TEMPERAMENT PROFILE: ESFJ (Fe-Se-Ni-Ti)

Sanguine/Melancholic (S/M) = Enthusiastic Stabilizer

Tim LaHaye

S/Ms are highly emotional people who fluctuate drastically. They can laugh hysterically one minute and burst into tears the next. It is almost impossible for them to hear a sad tale, observe the tragic plight of another person, or listen to sad music without weeping profusely. They genuinely feel the griefs of others. S/M doctors, for instance, always display the best bedside manner. Ordinarily they make fantastic teachers and are easily the most popular professors on campus.

S/Ms should always work with people. Being admired by others is so important to them that it tends to drive them to a consistent level of performance. They might consider public speaking, acting, music, and the fine arts.

Yet S/Ms reflect an uninhibited perfectionism that often alienates them because they verbalize their criticisms. They are usually people-oriented individuals who have sufficient substance to make a contribution to others, if their egos and arrogance don’t make them so obnoxious that others become hostile.

Since Sanguines and Melancholics are both dreamers, one of the crucial weaknesses of this temperament blend prevails in the person’s thought life. Since they are mentally creative, they can mull over insults or injuries until they are down on themselves. In addition, S/Ms can have a problem with anger.

Unwritten Grace

Being a blend of opposites, these people can come across as being all over the place! S/Ms often have unpredictable emotions: they are friendly and people oriented, yet can suddenly give way to negativity before bouncing back as if nothing happened. They may thrive on attention due to insecurity and tend to (directly or indirectly) share their problems with others. Being so emotional means that they care about others’ joys and sorrows but also that their approach to them may vary. S/Ms like to be busy, and to have many things to do in their lives at the same time, due to being both fast moving and anxious to prove themselves. They can be more careful than the other sanguine blends: the differences between their sanguine nature and melancholic tendencies can lead to being torn between doing things quickly and doing things properly. If an S/M is tired out, chances are they have tried too hard to manage both!