목적: The connection between personality and tinnitus had not been adequately studied. Personality consists of genetically determined temperament and character that can be changed by education or experience. The aims of this study is to describe the temperament and character traits in tinnitus patients and difference in these traits according to the severity of tinnitus. 방법:Ninety seven patients affected by tinnitus were recruited between January and December 2014. Audiology test of pure tone audiometry and tinnitogram was done. Patients underwent the tinnitus questionnaire battery, including Visual analogue scale, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and Temperament and character inventory (TCI). 결과:Most common temperament subtype was methodical/obsessional trait (13.4%). And rigid/patient and hyperthymic traits were second most (8.2%, 8.2%). Selfish traits of character subtype was mostly identified in tinnitus patients (11.3%). According to the THI score, subjects were categorized into non-severe tinnitus, n=79 and severe tinnitus, n=20. In the temperament analysis, score of novelty seeking was significantly lower in severe tinnitus group than in non-severe tinnitus. However, other parameters of temperament, including harm avoidance, reward dependence and persistence or character traits of self-directedness, cooperativeness and self-transcendence were not significantly different according to the severity of tinnitus. 결론: Decreased scores of novelty seeking was evident in patients with severe tinnitus. There might be a connection between tinnitus and temperament trait which is genetically or biologically determined.