Classical Psychology

During the Renaissance, it was generally believed that our mood was controlled by humours, or fluids, within the body. This is where the term "humor" originated. There were four humors. I will define each humor and its related mood.

Bile or Bilious

Bile is created in the spleen, so this mood is also referred to as splenetic. An excess of bile results in feelings of anger and aggression. The terms sour and hot-headed spring to mind. Those of a bilious nature are argumentative and prone to violent outbursts and even violent acts.

Black Bile or Melancholic

An excess of black bile leads to feelings of sadness and depression. The melancholic person is prone to weeping and despair.

Phlegm or Phlegmatic

An excess of phlegm denotes feelings of apathy and discontent. The phlegmatic person is likely listless and uncooperative. The terms lazy and uncaring fit the bill.

Blood or Sanguine

Excited blood is a sign of passion, which may be sexual, or joyful, or loving, or prideful. The sanguine person is excitable, optimistic, manic.

More recently, these four humors were graphed to represent levels of stability and social outwardness, like so.

STABLE

Phlegmatic | Sanguine

|

INTROVERT -----NORMAL-----EXTROVERT

|

Melancholic | Bilious

UNSTABLE

As you can see by the graph, the phlegmatic personality is that of a stable introvert, while the opposing personality, bilious, is that of an unstable extrovert. Likewise, the sanguine personality is that of a stable extrovert, as the melancholic sort is an unstable introvert.

Extroverts are open in public. They experience validation in receiving attention. They prefer not to be alone as contact with other people is something they crave. Loneliness is somewhat of a curse as these types are social animals. Extroverts often view the world objectively, with clear ideas of right and wrong.

Contrarily, the introvert has a dislike for calling attention to himself. the introvert prefers to be alone as crowds often sap their inner reserves. Introverts are subjective, knowing that each person's world view is unique and that there is no clear right and wrong.

Stability refers to how functional one is in society. A sanguine person, then, is a functional public person, while the phlegmatic person is just as functional, but more reserved. Typically, the western world prefers the sanguine personality, the boisterous character, the swagger, the joy-de-vive. However, the eastern world prefers the phlegmatic type, the pensive nature, the philosophical attitude, the meditative qualities. As such, each hemisphere has a profound distaste for the opposing personality. The western world typically dislikes a melancholic personality. This may be why emo and goths end up the punch line of a joke, or suffer bullying. This is also why depression is often misunderstood or misrepresented or feared. Even the slightest indication that a child feels sadness may cause the parents to rush to the nearest pharmacist for anti-depressants. On the other hand, the eastern hemisphere finds public, angry outbursts dishonorable. Those that cannot keep a cool head are found to be unwise, and lose face. Where the control of one's emotions is key, to lose one's temper is not acceptable.

Most people vacillate between all four personalities, but rarely to any extreme. True normalcy, if there is such a thing, lies in the crux between the various poles. This is the center, where the humours are in perfect harmony. This is stoicism at its finest.

In regards to the fifth installment of The InsideOutcast, comedy appeals to our more sanguine nature. This is where the term "sense of humor" originated. Those that do not have a good sense of humor, then, must be one of the other personality types. It is difficult to laugh when depressed because the humors are opposed. It is difficult to laugh while feeling apathetic. It is also difficult to feel joy if angered. The four personalities do not mix well.

So, whatever your leanings, I hope this garners you some insight into the various emotional states. To understand oneself, I find, is to better understand others. Perhaps knowledge of the humours may provide some insight into conflicts of personality. To understand a problem is often the first step to overcoming it.

Be well.