Question

What are the four basic fluids, or humors, that Hippocrates believed were the basis of personality traits?

Answer 1

Black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm.

Explanation:

Hippocrates introduced the theory that bodily fluids can be divided into four distinct humors. He linked these humors to diseases and to personality traits. The four humors are:

1. yellow bile
2. black bile
3. blood
4. phlegm

Yellow bile
Choleric personality
- balanced: leaders, extrovert, convincing, restless
- unbalanced: excess anger, aggressiveness

Black bile
Melancholic personality
- balanced: serious, introvert, perfectionism, analytical
- unbalanced: depression, rigid

Blood
Sanguine personality
- balanced: social, expressive, extrovert, creative
- unbalanced: lack of will power, forgetful, attention seeking

Phlegm
Phlegmatic personality
- balanced: introvert, calm, caring, dreamers
- unbalanced: resistant to change, lazy, indecisive