The observation that children's activity level (AL) differs between novel and familiar situations is well established. What influences individual differences in how AL is different across these situations is less well understood. Drawing on animal literature, which links rats' AL when 1st placed in a novel setting with novelty seeking phenotypes,…

Whether participating in sports builds character and if character can be measured continues to be a debated, though important, topic. Almost daily we read or hear about athletes displaying poor character. Most research shows that as the level of sport competition increases, the level of character decreases. However, participating in sports, at any…

Activity of 50 children whose motility had been monitored by an electronic activity monitor when they were neonates was again monitored by an ambulatory microcomputer when they were four to eight years old. Results are consistent with evidence from several longitudinal studies suggesting that individual activity characteristics tend to persist…

Fifty-seven children were seen in interaction with their mothers, at 12 months and again at 18 months of age. The observational sessions included a teaching/learning task in which aspects of the mother's teaching style and the child's task orientation could be assessed. Additionally, assessments were made of "difficultness" and the…

Irritability and activity, components of temperament, were rated for 114 fullterm and 163 preterm infants during five-second application of a cold disc on the thigh and five seconds following. For fullterm infants and preterm females, irritability increased and activity decreased across five trials. Females were more irritable during stimulation,…

Among 36 newborns, Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) activity level, responsivity, and irritability exhibited stability from 2 weeks to 2 months and from 2 months to 12 months. Irritability was stable from 2 weeks to 12 months. IBQ ratings generally increased by year's end. (RH)

The activity level of 60 pairs of infant twins was measured for 2 days. Differences in activity level for monozygotic and dizygotic twins, as indicated by motion recorders and parent ratings, showed evidence of genetic influences. (BC)

Findings indicated a significant interaction between activity level and intensity of stimulation in predicting exploratory competence and total exploration among 52 toddlers of 15 months of age who were observed in their homes 6 times over a 4-week period. (RH)

In a study of mothers' assessment of their infant's temperament during the first 3 months, a total of 116 mothers completed 23 scaled items assessing the 9 New York Longitudinal Study temperament dimensions, and cuddliness and soothability, at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after delivery. Although nearly half of the mothers could not rate approach…

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether temperament differences exist between infants who completed a visual perceptual/cognitive experiment and those who did not. A total of 14 Caucasian infants ranging in age from 5-15 months participated in the study. The subjects were placed in one of two groups (completers vs. noncompleters)…

Investigated sex differences in the motor activity level of 83 children of 5-8 years. Relative maturity was negatively related to activity level. Girls were less motorically active and more mature than boys. (RJC)

Stability of temperament over successive ages in the first 2 years was evaluated for 109 full-term and 81 preterm infants who were assessed at 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. At each age subjects were engaged in a series of age-appropriate vignettes in the laboratory; experimenters used a structured sequence of activities. Composite ratings…

Using findings on the unstability of previously stable physical activity levels of young children as a kind of case study to aid thought about the trait-dimensional approach to developmental continuity and discontinuity, this discussion explores the applicability of a dual theory of concept formation to the problem of personal stability and…

Examined the influence of maternal differential behavior and child temperament on sibling relationships. Forty pairs of four-to-nine-year-old siblings and their mothers were observed playing in sibling dyads and mother-children triads in their homes. Mothers provided temperament ratings of their children's activity, emotional intensity, and…