temperament II Flashcards
(15 cards)
What did Buss & Plomin (1984) conclude about temperament and heritability?
Temperament is moderately influenced by genetic factors, with consistent estimates across ages.
What role do genetic and environmental factors play in temperament stability?
Genetic factors mediate stability; environmental factors contribute to changes over time (Plomin et al., 1993).
Who introduced the clinical application of temperament and the concept of “goodness of fit”?
Thomas & Chess.
What is the “goodness of fit” concept?
Fit occurs when a child’s temperament aligns well with environmental demands, leading to adaptive development.
What happens in a “poorness of fit”?
When a child’s temperament doesn’t match the environment, it can lead to maladaptive functioning and distorted development.
What philosophical idea did the concept of temperament challenge?
The “tabula rasa” or blank slate theory of human development.
What types of issues are associated with early temperamental difficulty?
Both internalising (e.g., anxiety, depression) and externalising (e.g., aggression, defiance) problems.
What did Prior (1992) conclude about temperament and later adjustment?
Temperament predicts adjustment moderately; early prediction from infancy is weak but strengthens by early childhood.
What early problems are linked to difficult and active babies?
Colic, sleep issues, excessive crying, and abdominal pain.
What was the aim of Caspi et al. (1995)?
To link early temperament to internalising and externalising behavior problems later in childhood and adolescence.
What was the method used in Caspi et al. (1995)?
Studied 800+ children in New Zealand; temperament at ages 3–5 assessed by testers and linked to behaviour problems at ages 9, 11, 13, and 15 via parent/teacher reports.
What was the key finding in Caspi et al. (1995)?
Lack of control was the best predictor of externalising problems (r = .23 to .37).
What did Caspi et al. suggest about problem behaviors?
Problem behavior may reflect the developmental outcomes of early temperament and personality.
Why must temperament be understood in context?
Because the same temperament trait may lead to different outcomes depending on the social environment.
How was ‘difficult’ temperament viewed differently in the Masai environment (deVries, 1984)?
Difficult babies had a survival advantage under harsh drought conditions, showing adaptive value in certain contexts.
