What Does A Temperament Test Tell Me About Myself, And Where Can I Take One?

Updated January 13, 2021

Medically Reviewed By: Tanya Harell

In life, we want to know more about ourselves and our personalities, and one way we can do this is through a personality test. Personality tests can give us some insight into who we are, even if they are not necessarily the perfect measurement of one's self. A personality test is especially good if you want to find out what kind of temperament you have. What are temperaments? Let's talk about what they are and tell you how you can measure them.

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What Is A Temperament?

Temperament is a personality type that one is born with or prone to. While many parts of our personality are shaped up by life experiences, there are some aspects we are born with and will favor. Some people are natural born leaders. Other people are naturally shy. By figuring out what type of temperament you are, you can learn more about yourself. You can't categorize yourself entirely into a single temperament, but what you can do is be able to get an insight.

The Four Temperaments

The four temperaments are an old way of measuring one's temperament. While they are not used much in contemporary times, they are still an intriguing way to categorize people. It should be noted that few people are truly one temperament or the other; usually, there are two dominant temperaments and two lesser temperaments.

Sanguine

This is a personality trait that is extroverted. You know someone who just doesn't seem to be satisfied socially. They always take risks; they are always open about what they do. They are the type to attract a crowd in a ghost town.

Choleric

The choleric person is also extroverted, but instead of being a party animal, they are the leaders. They can be assertive and make decisions, may be bullying in many aspects, and will be the people who believe in their facts.

Melancholic

A melancholic person tends to be someone who is introverted and doesn't like to be around people very often. Instead, they want to rely on themselves and get anxious when others try to help. They can be artistic and want to be perfectionists in many aspects of their life.

Phlegmatic

These are also introverted people. They are more caring of others, however, and instead try to be there for others without entirely showing their emotions. They want people to bury hatchets and make peace with each other. If people are not happy together, they will usually be upset as well.

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You can find many four temperaments tests online. The questions will vary, and how many questions you have will vary as well. Some quizzes take a minute to complete, while others are lengthy, but will give you a more accurate measurement. If you're curious about which of the four temperaments you favor, it's worth a shot.

It should be noted that these temperaments, while an intriguing way to categorize people, should not be treated as truth. Instead, you should do it for fun and not think about it too seriously. Grouping people into one group or another is hard. However, you can be able to get a guess as to what personality trait you are. Odds are, you push more towards introverted or extroverted. However, many are a combination of both. Few people are truly pure introverts or extroverts. Even the party animals are prone to wanting to some time alone. The people who like time alone can sometimes want to get out. It just all depends.

Thomas And Chess Temperaments

These are temperament measurements for children, done by Alexander Thomas and Stella Chess, two psychologists. They believe that one's temperament is made up of nine traits, and how one measures in those traits can say a lot about your temperament. You can measure your child's temperament, or even your own, through online quizzes.

The nine traits are:

• Activity level: Some people are much more energetic, and others have less energy or varying levels of energy.
• Distractibility: Some people are distracted easily. They will have trouble maintaining focus on things, even if they are interested in them. Meanwhile, other people may be able to maintain focus even if they find the subject completely boring. These people can get tasks done much better, but the world tends to pass them by.
• Response: When one is faced with a stimulus or an emotion, this trait measures how intense the response is. Some people are cool, even if the stimulus they face is powerful. Others may not be able to keep their emotions regulated even if the stimulus isn't that powerful.
• Rhythmicity/regularity: This measures how much a child or an adult needs a routine. Some people have no set routine. They are always doing something different. Other people need to have a routine or a structure or else they get emotional. If a change is made to a routine suddenly, they may have a hard time being able to manage it.
• Sensory sensitivity: This is when someone reacts to environmental changes involving the sensory. Some people will not change that much, while others will react strongly to even the slightest change.
• Response to new things: This is when someone reacts a certain way to a problem. Some people will approach the problem head-on and without a plan, while others may think about a problem a lot and wonder how they can be able to face it without much trouble. They may withdraw from a problem for a while and even avoid it altogether. And when the problem grows too big, they will not know how to handle it.

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• Ability to adapt: There are often changes one has to face, especially when they are a child. New school, new house, new friends, and other sudden changes can make life much more difficult. If a child has a hard time being able to adapt, they will be shy, reserved, and depressed when faced with a new situation. Meanwhile, other children love to be given new situations and dilemmas to face because they like change so much.
• Attention span: When one has a project or a task to perform, some may work on the task for a while and then lose interest after a while, especially if their work is going nowhere. Meanwhile, others may never give up on a problem. For example, someone who is business-minded will take risks and keep their business going even if the waters are murky. Others may be in-between, taking risks and pursuing, but realizing there's a time when it's okay to withdraw.
• Disposition: Some children and adults are prone to a happy or sad mood. Other people have a neutral mood or a mood that always changes. Getting a good look at a child's temperament is quite helpful.

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Understanding Personality With BetterHelp

Studies show that online counseling platforms can provide valuable tools to those who want to understand more about their personality, temperament, and any mental health issues they may be experiencing. In a broad-based review published in Cureus, researchers examined the effects of online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on a number of mental health issues. Researchers aggregated almost 400 studies on the effectiveness of online CBT for the report, covering everything from major depressive disorder to opioid addiction. They found that online CBT was useful to strengthen mental health, when treating depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, bipolar disorder, OCD, and more. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps create a better understanding of the negative thoughts and triggers that can lead to unhelpful symptoms of mental health disorders.

As discussed above, if you want to work through difficult-to-understand emotions that may be related to your personality or overall mental health, online therapy is a valuable resource. With BetterHelp, you’ll have access to one of thousands of mental health professionals, from all over the US, and beyond—not just those who happen to operate in your area. Because there are more potential options, you’ll have a better chance of connecting with a therapist who knows how to help you with your specific concerns and matches with your preferences. A licensed counselor can guide you on the path to better mental health and a better understanding of your temperament. Read below for counselor reviews, from those who have sought help in the past.

Counselor Reviews

“I’m really glad I took a chance on counseling and SO glad I was matched with Natalie. She made me aware of aspects of my personality that I wasn’t fully aware of, and that knowledge has really helped me make life decisions (I expect both now and in the future) that work for me. I’m extremely grateful for her knowledge, guidance, and care.”

“I don’t have enough words to describe how amazing Shannon is. She truly saved me! I consider myself the luckiest person ever to have her as my therapist. Shannon is so sweet, caring, understanding and just the best! During sessions she always pays close attention to everything you have to say and let’s you let it all out. I love my sessions with her. She makes sure to do activities and provide therapy that works best with your personality. I wish everyone could have her as a therapist. I have grown so much since I started with her and I am in a much better state all around. I love her!” 

Conclusion

You're born with a certain temperament, but this doesn't mean you can't evolve. If you speak to a counselor, you can learn to overcome any potentially negative personality traits. If you want to be more extroverted, introverted, empathetic, or any other personality traits, a mental health professional can help.