This page documents the development of the OSPP Four Temperaments Scale (currently at O4TS v 1.0). The interactive version can be found here.
The Four Temperaments is an idea of personality that traces its roots to the Ancient Greek medical theory of humorism. Humorism attributed disease to imbalances in the four bodily fluids ("humors"): blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. In addition to determining disease, these were also claimed to be associated with a specific temperament. See the table below.
Humour | Element | Temperament |
---|---|---|
Blood | air | sanguine |
Yellow bile | fire | choleric |
Black bile | earth | melancholic |
Phlegm | water | phlegmatic |
In recent times the four temperaments have been given attention by self-help and spiritual development gurus who usually treat it as ancient wisdom. For example, the subtitle of the 2002 book The Four Temperaments by Randy Rolfe is "A Rediscovery of the Ancient Way of Understanding Health and Character". It is certainly within the top 10 most popular folk personality theories.
Items for the O4TS were selected based on their correlation with self reported temperament. Beta versions of the test were offered on-line with items that were based on a variety of published descriptions of the four temperaments. Then the data was then looked at to see the average ratings of each question by self reported type. If one type rates a question significantly higher than all other types, it might be a good question to measure that type with.
In the beginning, simple adjectives were used as items. The table below shows the average rating of each adjective by self reported temperament (respondents were asked to rate how well each adjective described them on a 1-5 scale). These numbers are a composite from several different surveys, so the table also includes how many were in each sample that these averages were computed from. For example, in the table you can see there were survey responses from 1154 people who self-identified as the Choleric type where the adjective "sleepy" was rated. Then you see that on the 1-5 scale their average rating for "sleepy" was 2.88/5. The raw data used to generate this table can be downloaded at the open data page.
Average score | # in sample | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | M | P | S | C | M | P | S | |
sleepy | 2.88 | 3.52 | 3.41 | 3.02 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
rebellious | 3.02 | 2.66 | 2.42 | 2.69 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
cheerful | 3.62 | 2.97 | 3.5 | 4.19 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
civilized | 3.71 | 3.73 | 3.86 | 3.71 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
aggressive | 3.38 | 2.45 | 2.17 | 2.67 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
dry sense of humour | 2.84 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.45 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
talkative | 3.58 | 2.7 | 2.78 | 3.98 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
resourceful | 3.85 | 3.56 | 3.62 | 3.81 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
generous | 3.76 | 3.71 | 3.81 | 4.03 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
paranoid | 2.54 | 3.13 | 2.52 | 2.42 | 3849 | 8298 | 4500 | 5044 |
passive | 2.19 | 3.13 | 3.22 | 2.38 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
eats slowly | 2.4 | 2.68 | 2.7 | 2.44 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
obedient | 3.12 | 3.29 | 3.49 | 3.15 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
friendly | 3.93 | 3.64 | 3.91 | 4.39 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
quick to anger | 3.56 | 3.01 | 2.5 | 2.91 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
easy-going | 3.3 | 3.13 | 3.77 | 3.92 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
insensitive | 2.57 | 2.2 | 2.21 | 2.12 | 2695 | 5609 | 3095 | 3606 |
cheap | 2.4 | 2.65 | 2.54 | 2.47 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
sarcastic | 3.81 | 3.7 | 3.57 | 3.52 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
perseverant | 3.8 | 3.47 | 3.52 | 3.66 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
considerate | 3.77 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
adventurous | 3.7 | 3.14 | 3.28 | 3.84 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
moody | 3.19 | 3.63 | 2.9 | 2.97 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
sentimental | 3.3 | 3.76 | 3.44 | 3.71 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
helpful | 3.89 | 3.8 | 3.95 | 4.11 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
hard to know | 3.25 | 3.62 | 3.33 | 2.72 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
shy | 2.54 | 3.69 | 3.5 | 2.59 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
popular | 3.1 | 2.42 | 2.63 | 3.39 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
worrier | 3.26 | 3.92 | 3.29 | 3.22 | 3849 | 8298 | 4500 | 5044 |
unsatisfied | 3.0 | 3.36 | 2.7 | 2.63 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
brave | 3.75 | 3.11 | 3.25 | 3.64 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
restless | 3.27 | 3.11 | 2.68 | 3.06 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
lazy | 2.71 | 3.12 | 3.21 | 2.86 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
bouncy | 2.91 | 2.33 | 2.51 | 3.37 | 5001 | 10586 | 5822 | 6520 |
tries to be different | 3.56 | 3.51 | 3.28 | 3.56 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
trendy | 2.89 | 2.5 | 2.56 | 3.03 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
rises early | 2.95 | 2.69 | 2.74 | 2.82 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
alternative | 3.06 | 3.24 | 3.08 | 3.03 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
workaholic | 3.3 | 2.78 | 2.65 | 2.78 | 3849 | 8298 | 4500 | 5044 |
creative | 3.81 | 3.93 | 3.71 | 3.99 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
witty | 3.73 | 3.67 | 3.62 | 3.94 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
addiction prone | 2.67 | 2.86 | 2.57 | 2.7 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
frustrated | 2.95 | 3.37 | 2.74 | 2.65 | 2695 | 5609 | 3095 | 3606 |
melancholy | 2.63 | 3.96 | 2.82 | 2.46 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
bold | 3.73 | 2.79 | 2.8 | 3.47 | 2406 | 5636 | 2859 | 3134 |
apologetic | 2.94 | 3.53 | 3.42 | 3.32 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
self-centered | 2.88 | 2.71 | 2.5 | 2.58 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
analytical | 3.98 | 4.01 | 3.78 | 3.54 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
active | 3.74 | 2.88 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
undependable | 1.94 | 1.98 | 1.93 | 1.93 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
inconsiderate | 2.21 | 2.02 | 1.85 | 1.9 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
cautious | 3.37 | 3.92 | 3.7 | 3.24 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
hesitant | 2.84 | 3.75 | 3.52 | 3.05 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
forever young | 3.34 | 2.95 | 3.2 | 3.72 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
tolerant | 3.25 | 3.59 | 3.86 | 3.65 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
trustworthy | 4.2 | 4.18 | 4.28 | 4.25 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
sensitive | 3.61 | 4.15 | 3.77 | 3.83 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
loner | 2.97 | 3.77 | 3.42 | 2.55 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
introspective | 3.54 | 4.14 | 3.94 | 3.48 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
lively | 3.65 | 2.83 | 3.11 | 4.05 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
hides anger | 2.7 | 3.35 | 3.52 | 2.96 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
unemotional | 2.44 | 2.31 | 2.52 | 2.08 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
empathetic | 3.42 | 3.8 | 3.68 | 3.85 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
scruffy | 2.23 | 2.38 | 2.33 | 2.16 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
hates being photographed | 2.71 | 3.25 | 3.02 | 2.34 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
confident | 3.86 | 2.84 | 3.13 | 3.73 | 2059 | 4257 | 2411 | 2687 |
dependable | 3.81 | 3.75 | 3.77 | 3.67 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
calm | 3.04 | 3.48 | 3.97 | 3.27 | 6815 | 14524 | 8000 | 8942 |
peaceful | 3.13 | 3.49 | 3.91 | 3.46 | 5001 | 10586 | 5822 | 6520 |
mysterious | 2.84 | 3.26 | 2.97 | 2.56 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
prudish | 2.47 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.24 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
affectionate | 3.62 | 3.62 | 3.62 | 4.06 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
relaxed | 2.93 | 2.89 | 3.56 | 3.36 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
charming | 3.48 | 3.02 | 3.17 | 3.74 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
rigid | 2.68 | 2.61 | 2.38 | 2.13 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
gentleman/lady | 3.45 | 3.35 | 3.57 | 3.48 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
hardcore | 3.35 | 2.64 | 2.48 | 2.86 | 5001 | 10586 | 5822 | 6520 |
unforgiving | 2.81 | 2.67 | 2.26 | 2.16 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
good under pressure | 3.66 | 3.11 | 3.35 | 3.47 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
kind | 3.79 | 4.01 | 4.13 | 4.2 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
uncertain | 2.59 | 3.54 | 3.13 | 2.87 | 2695 | 5609 | 3095 | 3606 |
diligent | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.44 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
solid | 3.63 | 3.2 | 3.34 | 3.26 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
reliable | 4.03 | 3.88 | 4.0 | 3.95 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
strong-willed | 4.3 | 3.65 | 3.51 | 3.91 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
detailed | 3.76 | 3.8 | 3.58 | 3.39 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
stubborn | 3.78 | 3.58 | 3.27 | 3.37 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
juvenile | 2.5 | 2.48 | 2.58 | 2.75 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
humble | 3.21 | 3.63 | 3.73 | 3.43 | 2306 | 4977 | 2727 | 2914 |
provocative | 3.02 | 2.46 | 2.39 | 2.81 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
unsociable | 2.47 | 3.18 | 2.79 | 1.95 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
sincere | 4.03 | 4.0 | 4.08 | 4.1 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
suspicious | 3.18 | 3.37 | 2.97 | 2.83 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
deep | 3.69 | 4.03 | 3.71 | 3.7 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
optimistic | 3.66 | 2.96 | 3.51 | 4.0 | 2059 | 4257 | 2411 | 2687 |
well-behaved | 3.79 | 3.99 | 4.07 | 3.7 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
graceful | 3.05 | 2.97 | 3.07 | 3.25 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
honest | 4.04 | 3.94 | 4.01 | 4.05 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
selfish | 2.74 | 2.73 | 2.54 | 2.45 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
faithful | 3.98 | 3.96 | 4.06 | 4.1 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
efficient | 3.9 | 3.53 | 3.5 | 3.51 | 2059 | 4257 | 2411 | 2687 |
perfectionistic | 3.67 | 3.81 | 3.21 | 3.16 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
resists change | 2.59 | 3.0 | 2.84 | 2.55 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
scholarly | 3.63 | 3.61 | 3.46 | 3.42 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
poetic | 2.78 | 3.28 | 2.82 | 3.13 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
amusing | 3.58 | 3.28 | 3.41 | 3.94 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
ambitious | 4.09 | 3.44 | 3.33 | 3.72 | 5908 | 12555 | 6911 | 7731 |
nice | 3.74 | 3.89 | 4.12 | 4.2 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
independent | 4.21 | 3.82 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 2059 | 4257 | 2411 | 2687 |
tactful | 3.35 | 3.39 | 3.45 | 3.37 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
impartial | 2.9 | 3.06 | 3.15 | 2.88 | 1252 | 2947 | 1454 | 1696 |
insecure | 2.69 | 3.65 | 3.12 | 2.81 | 3849 | 8298 | 4500 | 5044 |
convincing | 3.89 | 3.26 | 3.21 | 3.75 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
wistful | 2.66 | 3.28 | 2.94 | 2.83 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
proud | 3.67 | 3.06 | 3.05 | 3.44 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
loyal | 4.29 | 4.33 | 4.36 | 4.32 | 907 | 1969 | 1089 | 1211 |
artistic | 3.15 | 3.56 | 3.35 | 3.49 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
jittery | 2.51 | 2.8 | 2.45 | 2.58 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
tense | 3.14 | 3.35 | 2.81 | 2.7 | 1154 | 2689 | 1405 | 1438 |
can be lazy | 3.16 | 3.58 | 3.73 | 3.47 | 1443 | 2662 | 1641 | 1910 |
musical | 3.29 | 3.47 | 3.32 | 3.51 | 1152 | 2288 | 1322 | 1476 |
Using just adjectives, there did not seem to be enough items that differentiated between types. So the focus switched to rating statements, which can be more flexible.
Unfortunately most of the data from this phase of development was lost. Only the data from the final version of the survey remains. This only includes 48 items, but it is believed around 200 were tested (items that seemed to be good were retained at each update so this final sample should include all the good ones from earlier samples). The average agreement with these items broken down by self reported type is in the table below and can be interpreted like the first table.
C (n=2351) | M (n=5374) | P (n=2458) | S (n=2877) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
I try to outdo others. | 3.6738 | 3.0365 | 2.7628 | 3.1456 |
I have a strong need for power. | 3.618 | 2.5659 | 2.2791 | 2.8057 |
I get angry easily. | 3.5236 | 2.8201 | 2.1424 | 2.5822 |
I like it when people are scared of me. | 2.755 | 2.1889 | 1.93 | 1.9798 |
I try to please everyone. | 2.9345 | 3.5287 | 3.5598 | 3.6455 |
I boss people around. | 3.5364 | 2.4019 | 2.0928 | 2.6927 |
I slam doors. | 2.8605 | 2.267 | 1.9129 | 2.3003 |
I tend to feel very hopeless. | 2.3267 | 3.3779 | 2.4927 | 2.1345 |
I feel my anxiety overwhelms me. | 2.98 | 3.789 | 2.9508 | 2.8175 |
I feel attacked by others. | 2.6461 | 3.0519 | 2.4085 | 2.3264 |
I feel comfortable with myself. | 3.7754 | 3.0813 | 3.7571 | 3.9572 |
I seldom feel blue. | 2.7988 | 2.0486 | 2.8092 | 2.9513 |
I don't care much when people insult me. | 2.6091 | 2.2073 | 2.701 | 2.5798 |
It is hard for me to imagine what having low self-esteem would be like. | 2.7997 | 1.7752 | 2.286 | 2.7404 |
It takes a lot of abuse to get me angry. | 2.5419 | 3.0776 | 3.7067 | 3.2715 |
I experience my emotions intensely. | 3.8099 | 4.0862 | 3.3283 | 3.8843 |
I am relaxed most of the time. | 2.866 | 2.7702 | 3.7836 | 3.4004 |
I avoid arguments. | 2.5253 | 3.4905 | 3.8491 | 3.2645 |
I seldom get mad. | 2.3581 | 2.8117 | 3.452 | 3.073 |
I rarely get irritated. | 2.0119 | 2.2787 | 2.9711 | 2.7122 |
I choose my words with care. | 3.1906 | 3.8433 | 3.9255 | 3.4254 |
I radiate joy. | 3.1633 | 2.6351 | 3.1371 | 3.9861 |
I am the life of the party. | 2.7469 | 1.8973 | 2.0789 | 3.4748 |
I am willing to take risks to establish a relationship. | 3.6874 | 3.1961 | 3.2551 | 3.9458 |
I make friends easily. | 3.4249 | 2.6429 | 3.142 | 4.1933 |
I prefer variety to routine. | 3.3896 | 3.0649 | 3.1993 | 3.8206 |
I make people feel welcome. | 3.7665 | 3.6072 | 3.8853 | 4.4261 |
I whistle when I walk. | 2.2178 | 2.0099 | 2.2461 | 2.6569 |
I have not been jealous of anyone for quite some time. | 2.9124 | 2.7012 | 3.201 | 3.0535 |
I never slam the door. | 2.6044 | 3.1161 | 3.4772 | 3.0577 |
I lose my temper. | 3.5419 | 2.8474 | 2.2661 | 2.7417 |
I'd hate to live in the far north. | 3.063 | 2.8705 | 2.9467 | 3.1272 |
I should be more careful with my secrets. | 3.1974 | 3.2231 | 2.9723 | 3.414 |
I'd not mind if I stopped receiving holiday gifts. | 2.9962 | 3.0595 | 3.2376 | 2.8662 |
I dance when I am alone. | 3.4436 | 3.3818 | 3.3308 | 3.862 |
I never think much about how I look. | 2.2476 | 2.1392 | 2.4585 | 2.1842 |
I don't like getting gifts. | 2.06 | 2.1984 | 2.2006 | 1.8558 |
I tell other people my secrets. | 2.7822 | 2.5809 | 2.5212 | 3.2437 |
I have had a dramatic falling out with a friend. | 3.2416 | 3.1617 | 2.6387 | 3.0942 |
I think about the causes of my emotions. | 3.9039 | 4.3199 | 4.0146 | 4.0403 |
I would never attend therapy. | 2.5002 | 2.1904 | 2.4544 | 2.2774 |
I daydream about being in love. | 3.3684 | 3.7471 | 3.5118 | 3.7779 |
I feel jealousy as a physical pain. | 2.4658 | 2.685 | 2.2083 | 2.3135 |
I bet a lot of people with multiple personalities are just faking. | 2.7682 | 2.4373 | 2.5264 | 2.3862 |
I suffer from others' sorrows. | 2.9906 | 3.6157 | 3.2616 | 3.4275 |
I would be very hurt if someone accused me of being uncaring. | 3.4551 | 3.9326 | 3.7303 | 3.9701 |
The good life is a peaceful life. | 3.5415 | 3.9581 | 4.2632 | 3.8801 |
I use flattery to get ahead. | 2.6589 | 2.3065 | 2.3202 | 2.8283 |
The data used to generate this table is again available at the open data page. The final items from the O4TS were selected from these 48. Items were selected to measure a temperament type if they were rated higher by individuals of that self-reported temperament than any other group.
The O4TS version 1.0 consists of 24 items, 6 for each temperament. The items are below. Ones that should be reversed scored are marked with (R).
The format used during test development was a 5 point likert scale, but there is no reason a different response format could not be used.
To make sure the test is ready for use, it is important to check its accuracy and compare it to other tests.
The table below compares self reported type, to the type indicated by highest scale score from the O4TSv1.0. For example, 1087 people self-identified as being Phlegmatic (P) and got their highest score for P, while 562 people self-identified as P and got their highest score for Melancholic (M).
Self reported type | Calculated type | % accuracy | |||
P | M | S | C | ||
P | 1087 | 562 | 649 | 160 | 44.2% |
M | 855 | 3159 | 837 | 523 | 58.7% |
S | 354 | 266 | 2036 | 221 | 70.7% |
C | 249 | 396 | 733 | 973 | 41.3% |
Overall accuracy | 55.5% |
Overall, 55.5% of people had their self-identification match the type they scored highest for on the test. This number feels unsatisfactorily low, many people would expect much higher agreement, but this is pretty typical for a personality test. Even when using the same test at two different points people's scores do not match up well. People who take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator a 2nd time get the same results only about half the time (Pittenger, 2005).
An alternate measure of the Four Temperaments with which to compare accuracy was taken from the book Four Temperaments, Astrology, and Personality Testing by Martin Bobgan and Deidre Bobgan. On page 9 there is a list of adjectives that they use to define each of the temperaments. The accuracy of using these adjectives as the scale items is in the table below (same be interpretation as the first table).
Self reported type | Calculated type | % accuracy | |||
P | M | S | C | ||
P | 193 | 141 | 72 | 59 | 41.5% |
M | 126 | 531 | 84 | 104 | 62.8% |
S | 72 | 44 | 261 | 132 | 51.2% |
C | 45 | 64 | 60 | 248 | 59.4% |
Overall accuracy | 55.1% |
The accuracy of these two tests were similar, so it seems that the O4TS is about as good as other tests that measure the four temperaments.