Temper vs. Temperament: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Temper" often refers to a person's state of mind or mood, especially in terms of their patience or anger, while "Temperament" describes the consistent aspects of one's personality, including their disposition and nature.
Key Differences
Emotional Response vs. Inherent Nature: Temper usually relates to the immediate mood or emotional state of a person, especially regarding their patience or proneness to anger. Temperament, in contrast, refers to the more ingrained, consistent part of one's personality, encompassing their overall disposition and natural tendencies.
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Nov 19, 2023
While temper is often mentioned in the context of anger or patience, temperament is discussed in terms of broader personality traits, such as being choleric, sanguine, melancholic, or phlegmatic.
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Nov 19, 2023
A person's temper can fluctuate and change based on immediate circumstances or triggers. Temperament, however, is seen as a more stable and enduring aspect of personality that influences behavior over time.
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Nov 19, 2023
Temper is often perceived as a reactive trait, susceptible to change and often viewed negatively when it relates to anger. Temperament is perceived as a fundamental characteristic, forming the basis of how an individual is generally seen by others.
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Nov 19, 2023
Temperament is often discussed in psychological and developmental contexts, as it is considered a foundational trait influencing one's approach to the world. Temper, on the other hand, is more about immediate emotional reactions and less tied to deep-seated personality traits.
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Nov 19, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
State of mind or mood, especially regarding anger or patience.
Inherent aspects of one's personality, including disposition and nature.
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Nov 19, 2023
Contextual Use
Often related to immediate emotional responses.
Related to overall personality traits and behaviors.
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Stability
Can change based on immediate circumstances.
Generally stable and enduring throughout life.
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Perception
Viewed as a reactive trait, often negatively when related to anger.
Seen as a fundamental personality characteristic.
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Relevance in Psychology
Less focus in psychological profiling.
Key focus in psychological and developmental studies.
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Temper and Temperament Definitions
Temper
Temper refers to a person's immediate mood or emotional state.
His temper flared up during the argument.
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Temperament
Temperament can describe a person's typical behavioral patterns.
Her calm temperament helps in stressful situations.
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Temper
Temper can indicate a tendency toward anger or irritation.
She lost her temper when the computer crashed.
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Temperament
Temperament can relate to the innate tendencies of a person.
His artistic temperament is evident in his creativity.
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Temper
Temper might also indicate the quality of being tempered or moderated.
A temper of kindness softened his decisions.
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Temperament
Temperament refers to the inherent part of one's personality.
His cheerful temperament makes him popular.
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Temper
To modify by the addition of a moderating element; moderate
"temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom" (Robert H. Jackson).
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Oct 19, 2023
Temperament
The manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting characteristic of a specific person
A nervous temperament.
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Temper
To bring to a desired consistency, texture, hardness, or other physical condition by blending, admixing, or kneading
Temper clay.
Paints that had been tempered with oil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temperament
The distinguishing mental and physical characteristics of a human according to medieval physiology, resulting from dominance of one of the four humors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
To harden or strengthen (metal or glass) by application of heat or by heating and cooling.
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Temperament
Excessive irritability or sensitiveness
An actor with too much temperament.
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Temper
To strengthen through experience or hardship; toughen
Soldiers who had been tempered by combat.
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Temperament
(music) The altering of certain intervals from their correct values in order to improve the moving from key to key.
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Temperament
(psychology) Individual differences in behavior that are biologically based and are relatively independent of learning, system of values and attitudes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temperament
(obsolete) A moderate and proportionable mixture of elements or ingredients in a compound; the condition in which elements are mixed in their proper proportions.
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Temperament
(obsolete) Any state or condition as determined by the proportion of its ingredients or the manner in which they are mixed; consistence, composition; mixture.
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Temper
A characteristic general quality; tone
Heroes who exemplified the medieval temper.
The politicized temper of the 1930s.
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Temperament
Internal constitution; state with respect to the relative proportion of different qualities, or constituent parts.
The common law . . . has reduced the kingdom to its just state and temperament.
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Temperament
Due mixture of qualities; a condition brought about by mutual compromises or concessions.
However, I forejudge not any probable expedient, any temperament that can be found in things of this nature, so disputable on their side.
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Temper
The degree of hardness and elasticity of a metal, chiefly steel, achieved by tempering.
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Temperament
The act of tempering or modifying; adjustment, as of clashing rules, interests, passions, or the like; also, the means by which such adjustment is effected.
Wholesome temperaments of the rashness of popular assemblies.
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Temperament
Condition with regard to heat or cold; temperature.
Bodies are denominated "hot" and "cold" in proportion to the present temperament of that part of our body to which they are applied.
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Temperament
A system of compromises in the tuning of organs, pianofortes, and the like, whereby the tones generated with the vibrations of a ground tone are mutually modified and in part canceled, until their number reduced to the actual practicable scale of twelve tones to the octave. This scale, although in so far artificial, is yet closely suggestive of its origin in nature, and this system of tuning, although not mathematically true, yet satisfies the ear, while it has the convenience that the same twelve fixed tones answer for every key or scale, C$ becoming identical with D$, and so on.
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Temper
A general tendency or orientation towards a certain type of mood, a volatile state; a habitual way of thinking, behaving or reacting.
To have a good, bad, or calm temper
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Temperament
The peculiar physical and mental character of an individual, in olden times erroneously supposed to be due to individual variation in the relations and proportions of the constituent parts of the body, especially of the fluids, as the bile, blood, lymph, etc. Hence the phrases, bilious or choleric temperament, sanguine temperament, etc., implying a predominance of one of these fluids and a corresponding influence on the temperament.
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Temper
A tendency to become angry.
To have a hasty temper
He has quite a temper when dealing with salespeople.
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Temperament
Excessive emotionalism or irritability and excitability (especially when displayed openly)
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Temperament
An adjustment of the intervals (as in tuning a keyboard instrument) so that the scale can be used to play in different keys
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Temper
Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure.
To keep one's temper; to lose one's temper; to recover one's temper
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Temperament
Temperament may indicate the general mood or disposition of a person.
A melancholic temperament often leads to introspection.
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Temper
(obsolete) Constitution of body; the mixture or relative proportion of the four humours: blood, choler, phlegm, and melancholy.
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Temperament
Temperament often signifies the usual way a person interacts with the world.
Her outgoing temperament makes her a great host.
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Temper
The state of any compound substance which results from the mixture of various ingredients; due mixture of different qualities.
The temper of mortar
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Temper
The heat treatment to which a metal or other material has been subjected; a material that has undergone a particular heat treatment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
The state of a metal or other substance, especially as to its hardness, produced by some process of heating or cooling.
The temper of iron or steel
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Temper
Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify sugar.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
To strengthen or toughen a material, especially metal, by heat treatment; anneal.
Tempering is a heat treatment technique applied to metals, alloys, and glass to achieve greater toughness by increasing the strength of materials and/or ductility. Tempering is performed by a controlled reheating of the work piece to a temperature below its lower eutectic critical temperature.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
(cooking) To adjust the temperature of an ingredient (e.g. eggs or chocolate) gradually so that it remains smooth and pleasing.
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Temper
To sauté spices in ghee or oil to release essential oils for flavouring a dish in South Asian cuisine.
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Temper
To mix clay, plaster or mortar with water to obtain the proper consistency.
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Temper
(music) To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual scale, or to that in actual use.
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Temper
(archaic) To mingle in due proportion; to prepare by combining; to modify, as by adding some new element; to qualify, as by an ingredient; hence, to soften; to mollify; to assuage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
To mingle in due proportion; to prepare by combining; to modify, as by adding some new element; to qualify, as by an ingredient; hence, to soften; to mollify; to assuage; to soothe; to calm.
Puritan austerity was so tempered by Dutch indifference, that mercy itself could not have dictated a milder system.
Woman! lovely woman! nature made theeTo temper man: we had been brutes without you.
But thy fireShall be more tempered, and thy hope far higher.
She [the Goddess of Justice] threw darkness and clouds about her, that tempered the light into a thousand beautiful shades and colors.
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Temper
To fit together; to adjust; to accomodate.
Thy sustenance . . . serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man's liking.
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Temper
To bring to a proper degree of hardness; as, to temper iron or steel.
The tempered metals clash, and yield a silver sound.
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Temper
To govern; to manage.
With which the damned ghosts he governeth,And furies rules, and Tartare tempereth.
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Temper
To moisten to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly, as clay for making brick, loam for molding, etc.
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Temper
To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual scale, or to that in actual use.
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Temper
To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to grow soft and pliable.
I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
The state of any compound substance which results from the mixture of various ingredients; due mixture of different qualities; just combination; as, the temper of mortar.
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Temper
Constitution of body; temperament; in old writers, the mixture or relative proportion of the four humors, blood, choler, phlegm, and melancholy.
The exquisiteness of his [Christ's] bodily temper increased the exquisiteness of his torment.
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Temper
Disposition of mind; the constitution of the mind, particularly with regard to the passions and affections; as, a calm temper; a hasty temper; a fretful temper.
Remember with what mildAnd gracious temper he both heared and judged.
The consequents of a certain ethical temper.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure; as, to keep one's temper.
To fall with dignity, with temper rise.
Restore yourselves to your tempers, fathers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
Heat of mind or passion; irritation; proneness to anger; - in a reproachful sense.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
The state of a metal or other substance, especially as to its hardness, produced by some process of heating or cooling; as, the temper of iron or steel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
Middle state or course; mean; medium.
The perfect lawgiver is a just temper between the mere man of theory, who can see nothing but general principles, and the mere man of business, who can see nothing but particular circumstances.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify sugar.
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Oct 19, 2023
Temper
A characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling;
Whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time
He was in a bad humor
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Temper
A disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger;
His temper was well known to all his employees
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Temper
The elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking
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Temper
Toughen (steel or glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling;
Temper glass
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Temper
Make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate;
She tempered her criticism
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Temper
Temper may describe the degree of patience or calmness in a person.
He has a short temper with slow service.
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Temper
Temper can refer to a person's characteristic emotional response.
Her temper is usually even and calm.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is temperament?
Inherent aspects of personality, including disposition and nature.
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Nov 19, 2023
Can temper be controlled?
Yes, through self-awareness and emotional regulation.
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Nov 19, 2023
What is temper?
A person's mood or emotional state, especially relating to anger or patience.
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Nov 19, 2023
Is temperament fixed from birth?
Largely, but it can be influenced by environment and experiences.
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Can exercise influence temper?
Regular exercise can help in managing and improving temper.
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How is temperament assessed?
Through observations, questionnaires, and psychological tests.
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How does temper affect relationships?
A volatile temper can strain interactions, whereas a calm temper often eases them.
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How does temper differ in children and adults?
Children often have less control over their temper than adults.
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Does temperament predict behavior?
To some extent, as it influences general attitudes and responses.
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Is understanding temperament useful in education?
Yes, it aids in tailoring learning approaches to individual needs.
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Is a bad temper a sign of underlying issues?
It can be, including stress, frustration, or deeper emotional problems.
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Does temperament affect career choice?
It can influence preferences and suitability for certain professions.
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Can stress affect temper?
Yes, stress often exacerbates a short or negative temper.
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Nov 19, 2023
Is temperament important in psychology?
Yes, as it helps understand behavioral patterns and personality.
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How do maturity and age affect temper?
With age and maturity, people often learn better temper management.
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Does culture influence temper?
Cultural norms can shape the expression and control of temper.
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Can temperament be changed?
It's relatively stable, but certain aspects can evolve over time.
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Can temperament impact social interactions?
Definitely, as it influences how a person engages with others.
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Nov 19, 2023
Are temper and temperament genetic?
Both have genetic components but are also influenced by environmental factors.
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Can medication affect temper?
Certain medications can impact mood and, consequently, temper.
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Nov 19, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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