19.3: Temperament Dimensions

Dimensions of Temperament

In a landmark study in 1956, Chess and Thomas (1996) evaluated 141 children's temperament based on parental interviews. Referred to as the New York Longitudinal Study, infants were assessed on 9 dimensions of temperament.[1] Behaviors for each one of these traits are on a continuum. These traits include:

• Activity level
• Rhythmicity (regularity of biological functions)
• Approach/withdrawal (how children deal with new things)
• Adaptability to situations
• Intensity of reactions
• ·Threshold of responsiveness (how intense a stimulus must be for the child to react)
• Quality of mood
• Distractibility
• Attention span
• Persistence

The Temperament Chart explains these traits in more detail.[2]

Temperament Traits Chart

Dimensions	Typical Behavioral Indicator	The Child...
Activity Level refers to the general level of motor activity when one is awake or asleep. Motor activity involves large and small muscle movements like running, jumping, rolling over, holding a crayon, picking up toys, etc.	High Activity	is squirmy and active.
	Low Activity	prefers less noise and movement.
Distractibility is the ease with which one can be distracted; or conversely, his level of concentration or focus.	High Distractibility	is very distracted by discomfort, noticing even small signals such as hunger, being sleepy, etc.
	Low Distractibility	can handle discomfort, does not seem very bothered at all.
Intensity refers to the energy level of one's emotional response, both positive and negative.	High Intensity	has strong or intense positive and negative reactions.
	Low Intensity	has muted emotional reactions.
Regularity relates to the predictability of biological functions such as eating, sleeping, etc.	Highly Regular	has predictable appetite, sleep, and elimination patterns.
	Irregular	has unpredictable appetite, sleep, and elimination patterns.
Sensitivity describes how responsive one is to physical stimuli such as light, sound, and textures.	High Sensitivity	is sensitive to physical stimuli, including sounds, tastes, touch, and temperature changes; is a picky eater; and has difficulty sleeping in a strange bed.
	Low Sensitivity	is not sensitive to physical stimuli, including sounds, tastes, touch, and temperature changes; can fall asleep anywhere; and tries new foods easily.
Approachability is one's initial response to new places, situations, or things.	High Approaching	eagerly approaches new situations or people.
	Low Approaching	is hesitant and resistant when faced with new situations, people, or things.
Adaptability describes how easily one adjusts to changes and transitions.	High Adaptability	requires very small amount of time to feel ok in new situations.
	Low Adaptability	may cry or stay close to a caregiver before approaching a new situation.
Persistence relates to the length of time one continues in activities in the face of obstacles.	High Persistence	continues with a task or activity in the face of obstacles and does not get easily frustrated.
	Low Persistence	moves on to a new task or activity when faced with obstacles and gets frustrated easily.
Mood is one's tendency to react to the world primarily in a positive or negative way.	Positive mood	reacts to the world in a positive way and is generally cheerful.
	Serious Mood	reacts in an observant, sometimes more serious way and tends to be thoughtful about new situations.

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[1] Human Development by Human Development Teaching & Learning Group is licensed under a CC BY- NC-SA 4.0,

[2] U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2018, May 30). Introduction to Temperament. ECLKC. is in the public domain