On Labor Day, I took a break and, with the postnatal caregiver present, I found time to comfortably watch YouTube. I started with Oh Eun-young's Bucket List explanation on temperament, leading me to the temperament test by Lee Min-Joo Parenting Counseling Center and other videos on the types of temperament from a local children's hospital.
Though I can't yet determine Nayul's temperament, I've made an effort to understand and outline the concept in advance.
Temperament
It is a biological trait determined from birth, a natural disposition in how one responds to various stimuli in the world. The key point is that while personality can change, temperament does not. There's no good or bad temperament; it’s just how one expresses their intentions in interpersonal relationships. Understanding temperament can aid in child-rearing, so I decided to delve deeper into its types.
Four Dimensions of Temperament:
- Novelty Seeking (NS)
- Harm Avoidance (HA)
- Reward Dependence (RD)
- Persistence (P)
Three Dimensions of Personality:
- Self-directedness (SD)
- Cooperativeness (C)
- Self-transcendence (ST)
👉 Temperament and Character Inventory # Cloninger
Initially, temperament was defined based on the first three models. However, 'Persistence,' which was a sub-scale of 'Reward Dependence,' was proved to be independent and thus was proposed as the fourth dimension.
Considering this division of temperament is tied to genetics and psychiatry, I realized that understanding the related research papers might be challenging. So, I opted for summarized blogs, YouTube, and various other documents to grasp the content.
👉 Cloninger's Psychobiological Model of Temperament and Character and the Five-Factor Model of Personality
... The change in the dimension of temperament is presumed to be related to monoamine activity. 'Novelty Seeking' relates to low basic dopamine activity, 'Harm Avoidance' to high serotonin activity, and 'Reward Dependence' to low basic noradrenaline activity... (partial translation from the paper)
Characteristics by Temperament Type
1. Novelty Seeking
Drawn to new and intriguing stimuli, curious and proactive, struggling with monotony.
- Strengths: Approach new things without fear, potential leadership qualities.
- Weaknesses: Dislike of constraints, prone to distractions, impatience.
- Parenting Tip: Educate on safety and the importance of rules.
2. Harm Avoidance
Tendency to shrink or fear anticipated dangers or punishments.
- Strengths: Cautious, abides by rules, performs familiar tasks efficiently.
- Weaknesses: Overly cautious, timid.
- Parenting Tip: Allow adaptation time in new environments, provide reassurance.
3. Reward Dependence
Sensitive to praise and recognition from others.
- Strengths: Sociable, emotionally insightful, forms positive relationships easily.
- Weaknesses: Reliant on feedback, emotionally volatile.
- Parenting Tip: Emphasize the importance of self-worth over external feedback.
4. Persistence
Continues activities to completion, driven by the desire to finish perfectly.
- Strengths: Industrious, determined, can delay gratification.
- Weaknesses: Highly competitive, can be inflexible.
- Parenting Tip: Teach the value of enjoyment over competition, foster flexibility.
I can't yet deduce Nayul's temperament from observable behavior, but as he grows and starts to express his free will, I hope to recognize his temperament quickly to facilitate optimal parenting.
Both the child and parent's temperament are essential. I think it would be good to learn more about this through a TCI test in the future.
👉 Overview and Features of the TCI Test - Mind Love
The TCI, based on C.R. Cloninger's Psychobiological Model of Personality, offers an advantage of distinguishing between temperament and character, unlike other personality tests. Through the comprehensive TCI, one can extensively and intricately understand an individual’s thinking, emotional pattern, behavior, interpersonal relations, and preferences.
Study on May 1, 2023