Temperament

            The study of temperaments dates back at least 2,400 years ago with Hippocrates. Hippocrates suggested that one’s personality depends on the number of humors in the body. An excess of blood produced a very cheerful Sanguine, black bile caused depressed melancholic, yellow bile resulted in the angry choleric, while the phlegm produced the calm phlegmatic (Ashton, 2017). Even Alfred Adler and Ivan Pavlov, pioneers in the psychological realm, identify these same temperaments in their studies. The solid historical and scientific background of temperaments is undisputable and could be discussed or analyzed at great length.

Arno Profile System

The Arno Profile System measures inborn temperament with an accuracy of 95.7%, with the therapeutic model having a success rate of 93.4% (Arno & Arno, 1993). The concept is based on Creation Therapy, meaning we were created and not born as blank slates as some secular psychologists suggest. After all, regardless of your faith beliefs, how can we truly be born as blank slates after seeing the differences in newborns from the moment they come from the womb? Some cry, need to be held, prefer music, need silence. The differences are astounding once you begin to analyze how each set of new parents has an entirely different child on their hands from the start. The various versions of reports available through the Arno Profile System, accompanied by its high accuracy, are sure to meet individuals right where they are.

Arno and Arno (1993) created the Arno Profile System, which measures a person’s inborn temperament providing information that identifies one’s vulnerabilities and strengths, bringing valuable insight to lasting emotional well-being. Understanding one’s needs, including how one expresses them and wants them, is crucial in developing healthy individuals. By utilizing an Arno Profile System Report, a questionnaire with 60 questions that takes less than 10 minutes to complete, individuals can identify their temperament and needs in several areas revealing their unique temperament.

There are five main temperaments that Arno and Arno (1993) identify, which include Melancholy, Chloric, Sanguine, Supine, and Phlegmatic. The Arno Profile System scientifically and mathematically measures the individual’s inclusion, control, and affection scores and their expressive and responsive scores in each category. While there are pure temperaments, meaning the individual has the same temperament in all three areas, there are also blends. For example, an individual could score Melancholy in inclusion, Supine in control, and Sanguine in affection. This individual would not prefer social settings, desire others to take control of their lives, yet require much affection. Furthermore, an individual may express themselves with one temperament yet, respond with another. For example, an individual may express themselves as a Melancholy in inclusion but respond as a Sanguine. In this instance, individuals would require minimal socialization yet behave if they desire to be the center of attention. As one may begin to see, the unique temperament needs may cause chaos in one’s life as one is unaware of how to meet their needs. Often, individuals may not even know what their actual needs are.

Five different Arno Profile System Reports are available, depending on the analysis needed. Reports can be clinical, intended for a counselor to assist a client, personal, which acts as a self-help tool, clinical for youth between 7 and 17, personal, which assists in career counseling, or a special personal profile that provides clients with a report that is non-offensive.  The information from the report allows counselors and individuals access to insight that would take them an enormous amount of time and numerous sessions to determine. Imagine having the source of the individual’s internal and external battles.

Military Religion Demographics

Creation Therapy should not be a deterrent due to its faith-based approach. Especially considering that only 2 percent of the active-duty population is atheist or agnostic, while 70 percent are Christian, leaving the remaining individuals to have faith-based beliefs (Kamarck, 2019). In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, over 90 percent of Veterans say they are religious, with 73 percent identifying as people of faith (Rogers, 2019). In other words, it is plausible to believe that most veterans will not contest the faith-based system. One could argue that a solid faith-based program would appeal to a more significant portion of the veteran population than those programs that specifically target only minorities, LGBTQ+, or women, especially considering there are individuals who identify with these specific groups while also having faith-based beliefs. However, one’s belief system does not impact the test results, findings, or accuracy. One with no faith beliefs could find the information as valuable as someone who regularly practices the faith. The difference is whether they believe in the foundation that generates the results or how they implement them into their lives.

Importance of Faith

Research suggests a connection between religious beliefs and practices resulting in less suicide, depression, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse (Koenig et al., 2012). Cheng (2020) suggests that religion and spirituality are becoming increasingly crucial in psychiatric assessment and treatment as they can be an essential part of cultural heritage and a vital asset in healing and social support. Those affiliated with a religion experience higher self-esteem, hope, purpose, and meaning  (Chen et al., 2006), having the ability to better cope with illness and stress (Yangarber-Hicks, 2004). Salsman et al. (2005) suggest spirituality correlates with higher life satisfaction and an enhanced sense of well-being, social support, and optimism. There is an ample amount of research proving that a faith-based program has a significant impact on one’s well-being.

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