In simple terms, temperament is the inborn part of man that determines how we react to people, places and things. In short, it is how people interact with their environment and the world around them. Temperament pinpoints our perception of ourselves and the people who love us. It is also a determining factor in how well we handle the stresses and pressures of life.
There is a simple way to break down the complex subject of the inner man. The first building block for understanding human behavior is God-created. This is called our temperament. When we are conceived our unique temperament is placed within us by the order of God. Temperament determines how much love and affection we need.
The second building block for understanding human behavior is that we are man/environment-affected. This is called our character. At birth, we begin interacting with our environment and our environment interacts with us. The environment is everything we see, hear, smell, feel and learn. These perceptions are forever locked into our brain, and they slightly mold and alter our temperament, thereby forming character.
The third building block for understanding human behavior is self-selected. This is called our personality, and is expressed in the way we perceive how we must behave to survive in the world in which we live. There is one major problem with personality. It is a mask we wear for the world. As with any other mask, it cannot be worn for very long. Eventually, our actions and reactions will revert back to temperament and character. This explains why we act differently at home than we do in public.
An understanding of temperament provides us a “special knowledge” of the inner workings of ourselves. It helps identify the pressures or feelings we are dealing with which are coming from:
- ourselves
- the world in which we live.
- our own weaknesses or desires.
Understanding temperament also gives us insight to a stronger relationship with God. This understanding reveals to us how to let God work in our lives and how to interact with God in ways that are beneficial to our well-being. Temperament is a determining factor in:
- finding a career that is most comfortable for us.
- finding hobbies that will bring us the most satisfaction and enjoyment.
- how we make decisions and take on responsibilities.
- how dependent or independent we are.
- our spiritual development.
Happiness in marriage and romantic relationships is greatly dependent on how well each person understands their partner’s temperament, which unlocks the ways to help meet their temperament needs. Overall, every relationship can benefit when the people involved understand more about each other’s temperament.