we are examining in a more careful and refined manner the same distinctions that society at large often makes about how some people are naturally outgoing and are called extroverts.  There are others who are quieter and reserved and are called introverts.  Thus, society commonly recognizes the traits called the temperaments, although in a less precise way than is our goal in this series of articles.

In this lesson we will be discussing the general descriptions of the typical strengths and weaknesses of the choleric temperament.  Of course, no two persons are exactly alike so we must to be careful and not think that if someone has the typical traits of the choleric temperament that he is exactly like another person who has these same traits.

In Lesson #35 we set forth the overall scheme in examining each temperament.  The first point we said we would investigate is the typical strengths and weaknesses of each of the four temperaments.

General Strengths and Weaknesses[1]

Strengths of the Choleric temperament:

·         Great energy and activity

·         Sharp intellect

·         Strong and resolute will

·         Good powers of concentration

 

·         Constancy

·         Magnanimity

 

·         Liberality/Generosity

·         Good at planning projects

·         Industrious

·         Strong leadership abilities

Weaknesses of the Choleric Temperament:

·         Hardness

·         Nurtures hatred and desire for revenge

 

·         Obstinacy

·         Insensibility

·         Anger

·         Pride

·         Ambition

·         Violence, cruelty, and arrogance upon meeting with resistance

·         Lack of delicacy of feeling, insensitive to the feelings of others

·         Coldness

·         Indifference

·         Impetuosity

In General – Ways to Use Strengths and Conquer Weaknesses[2]

Humans are expected by God to want to live a moral and reasonable life.  If one is disposed to live correctly, then he is said to be of good will.  In order to foster good will for a person with the choleric temperament, he should in general do the following:

·         Mistrust his first inclinations

·         Cultivate true humility

 

·         Develop compassion for the weak and uninstructed

·         Refrain from exerting superiority

·         Practice detachment from self

·         Manifest a generous love towards others

·         Restrain and moderate himself

So far we have only given general lists about the choleric temperament and indeed, it is surely important to explain the lists given above.  Before explaining the list, however, let us take a quick peek at a couple of unique facts about people with the choleric temperament.  

Since the choleric temperament is the most extraverted of the four temperaments, the traits of this temperament are extremely prominent.  With this in mind one can readily see that a choleric person can have a great impact on the lives of others.  Therefore, his influence is widely felt for good or for ill.  If he has virtue and holiness, he can be an instrument for much good to society.  On the other hand, if he is vicious, he can cause great harm to souls!

If the choleric is of good will then his strengths shine out and one does not notice that he has weaknesses.  It is often said that the choleric temperament makes great saints.  Indeed, many of the greatest saints were choleric, e.g. St. Paul, and St. Peter.

By contrast, if the choleric is of bad will, then his strengths are used for ill and his weaknesses are so enhanced that only his weaknesses are noticeable.  We can easily bring to mind the worst tyrants in human history and see that they were vicious men with a choleric temperament.

So out of all the four temperaments, when Our Lord says, “By their fruits you can know them,” persons with the choleric temperament show their fruits in the most noticeable way.  We can easily see these external fruits of the “choleric” because his face is expressive and his interior attitude shows up readily in his body language.  Thus, a choleric person’s good will or bad will is easily detected.  In this way we can see that his will seems to play a much bigger role in determining his exterior actions and his impact on others.

It is interesting to note that the strengths and weakness of the other temperaments do not show as extreme an opposition as we find in the choleric temperament.  This opposition is directly related to good will versus bad will in the choleric.

So, let’s start by briefly analyzing the strengths listed above and seeing some of the effects they can cause.  We will be focusing here on the “choleric” of good will, keeping in mind what we have just said above that if the “choleric” does not use these strengths with proper caution and Fear of the Lord, then the strengths will easily turn into the bad tendencies, namely the weaknesses listed above.  At a later point, after likewise treating the weaknesses and some of their effects, we will delve into more of the spiritual aspects of this temperament.   

Great energy and activity

The “choleric” seems to never sit still.  He has lots of energy; some would say ‘nervous energy’.   “Cholerics” are always on the go.  They don’t seem to run out of things to do.  A “choleric” with good will has great zeal to work for God.   For example, look at St. Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians where he lists the many sufferings he had on his numerous missionary journeys.  He had a great love for God so he wanted to accomplish many things for souls. 

Keen intellect

Those with the choleric temperament have good intellects.  They can readily draw proper conclusions.   They can spread the truth and the Catholic faith with ardor.  Again, we take the example of St. Paul who had a philosophical mind and was an eloquent preacher and writer.

Strong and resolute will

The choleric person is well recognized for his strong and resolute will.  As we stated above, it is crucial that the will be trained in the good.  We especially see the need for a life of virtue for a choleric person because he is bound to attract attention and he must not lead others to a life of sin.

Good powers of concentration

A person having the choleric temperament has a lot of determination and therefore, he focuses strongly on his goals.  One might say that they have a one track mind, but of course, this is an exaggeration.  If their attention is properly placed, they can achieve their goals with tremendous success.

Constancy

The choleric person can handle pressure and stress.  They have fortitude in the face of duress.  This is why the “choleric” makes a good leader.  He can lead when others are discouraged or confused.

Magnanimity

The choleric person has high ideals and noble pursuits.  He is very enthused about his ideas and this, too, makes him a sort of “born leader”.

Liberality/Generosity

The choleric person is very giving.  He is sometimes considered “generous to a fault”.  He would give someone “the shirt off his own back” (as the saying goes).  He of course has to use prudence to moderate himself.

Good at planning projects

The choleric person is said to be a “go-getter”.  He likes to plan projects.  He has good organizational skills.

Industrious

Having an abundance of energy, the choleric person likes to accomplish tasks and goals.  He is an asset for an employer and he also makes a driven entrepreneur.

Strong leadership abilities

Because the choleric person is an extravert who is enthusiastic about plans and goals he has set, he naturally has leadership skills.  He is a “take-charge” type of person.

A Preview …

In our next lesson we will briefly analyze the typical weaknesses of the choleric temperament given in our list above.  We will also discuss the results of these weaknesses.   After making this analysis, it will be easier for us to see the spiritual needs of the person with the choleric temperament and efficacious strategies that should be used for one’s salvation.