Child Temperament

Paper Summary:

This paper presents the definition of the term "temperament". The paper identifies nine traits or characteristics of behavior in children, where every characteristic is on a spectrum from minor to intense. These traits are activity level, rhythmicity, approach-withdrawal, adaptability, persistence-attention span, intensity of reaction, distractibility, threshold of responsiveness, and quality of mood. The paper discusses each of these traits in an attempt to understand a child's temperament.

From the Paper:

"Temperament can be defined as behavioral inclination rather than behavior itself. Temperament, according to the temperament theorists is a natural and steady basis of later development of personality (Cicchetti; Toth, 1995). Although the theorists have the same opinion that formation of temperament is in the initial stage of life, yet they have different vision about what can be considered as temperamental components. According to Goldsmith temperament is the manifestation of primary emotions. He persisted that emotions give a tendency to the behaviors and psychological processes (Cicchetti; Toth, 1995). On the other hand, Goldsmith, Buss and Plomin define limited temperament as negative emotionality like distress. In addition, they included negative emotionality as sociability and activity for instance cadence, vigor or behavioral arousal. Whereas, Thomas and Chess defined temperament as behavioral styles that are in response to environmental stimulus. Here according to them temperament includes not aptitude, emotionality or inspiration, but rather rhythmicity (Goldsmith; Alansky, 1987)."

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