Choleric temperament
The Choleric temperament is one of the two extrovert temperaments.
The Choleric temperament can have great strength – when used positively that can be a force for good and bring security to many. Cholerics can be very determined and productive people and have the potential to be strong leaders. They are confident and optimistic people, often with logical and clear-thinking minds.
However, their focused and goal-orientated minds can lead to them being narrow-visioned and leaving others feeling used or side-lined. To a Choleric, life is about what you can achieve so it is important to be the best and win, whether at work or sport, or even board games. To fail is to be inadequate.
A Choleric can be unemotional – life is about doing, not being – and emotions can be viewed as weaknesses and repressed. This can result in devaluing others and their feelings and a strong Choleric who isn’t in touch with their introvert temperament can be intimidating and scary!
It can be a challenge for a Choleric to accept and connect with the emotions in their introvert temperament as they consider such emotions as weaknesses. Rather than trying to meet their emotional needs physically (as a Sanguine would) a Choleric will work at a mental level and can get into muddles as they try and rationalise their emotions. It’s very important that they come to understand and accept their introvert temperament and function as a whole person.
The Choleric temperament can have great strength – when used positively that can be a force for good and bring security to many. Cholerics can be very determined and productive people and have the potential to be strong leaders. They are confident and optimistic people, often with logical and clear-thinking minds.
However, their focused and goal-orientated minds can lead to them being narrow-visioned and leaving others feeling used or side-lined. To a Choleric, life is about what you can achieve so it is important to be the best and win, whether at work or sport, or even board games. To fail is to be inadequate.
A Choleric can be unemotional – life is about doing, not being – and emotions can be viewed as weaknesses and repressed. This can result in devaluing others and their feelings and a strong Choleric who isn’t in touch with their introvert temperament can be intimidating and scary!
It can be a challenge for a Choleric to accept and connect with the emotions in their introvert temperament as they consider such emotions as weaknesses. Rather than trying to meet their emotional needs physically (as a Sanguine would) a Choleric will work at a mental level and can get into muddles as they try and rationalise their emotions. It’s very important that they come to understand and accept their introvert temperament and function as a whole person.
HCC Podcast 4: Understanding the extrovert temperaments
Shealan is conducting a series of interviews with John to explore the importance of understanding yourself and your temperaments. In the fourth episode John outlines the traits of the two extrovert temperaments - the Sanguine and the Choleric.
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Click here to download the podcast 'Understanding the extrovert temperaments'.
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Choleric strengths
* Strong-willed - nothing will stand in his way * Independent - he is quite capable of doing it on his own * Determined - head down and get on with it * Optimistic - the tank is always half full * Productive - he will keep going till the job is done * Logical - the use of a good mind * Confident - if you think you can do it * Decisive - no time to waste * Leader - knows where he is going |
Choleric weaknesses
* Mental level - represses feelings * Proud - holds himself aloof * Angry - don't come between him and his goal * Sarcastic - misuse of a good mind * Crafty - there are ways and means * Domineering - things will be done his way * Unemotional - emotions equal weakness * Inconsiderate - reach the goal - whatever the cost * Self-sufficient - in need of no-one |
Summary
- By nature a Choleric is a born leader, often giving security in crisis situations and with a real determination to make things work.
- This capacity for leadership, if mishandled, makes it easy for him to become proud, unemotional and self-sufficient.
- The grace of God is needed, in depth, in every area of his life.
- He needs to constantly relate to others at a deep level and benefit from their sensitivity and insight.
- If he has a humble heart, his ability to set goals, go for what is right, strong will and mind, can all be used as a force for good.
It is important for a Choleric to take his strength and channel it creatively into God's ways.
To explore the Choleric temperament in more depth, from the perspective of what a Choleric child needs as they are growing up click here.
To explore the Choleric temperament in more depth, from the perspective of what a Choleric child needs as they are growing up click here.
Choleric key concepts
- Strong – use constructively
- Narrow vision – goal-orientated
- Represses emotions
- Independent
To discover how the Choleric temperament interacts with the other temperaments and explore the temperament blends in more detail click below:
Further reading
Bible study: John's Joy
The Apostle John, author of John's gospel, the three letters of John and the Book of Revelation, had the Choleric Melancholic temperament. John's Joy presents a biblical study of John's character and how Jesus walked with him and encouraged him to live in all of who he was. It is a great encouragement and source of hope for those with the Choleric Melancholic temperament, and for those who know and love someone with this temperament, as they seek to serve the Lord.
The Apostle John, author of John's gospel, the three letters of John and the Book of Revelation, had the Choleric Melancholic temperament. John's Joy presents a biblical study of John's character and how Jesus walked with him and encouraged him to live in all of who he was. It is a great encouragement and source of hope for those with the Choleric Melancholic temperament, and for those who know and love someone with this temperament, as they seek to serve the Lord.
Article: Moving from extrovert to introvert
John shares practical advice on how to move from our extrovert to introvert temperament and thereby live fully in both temperaments.
John shares practical advice on how to move from our extrovert to introvert temperament and thereby live fully in both temperaments.
Article: How the Choleric temperament interacts with the Phlegmatic introvert
Further insights into the Choleric Phlegmatic temperament blend.
Further insights into the Choleric Phlegmatic temperament blend.
Article: Understanding temperaments - strengths and weaknesses
An exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of each temperament and how these principles work out in practice for the Choleric Phlegmatic.
An exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of each temperament and how these principles work out in practice for the Choleric Phlegmatic.