A child’s temperament comprises the distinct differences in motor activation, emotion, and attention response to stimuli. Temperament influences the way a child interacts with his/her environment and life outcomes. Biological, psychological, and social factors influence a child’s temperament. Biological factors contribute to the development of temperament because of similar temperaments within a family. Research studies on identical twins have shown that they have similar temperaments, which is evidence of a genetic link ( Manuck & McCaffery, 2014) . Additional, studies have identified genes that influence temperaments. Most of these genes engage in cellular communication in the brain.
Social factors are also influential in determining a child’s temperament. Social factors such as the environment in which a child’s is raised in may affect temperament by influencing gene activity and behavioral style. Children who live in adverse environmental condition such as households experiencing violence and abuse tend to have impulsive behaviors. These environmental factors may trigger genes associated with impulsive temperaments. Other studies have shown that a child’s temperament may be influenced by factors such as maternal sensitivity and postpartum depression (Manuck & McCaughey, 2014) . Mothers who respond to their child’s needs consistently and appropriately even during depression are able to teach their children how to regulate negative emotions. Psychological factors such as personal-social flexibility, task orientation, and reactivity also play a role in the development of temperament.
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The behavioral traits associated with a child’s temperament impacts the role of caregiving and parenting. Since a child’s temperament is behavioral characteristics that determine how they react and interact with their environment, caregivers and parent may modify their behavior to suit the needs of the children. According to Hong & Park (2012), Contingent and responsive parenting is known to produce emotionally securely attached children who end being competent and resilient adults. However, children who show poor temperament such as irritability tend to get limited parental encouragement and acceptance, making them to feel insecure and inadequate.
References
Hong, Y. and Park, J. (2012). Impact of attachment, temperament, and parenting on human development. Korean J Pediatr; 55 (12): 449–454.
Manuck, S.B, and McCaffery, J.M. (2014). Gene-environment interaction. Annu Rev Psychol; 65 :41-70.
