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

Melancholic/Choleric (M/C) = Controlled Strategist

Tim LaHaye

For M/Cs, the mood swings of the Melancholy are somewhat stabilized by the Choleric’s self-will and determination. There is almost nothing vocationally that these people cannot do, and do well. They are both perfectionists and drivers. They make excellent attorneys, particularly in fields that demand research and accuracy. And because they prepare twice as hard for a case as anyone else, they seldom lose. Many great orchestra leaders and choral conductors are M/Cs. They possess strong leadership capabilities, enjoy being “chairman of the board”, and never come to a meeting unprepared. As educators, they often leave the classroom for administration. They often go into politics. Unlike the M/S, they may found their own institutions or businesses and run them capably, not with noise and color but with efficiency.

The natural weaknesses of M/Cs are revealed in their minds, emotions, and mouths. They are extremely difficult to please. Once they start thinking negatively about something or someone (including themselves), they can be intolerable to live with. Their mood follows their thought processes. Although they don’t remain in a depression as long as the other two blends of the Melancholy, they can lapse into it more quickly. The Melancholy and the Choleric are the two basic temperaments haunted by self-persecution, hostility, and criticism. Put those together in an M/C and look for this person to be under the pile as soon as things go wrong. If such thoughts persist long enough, they may become manic-depressive.

Their penchant for detailed analysis and perfection can make them nitpickers who drive others up the wall. Unless they can maintain a positive frame of mind, they are not enjoyable company for long periods of time. No one is more painfully aware of this, of course, than their spouses and children. They not only “emote” disapproval, but also feel compelled to castigate others and correct their mistakes, in public as well as in private. If M/Cs don’t live up to their amazing potential it’s because of their internalized spirit of anger and revenge.

Unwritten Grace

Like the M/P blend, M/Cs tend to be introverted and pessimistic. They are often very hardworking, due to the perfectionistic nature of the melancholic with a hint of the choleric’s drive. This combination may also affect their relationships with people; they may be a reliable and dedicated friend to those closest to them, while prone to holding a grudge against others. They may come across as blunt and confident when interacting with people, but are often deeply insecure inside. As with the C/M, they may find tasks easier than people. In a sense, being blunt may be an indicator of their emotional state. As with the M/P, they may be prone to anxiety but might show this by getting irritable rather than sad or worried. They can be very detail conscious, and will want any task they are involved in completed exactly the way it should be.