Trends in temperament research

The paper focuses on current concepts of temperament that has led to different approaches within the field of temperament research. The concept of temperament has interested scholars from ancient Greece until modern European and American research teams. Also in Soviet psychology temperament is getting attention. In Finland temperament research has advanced on two different lines. There is widespread agreement that temperament is a group of related traits and not just one trait attributed to the child. Controversy exists as to what extent temperament is an inborn characteristic of the child and to what extent temperament is born in the interactions between the child and his environment. Although there is controversy between structural and functional approaches, there is consensus of some points. First: temperament is generally regarded as a tendency existing over long periods of time rather than being visible in single behavioral acts. Second: temperament traits are genetically transmitted and this biological basis has been shown in several twin studies. Temperament concerns differences between individuals and not species-general characteristics. Temperament research has a tradition of putting emphasis on infancy. In adulthood temperament traits are more difficult to pin down. Pioneering researchers in the field, Chess and Thomas, have suggested that pure temperament traits might in adult personality be seen only in situations where new environmental challenges render former coping skills ineffective. Temperament research is still very scarce concerning adult personality though there are some studies about the role of affect in adult personality. Two basic temperament traits are generally accepted: activity level and emotionality, for the rest there are disagreements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)