Hippocrates, father of medicine, is credited with originating basic theory of temperament styles twenty-four hundred years ago. He theorized that our behavior style was determined genetically at birth rather than from external influences such as astrology or birth order. Hippocrates believed that we are born with a combination of four genetic influences he called humors; Choleric (Worker), Sanguine (Talker), Phlegmatic (Watcher) and Melancholy (Thinker). He observed that these four styles have a direct influence on our physiology, character traits and outlook on life. In fact word temperament, which is commonly used to describe personality types, is a Latin term which means, “a mixing in due portion.” This blend or “mixing in due portion” of four basic styles determines your individual temperament profile. By combining these four basic styles, there are twenty-four possible profiles. While you are born with a primary temperament, other three temperaments, based on their relative position within your profile, each have a diminishing but measurable effect on your temperament. Intuitively you probably sense these different aspects of your temperament. While these four styles are inherently different, they are equally valuable in their own way. There is no temperament profile that is superior. However, each style is better suited relative to other styles for certain occupations. While you are not able to change temperament style you were born into, you can maximize your natural strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

According to November 1993 issue of Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, more than one hundred million people throughout world suffer from depression. Each year, more people seek relief from this disabling mental condition than any medical disease, including common cold. In 1990 cost of depression exceeded $43 billion in United States alone. The economic toll is staggering and includes medical treatment, lost work-time, and depression-related suicide.