Temper vs. Temperament — What's the Difference?

The act of tempering or bringing something to a desirable state.

A predisposition to particular emotional responses.

The tendency to become angry very quickly.

The configuration of the mind as it affects a person's behavior.

A person's state of mind seen in terms of their being angry or calm.

An individual's characteristic pattern of emotional reactivity and intensity.

The degree of hardness and elasticity in steel or other metal.

The aspect of personality concerned with emotional disposition and habitual mood.

A balance of different elements or qualities.

Inherited traits that influence behavior from early childhood.

To modify by the addition of a moderating element; moderate

In psychology, temperament broadly refers to consistent individual differences in behavior that are biologically based and are relatively independent of learning, system of values and attitudes. Some researchers point to association of temperament with formal dynamical features of behavior, such as energetic aspects, plasticity, sensitivity to specific reinforcers and emotionality.

To bring to a desired consistency, texture, hardness, or other physical condition by blending, admixing, or kneading

A person's or animal's nature, especially as it permanently affects their behaviour

To harden or strengthen (metal or glass) by application of heat or by heating and cooling.

The adjustment of intervals in tuning a piano or other musical instrument so as to fit the scale for use in different keys; in equal temperament, the octave consists of twelve equal semitones

To strengthen through experience or hardship; toughen

The manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting characteristic of a specific person

(Music) To adjust (the pitch of an instrument) to a temperament.

The distinguishing mental and physical characteristics of a human according to medieval physiology, resulting from dominance of one of the four humors.

To be or become tempered.

Excessive irritability or sensitiveness

A state of mind or emotion; disposition

(Music) See equal temperament.

Calmness of mind or emotions; composure

A person's usual manner of thinking, behaving or reacting.

A tendency to become easily angry or irritable

A tendency to become irritable or angry.

Anger; rage

(music) The altering of certain intervals from their correct values in order to improve the moving from key to key.

A characteristic general quality; tone

(psychology) Individual differences in behavior that are biologically based and are relatively independent of learning, system of values and attitudes.

The condition of being tempered.

(obsolete) A moderate and proportionable mixture of elements or ingredients in a compound; the condition in which elements are mixed in their proper proportions.

The degree of hardness and elasticity of a metal, chiefly steel, achieved by tempering.

(obsolete) Any state or condition as determined by the proportion of its ingredients or the manner in which they are mixed; consistence, composition; mixture.

A modifying substance or agent added to something else.

Internal constitution; state with respect to the relative proportion of different qualities, or constituent parts.

(Archaic) A middle course between extremes; a mean.

Due mixture of qualities; a condition brought about by mutual compromises or concessions.

A general tendency or orientation towards a certain type of mood, a volatile state; a habitual way of thinking, behaving or reacting.

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.

State of mind; mood.

Condition with regard to heat or cold; temperature.

A tendency to become angry.

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.

Anger; a fit of anger.

Your usual mood;

Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure.

Excessive emotionalism or irritability and excitability (especially when displayed openly)

Middle state or course; mean; medium.

An adjustment of the intervals (as in tuning a keyboard instrument) so that the scale can be used to play in different keys

The state of any compound substance which results from the mixture of various ingredients; due mixture of different qualities.

The heat treatment to which a metal or other material has been subjected; a material that has undergone a particular heat treatment.

The state of a metal or other substance, especially as to its hardness, produced by some process of heating or cooling.

Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify sugar.

To moderate or control.

To strengthen or toughen a material, especially metal, by heat treatment; anneal.

(cooking) To adjust the temperature of an ingredient (e.g. eggs or chocolate) gradually so that it remains smooth and pleasing.

To sauté spices in ghee or oil to release essential oils for flavouring a dish in South Asian cuisine.

To mix clay, plaster or mortar with water to obtain the proper consistency.

(music) To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual scale, or to that in actual use.

To govern; to manage.

(archaic) To combine in due proportions; to constitute; to compose.

(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.

(obsolete) To fit together; to adjust; to accommodate.

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.

To fit together; to adjust; to accomodate.

To bring to a proper degree of hardness; as, to temper iron or steel.

To govern; to manage.

To moisten to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly, as clay for making brick, loam for molding, etc.

To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual scale, or to that in actual use.

To accord; to agree; to act and think in conformity.

To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to grow soft and pliable.

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.

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.

Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure; as, to keep one's temper.

Heat of mind or passion; irritation; proneness to anger; - in a reproachful sense.

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.

Middle state or course; mean; medium.

Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify sugar.

A sudden outburst of anger;

A characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling;

A disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger;

The elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking

Toughen (steel or glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling;

Harden by reheating and cooling in oil;

Adjust the pitch (of pianos)

Make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate;

Restrain or temper

While temperament is relatively stable and rooted in genetics, individuals can learn to adapt and manage their inborn tendencies over time.

Yes, both temper and temperament significantly impact interpersonal relationships, influencing communication, conflict resolution, and compatibility.

Temperament is a broader concept referring to the inborn part of personality that influences one's overall patterns of thought, behavior, and emotion, while temper focuses more on immediate emotional reactions.

Temper refers to how a person reacts emotionally to situations, especially in terms of anger and calmness.

Yes, having a volatile temper can affect professional relationships and opportunities, while managing temper positively can enhance teamwork and leadership.

Yes, certain temperamental traits may predispose individuals to specific mental health challenges, but it doesn't determine fate. Awareness and management play crucial roles.

Yes, temper can be controlled and managed through various strategies such as mindfulness, emotional regulation techniques, and therapy.

Temperament is often assessed through questionnaires and observations, especially in children, to understand their innate dispositions towards behavior and emotion.

Culture shapes the expression of temper and the perception of temperament traits, influencing what is considered acceptable or desirable in behavior and emotional expression.

Yes, animals also have temperaments, observable in their behavior patterns, reactions, and interactions with humans and other animals.

In psychology, temper and temperament are used to understand individual differences, guide therapeutic approaches, and predict behavior patterns.

Temper and temperament can affect learning styles, motivation, and the ability to handle stress or challenges in educational settings.

Yes, most individuals exhibit a mix of temperamental traits, resulting in a unique personality that can change and evolve over time.

Yes, temperament theories often categorize individuals into types, such as sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic, based on their dominant traits.

Genetics play a significant role in determining temperament, influencing innate predispositions towards certain emotional states and behaviors.