Temperament — Aspects of Personality Present at Birth
When do we become who we are?
Temperament has been defined as “inherited personality traits present in early childhood” (Buss & Plomin, 1985, p. 84). While the term personality implies a range of experience and learning that has developed over time, temperament, instead, is assumed to have a primarily genetic basis and thus be present at birth (Chess & Thomas, 1989). There is, however, much debate about the specific components and ways to classify temperament. Chess & Thomas (1977) posit a three-cluster classification of temperament, including the following:
• An easy child — generally in a positive mood, quickly establishes regular routines in infancy and adapts easily to new experiences.
• A difficult child — tends to react negatively and cry frequently, engages in irregular daily routines and is slow to accept new experiences.
• A slow-to-warm-up child — has a low activity level, is somewhat negative, shows low adaptability and displays a low intensity of mood. (Santrock, 2002, p. 182)
Researchers Rothbart and Bates revised the classification of Chess and Thomas to include categories of temperament based upon, “(1) positive affect and approach (much like the personality trait of extraversion/introversion), (2) negative…
