Sanguine Temperament

Hippocrates identified the Sanguine by the color red, or “blood”, which fits them perfectly. The Sanguine temperament in Inclusion (social interaction, surface relationships and intellectual energies) is a very social person who likes to be with people. Of all the temperaments, the Sanguine is the easiest to be around socially. 

They bring life and energy into a room by their very presence. Their cheerfulness and humor brighten everyone’s life. They are an optimistic type of person who believes life is an exciting and fun-filled experience that should be lived to the fullest. Inactivity causes them stress because the pace at which they like to live their lives is fast and furious. The Sanguine in Inclusion is the most impulsive of all the temperaments.

As with the other temperament types, it is important to understand that temperament cannot be accurately assessed just by observation; temperament analysis via the Arno Profile System is necessary to accurately identify a person’s temperament.

The Sanguine in Inclusion excels in communication-oriented things, but they do not relate well to tasks. They are the least disciplined and organized of all the temperaments. While they are outgoing, enthusiastic, warm, compassionate, and seem to relate well to other people’s feelings, yet they can be rude and uncaring. They tend not to be faithful nor loyal friends, since they do not want to be “burdened down” with commitments; they just want to have fun. They live as though they have no past or future, the Sanguine in Inclusion rarely learns from their past mistakes. They are prone to exaggerate. They never recognize their failures, but exaggerate to make themselves appear to be more successful than they truly are. The Sanguine’s major weakness is that they adopt severe and destructive behavior.

The Sanguine in Control (decision-making abilities, willingness to take on responsibilities, and the need for independence) is unique and very rare. Only 2% (two percent) of the population have this control, and they are predominantly male. What makes them so unique is they swing. All the other temperaments are stabilized. For example a Choleric is always domineering, but the Sanguine in Control behaves like a Choleric one day, totally in charge and domineering, and the next day they are totally dependent. In their independent / domineering mode, they are aggressive, responsible, demanding and capable of undertaking any task. In their dependent / self-indulging mode they are irresponsible, self-indulgent and nearly drown in their own pool of self-pity.

What causes the swing in the Sanguine in Control? They have an unquenchable need for recognition and approval; when this is withheld from them by people that are “important” to them, or when they are criticized, they do a “nose dive into the dependent mode. When the Sanguine in Control swings, they drop everything and shirk responsibilities. This person will volunteer for difficult tasks and they can and will complete the project so long as their ego is being fed. However, at the first sign indicating that they are not “the greatest thing that ever happened to the world,” the quit! They just stop and walk away and inwardly turn into themselves – caring nothing about the project or those depending upon them.

However, when the Sanguine in Control has remained in the dependent, self-indulgent side of their swing for a short period, they begin to feel ugly. This is an emotional “ugly” made up of feelings like guilt, worthlessness and selfishness. These feelings begin turning them around, and soon they are back to the “take charge,” responsible and dependable person everyone knows, loves and reveres.

The problem with this narcissistic (self-indulgent) swing is that the person can indulge themselves in gambling and alcoholic binges, drugs, sexual sins, etc. Until the Sanguine in Control learns to control the swing instead of the swing controlling them, AND until the Sanguine in Control learns to be self-indulgent in godly ways they will have a very unstable life. But once this is learned they can have a very wonderful and productive life.

Inclusion Strengths of The Sanguine: Friendly, outgoing, inspiring to others, relationship oriented, enthusiastic, warm, optimistic, ability to see the bright side of life and the good in other people. They genuinely like people, are rarely found alone, and freely interact with people.

Inclusion Weaknesses of The Sanguine: Talkative, always the center of the conversation, apt to take on behavior and morals of the people around them, impulsive, undisciplined, rude, prone to exaggerate, need to appear successful (even to the point of exaggeration), will ignore responsibilities in order to be with people.

Control Strengths And Weaknesses of The Sanguine: Correlate with their dependent / independent conflict.

Dependent: To be narcissistic, self-indulgent (the need to self-indulgent is not a weakness, but the way that this indulgence is met is the weakness), lacking persistence and weak-willed. Independent: Solicitous, caring person who will do things for other people, almost to the point of servitude. A very charming, gracious person. Takes on responsibilities and makes decisions very well, until driven to the dependent mode.

Affection Strengths of The Sanguine: Able to express and receive large amounts of love and affection. They are warm and easy to get to know and emotionally open.

Affection Weaknesses of The Sanguine: Easily devastated if not constantly reassured they are loved and appreciated. Very demanding of other people for love and affection, plagued with feelings of jealousy when the love and attention they feel belongs exclusively to them is given to others.

Are you living with someone who has a Sanguine temperament? Get some life tips on how to live with them.

See descriptions of other temperaments:
Melancholy | Supine | Choleric | Phlegmatic

Learn the history of the Arno Profile System