More on temperament. Does temperament = personality?

The New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS) identifies three categories of temperament in infants. These are defined as easy, difficult, and slow to warm up. A forth category is noted as hard to classify. Children, who are classified as easy, laugh when confronted with a quick moving object. Those who cry when confronted with the same object are classified as difficult and those who are quiet are considered slow to warm up.


Children who are classified as easy will generally respond to the world around him in an easy manner. Their mood is positive and is mildly to moderately intense. These children tend to deal with frustration with little anxiety. According to the NYLS study about 40 percent of children fall into this category.

A slow-to-warm-up child tends to mildly intense and negative. They are slow to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and people. These children tend to be shy around new people and situations. These children become more accepting of new people and situations once they become more familiar with them. About 15 percent fall into this catagory.

The difficult child tends to react negatively and intensely. They may have more temper tantrums and are more difficult to please, stubborn, and he may have a difficult time adapting to new situations Children that have difficult temperaments usually have more behavioral problems and cause more strain on their family. About 10 percent fall into this catagory.

Many researchers believe that there are five core personality traits in adults known as the "big five". These five categories are agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. A person with agreeable traits tends to be kind to others and show trust and affection. Those categorized as extraverts are talkative, social, assertive, and emotionally expressive. Conscientious people are detail oriented, thoughtful, and exhibit good impulse control. People who present as anxious, irritable, and moody are classified as having neurotic personality traits. Openness refers to traits such as insight and imagination.

A child with a difficult temperament does not necessarily mean that he or she will grow to have a neurotic personality when they become adults. While raising children consider “goodness of fit” which refers to how parents and other caregivers interact with a child’s temperament. Parents should attempt to recognize temperament to assist and guide the child in constructive ways. Children who are difficult should not be treated harshly but redirected to more constructive activities. Harsh treatment can create a child who is destructive and antisocial.

Recognizing a child’s temperament is important for parents, caregivers and teachers. Goodness of fit allows for smooth interaction with the child and may help prevent long term behavioral problems. Learning to work with the child’s temperament allows for teaching the child to cope with situations differently than what may be prescribed by their genetic predisposition. Parents should attempt to recognize temperament to assist and guide the child in constructive ways that may alter their eventual personality in a positive way.