7: Temperament

Question 1

Temperament

Answer 1

Individual’s typical manner of responding to environment. Behavior style - how not why.

Question 2

Thomas & Chess

Answer 2

New York Longitudinal Study with many children over long period, 9 temperament dimensions

Question 3

Temperament - easy, difficult, slow-to-warm-up infants

Answer 3

Easy (40%): regular rhythms, positive mood, quick adaptability, low intensity, low sensitivity
Difficult (10%): irregular sleeping and eating, easily upset by new, extremes of fussiness and crying
Slow to warm-up (50%) - low activity, adapt to new things after repeated experiences, gradual

Question 4

Rothbart’s three categories

Answer 4

Differences in reactivity and self-regulation in 3 styles: surgency-extraversion (impulsive, active, positive), negative affectivity (fearful, angry, uncomfortable), effortful control (focused, controlled, sensitive, low-intensity)

Question 5

Kagan’s behavioral inhibition

Answer 5

Emphasis on genetics and stability of temperament. High-reactive (inhibited) children react highly to new things. Low-reactive (uninhibited) don’t really.

Question 6

3 key questions about temperament

Answer 6

1. How does it emerge and develop?
2. How stable is it?
3. Long-term consequence for behavioral development?

Question 7

Genes and temperament

Answer 7

Twin studies suggest temperament dimensions have genetic basis. No individual genes - mostly focused on genes involved with dopamine and serotonin function. Effects small- likely each dimension affected by multiple genes

Question 8

Brain physiology and temperament

Answer 8

Temperament associated with asymmetry in activation of frontal areas of brain. High-reactive (inhibited) with hyper-aroused amygdala when exposed to new faces.

Question 9

Stability of temperament

Answer 9

Most dimensions moderate to highly stable across childhood with consistent individual differences emerging at 2-4 years. Effortful control - those who could delay gratification in preschool performed better in go/nogo 40 years later.

Question 10

Long-term effects of temperament

Answer 10

Shy/inhibited children tend to be so as adults. Effortful control predicts good executive function later. High reactive/inhibited with greater risk of anxiety and other emotional disorders. Low levels of surgency-extraversion with low smiling, internalizing problems