Temperament Flashcards
What is personality?
an emergent property that is made up of both temperament and the development of an individual character based on their experiences
What is Thomas and Chess’ definition of temperament?
the tendency to respond in characteristic and predictable ways to environmental events
What was the research design of Thomas and Chess’ study?
longitudinal study in which they conducted clinical interviews with mothers of 2 to 3 month old infants, then continued interviewing children into infancy to adulthood
What 9 dimensions did researchers assess in children in the Thomas & Chess study?
- activity level
- biological rhythmicity
- approach/withdrawal
- adaptability
- intensity of reaction
- quality of mood
- persistence/attention span
- distractability
- sensory threshold
What were the three temperament profiles in Thomas and Chess’ study?
(in order from most common to least common)
- flexible (easy)
- fearful (cautious)
- feisty (difficult)
What characteristics made up the flexible temperament profile?
- regular rhythms
- positive mood
- adaptability
- low intensity
- low sensitivity
What characteristics made up the fearful temperament profile?
- adapts slowly
- withdraws
What characteristics made up the feisty profile?
- active
- intense
- distractible
- sensitive
- irregular
- moody
What was Kagan’s definition of temperament?
behavioral inhibition: a temperament that reflects one’s tendency to withdraw from unfamiliar people, situations, or things
What characterizes inhibited temperament within 4 month olds?
upset at novel stimuli
What characterizes inhibited temperament within 1-2 year olds?
shy, fearful of unfamiliar situations, people, toys
What characterizes inhibited temperament within 4.5 year olds?
little talking or smiling with strangers
What characterizes uninhibited temperament within 4 month olds?
no negative reaction to novelty
What characterizes uninhibited temperament within 1-2 year olds?
little fear of new situations or people
What characterizes uninhibited temperament within 4.5 year olds?
spontaneous talking, smiling
What behavior did the unreactive infant exhibit at ten years old when in a room with the researcher?
made conversation, talking and laughing
What behavior did the reactive infant exhibit at ten years old when in a room with the researcher?
uncomfortable, short responses, antsy
What is heterotypic continuity?
same temperament presents itself differently as different traits throughout infancy, childhood, and adulthood