Psychological Profile of Sasang Typology: A Systematic Review

Abstract

A systematic review of studies related to the psychological characteristics of Sasang types was conducted with the goal of delineating generalizable psychological profiles based on Sasang typology, a traditional Korean medical typology with medical herbs and acupuncture that is characterized as personalized medicine. Journal articles pertaining to Sasang typology were collected using five electronic database systems in Korea and in the USA. As a result, 64 potentially relevant studies were identified and 21 peer-reviewed research articles that employed psychometric inventories were included. Beginning with the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory in 1992, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, NEO-Personality Inventory, Temperament and Character Inventory and other personality assessment tools were employed in the identified studies. Because data synthesis could not be carried out due to the heterogeneity of the studies, the present review article sought to delineate the mutual relevance of the studies based on research results pertaining to the correlation between the aforementioned psychological assessment instruments. Results of the review indicate that two super-factors, Extraversion and Neuroticism, serve as the foundation in regards to delineating personality constructs, such that the So-Yang type scored high on the Extraversion dimension and low on the Neuroticism dimension, while the So-Eum type scored low on the Extraversion dimension and high on the Neuroticism dimension. The present systematic review indicates that Sasang typology shares similarities with the Western psychological tradition.

Systematic review of type-specific pathophysiological symptoms of Sasang typology

“…There have been studies on the psychological,5, 6, 7 physical,3, 8 genetic,9, 10 and pathophysiological symptoms 8 of each Sasang type, and these have shown that the biopsychosocial profile of each Sasang type is stable across the lifespan using the Sasang Personality Questionnaire 3 and the ponderal index 4 . The biopsychological distinction between Sasang types may be related to specific mechanisms, such as extroversion and neuroticism, 5 novelty seeking and harm avoidance,6, 11, 12 behavioral activation and inhibition systems (neurotransmitters),3, 12, 13 hypothalamic activity, 4 basal metabolic rate, 4 thyroid activity, 4 and the autonomic nervous system 14, 15, 16.…”

Biopsychological Structure of the Sasang Personality Questionnaire in Elementary School Students

“…선행 연구를 통해, 사상 체질 그룹별로 고유하게 지니고 있는 심리적 특성 [3][4] , 신체적 특성 2) , 생병리적 특성 5) , 유전적 특성 6) 이 확인되었으며, 이들의 토대가 되는 생물학적 기전들 또한 제시되었다 [3][4] . 생리심리적 측면에 있어서, 소양인이 높은 행동활성 시스템 (Behavioral Activation System, BAS)과 낮은 행동 억제시스템 (Behavioral Inhibition System, BIS) 활성을, 소음인이 낮은 BAS 및 높은 BIS 활성을 지니는 것으로 제시되었다 [7][8][9] .…”

Differences in Physical Fitness and Eating Attitude among Female University Students according to the Sasang Personality Questionnaire

“…The physiology section is based on blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm as suggested by Hippocrates, while the psychology section is based on mood and divided into four temperaments or constitutions: sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic, as suggested by the Greek physician Galen and said to be closer to the stable-extrovert, neurotic-extrovert, stable-introvert, and neurotic introvert temperaments, respectively [1,2,3]. On the other hand, there is also a section on traditional medicine, such as Ayurveda, Tibetan medicine, and traditional Chinese constitution medicine together with Korean Sasang typology; furthermore, the first section has been a major concern for them [4].…”

“…In 1992, the peculiar personality traits of the Sasang classification were initiated and developed for use in various objective tools [2,9]. There were several reports on the impact of personality traits on health [10,11].…”

“…Impact measurement includes the dimensions of positive and negative effects [12,13]. Given these findings regarding the role of personality in health based on the classification of Sasang, the SPQ (Sasang Personality Questionnaire) was used as a new objective tool to measure the relationship between physical fitness and eating attitudes [2].…”