The Relationship Between Temperament And Emotional Regulation

You may have heard the terms “temperament” and “emotion regulation” used to discuss aspects of a child’s personality and behavior. While each of these factors may play a role in how a person interacts with the world and responds to situations, understanding the differences between them and how they relate to one another can sometimes be challenging. 

It may be helpful to distinguish emotional regulation from temperament in the context of developmental psychology. Understanding their differences and how they may be connected may benefit parents seeking to understand their children’s behaviors better. However, anyone who wants to understand temperament and emotional regulation may benefit from learning about this topic. 

What is temperament?

Parents and individuals may be familiar with the concept of child temperament, which can explain individual differences in how children react to and interact with their world. According to the American Psychological Association, temperament is “early developing, biologically rooted behavioral and emotional tendencies that are stable across situations and time.” Its characteristics may include the following: 

• Demeanor
• Mood
• Emotional responsiveness
• Energy level
• Response tempo
• Willingness to explore

In the context of child development, temperament refers to biological characteristics that shape how children behave and respond to new situations. While temperament may form part of the foundation of personality, personality and temperament remain two distinct concepts. While temperament has been theorized to be primarily genetic, personality may also be influenced by life experiences and environment, particularly during early childhood. 

The Rothbart model of temperament

Although there is no standard or universal framework for categorizing temperament, various models have been proposed for defining its possible characteristics. One model developed by psychologist Mary K. Rothbart has been used to examine temperament in infants, toddlers, and preschool children. The Rothbart model proposes three different “dimensions” of temperament, including the following: 

• Surgency and extraversion: This proposed feature of temperament refers to a child’s impulsiveness, energy, and desire for stimulation. A child with high levels of surgency might appear active, happy, or full of laughter. 
• Negative affect: In Rothbart’s model, negative affect refers to a child’s tendency toward negative emotions such as frustration, sadness, fear, or anger. A child with high levels of negative emotionality may appear shy, easily agitated, fearful, or challenging to calm down. 
• Effortful control: The concept of “effortful control” refers to a child’s relationship with their attention. It may encompass characteristics like inhibitory control (the ability to control and respond to one’s impulses and urges), focusing attention without getting distracted, or persisting when faced with unpleasant tasks.

The Rothbart model is one of many ways of looking at temperament. Still, it may provide helpful context for the concept of emotional regulation. 

What is emotional regulation?

The American Psychological Association defined emotion regulation (also referred to as “emotional regulation” or “emotional self-regulation”) as an attempt to influence emotions in yourself or others. It can refer to a person’s ability to control their emotions—for instance, using a happy memory to offset feelings of sadness or taking a deep breath to reduce feelings of anger or anxiety can be forms of emotional regulation practice. 

Emotion regulation strategies may include reframing an event to produce a different emotional reaction, diverting one’s attention from the source of a negative emotion, or practicing techniques like mindfulness and acceptance. The emotional regulation process may be explicit, in which a person has the conscious desire to respond constructively to their emotions, or implicit, in which emotional self-control may happen without conscious awareness. 

Exploring the relationship between temperament and emotional regulation

Research indicates that there may be a link between various aspects of temperament and children’s emotion regulation. For instance, a 2023 study found that certain temperament traits, such as sociability and persistence, were positively connected to emotion regulation in school-aged children.  

Given that temperament may encompass a person’s responses and behaviors, viewing temperament as a potential factor in emotional regulation may be helpful. Still, using this skill may depend on several variables and can vary from person to person. 

Therapy as a resource

Matters related to temperament and emotional regulation may not be easy to navigate, including for parents of children who experience challenges with emotional regulation. Trying to navigate temperament may lead to feelings of confusion, stress, or frustration. Therapy could be a helpful resource for navigating temperament, emotion regulation, and other challenges. Specifically, it can allow individuals to discuss parenting-related emotions and challenges in a safe and non-judgmental setting.

For parents juggling busy schedules, attending therapy in person may not be practical. In these cases, online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp may offer a more convenient alternative. With remote therapy, you can attend sessions from the comfort of your home. Parents and caregivers seeking additional support may also benefit from the ability to send messages to an online therapist at any time between sessions.  

Online therapy has been found to be a cost-efficient and effective treatment for various mental health conditions. According to a recent study, these may include common childhood conditions such as anxiety and depression. Researchers have also found online therapy more cost-effective and associated with a higher quality of life. 

Takeaway

Temperament is often defined as the inborn characteristics that help form the basis of one’s personality, while emotional regulation refers to a person’s ability to manage their emotions. Various categories have been proposed for different temperament traits, such as Mary K. Rothbart’s dimensions of surgency, negative affect, and effortful control. 

While the relationship between temperament features and emotional regulation continues to be explored, research suggests that specific temperament aspects, such as effortful control, may play a role in emotional reactivity. If you’re experiencing challenges related to your child’s emotional regulation or temperament, consider contacting a therapist online or in your area for further guidance.