Agape Counseling Center Articles

The Temperament Theory Pt. 2

December 11, 2006

Ken Wilson

The temperament is made up of three specific areas: Inclusion, Control and Affection. Scientists have been able to quantify these emotional need areas with the Temperament Analysis Profile. Temperament has not previously been identified as a part of the precise order or balance of man. Temperament is a missing link in this balance. The spirit (the source of the will and life of man) is the binding, balancing and blending agent, which provides order within man (James 2:26).
The temperament is able to meet its emotional needs by drawing from the regions of either the lower self (the flesh) or the higher region of the self (the soul). This higher realm is the area conducive to the Holy Scriptures (Romans 8: 12-14). If the body and spirit are to remain in balance, these three emotional need areas (Inclusion, Control and Affection) of the temperament must be balanced. If the body and spirit are out of balance, the physical man will break down. We can know this order, and Temperament Therapy helps to provide a means to achieve balance in this order.
Inclusion is the need to establish and maintain a satisfactory relationship with people in the area of surface relationships, association and socialization. This need within the temperament, ranges from approaching a great many people for association (socializing, surface relationships) to approaching only a select few or wanting to be approached by many or wanting almost no one to approach us.
Control is the need to establish and maintain a satisfactory relationship with people in respect to control and power. The Control area involves a decision-making process between people and can be described in such terms as: power, authority, dominance, influence, control, follower, anarchy, and submission. It includes a wide range from maintaining control over everyone's behavior to maintaining control over no one's behavior. It also includes wanting no one to control our behavior to wanting everyone to control our behavior.
Affection is the need to establish and maintain a satisfactory relationship with others in regards to love and affection. It includes wanting to express love and affection to everyone to wanting love and affection expressed to us from everyone or almost no one at all. It is unique within the temperament because it can only occur one person to one person .
Temperament Therapy (along with the word of God: Hebrews 4:12) is in part, a means by which man is given the understanding of his temperament and the knowledge to find balance and the perfect place that God has designed for him. Temperament Therapy is the mechanism by which man is given the ability to find balance of body, soul and spirit allowing him to be the best that God created him to be (1 Thessalonians 5: 23).
Since the emotional side of man is linked and will react with his physical side and his spiritual side, then, when the temperament needs are not met, it will affect the physical and spiritual side of man. To provide man with the foundation for spiritual growth and physical well-being, we must understand the temperament and provide a means to meet all the needs in ways, which are spiritually and physically healthy and pleasing to God.

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