The three basic personality types are hereditary and are already present in infancy

The psychiatrists Alexander Thomas and Stella Chess are credited with identifying the three temperament categories, which they defined specifically through studies of infants half a century ago. Thanks to their findings, parents have been given a tool that spares them a great deal of self-reproach and despair, as it makes infants’ reactions easier to understand and facilitates the necessary adjustments to their behaviour.

The explanation of behaviour and conduct has long been a subject of interest to humankind. Although personality is always highly individual, it invariably contains traits that can be categorised. Understanding a person’s temperament does not predict their actions, but rather the manner in which they act, the way they react to situations, and the emotional charge behind their reactions. And although the personality as a whole is multifaceted and develops gradually, the traits characteristic of temperament can already be observed in infancy.

The pair of psychiatrists, Alexander Thomas and Stella Chess, are credited with the 3 temperamenta category that was defined specifically on the basis of studies of infants as long as half a century ago. Their research has shown that the energy levels, adaptability, quality of response to stimuli and general mood of 2–3-month-old infants are not only easy to assess but also provide long-term guidance regarding the development of their personalities. Thanks to their findings, parents have been given a tool that protects them from much self-reproach and despair, as their babies’ reactions become easier to understand, and this also makes it easier to adapt to their needs. This is particularly true if, as well as understanding our children’s temperament, we are also aware of our own.

#1 Easy-to-care-for babies

Forty per cent of the more than 100 infants studied fell into this category. These are the babies whose daily routine generally falls into place of its own accord. There are no particular problems with either their sleep–wake cycles or their general well-being. These babies cope easily with change, are always open to new experiences, and their reactions are fairly mild. They are adaptable and cope well with stimulating environments and adults of different mentalities and temperaments. It’s simply easier (or at least easier) with them. They have their own rhythm, and this in itself makes their emotional world more balanced. Of course, they still go through the developmental stages that present age-related challenges to parents; it’s just that, because they’re easier to manage, these particular stages are less taxing.

#2 Difficult-to-manage infants

In 10 per cent of the infants studied by Thomas and Chess, in contrast to the category described above, it is precisely a lack of rhythm and irregularity that predominate. These infants are more often in a bad mood than a good one; they are generally very active but unable to adapt. They react strongly and negatively to new things and are easily overstimulated by stimuli. This temperament is more common in boys, but girls are no exception. If we are unaware of the characteristics of difficult-to-manage infants, as parents it is easy to assume that we are to blame for our baby’s frequent bad moods. The resulting despair and loss of self-confidence, however, will not help us to handle the situation with confidence. Difficult-to-manage babies need greater understanding and a more predictable framework to achieve emotional harmony. As they find it difficult to settle into a rhythm or a routine on their own, sticking to the routines established by the parents can help to support this.

#3 Infants who take a long time to warm up

The third category essentially falls between the previous two. These infants are able to adapt to new situations, but they always need time to do so, and the amount of time required can vary greatly from one individual to another. They are reluctant to take the initiative, are afraid of new situations, and prefer simply to observe from a safe distance until their inhibitions subside. For some, this takes 15 minutes; for others, an hour; but getting used to certain situations may take several days or even weeks. Once the ice is broken, however, they can let themselves go completely and lose themselves in the magic of the moment. Like children who are difficult to manage, their underlying mood tends to be rather negative, though their reactions are much gentler. Their activity level tends to be low or moderate, but with sufficient patience, they can offer plenty of surprises in this regard. Fifteen per cent of the children studied fell into this category. It is also true of ‘slow warmers’ that the structure provided by their parents, along with their acceptance and patience, can go a long way towards helping these children to accept themselves and, over time, to express and manage their own needs appropriately.

As the figures show, one-third of the infants studied could not be clearly classified into any one category, as their characteristics were much more varied. Nevertheless, the results of the research made it clear that our personality is shaped by the constant interaction between our innate temperament and our environment. Consequently, understanding and accepting our baby’s temperament can even influence the quality of our bond with them. Although genetic inheritance means there is a greater chance that our baby will have a temperament similar to our own, it is not impossible that they will be the exact opposite. In such cases, understanding their behaviour and adapting to it requires greater attention and self-control you may require from us. However, an understanding of the temperament theory associated with Thomas and Chess can be of help to us, as this knowledge enables us to understand our baby’s behaviour better, allowing us to handle challenging situations with greater confidence and, incidentally, more patience.

Originally published on: divany.hu, 29 May 2021.