EARLY-CHILDHOOD TEMPERAMENT AS A DETERMINANT OF EXTERNALIZING BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENCE

Two cohorts of adolescents who were categorized at either 21 or 31 mon ths of age as extremely inhibited or uninhibited completed the Youth S elf-Report (YSR), and their parents completed the Child Behavior Check list (CBCL). In the second year, inhibited children typically cease on going behavior and vocalizing, seek comfort from a familiar person, or withdraw in response to unfamiliar situations. By contrast uninhibite d children do not become subdued by novelty and are sociable and outgo ing, often vocalizing, smiling, and approaching unfamiliar persons or objects. The 13-year-old adolescents who had been categorized as inhib ited at 21 months of age scored significantly lower than adolescents o riginally classified as uninhibited on the Total Externalizing, Delinq uent Behavior, and Aggressive Behavior Scales. Parental ratings of Tot al Externalizing and Aggressive behavior on the CBCL agreed with the Y outh Self-Report. The second cohort of adolescents who had been select ed at 31 months yielded similar findings, but only for males. These re sults suggest that important aspects of the original temperamental pro file have been preserved over a 12-year period.