Derivation and prediction of temperamental types among preschoolers

The number and nature of tempermental types in 488 children aged 3 years 6 months was examined on the basis of a broad set of temperamental characteri stics, including positive and negative emotionality and the attentional and behavioral control domains. Configural frequency analysis methods showed c lear support for two temperament types: controlled-nonexpressive and noncon trolled-expressive. These types showed meaningful differences against exter nal criteria related to a wide range of problem behaviors from the emotiona l, social, and attentional domains. The reports of problem behaviors were o btained contemporaneously from fathers and caregivers. These findings repli cated a year later when children were aged 4 years 6 months. Furthermore, t he findings showed that infant and toddler-age tempermental characteristics differentiated these preschool-aged types. The authors discuss the implica tions of the results for a categorical view of temperament-personality.