Waddington’s epigenetic landscape

Consider your temperament and its impact on your adult relationships Go to: www.keirsey.com Click on the free Keirsey temperament sort in the upper right-hand corner Complete and come to class on Thursday with a 1-2 sentence summary of your results and reaction to the results

Temperament Caspi & Moffitt: The New Zealand Study Purpose: Is there continuity in temperament? Does early temperament predict adult outcomes? Birth cohort assessed from birth to age 21

Temperament Identified 3 (+) groups, based on observations, at age 3: 1. Well-adjusted (~40%)-Similar to EASY 2. Undercontrolled (~10%; more boys)-Similar to DIFFICULT 3. Inhibited (~8%; more girls).-Similar to SLOW-TO-WARM UP

Temperament: At age 21 Well-adjusted group: At least average on measures of adult interpersonal functioning Under-controlled and inhibited groups: Lower on interpersonal functioning Higher on interpersonal conflict Higher on # of problems and lower on # of strengths Low social support

Temperament: At age 21 Undercontrolled more likely to: be fired; victims of crime; antisocial; described as unreliable; diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (predatory, callous, exploitative behavior) and alcohol dependency Inhibited: less affiliative; low social agency; less engaged and interested in world; more frequently diagnosed with clinical depression; but more conscientious; good work habits; unconflicted romantic relationships

Temperament Conclusions: Different temperamental styles observed at age 3 continued in interpersonal functioning at age 21, BUT: Magnitude of continuity was modest, change occurs for some people Early functioning predicts later functioning but is PROBABILISTIC, not deterministic Lawful discontinuity (goodness-of-fit)

Conclusions Development is complicated Low to moderate stability Greater stability for temperament vs. attachment Greater stability linked to extreme or negative life events (e.g., abuse, depression) Probabilistic, not deterministic