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| Did you know that the tradition of sorting of four personality types into four houses can be traced back to centuries of philosophical and psychological theories? Here's a basic rundown of the evolution of grouping people according to personality from Hippocrates to Rowling! |
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The Philosophy of Four |
Hippocratic Humors |
Typology & Temperament |
Hogwarts Houses |
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An ancient theory linking human physiology to four elements |
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One
School = Four Houses. But why only four? There is one house for each of
the founders of Hogwarts, but there is more to it than that.
Four has long been considered an auspicious and magical number signifying stability, harmony, and balance. A year has four seasons. A square has four sides and four right angles. A measure in common time has four beats. A deck of cards has four suits. Four has been used in philosophy and religion for centuries. Ancient Greek philosophers and medieval alchemists adopted Empedocles' four elements: fire, water, earth, and air. Native Americans oriented themselves according to the four directions: north, south, east, and west. |
Jews ask and answer the Four Questions, but are forbidden to utter the
Tetragrammaton, or the four letters of God's name. The Four Gospels of
the New Testament proclaim the evangel of Christ. Buddha taught the Four
Noble Truths.
There are seven deadly sins, but only four cardinal virtues. And the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse might signal the end of the world, but a four-leaf clover signifies good luck. With four, there are two sets of opposites and two sets of complements. Tension is offset by tension. Unit is met with unity. So, while Harry may be a "four-eyes," he's always the first seeker to spot the golden snitch. Four might just be his lucky number. |
Hippocratic Humors
An ancient theory linking human physiology to four elements
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| Ancient
Greek physicians, such as Hippocrates and his followers, believed
that four humors, or elemental fluids, regulated the human
body.
These four humors were blood (L. sanguinis), yellow bile (Gk. xanthê cholê), phlegm (Gk. phlégma), and black bile (Gk. mela cholê). Each humor was attributed with its own combination of four qualities -- hot, cold, wet, and dry. Each was also associated with the classic element that shared its qualities, as follows: |
When
the humors were in balance, the human body was healthy. When one humor
predominated, illness resulted.
Seasonal changes could effect the balance of the humors and therefore one's health. Hot, wet spring weather fostered the blood, while hot, dry summer weather promoted yellow bile. Cold, rainy autumn days favored the development of phlegm. And cold, dry winter weather stimulated the development of black bile. |
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. Qualities of the Humors and the Elements
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. Qualities of the Humors and the Seasons
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Typology and Temperament
Two systems that classify people into one of four basic personality
types
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The Greek physician Galen later extended this typology,
or system of classification according to type, to include its effects on
human temperament. Galen hypothesized that personality could in some cases
be explained as a function of the predominant humor. His typology included
four personality types, as follows:
Sanguine types are ruled by blood. They tend to be cheerful, optimistic, and irresponsible. Choleric types are ruled by yellow bile. They're quick-witted, aggressive, and short-tempered. Phlegmatic types are ruled by phlegm. They are even-tempered but tend to be sluggish and unmotivated. Melancholic types are ruled by black bile. They are introspective, sentimental, and moody. |
But typologies of temperament aren't limited to the distant past. Swiss
psychologist
Carl G. Jung developed a four-pronged typology of temperament
early in the Twentieth Century. It was based on four functions of consciousness:
feeling,
thinking,
sensation, and intuition, with one function ruling. The others
serve a supportive role or are ignored. Four temperaments result:
Artisans tend to be innovative, charismatic, and impulsive. They seek freedom and excitement. Rationals are aggressive, resourceful, and strong-willed. They desire control and power. Guardians are dependable, stable, and self- deprecating. They seek harmony and order. Idealists are insightful, conscientious, and inflexible. They desire justice and perfection. |
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. Galen's Typology of Temperaments
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. Jung's Typology of Temperaments
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Hogwarts Houses
An analysis of Rowling's four
personality types
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While Rowling's four houses don't
fit neatly into the above categories, it's easy to see that they are based
on a typology. Gryffindors are courageous, Hufflepuffs are loyal, Ravenclaws
are intelligent, and Slytherins are clever.
But they each have their downside, too. For courage can be coupled with impulsiveness, loyalty with gullibility, intelligence with pretentiousness, and cleverness with arrogance. |
All the same, each student is an individual, and each has his or her own unique tendencies. Harry is decidedly a Gryffindor, but he has Slytherin-like tendencies as well. Hermione is also a Gryffindor, but no one would be surprised to see her sorted into Ravenclaw. And as for Neville, the Sorting Hat must have probed his mind very deeply to find the latent courage that placed him in Gryffindor instead of Hufflepuff. |
Rowling's Typology of Hogwarts Houses
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. courageous, instinctive, impulsive |
. clever, skillful, arrogant |
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. loyal, friendly, gullible |
. intelligent, diligent, pretentious |
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| So how would you describe
yourself? Are you courageous, optimistic, charismatic and impulsive? If
so, you might be a Sanguine type, and Artisan, and a Gryffindor.
If you're agressive, strong-willed, and resourceful, you're probably a
Choleric type, a Rational, and perhaps a Slytherin. If you tend
to be loyal, even-tempered and stable, chances are you'd describe yourself
as a Phlegmatic type, a Guardian, and a possible Hufflepuff. And
for those of you who are introspective, insightful, diligent and a bit
of a perfectionist, you might do well as a Melancholic type, an Idealist,
and a Ravenclaw.
Still not sure where you belong? Take our Sorting Hat Quiz to find out which of Rowling's four typologies best suits your personality. |
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