Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2025
07:30
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
6.8K
Structural Brain Correlates of Childhood Inhibited Temperament: An ENIGMA-Anxiety Mega-analysis.
Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam1, Rachel Bernstein2, Brenda E Benson2
1Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands; Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, the Netherlands; National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Summary
Behavioral inhibition, a temperament trait involving avoidance of the unfamiliar, is moderately heritable. It can be measured from infancy through childhood using behavioral observations and caregiver reports.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Temperament comprises stable individual differences in behavioral and emotional tendencies.
- Behavioral inhibition (BI) is a key temperament trait characterized by withdrawal from unfamiliar stimuli.
- BI is observable from infancy and persists across contexts and lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define and characterize behavioral inhibition (BI) as a fundamental temperament trait.
- To highlight the heritability and cross-species relevance of BI.
- To outline methods for quantifying BI levels in humans.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral observations in infancy and early childhood.
- Caregiver and teacher reports.
- Self-report questionnaires for retrospective and current BI levels.
Main Results:
- Behavioral inhibition is a well-defined and measurable temperament trait.
- BI demonstrates moderate heritability.
- Quantification methods are available from infancy through adulthood.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral inhibition is a stable, heritable temperament trait with significant implications for understanding individual differences.
- Early identification and measurement of BI are possible through various methods.
- Understanding BI contributes to developmental psychology and behavioral science research.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
106
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
106
01:18Anxiety: Overview
339
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
339
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
76
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
76
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
44.1K
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
44.1K
01:29Personality Theory by Eysenck and Eysenck
628
Hans and Sybil Eysenck developed a widely recognized theory of personality, which emphasizes the role of temperament and genetically based differences in shaping individual traits. Their theory posits that biological factors primarily determine personality and can be understood through two main dimensions: extroversion/introversion and neuroticism/stability.
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
628
01:14Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
742
The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Exploration...
742