Temperament

2 components of temperament + what precursor to

• Emotional reactivity

• Self-regulation

• Personality (emerges around 8)

Dimensions of temperament (5) + mnemonic

• Smiling + laughter

• Fear (unease/worry)

• Distress/anger/frustration (at limitations)

^^emotionality

• Attention span

• Activity level: rate + extent of motor movements

Some foxes dance around apples

How temperament is measured (2) w/ example/s + disadvantage for each

• Questionnaires (parents answer, can be biased/subjective)

• Physiological measures: HRV, EEG (limited environments for observation)

Basic temperament patterns names w/ percentages 

• Easy babies: 40%

• Difficult babies: 10%

• “Slow to warm up” babies: 15%

• Average babies: 35%

Easy babies: (5)

• Positive mood

• Easy to calm

• Easily establish regular routine

• Adaptable

• Low intensity

Difficult babies (5)

• Negative mood

• Difficult to calm

• Don’t easily settle into routines

• Slow to adapt 

• High intensity

Slow-to-warm-up babies

• Difficult at first but get easier over time

• Low activity

Average babies (1)

• Show mix of characteristics from each category

How temperament is measured now

• No longer categorised as “easy babies” etc. (between-person approach), rather a within-person approach recognises that each child has different levels of each dimension

Factors influencing temperament (3)

• Genetics (moderate heritability)

• Parenting style (common sense, also feedback loops, e.g. smiling → elicits positive responses → more sociable + positive)

• Culture (differences in desirability of temperaments across cultures)

Stability of temperament (2)

• Depends on dimension

• Some consistent into adulthood

Factors influencing temperament

• Strong biological component

  • Genetic

  • Teratogens

• Gene-environment interactions (e.g. passive, evocative)

Differential susceptibility def

• Same temperament characteristic can lead to different outcomes (negative or positive) depending on home environment (negative or positive)