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Temperament and intellectual development: a longitudinal study from infancy to four years
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|February 1, 1987
Summary
Difficult infant temperament may surprisingly boost IQ development, especially in higher socioeconomic groups. This suggests challenging temperaments can activate family resources that enhance cognitive growth over time.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
Background:
- Child temperament is assessed at 4 and 8 months.
- Intellectual development is measured by IQ at 4.7 years.
- Socioeconomic status (SES) is a known factor in IQ development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal association between early childhood temperament and later IQ.
- To explore the influence of socioeconomic status and family communication on this association.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design.
- Inclusion of three distinct temperament subgroups from a large birth cohort.
- Assessment of temperament in infancy and IQ in early childhood.
Main Results:
- Extreme temperament traits showed a strong association with IQ development in middle and upper SES groups.
- The 'difficult' temperament group unexpectedly exhibited higher IQ scores.
- The effect of SES on IQ was primarily observed within the difficult temperament group.
Conclusions:
- Difficult infant temperament may stimulate intellectual development by activating special family resources.
- This finding challenges traditional views and highlights the complex interplay between temperament, family environment, and cognitive outcomes.