temperament I Flashcards
(18 cards)
What does temperament refer to?
Individual differences in the how of behavior, involving traits that are biologically based, stable over time, and evident early in life.
How does temperament differ from ability and motivation?
Temperament is how behavior is expressed; ability is what/how well; motivation is why.
What are commonalities across definitions of temperament?
Focus on individual differences
Involves sets of traits
Traits are pervasive and relatively stable
Biologically based
Emerges early in life
What are key disagreements in temperament research?
Boundaries of what constitutes temperament
Variation in listed traits (e.g., activity, emotionality)
Relationship between temperament and personality
Who developed the paediatric approach to temperament?
Thomas & Chess (1977)
What was the major study by Thomas & Chess?
New York Longitudinal Study (1956)
What are the 9 temperament traits identified by Thomas & Chess?
Activity level
Regularity
Approach-withdrawal
Adaptability
Threshold of responsiveness
Intensity of reaction
Quality of mood
Distractibility
Attention span
What is the 3-way typology of temperament in children according to Thomas & Chess?
Easy
Difficult
Slow to warm up
How do Buss & Plomin (1987) define temperament?
Inherited personality traits that appear in infancy, during the first year of life.
How is temperament distinguished from personality in this tradition?
Temperament appears early and is primarily genetic; personality includes acquired traits and develops later.
What are the EAS traits identified by Buss & Plomin?
Emotionality
Activity
Sociability
How do Rothbart & Bates (1998) define temperament?
Constitutionally based individual differences in emotional, motor, and attentional reactivity and self-regulation.
What are Rothbart’s key temperament traits?
Fearful distress/inhibition
Irritable distress
Attention span & persistence
Activity level
Positive affect/approach
Rhythmicity
Agreeableness/adaptability
What evidence supports the heritability of temperament traits?
EAS traits (Buss & Plomin, 1984) show strong genetic influence.
What does twin design help researchers estimate?
The contribution of genetics and environment to a trait by comparing MZ and DZ twins.
What are the components of phenotypic variation?
Heritability (A or h²): genetic factors
Shared environment (C or c²): makes twins similar
Nonshared environment (E or e²): makes twins different
Equation: P = h² + c² + e²
What does Plomin et al. (1993) suggest about temperament stability?
Genetic factors account for stability; environmental factors account for change across age.
What is meant by the “additive assumption” in heritability studies?
Genetic effects are assumed to add together linearly, but this may not always hold true.
