Temperament

Question 1

Temperament

Answer 1

biologically based individual differences in behavioral functioning that remain stable over time

Question 2

What was the first major study of Temperament?

Answer 2

141 participants were followed from infancy to adulthood where parents were interviewed about their children

Question 3

In the First Major Study of Temperament, how often were parents interviewed about their 0-18 month old?

Answer 3

Every 3 months

Question 4

In the First Major Study of Temperament, how often were parents interviewed about their 18 month to 5 year old?

Answer 4

Every 6 months

Question 5

In the First Major Study of Temperament, how often were parents interviewed about their 5+ year old?

Answer 5

Every year

Question 6

What was found from the First major study of Temperament?

Answer 6

there are nine dimensions of temperament

Question 7

What are the nine dimensions of temperament?

Answer 7

1. Mood
2. approach/withdrawal
3. Adaptability
4. Intensity
5. Rhythm
6. persistence
7. Sensory Threshold
8. Activity
9. Distractibility

Question 8

Mood

Answer 8

whether people are habitually positive or negative

Question 9

Signs of a positive mood in children

Answer 9

smile and laughing at parents, happily plays with parents/siblings, joy from accomplishments

Question 10

Signs of a negative mood in children

Answer 10

fussy during and after eating, crying often, cries when mother leaves briefly, intense distress when unable to complete homework problems

Question 11

Approach/Withdrawal

Answer 11

how children respond to novelty (new things)

Question 12

High Approach Indicators

Answer 12

enjoy encountering new people and not afraid to take risks

Question 13

Low Approach Indicators

Answer 13

do not like new activities and can be tentative/frightened by new situations

Question 14

Adaptability

Answer 14

How a child responds to changes in daily routine

Question 15

Adaptable Indicators

Answer 15

can nap anywhere

Question 16

Not Adaptable Indicators

Answer 16

must nap at specific times/place, distress with new babysitters/school/teacher

Question 17

Intensity

Answer 17

Strength of emotional reactions

Question 18

High intensity

Answer 18

exhibit extreme highs and lows

Question 19

Low Intensity

Answer 19

subdued reactions

Question 20

Rhythm

Answer 20

Regularity of a child’s biological reactions

Question 21

Predicable/Regular Child

Answer 21

sleep/eat at same time each day and same amount

Question 22

Unpredictable/Irregular Child

Answer 22

does not sleep/eat regularly

Question 23

Persistence

Answer 23

How Children respond to challenges

Question 24

Sensory Threshold

Answer 24

how sensitive a child is to sensory stimuli

Question 25

High Threshold

Answer 25

can sleep through anything and ignore loud noise in restraunts

Question 26

Low Threshold

Answer 26

notices even soft sounds; irritated by even fabrics or clothing

Question 27

Activity

Answer 27

what proportion of the day do kids spend time being physically active vs inactive?

Question 28

Distractibility

Answer 28

how good a child is at focusing on an object/task and ignoring distracting stimuli

Question 29

What is the Easy Temperament combination?

Answer 29

positive, rhythmic, adaptable and mild to moderate intensity

Question 30

What is the Difficult Temperament Combination?

Answer 30

negative, active, irregular, non-adaptive, withdrawal and intense

Question 31

What is the Slow to Warm up temperament combination?

Answer 31

withdrawal, slow to adapt, mild to moderate reactivity, low in activity

Question 32

What is the main factor that influences temperament over time?

Answer 32

The "goodness of fit" between children and parent; the parent has to work with child, not against

Question 33

What are the criticisms of Thomas and Chess?

Answer 33

1. same interviewer talked to parents each time 2. social desirability bias 3. negative bias

Question 34

What are modern measurement techniques used when interviewing parents?

Answer 34

1. video tape 2. more precise questions 3. interview supplemented by other methods

Question 35

Kagan Study

Answer 35

Measured 4 month olds reactions to novel experiences and then again at 4 years in lab to see if temperament is consistent over time

Question 36

What did the Kagan Study conclude?

Answer 36

temperament can change a bit , but not dramatically