What is temperament psychology? The complete guide

Temperament refers to differences between humans that shape their reactions to events in their social and physical environment. Temperament – also referred to as a person's disposition - is based on biological factors distinguishing it from their personality. A person's personality emerges from the combination of biological underpinnings of behavior and lived experiences.

The characteristics of a person's temperament appear when they are very young, and today most discussion of temperament exists in the domain of child psychology. Understanding a child's temperament can allow adults to interact with them in a more constructive natural way, making awareness of temperament psychology useful for parents, childcare workers, and educators. Keep reading to learn more about this sector of psychology and how it may help you connect with the children in your life more effectively. 

What is temperament psychology?

Modern investigations of adult temperament usually fall within the domain of personality psychology. A person's personality includes their unique biological drivers of behavior and their lived experiences, while temperament refers to only innate biological factors. Temperament develops first, emerging when a child is very young. As a result, most of the modern research into temperament surrounds infants and toddlers.

In 1963, child development researchers Alexander Thomas and Stella Chess released the first clinically-oriented research study of infant and child temperament. Thomas and Chess were searching for possible causes of mental and behavioral health problems experienced by children, known as child psychopathology. At the time, the prevailing belief was that parents were solely responsible for their children's problems and that most child psychopathologies could be explained by poor parenting.

Thomas and Chess theorized that, for children, temperamental qualities influence adjustment to their environment. Their research revealed several instances of children who developed psychopathologies despite the presence of healthy and committed parents. They also found evidence of children who adapted consistently despite severe deficits in parenting. As their research continued, it quickly became clear that factors outside of parenting influenced a child's mood and behavior.

The research team's work led to the development of a model for describing and measuring temperament. They identified nine traits that can be used to define a child's temperament. The goal of Thomas and Chess was to correctly identify a child's temperament and develop tools to help parents manage difficult temperaments.

Categorizing temperament

The nine traits selected by Thomas and Chess were designed to represent innate traits that a person is born with. Although a child's temperament is fundamentally decided by biology and genetics, lived experiences influence their behavior and interactions with others as they age.

By the time children start preschool, their temperamental qualities are likely well known, and they are well on the way to incorporating experiences – like parenting – alongside their temperament as they develop a distinct personality.

Parents can use the nine traits defined by Thomas and Chess to categorize and understand their child's temperament. The traits are briefly described below:

1. Activity level

A child's activity level refers to how physically active they are. Children with a high activity level may jump quickly from one activity to another. Parents of highly active children tend to report behavior problems more frequently. A low-activity child generally leans toward activities and environments that are quiet and calm. They are likely to be able to sit quietly during low-energy activities but may struggle to engage in high-energy activities.

2. Biological rhythms

A biological rhythm refers to the regularity of a biological drive, like eating or sleeping. Children with regular rhythms tend to stick to a routine. They eat meals and snacks at the same time each day and generally prefer to stick to regular sleep and nap times. Children with irregular rhythms have varying schedules as their biological drives shift. They tend to struggle to sleep and eat at the same time each day.

3. Sensitivity

Sensitivity refers to how strongly a child reacts to sensory stimuli, like sound, light, touch, smell, and taste. High-sensitivity children may react strongly to small amounts of sensory input, such as becoming upset because they can feel the tag on their shirts. Low-sensitivity children aren't bothered by subtle stimuli and may not experience the same impact from major stimuli as other children.

4. Intensity of reaction

A child's reaction intensity can range from high to low, no matter if what they are reacting to is something positive or negative. High-intensity children have more powerful reactions to things; if something negative occurs, they may react as though the situation is much more serious than it is. Conversely, they may become disproportionately elated when something small but positive happens. Low-intensity children react mildly to most situations, whether positive or negative. Their reactions are typically muted, and it may even be difficult to tell how a low-intensity child feels

5. Adaptability

Adaptability refers to how easily a child can adjust to change. Highly adaptable children transition easily from activity to activity, while slow-to-adapt children struggle to shift gears. They may react strongly to changes in activities or disruptions in routines.

6. Approach/withdrawal

Approach and withdrawal refers to how willing a child is to step out of their comfort zone. Approaching children are excited to try new things, and meet different people, and have novel experiences. Withdrawing children need extra time to adjust or investigate a new situation and may hesitate before trying something new.

7. Persistence

Persistence refers to how long a child can stick to a task. Children with high persistence will work very hard independently to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Low-persistence children are more likely to switch tasks, ask an adult for help when they encounter a challenge, or give up when they become overwhelmed. 

8. Distractibility

Distractibility refers to how likely a distraction in the environment is to pull a child's attention away from their current activity. Highly distractable children quickly lose focus but may be very attuned to small details. Low-distractibility children tend to focus well and can hold their attention when necessary.

9. Mood

Every child's mood can vary considerably, but children tend to be either generally positive or negative. Children with more positive moods are likely to appear happy and optimistic, while a child with more negative moods may appear subdued and unhappy.

"Easy" and “difficult” children

Thomas and Chess’ traits can be used to further categorize children into three broad domains, although they are mostly used to describe infant temperament:

• Easy or flexible. Flexible infants tend to be happy, calm, and adaptable and have regular eating and sleeping habits. Easy babies readily adapt to their environment without much fuss and generally display positive moods.
• Slow to warm or cautious. Slow to warm up babies react negatively to new situations but become more positive as they slowly adjust.
• Active or feisty. Feisty babies are fussy, fearful of new people, easily upset by stimulation, and intense in their reactions. They used to be called “difficult” babies, but that term has fallen out of favor.

Economic and social factors also play a role, with white middle-class families tending to have "easier" children. This likely reflects the influence of the environment on temperament, as middle-class children and parents tend to have more resources at their disposal than impoverished families.

Researchers are also concerned about the effects of labeling a child so young. "Difficult" babies tend to be more of a challenge for parents, and understanding an active or feisty child's temperament can help parents select strategies that work for their child. However, researchers are concerned that labeling a child as "easy" or "difficult" may create a self-fulfilling prophecy wherein "difficult" children are treated harsher than "easy" children, even if their behaviors are exactly the same.

Since the three categories above only describe around two-thirds of children and the risks of needlessly labeling children are high, many experts are moving away from describing children as "easy" or "difficult" and relying completely on the nine temperament traits to help parents understand their children.

Online therapy for parents and guardians 

Working with a therapist can help you understand how to adapt to your child's temperament and achieve what Thomas and Chess called "goodness of fit." They are referring to a good fit between a child, their caregiver's approach, and their environment. A therapist can help you understand your child and change your parenting approach. You can even visit with a therapist online to reduce some of the burdens of attending therapy, like packing up children for travel or being restricted to therapists in your immediate area. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can continue attending to your parental responsibilities while also accessing the support you need.

The effectiveness of online therapy

Online therapists use the same evidence-based techniques as traditional therapists, creating an experience similar to in-office therapy. They can also help you address any other concerns related to your parenting style and mental well-being. Although therapy is conducted online, evidence indicates it is just as effective as traditional therapy. In one study, researchers found that an internet-based intervention aimed at parents improved their psychological flexibility and emotional regulation. Parents were also able to adopt new coping skills that boosted their mood as they tackled the daily challenges of life and parenting.