Temperament and Personality

Question 1

Rothbart’s definition of termperament

Answer 1

individual differences in reactivity and self-regulation assumed to have a constitutional basis (Rothbart et al., 2000).

Question 2

Rothbart’s definition of reactivity

Answer 2

the excitability, responsivity, or arousability of the behavioral and physiological systems of the organism

Question 3

Rothbart’s definition of self-regulation

Answer 3

neural and behavioral processes functioning to modulate underlying reactivity

Question 4

Rothbart’s definition of constitution

Answer 4

the relatively enduring biological makeup of the organism, influenced over time by heredity, maturation, and experience

Question 5

Measurable characteristics of Rothbart’s reactivity

Answer 5

latency of response, rise time, peak intensity, overall intensity, and recovery from a peak of excitation

Question 6

How is temperament different from “behavioral style”?

Answer 6

Temperament is conceptualized to be observable in the appropriate context, for example a disposition to fear in a dangerous situation but not when familiar and safe, or to frustration when one has been blacked from reaching a goal but not when goals have been satisfied

Question 7

How is temperament different from personality? Personality adds…

Answer 7

(a) the individual’s views of the self of other people and of the physical world
(b) links between the self and other entities in concepts, schemas, and life narratives
(c) cognitive adaptations to the social world, including coping mechanisms and defenses.

Question 8

CBQ (by Rothbart et al.)

Answer 8

Child behavioral questionnaire

Question 9

The CBQ measures….

Answer 9

…measures temperamental characteristics of preschool and early school-age children along 16 dimensions (examples: activity level, anger/frustration, attentional focusing, inhibitory control)