Who is a phlegmatic person: general characteristics, pros and cons of character + compatibility with other types

1. How to recognize a phlegmatic person
2. Strengths and weaknesses of phlegmatic people
3. Phlegmatic at work
4. The character of a phlegmatic child

The phlegmatic type of temperament can be called the golden mean

compared to others.
Thanks to their calmness, such people often have a beneficial influence on an effective sanguine person, do not pay attention to the inflated demands of a melancholic person and are able to restrain the sharp impulses of a choleric person. Among all types of temperament, phlegmatic people act as a kind of compensator
who does not go to extremes, does not create unnecessary problems and maintains balance in the team.

Should you be afraid of a phlegmatic person?

The majority believes that a representative of this temperament is a person who is characterized by an extreme degree of indifference, indifference towards other people.
He is considered a slow, selfish, irresponsible person. Is this really true or just stereotypes that should be gotten rid of?

• How to recognize a phlegmatic person?
• Character Virtues
• Character Flaws
• Childhood
• Phlegmatic in career
• Features of relationships with representatives of other temperaments
• Training on personality psychotypes and profiling

A phlegmatic person is an extremely balanced type of temperament. It is not uncommon for him to exhibit such manifestations of behavior as: restraint of emotions (see Types of Emotions), slowness of mental reactions, constancy, reliability, responsibility, devotion (see Cheating - how to forgive and is it worth it), increased endurance and performance.

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Psychologist, hypnologist Natalya Korshunova ©

How to recognize a phlegmatic person?

Phlegmatic people are distinguished by a slow gait, sluggish, barely noticeable facial expressions (see Language of facial expressions and gestures) and gestures. His speech is quite quiet, with noticeable pauses, without any emotional jumps in intonation. Representatives of this type of temperament have a full physique. They are not fans of physical work. They are rarely seen in the gym. Phlegmatic people are real gourmets who are well versed in food.

Experts believe that these people cannot be called lazy (see Procrastination or how to overcome laziness). They are simply “energy saving”. It is important for them to value their energy and strength so as not to waste it. The following characteristics of phlegmatic people can be distinguished:

• Rationality, thoughtfulness, good analytical skills;
• Desire to act logically;
• Conservatism, inability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances;
• Passivity, unwillingness to take risks;
• Introversion, lack of communication;
• Attentiveness, good long-term memory.

The presence of external lethargy and weak expressiveness is not a hindrance for phlegmatic people to experience nervous tension. The biggest stress (see How to develop stress resistance) for such people is moving to a new apartment, and not criticism from management. The biggest problem is the change of environment and habits.

At the same time, phlegmatic people are able to endure stressful situations much easier than representatives of other temperaments. It is important to understand that during emotionally stressful circumstances they can seem to “disconnect” from the outside world and stop giving any reaction.

It is worth mentioning that a person can accumulate negative emotions. He may remain silent a couple of times, but on the third he will definitely speak out. It will be quite difficult to pacify and calm him down. Fortunately, phlegmatic people are not so easy to piss off.

general characteristics

Hippocrates still lives in his theories. He determined that:

A phlegmatic person is a slow person, since phlegm “flows” in him, which means lymph. For such a person everything is always calm, he is not inclined to take risks, and he rarely has emotional outbursts.

The characteristics of a phlegmatic person differ from melancholic and choleric people in the strength of the nervous system and the processes in it. They are characterized by:

• determination;
• peace and tranquility;
• he is a peacemaker, he will always smooth out conflicts;
• reasonable, tries to analyze the situation;
• speech is smooth, sedate;
• moderate actions and emotions;
• gets along with everyone, but must have personal space;
• Patience is almost the main description of personality.

Character Virtues

Constancy

Phlegmatic people are distinguished by the constancy of their words and intentions. They will not say one thing today and another tomorrow. This quality makes him a devoted partner, and at work - an employee. You can always rely on him.

A person will never be tormented by the question of which cafe to dine at or where to buy new clothes. He always has several proven places that a phlegmatic person will go to more willingly than to new establishments. He will not want to waste energy on any search if there are options that have confirmed their positive nature.

High intelligence and self-organization

The phlegmatic person is ready for monotonous activity, thanks to good concentration and perseverance. He is able to work hard for several hours without any fatigue. A representative of this temperament is systematic and methodical. He likes to sort and put things on shelves.

The phlegmatic person is an example of an excellent analyst. He is distinguished by his intelligence and discipline. A person is able to successfully work with a large amount of data. He is able to cope with various information, processing it thoroughly and thoughtfully.

Stress resistance

This type of temperament is able to resist the feeling of panic (see Agoraphobia with panic) during stressful situations. He manages not to go into the world of fantasy, not to avoid reality. It seems to a person that being nervous and panicking is simply irrational. He simply switches to another activity that is more important.

Pedantry

Every little detail is important to a phlegmatic person. He will check the result carefully to see if there are any errors in it. After completing the task, the person will not doubt the correctness of the execution. He understands that he has done everything possible.

A phlegmatic person is able to complete any task (see How successful people became successful). A representative of this temperament is distinguished by persistence in achieving the set goal, stubbornness, and increased patience.

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Psychologist, hypnologist Natalya Korshunova ©

Adviсe

Compatibility of temperaments is a necessary component of any relationship. Although some temperaments are considered incompatible, you can always find exceptions in which one of the people is inferior to his other half.

If there are different temperaments in the union, you can use the following tips to help you get along better.

• If there is a choleric man in the couple, the woman should remember that he can be harsh, emotional, but quickly move away. Such a temperament can say too much, but then he will definitely regret it. Therefore, psychologists recommend not to be offended by your soulmate and accept her for who she is.
• A phlegmatic wife will be calm and slow. Such people are reasonable and need to weigh the pros and cons before taking action. Don't rush your significant other and scold her for being slow. Praise is considered the best behavior. Psychologists advise praising the wife of a phlegmatic person for her thoughtfulness and seriousness, because you can always rely on such a person.

• A melancholic woman is a sensitive and sentimental person. If a couple has different temperaments than the husband, the partner should show patience and understanding towards his other half. A melancholic person is easily hurt, and he can easily withdraw into himself. Therefore, you should treat his “attacks” and experiences with restraint.
• When paired with a sanguine person, you should not fight for leadership. Also, you can’t put pressure on him with the seriousness of your intentions.

For information on compatibility by temperament type in marriage, see the following video.

Character Flaws

Phlegmatic people are called too passive people (see Introvert). Their life is quite calm, even boring. We can talk about the absence of any ambitions. This type of psyche allows you not to depend too much on comfort, including psychological comfort. Phlegmatic people are generally quite apathetic people. They can easily come to terms with the problems that exist in their lives.

A huge problem is passivity, which completely suits phlegmatic people. They see no point in active development. They don't want to try something new or lead a more varied life. This leads to the loss of chances for a better life for themselves and loved ones.

Poor adaptation

When faced with changes, changes, the phlegmatic person seems to fall into a stupor. He is not able to easily switch from one activity to another.

If a person is fired from his job (see: Got stuck at work), a representative of this temperament will not immediately rush to look for a new one. He will gradually get used to the idea that he was fired. It is important that a person gradually adapts to changed circumstances. He will seem to be in a state of prostration. After some time, the phlegmatic person manages to develop an action plan that concerns finding a new job. On the other hand, there is no clear data on when exactly he will take decisive action.

Closedness

Such a person will have difficulty building social connections. They seem to be closed off from other people and do not provide any opportunity to start relationships. You will have to make an effort to get closer to a phlegmatic person (see Relationships with a schizoid).

The phlegmatic person does not at all strive to look for new acquaintances. He may refuse to meet with friends and acquaintances. The most important thing for him is to be alone (see Psychology of Loneliness).

Suitable professions

I repeat, people with a phlegmatic personality type are terrible workaholics. That is why in professional activities these are practices. They do not tend to lead, but they make very responsible administrators who will do more than what they are assigned. They have excellent abilities to perform monotonous activities, so they choose stable professions for themselves.

Phlegmatic people can work:

• dispatchers,
• engineers,
• laboratory assistants,
• system administrators,
• operators,
• veterinarians,
• lyricists,
• proofreaders,
• composers.

But this does not mean that this type of personality cannot communicate at all at work. Such people make excellent doctors and accountants.

They are not recommended to work in places of rapid response, the threat of unforeseen circumstances, in conditions of abrupt switching, changing working conditions. They will not achieve success in journalism as animators or secretaries.

Childhood

Studies

• Good academic performance. The child manages to do his homework well and is well prepared for tests and independent work. Some tasks seem more useful and practical to him.
• A phlegmatic person will refuse to participate in amateur art competitions and public events.
• In the case of extracurricular activities, the child will choose courses that require perseverance.
• A phlegmatic person will be cited as an example to other children, as he manages to show attentiveness, the ability not to be distracted, and not to disrupt classes.

Friendly relations

• Communication will occur only when necessary. He does not like empty chatter, he is quite secretive, and does not intend to be in everyone's sight.
• A phlegmatic person does not like to meet people first and does not feel an urgent need to communicate with peers.
• During school years, a child has at most 2-3 friends, no more. He will never be the leader and soul of the company.

What do parents need to remember?

• The child will not talk about his problems and experiences. He wants to solve them on his own. It is necessary to build a trusting relationship with a son or daughter of a phlegmatic temperament (see Self-confidence in a child) so that they can share their thoughts and start asking for help.
• The child should be taught how to adapt to society. He must realize that communication is necessary in life anyway.
• Do not forget about the physical development of the child. He should practice daily exercise. You can always sign him up for a sports club or practice family yoga.

Hobbies, interests

This is perhaps the most universal topic for communication. You can ask what the girl is interested in in her free time, how she prefers to spend her leisure time

It is important to try to find common topics and questions, this will bring you a little closer together and relieve tension, and will also allow you to learn more about each other and plan further meetings taking into account common interests

Great hobby conversation topics:

• The favorite music;
• movie;
• leisure;
• sport;
• books.

Phlegmatic in career

The presence of inertia and lack of initiative leads to the fact that phlegmatic people are not able to become leaders. Of course, there are exceptions to all rules, but representatives of this type of temperament are more comfortable in positions where it is important to be attentive and persevering.

This type of worker is never late and always delivers projects on time. No errors or delays. Phlegmatic people are distinguished by an increased degree of responsibility and the ability to work efficiently within their competence.

Representatives of this type of temperament will work extremely slowly, but efficiently. You should not entrust them with team work that involves communication. Best of all, they will express themselves in the process of independent work. Phlegmatic people are able to assimilate new data for too long, but remember it for quite a long time. The most suitable professions for this type of temperament are driver, scientist, programmer, jeweler, analyst.

Famous personalities

Among famous personalities, people of different professions were phlegmatic. Among them there are creative personalities, composers, engineers, writers and even managers. For example, it was news to me that Stalin also had this type of temperament. But, as historians say, despite this psychotype, the leader of the USSR held everyone in an “iron fist.”

Famous phlegmatic people: Galileo Galilei, Steven Seagal, Nicole Kidman, Immanuel Kant, Joseph Stalin, Gennady Zyuganov, Mikhail Kutuzov.

Relationship

In romantic relationships, the phlegmatic person is extremely taciturn. It is important to prove your feelings through actions. There is no need to expect crazy gifts, pleasant surprises, or unexpected dates from him. He will show affection in a more practical and modest way. For example, a phlegmatic man can cook dinner for his girlfriend and help her with the cleaning. A phlegmatic woman will offer help with work. It costs her nothing to analyze the database and write a report.

A phlegmatic person has difficulty getting close to people (see Introvert), but shows unprecedented loyalty and devotion towards loved ones. He doesn't want to be a leader. All acquaintances and life partners will be chosen using the mind, not the heart. It is extremely important that friends and spouses of phlegmatic people have the following qualities:

• Loyalty and stability;
• Decency, honesty;
• Education and intelligence.

Phlegmatic people do not like noisy parties, entertainment venues, or expensive restaurants. They do not understand the meaning of going to a cafe, meaningless shopping (see Shopaholism). It is much more comfortable for representatives of this temperament to spend an evening at home, watch a movie, and enjoy gourmet food.

Both in friendly and romantic relationships, phlegmatic people show an extreme degree of calm and stability. You won't be able to get any surprises from them. He will be guided by the useful properties of the gift, taking into account the interests of the recipient of the gift.

Phlegmatic people are honest, sincere, straightforward people. You cannot expect a stab in the back or any kind of revenge from them.

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Psychologist, hypnologist Natalya Korshunova ©

Health Features

The vulnerable place of a phlegmatic person is the stomach (see Psychosomatics of diseases). They can seriously suffer from stomach ulcers and gastritis. Their metabolism is slower, which means it takes longer to process food. This in turn leads to intestinal problems.

Phlegmatic people are prone to obesity. They often lead an inactive lifestyle and eat fast food. This leads to excess weight (see Excess weight and hypnosis for weight loss), diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys. You may experience increased blood pressure

Representatives of this temperament should monitor their diet and practice physical activity. You can avoid training to the point of exhaustion, but resort to walking, which will keep your weight under control. Other diseases rarely affect phlegmatic people.

Compatibility

Who does a choleric person get along with best? Its compatibility with other types of temperament:

1. Choleric-phlegmatic. A choleric person will be very comfortable in the shadow of an imperturbable phlegmatic person. And the latter, in turn, will rejoice at the partner’s activity and restlessness. A phlegmatic person will never fully open his soul, but a choleric person does not care about this. After all, he does not pay attention to little things and details. Such a union is possible and can last a very long time.
2. Choleric-sanguine. In this pair, mutual support between partners comes to the fore. The choleric person will be a generator of ideas, the sanguine person will try to bring them all to life. Problems may arise at the stage of choosing a relationship leader, because both members of the couple strive for leadership and the main position. There will be constant rivalry here. If this is sorted out, the couple can live together for a very long time.
3. Choleric-melancholic. Most likely, such a relationship is doomed to failure. After all, a morally weak melancholic simply cannot withstand the pressure of a choleric person. In addition, a choleric person will not take into account the emotions of his partner, bringing him to tears and hysterics. The latter will not last long and will soon simply run away.
4. Choleric-choleric. This is a very noisy and stormy union. There will be everything here - love and fights until you drop. Breaking of dishes and passionate reconciliations are possible. There will be practically no mutual assistance, since everyone strives to be independently responsible for their actions. Attempts to take a leadership position will lead to multiple scandals. Such an alliance can either quickly fall apart or last a very, very long time.

However, it is worth saying that in any case you should fight for the relationship. And if both sides give in to each other, even the most seemingly incompatible types of temperament will be able to exist side by side for a very long time.

Features of relationships with representatives of other temperaments

Phlegmatic-phlegmatic

They may well be colleagues who discuss common topics and have lunch together. Two temperamental friends will not strive to push each other or strive for leadership. If phlegmatic people live in the same neighborhood, communication will continue, unlike people who live in different areas.

Unfortunately, phlegmatic people don’t try very hard to get emotionally close. It is hardly possible to talk about building serious and long-term relationships.

Phlegmatic-sanguine

A sanguine person will be able to adapt to the character of his partner, but will not lose his energy. In any case, he will be able to find an approach to the phlegmatic person in order to subsequently have a positive influence on him. Thanks to the sanguine person, his partner will become a more open person who is more active in actions.

In the process of work, a sanguine person and a phlegmatic person will find a common language, but will not become friends. Only in a romantic relationship does this union have the right to exist.

Read the description of Sanguine here:

Phlegmatic-melancholic

The couple will be quite harmonious and calm. Both will trust emotions, but the phlegmatic will analyze them. It is curious that he will be the leader, since he is considered stronger by nature. He will want to choose a smooth, proven path, without any emotional leaps in the relationship.

A phlegmatic person and a melancholic person will not become friends, but they will be excellent colleagues.

Read the description of Melancholic here:

Phlegmatic-choleric

If everything goes well, the choleric person will help the phlegmatic person become more active and decisive. It will help the passive partner change his attitude towards life. A phlegmatic person will be able to come to terms with the stormy temperament of a choleric person, which can irritate the second one. This will lead to quarrels and conflict situations.

We can talk about the viability of romantic relationships, since friendship and working partnership are impossible (see Friendship between a man and a woman). Representatives of opposite temperaments will be more likely to be irritated by each other’s character traits. Just imagine how difficult it is to find a common language for a person who is used to leading an active lifestyle, attending various events and a partner who is a homebody.

It is important to understand that a true phlegmatic person is far from being as calm a person as he seems at first glance. He is quite capable of deep feelings. Another question is that his isolation has its advantages. It is quite difficult to reach a phlegmatic person, but if you can win his trust, it will be a strong, long-term relationship. There is no need to be afraid that a representative of this temperament will somehow do harm or succumb to gossip. You can trust him.

Read the description of Choleric here:

For a man

A phlegmatic man is prone to long reasoning and total self-control; his actions, deeds and judgments are guided by a cold mind, but not by intuition. Eternal companions are silence and calmness, which is its unique charm and attractive highlight for women, which a man is unlikely to suspect. A phlegmatic man is characterized by ideally developed self-control. If you rush this person, he will be nervous, although he will not rush either. His life passes at a measured pace. Among other men, he is distinguished by excessive seriousness, maximum concentration, and restraint. He seems to be the opposite of a cheerful, perky and overly active sanguine person. He tries not to enter into discussions; it is easier for him to remain silent and step aside. But, if others ask, he will express his opinion without any problems. Rarely does anyone get to see the emotional manifestation of a man with a phlegmatic temperament type.