The 15 Temperament Subtypes You Never Knew Existed
Most people who learn about the four temperaments have a moment of recognition: "That is me!" But then comes a second thought: "Wait — I am not entirely that. There is something else mixed in."
That is because you are almost certainly not a pure type. Most people are a blend of two temperaments — a primary that dominates and a secondary that adds flavor, nuance, and sometimes contradiction. These blends are called subtypes, and there are 15 of them.
How Subtypes Work
Every person has all four temperaments to some degree, but two dominate:
- Primary temperament: Your strongest, most visible set of traits. This is your default mode.
- Secondary temperament: Modifies and colors your primary. Adds depth, tension, and complexity.
Key principle: Your primary temperament determines what drives you. Your secondary temperament determines how that drive expresses.
The Sanguine Blends
Super-extroverted, explosive but brief emotions, speaks before thinking
Charming, decisive, creative, natural salesperson
Can be obnoxious when threatened, hurtful without realizing
Highly emotional, rapid mood swings, outgoing yet introspective
Creative depth with ability to communicate it
Critical nature surfaces easily, prone to getting down
Outgoing nature tempered by grace, warm and easygoing
Universally likeable, approachable, steady warmth
May lack drive, avoids difficult conversations
The Choleric Blends
Driven by results with social charm, practical, forceful yet personable
Motivating leader, action-oriented, persuasive
Impatient, win/lose mindset, can bulldoze relationships
Analytical and decisive, visionary with attention to detail
Goal-oriented, creative, organized, high standards
Perfectionistic, prone to overthinking, demanding
Decisive yet calm, diplomatic, goal-driven but measured
Balanced leader, adaptable, empathetic yet effective
May avoid confrontation despite strong opinions
The Melancholic Blends
Emotional depth with outward expressiveness, idealistic yet sociable
Artistic vision with ability to share it
Mood swings, torn between social needs and solitude
Detail-oriented with drive, analytical and determined
Thorough, ambitious, disciplined, high-quality results
Harsh self-critic, can be rigid, demands perfection
Most introverted blend, deeply appreciates art/literature/music
Deep self-understanding, thoughtful, perceptive
Insecurity, struggles to connect, sees the negative
The Phlegmatic Blends
Easy-going with social warmth, relaxed and friendly, quietly humorous
Likeable, cooperative, brings calm energy
Can be too passive, avoids responsibility, lacks urgency
Steady with hidden determination, diplomatic but firm when needed
Reliable under pressure, balanced judgment
Stubbornness disguised as patience, slow to act
Quiet and thoughtful, gentle, people-focused introvert
Harmonious, careful, cooperative, deeply loyal
Difficulty expressing opinions, paralyzed by perfectionism
The Pure Types
Pure types occur when one temperament dominates with no strong secondary influence. They are less common and represent the most concentrated expression of each temperament:
Pure Sanguine
Magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, ultimate connector
Extremely scattered, no balancing depth or drive, profoundly unreliable
Pure Choleric
Unstoppable executor, fearless leader, peak productivity
Ruthless, alienating, zero tolerance for weakness, burnout-prone
Pure Melancholic
Genius-level insight, unmatched attention to detail, profound creativity
Crippling perfectionism, social isolation, chronic dissatisfaction
What about Pure Phlegmatic? Most temperament lists omit Pure Phlegmatic. Some argue it is because a person with no secondary drive would lack the motivation to be observable as a distinct type. This remains an open question in temperament theory.
How to Find Your Subtype
- Identify your primary: Which of the four temperaments describes your default behavior — how you act when relaxed and not performing?
- Identify your secondary: Which temperament describes the second strongest pattern in your behavior?
- Check the blend: Read the subtype description and see if it resonates. If not, you may have your primary and secondary reversed.
Tip: Ask someone who knows you well. We often overidentify with the temperament we wish we were rather than the one we actually live.