Five Temperaments - Driving Needs

Driving Needs

Each of the four corner temperaments has a driving need that energizes its behavior.

For the Melancholic, the motivation is fear of rejection and/or the unknown. They have a low self-esteem and, figuring that others do not like them, they reject others first.

The Supine also has low self-esteem, but is driven to try to gain acceptance by liking and serving others.

The Sanguine is driven by the need for attention, and tries to sell themselves through their charm, and accepts others before those others can reject them. Their self-esteem crashes if they are nevertheless rejected. Yet, they will regain the confidence to keep trying to impress others.

The Choleric is motivated by their goals, in which other people are tools to be used.

The Phlegmatic's lack of a motivation becomes their driving need: to protect their low energy reserve.

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