Temperament

Temperament

a characteristic style of approaching and reacting to people and situations

Buss and Plomins model

• Individual differences in personality is due to innate tendencies 

• Four dispositions, emotionally, activity, sociability, impulsivity

Thomas and chess model (goodness of fit)

states that based on nine dimension together affect what category of broader temperamental attributes you have. Environmental expectations and temperamental attributes in balance is best for development.

Activity level T and C

how physically active is the child

Rhythmicity T and C

predictability/regularity in behavior patterns

Approach/withdraw T and C

characteristic way of response to new stimulus

Adaptability T and C

ease with which a response is modified to suit novel situations

Threshold to responsiveness T and C

 minimum intensity of the stimulus required to elicit a response from the infant

Intensity of reaction T and C

 energy level of response

Quality of mood T and C

 predominance of pleasant, friendly, behavior or unpleasant, unfriendly crying behavior

Distractibility T and C

the ease with which an environmental stimulus can alter behavior

Attention span and persistence T and C

 duration of which an activity is continued and continuation in the face of obstacles

Easy temperament(40%)

profile in which the child quickly establish regulate routines, is generally good natured and adapts easily to novelty

Difficult temperament(10%)

the child is irregular in daily routines, adapts slowly to new experiences and often respond negatively and intensely

Slow to warm up temperament(15%)

the child in inactive and moody, display mild passive resistance to new routines and experiences

Remaining(35%)

 Unique patterns of temperamental attributes

Rothbart’s model

 focuses on two factors of response; reactivity and ability to regulate reactivity. Regulation is is assessed by time taken to get back to return to homeostasis

Effortful control

 ability to focus and/or shift attentions as called for by the situation to suppress dominate/inappropriate responses in favor of more appropriate ones. E.g a child shows happiness because it get a toy it want even though the child is still upset. 

Kagan’s model

states that the child's in the extremes of the approach/withdrawal dimension has long time stability. Also this is modestly heritable. Two categories of children, behaviorally inhibited and uninhibited. These children’s high/low reactive amygdala is what drives their behavior style.

Anxiety disorder

children high in behavioral inhibition are at greater risk of social phobia but not specific phobia

Conduct disorder

 low behavioral inhibition leads to a lack of anticipatory anxiety/guilt and hence increases the likelihood of early onset conduct disorder