The 4 Temperaments Theory, As Explained By Winnie the Pooh Characters

Most human beings tend to fall into four basic personality categories, commonly known as the 4 temperaments. These temperaments (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic) are inborn tendencies in people, which cause them to exhibit certain traits and adopt certain mannerisms.

Now, I could write a long post detailing the specific characteristics of the 4 temperaments. But I’m in a lazy mood, so I’ll just link to this description that explains the temperaments in very detailed language.

But that link, though informative, only provides boring, technical explanations of the 4 temperaments. 

I was feeling creative when this topic came across the radar screen, so I thought... what better way to explain the temperaments than by analyzing the temperaments of the major characters in the children's masterpiece Winnie-the-Pooh? 

(Depressingly, I am not the first person to make this comparison. However, I believe my assessment is more accurate.)

Christopher Robin – All temperaments

Christopher Robin is a sort of Christ figure in the Hundred Acre Wood. He consistently exhibits common sense, friendliness, kindness, and wisdom, and is never portrayed doing anything wrong. 

Thus, it is unsurprising that he embodies the best traits of all the temperaments - the friendliness of a sanguine, the decisiveness of a choleric, the level-headedness of a phlegmatic, and the reflective nature of the melancholic. 

Eeyore – Melancholic

The pessimistic and perpetually sorrowful Eeyore is the epitome of the reclusive, sorrowful melancholic, always expecting the worst from others and from life.

Piglet – Phlegmatic-melancholic

In the words of the Genius: “Piglet exemplifies order and decency.” (This is an actual quote.)

Piglet gets along with everyone, is peaceful, and is Pooh Bear’s rock in the storm. But he worries far more than most phlegmatics, displaying his melancholic tendency to overthink matters.

Rabbit – Choleric-Melancholic

Rabbit likes things done his own way, and trusts to his strong and stubborn will (sometimes, too much) above all else. He also has a melancholic perfectionist streak, as witnessed by his obsessive gardening and his at times reclusive attitude.

Roo – Sanguine

Roo displays a laughing streak and an absurd level of happiness which only a sanguine could possibly possess.

Tigger – Intense Sanguine

The energetic Tigger wreaks absolute havoc in the Hundred Acre Wood with his spontaneous antics. He is the classic sanguine: a lot of fun to be around, but little self-control and no attention span whatsoever.

Winnie-the-Pooh – Phlegmatic

All the other animals in the Hundred Acre Wood love Pooh Bear, precisely because he is so easygoing and pleasant to be around. Pooh is content to relax and let stronger personalities or circumstances lead him.