Is the Melancholy (Introverts) Smarter?

The Melancholy is plagued all of their life by low self-esteem and the fear of rejection because they are rarely satisfied with themselves. No other temperament can focus in on their imperfectionsand shortcomings better than the Melancholy. Their inadequacies are usually only in their own mind and are not how others perceive them, yet this low self-esteem causes this person to constantly search theenvironment for messages to confirm this low self-image. Fear of rejection causes the Melancholy to reject others first when they perceive that they could be rejected. They project their negative attitude of themselves onto others and subconsciously do and say things that will force the negative response they expect.

Hippocrates referred to the Melancholy as the “black temperament.” No other color can describe this temperament better, for no other temperament is so tormented by “black moods” as the Melancholy in Inclusion. The person who is a Melancholy can be thrown into a deep, black depression by their thinking process alone. The Melancholy mind is always working, always churning, and the amount of energy this thinking process generates is phenomenal. When this mental energy is focused on negatives, it can do terrible things to a person. When this person begins thinking about how worthless their life is, or how people are out to get them, or that the world is against them, etc., the Melancholy’s mood will follow their thoughts downward. As long as these thoughts are spiraling downward, so too will their moods. This depression can last hours, days, weeks, or months. When the person is in this deep depression, suicide is not outside the realm of possible behavior. These “black moods” have caused many Melancholies to go into a self-destruct mode to the point where they will resort to destructive behavior. This can result in alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual addiction, and suicide. No other temperament is more likely to destroy themselves or is more apt to separate themselves from God because of their feelings of worthlessness.

A Melancholy in Inclusion is a loner, very introverted and unsure of themselves; however, on the surface they appear to be competent and in control. They also can appear to be arrogant, withdrawn, aloof, and looking down their nose at you. In social settings, their behavior is very direct. They can be friendly and personable, depending on the circumstances and how comfortable (accepted) they feel.

When their thought process swings upward based on how good their life is, how much they are loved by the people around them, or how God has blessed them, their mood will also swing upward. They will not be as outgoing as a Sanguine (extrovert), but they will be much happier people. However, their thinking must beharnessed and directed upward.

When it comes to physical ailments caused by emotional disturbances, the Melancholy is the most plagued. High blood pressure, ulcers, heart disease, insomnia, and a host of other physical ailmentsare frequently a part of their plight.

As you can see, the life of the Melancholy in Inclusion is not often a happy one. Some people maywonder why God would give someone a temperament that could make a person as miserable as this, but our minds are not the mind of God.

The Melancholy also has more profound Inclusion strengths than any other temperament. If you have ever read a novel you simply could not put down, marveled at an oil painting, been captivated by a sculpture, or been enthralled by a piece of music, then you were most likely viewing the work of a Melancholy. No other temperament is more artistic or is more genius-prone than is the Melancholy. The Melancholy is constantly searching and digging, trying to learn new things and unlock the secrets of the universe. Things to challenge the intellect are boundless, and once the door is unlocked for this wisdom and knowledge, the door will never be closed.

If you know a person who prays and seeks the gifts of wisdom and understanding, then you probably know a Melancholy. In the Bible Moses, Solomon and John appeared to be very strong Melancholies, andwe know the great truths that came from these three men.

There is, however, a problem with the wisdom and knowledge with which a Melancholy has beengifted; they are reluctant to share it because of their low self- esteem. Their introversion and their fear ofbeing wrong and making a mistake causes them to hoard what they know. This is the factor that contributesto the difficulty a counselor will experience when attempting to extract information from the Melancholy counselee. If the counselee’s mind is set, they can be extremely stubborn. They are strong-minded and strong-willed, and penetration of that strong mind and will must be accomplished intellectually.

The person with Melancholy tendencies is task oriented and not relationship oriented. They relate better to jobs to be done than to people. They do not naturally understand what it is like to build a relationship but do understand what it is like to do a job. In fact, their entire life is a job to do, always with an end result in mind. When taking on a task, they not only have a very good mind for seeing thefinished product but also have an ability to see all the potential pitfalls. They work at a slow, steady pace, losing momentum as the day progresses.

The Melancholy is a perfectionist and sets standards for themselves and others which no one can liveup to. The Melancholy does not ask someone to do something they would not do themselves; however, thestandards they require are almost impossible to meet. This contributes to their low self-esteem. They can never quite feel they have done a task well enough.

The Melancholy can be very easily insulted and hurt, but when you look at them you will not know it (unless they want you to know). The Melancholy has an emotional score card that they keep in their head. On this card they keep track of all the things they perceive you have done to them. Every time youreject them, insult them, or hurt them it is added to that score card. Eventually you will do one morething and, when that last thing is added, they react in a fit of anger, throwing everything back at you. To the person on the receiving end of this anger, it seems like an overreaction, but to the Melancholy this anger is justified. They are not reacting to just this one incident but rather to all incidents in the past.

If a spouse wants to make a Melancholy comfortable, they should work very hard to give them an orderly, stable home in which to live. Where the Sanguine likes to go to parties and be with people, the Melancholy is a homebody and likes staying at home. To them their home is a sanctuary away from the pressures of the world, a place where they can be themselves without fear of being rejected or hurt. This person can only regenerate by being alone and quiet, at which time they can think, dream and shut out the rest of the world. This makes life very difficult for the spouse and children of the Melancholy. When they come home after a long day’s work, their spouse and children want their time and attention, but they are just too tired to respond. At this point the Melancholy needs quiet time alone in which to regenerate.

The Melancholy child is the hardest to raise. They are so sensitive that a parent can injure them deeply without thinking. They can be driven to drugs and alcohol to counteract the pain a parent hasinflicted on them.

Regardless of all the weaknesses the Melancholy may suffer, the Melancholy, when energized by the Holy Spirit, has the capabilities of doing a great deal of good in the Kingdom of God. Extremely persistent, self-sacrificing people, they will work relentlessly to bring about changes for the betterment of mankind. When you see the missionary living in a hovel and crying for the unsaved souls and starving children, then you are most likely watching a Melancholy. If someone is manning a suicide hotline late into the night, going without sleep and living on coffee, you are probably watching a Melancholy. If you see a person who will suffer indignities and humiliations to bring the Word of God to a backward country,then you are most likely seeing the work of a Spirit-controlled Melancholy.

Anger is common to the Melancholy in Inclusion. They become angry if they cannot live up to theirown standards and if others cannot live up to them. If they have been rejected or hurt, they become angry;this anger is very deep-seated. This person is a great grudge holder; they get mad, then they get even, or they take vengeance on the person who wronged them. With their intellectual capacities, they can be veryingenious when it comes to getting revenge.

Melancholies in Inclusion is also a thinker. Their mind never shuts off. They can see pictures in their mind in perfect detail and living color. This ability to see things can lead the Melancholy tohave fantasies, both sexual and romantic. In these fantasies the relationships are so perfect that real life could not possibly live up to it, and they are let down. The Melancholy in Inclusion is very moody; theirthought process brings their moods up and down. The Melancholy mind is extremely tough. Once the mind is made up, it is almost impossible to change it. However, this mind also has a great thirst for knowledge. Once this thirst has been uncovered, it is almost unquenchable. The more they learn, the more they want to learn; the more they discover, the more they need to discover. The person who has these kind of intellectual powers can also appear rude when you are talking to them. They are not really rude; it is just that they are thinkers. You will say or do something that will start their mind working, and they will wander off in thought, totally oblivious to what you are saying.