ABSTRACT
For some years, one focus of the research program of the Louisville Twin Study has been on the assessment of temperament in neonate twins. The intent of the research was to provide a comprehensive assessment of temperament before the infant was exposed to familial social and environmental influences (Riese, 1983a, 1983b). The research was part of a longitudinal program that included the development of laboratory assessments of temperament beginning at 6 months of age (Matheny, Wilson, & Nuss, 1984; Wilson & Matheny, 1983). It was clear from the results of the research over the years that soothing is one of the core components of temperament in the neonatal period. Furthermore, it was evident that stress, measured in various ways, is related to this temperament variable in the neonatal and infancy periods.
