Temperament
•The biological-genetic basis for the self-expressive, arousal, and self-regulatory components of personality.
These are evident in infancy in
the forms of activity
level, irritability, fearfulness, sociability, etc.
•In 1977 Thomas & Chess stated that childhood temperamental characteristics are relatively innate and well-established by 2-3 months
of age.
They identified tree types of temperament evident in infancy:
•Easy ─ high approach response; positive mood (mild to moderate intensity); quick adaptability;
•Difficult ─ high withdrawal response; frequent negative
mood of high
intensity; slow adaptability;
•Slow-to-warm-up ─ many withdrawal responses ( mild to moderate intensity); slow adaptability.
Thomas, A., & Chess, S. (1977).
Temperament and development. New York: Brunner/Mazel
•In 1984 Buss & Plomin proposed the following criteria for
temperament:
Inherited,
present early in development,
predictive of later personality development.
Buss, A., & Plomin, R. (1984).
Temperament: Early personality traits. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum. Side by Dr. Gordon Vessels 2005