Which temperament is described as irritable, intense, unpredictable?

Which temperament is described as irritable, intense, unpredictable?

• A. Difficult Temperament
• B. Slow to Warm Up Temperament
• C. Temperament Studies
• D. Pit of Despair Experiments (Harlow)

Answer: (A)

In developmental psychology, temperament describes early patterns of emotional reactivity and self-regulation. The description of irritable, intense, and unpredictable aligns with the difficult temperament. Children with this style tend to have strong, frequent negative emotions, high activity, and irregular routines, plus low adaptability to new situations. They respond forcefully to stress and can be challenging for caregivers who are trying to establish consistency and predictable environments. This fits better than the slow-to-warm-up temperament, which characteristically involves hesitancy and wariness in new situations rather than intense, volatile reactivity. The other two options aren’t temperament types: “Temperament Studies” refers to the field of study, and “Pit of Despair Experiments” (Harlow) relate to attachment research with monkeys, not infant temperament.

In developmental psychology, temperament describes early patterns of emotional reactivity and self-regulation. The description of irritable, intense, and unpredictable aligns with the difficult temperament. Children with this style tend to have strong, frequent negative emotions, high activity, and irregular routines, plus low adaptability to new situations. They respond forcefully to stress and can be challenging for caregivers who are trying to establish consistency and predictable environments.

This fits better than the slow-to-warm-up temperament, which characteristically involves hesitancy and wariness in new situations rather than intense, volatile reactivity. The other two options aren’t temperament types: “Temperament Studies” refers to the field of study, and “Pit of Despair Experiments” (Harlow) relate to attachment research with monkeys, not infant temperament.