ABSTRACT
A large literature exists on the genetic influences of personality in adulthood (Cattell, 1982; Eaves, Eysenck, & artin, 1989; Loehlin & Nichols, 1976), demonstrating that genes have a significant influence on personality. This has especially been demonstrated with self-report measures (Plomin, DeFries, McClearn, & Rutter, 1997), although a single study of peer ratings in adulthood has yielded similar findings (Angleitner, Riemann, & Strelau, 1995). Genetic influences also have been demonstrated for the similar construct of temperament in childhood. There are various definitions of temperament, but they all have in common a set of actions and reactions that are evident very early in life and are expected to remain fairly stable (Goldsmith et al., 1987). This chapter does not attempt to restrict the concept of temperament to a specific definition, but rather includes various examples of temperament that have been suggested by researchers. These examples include activity, reactivity, fear, frustration, soothability, and aggression (Goldsmith et al., 1987).
