Slide 1ObjectivesEvidence for Personality StabilityDegree of consistency (r) varies in studiesEvidence for Personality StabilityEvidence for Personality StabilityWhy Is there Personality Stability?Why Is there Personality Stability?Why Is there Personality Stability?Temperament: Thomas & ChessThomas & Chess Temperament TypologyJerome Kagan: Behavioral InhibitionRothbart: Reactivity PLUS RegulationSlide 14Slide 153 Agreements Among Temperament Researchers:3 Agreements Among Temperament Researchers:Why Is there Personality Stability?Slide 19Slide 20Slide 21Why Is there Personality Stability?Evidence for Personality DevelopmentEvidence for Personality DevelopmentPattern = ↑“Maturity” (predicted by theories of socialization)Evidence for Personality DevelopmentSlide 27Slide 28Slide 29Slide 30ENDED HERE 2/24Evidence for Personality DevelopmentThemes in Life History studies© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.The Personality PuzzleSixth Editionby David C. Funder Psychology of PersonalityLecture 10: 2/24/16Intro to Personality Stability and ChangeStephanie Federspiel, Ph.D.1Objectives•Discuss evidence for the stability of personality, including the likely causes of stability. •Discuss evidence concerning normative development of personalityEvidence for Personality Stability•Rank-order consistency is relatively high• •Correlational longitudinal studiesBook example study: r = .60 –.90 for 10-year span other studies: r depends on trait: stability E, N > A, C, O r depends # years covered: short > longcumulative continuity principle: higher r w/ older ages (childhood r = .31  young adult r = .54  + 50 r = .74)4Degree of consistency (r) varies in studies1. Influenced by # of traits considered: Substantial change in 1 of the Big 5 is common.2. ↑ to midlife, plateaus, then ↓ Childhood: +.30 to max +.40Early Adulthood: +.50Mid Adulthood: + .70Decreases in old age (impact of deaths, loss of function)3. ↓ w/ time btwn. measures (more time for change!)Evidence for Personality Stability•Studies using more qualitative distinctions:–Extremes in childhood personality seem especially relevant to predicting problems in adult behavior.•Neg. extremes are risky but experiences can buffer risk!•Unfortunately, corrective/helpful experiences may be less likely.–Personality disorders are also relatively stableEvidence for Personality Stability •Longitudinal Data collection is a challenge•Data type: Who is the best source of information?•Expensive and complicated!•Few infancy  adult studies exist•Heterotypic continuity is a challenge–Similar personality may be expressed in different (heterotypic) behavior patterns with age•Continuity b/c thematically or functionally similar •Example: is loud talking a heterotypic manifestation of childhood impulsivity or not?Why Is there Personality Stability?•Early life stressors may enduring effects on physiological reactivity to stress/negative emotionality.–Too much stress: hyper reactivity, slow to turn off–No stress: Few coping skills; stress response system may be inadequately responsive–Some stress: Better responsiveness, regulation8Why Is there Personality Stability?Early-appearing , putatively biologically-based differences in broad dimensions of behavior (especially: emotion, attention, activity)A biologically based temperament shapes and may constrain personality development.•There are MANY different models and scales for temperament and a lot of disagreements….–What to include as “temperament”? –How many distinct aspects? –How best to measure it (I-data*? B-Data? S-data?)–Is temperament inherently “relational”?2 Popular Examples of dimensions: Sociability , Neg. Emotionality, Persistence, ActivityPos. Affect/Surgency, Neg. Affect, Effortful Control Why Is there Personality Stability?10Temperament: Thomas & Chess•A “revolutionary” perspective for psychiatry in 1956.•Identified 9 dimensions (behaviors, attn) •and 3 “types”.•Study showed “Goodness-of-Fit” w/parent matters:•Accurate perception, Empathy/Perspective, Growth-promoting focusAlexander Thomas, M.D.Stella Chess, M.D.Thomas & Chess Temperament Typology40% Easy/ “Flexible” – attention to avoid neglect 15% Slow-to-Warm/“Fearful”— need help try new things 10% Difficult/ “Feisty/Spirited”— consistency, help w/regulation12Jerome Kagan: Behavioral Inhibition15% infants are Behaviorally Inhibited (overstimulated/overwhelmed by novelty)–Longitudinal study showed change & stability: MOST (2/3) lose excessive shyness by adulthood.•Experience matters: Similarity w/Chess & Thomas “fit” idea•Heterotypic continuity seen rather than homotypic.–Still see ++ amygdala response to novel, neutral faces not the same behavioral, subjective signs of distress.13Rothbart: Reactivity PLUS Regulation1. Parameters of Reactivity –Pos/Neg Emotion•Different developmental time courses…2. Capacity for Regulation–“Effortful Control”•Attentional processes–Focus, shift, inhibit•Modulates reactivity •Allows for planning, error detection•Associated w/ many positive outcomes(+ grades, + relationships, - psychopathology)•Combination of these dimensions is important!Mary RothbartSimilarity w/ Jack Block’sEgo-resilience idea14•The combination of EC with differences in fear helps explain outcomes:–Low fear: + EC strongly predicts (+) conscience, empathy, guilt, lower aggression–High fear: + EC strongly predicts •ability to regulate attention to threat, •(-) symptoms of anxiety.Effortful control helps support self-regulation(aka self control) + rewards!  (-) negative outcomes.Repeatedly “exercising” these abilitiesHelp them develop!(e.g, Diamond, 2013)15163 Agreements Among Temperament Researchers:1. Individuality appears as temperament in infancy/early childhood, with different dimensions appearing at different times.2. Strong influence of biology –But genes + environment matter and can be correlated!173. Temperament is not the same as one’s adult “personality”; there is Multifinality as a ruleFit w/environment matters (e.g. Thomas & Chess) Example: Parent training might be helpful Some kids may be more at risk for maladjustment Example: kids w/ low Effortful Control of reactive tendencies3 Agreements Among Temperament Researchers:Why Is there Personality Stability?•Developmental elaboration occurs via experience–Transactions