ABSTRACT
In the ®eld of psychology, we psychological scientists often have a hard time communicating with lay people because the `big-ticket' words we use can be interpreted by them in dramatically different ways from those we intend. `Temperament' is one of those words, and it has the potential to cause lots of confusion. Of course, everyone is entitled to use the word temperament, both psychologists and nonpsychologists alike, but unless we are careful about laying out our common understanding, it can be quite dif®cult for the average person to try to talk to psychologists or any child healthcare provider about children's temperament. The communication gap goes something like this:
Parent: My Niall is so temperamental that some days I just want to pull my hair out!
