Final answer:
Temperament refers to inborn traits that influence behavior and interaction with the environment, established early in life with biological underpinnings and affecting parenting styles. It generally persists into adulthood but can be modulated by environmental and maturational factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temperament is a concept in psychology that refers to the innate traits that influence how an individual thinks, behaves, and reacts with their environment. Research indicates that temperament is evident very early in life, suggesting a biological basis for these personality characteristics. For instance, Thomas and Chess's (1977) seminal work categorized babies into easy, difficult, or slow to warm up temperaments. While temperament is rooted in biology, the expression of one's personality is also affected by environmental factors such as family interactions.
Furthermore, a child's temperament can influence the parenting they receive. For example, children with easy temperaments tend to elicit warm and responsive parenting due to their adaptability and positive emotionality. In contrast, children with difficult temperaments can be more challenging for caregivers and may provoke irritation or withdrawal from their parents. It is acknowledged that while temperament tends to persist into adulthood, how it is expressed can evolve due to maturation and life experiences. Rothbart, Ahadi, and Evans (2000) point out the significance of reactivity and self-regulation as two dimensions of temperament that are important parts of our adult personality