Sanguine

Rembrandt van Rijn, Self-Portrait, c. 1637, NGA 9844

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L'Image et le Pouvoir - Etude d'après un buste romain

Leonardo da Vinci - presumed self-portrait - WGA12798

Dessin homme à la sanguine école italienne 18ème siècle

Sanguine is one of the four temperaments in humoral medicine, a theory of medicine that was widely adopted by ancient Greek and Roman physicians and philosophers. The concept of the sanguine temperament arises from the four humors theory, which posits that human behaviors and emotions are governed by four bodily fluids: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. The sanguine temperament is associated with the humor of blood, which was believed to be produced by the liver and to be linked to air, reflecting characteristics such as an optimistic, active, and social nature.

Characteristics

Individuals classified as sanguine are typically described as very social, outgoing, and cheerful. They are adaptable, possess high levels of energy, and are generally considered to be talkative and entertaining. Sanguine individuals are thought to have a balanced, optimistic outlook on life and are capable of being highly creative. They are comfortable with change and can cope well with new situations and environments.

However, the sanguine temperament also has its drawbacks. Such individuals may display a lack of discipline, leading to unreliability and impulsiveness. They might struggle with following tasks through to completion and can be easily distracted. Their enthusiasm for new experiences can sometimes result in superficiality, with a tendency to move on quickly from one interest to another without developing depth in any.

Historical Perspective

The concept of the sanguine temperament has its roots in the work of ancient physicians like Hippocrates and Galen, who believed that an individual's health and personality were determined by the balance of the four humors. A predominance of blood over the other humors was thought to result in a sanguine temperament. This theory was integral to medical and psychological thought for centuries, influencing treatments and perceptions of personality well into the Renaissance.

In the humoral theory, each of the four temperaments was associated with specific physical and mental qualities, and an imbalance among the humors was believed to affect both health and personality. Treatments often involved attempts to rebalance the humors, such as through bloodletting for sanguine individuals, under the assumption that reducing the amount of blood would correct an excess.

Modern Interpretations

While the theory of the four humors has been discredited by modern science, the concept of the sanguine temperament persists in some forms of personality theory. Contemporary psychology does not support the idea that personality is determined by bodily fluids, but the descriptive terms of the sanguine temperament are sometimes used metaphorically to describe certain personality types that are sociable, enthusiastic, and active.

The sanguine temperament, along with the other three temperaments, has also found a place in various personality typing systems, such as the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), where aspects of the sanguine personality can be seen in certain personality types.

See Also

• Four humors
• Temperament theory
• Personality psychology
• Hippocrates
• Galen