The Theory of Humours: Mediaeval and Renaissance Psychology



The Theory of Humours: Mediaeval and Renaissance Psychology

Humours are bodily fluids. The four main ones according to early physiologists are blood, phlegm, choler (yellow bile), and melancholy (black bile). These fluids, according to their proportions in the body, were thought to influence health and temperament.

| |RELATED |DOMINENT |ORGAN/ | |DAILY |

|HUMOUR |ELEMENT |TEMPERMENT / CHARACTERISTICS |SOURCE |SEASON |RHYTHM |

|Blood |Air: |Sanguine: “nature’s friend,” |liver |spring |12am – 6am |

|(Jupiter) |hot & moist |courageous, amorous. | | | |

| | | | | | |

| | |Generally optimistic, cheerful, | | | |

| | |even-tempered, confident, rational, | | | |

| | |popular, and fun-loving. | | | |

| | | | | | |

| | |Unpredictable, impulsive, | | | |

| | |daydreaming may prevent accomplishment | | | |

|Yellow Bile |Fire: |Choleric: easily angered or bad tempered. |heart / |summer |6am – |

|(Mars) |hot & dry | |spleen | |noon |

| | |Forthright, with leadership qualities. | | | |

| | |Often associated with charismatic military | | | |

| | |or political figures who make decisions and| | | |

| | |stick with them. | | | |

|Black Bile |Earth: |Melancholic: sentimental, |kidneys / |autumn |noon – |

|(Saturn) |cold & dry |despondent, sleepless. |gall bladder | |6pm |

| | | | | | |

| | |Also thoughtful and possibly a creative | | | |

| | |type. | | | |

| | | | | | |

| | |While kind and considerate, can also become| | | |

| | |obsessed with tragedy and cruelty, becoming| | | |

| | |depressed. | | | |

|Phlegm |Water: |Phlegmatic: dull, |brain / lungs |winter |6pm – |

|(Venus) |cold & moist |calm, unemotional. |stomach | |midnight |

| | | | | | |

| | |May be introverted or unenthusiastic. Also| | | |

| | |consistent and dependable, however. | | | |

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