Childhood derivatives of inhibition and lack of inhibition to the unfamiliar

Child Dev. 1988 Dec;59(6):1580-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1988.tb03685.x.

Abstract

Behavioral and physiological assessments of 41 7 1/2-year-old children who had been selected to be inhibited or uninhibited at 21 months and observed again at 4 and 5 1/2 years revealed that each of the 2 original behavioral profiles predicted theoretically reasonable derivatives. A majority of the formerly shy, timid children became quiet and socially avoidant in unfamiliar social situations, while a majority of the formerly sociable children became talkative and interactive with peers and adults. Absolute heart-rate and cortisol level at 7 1/2 years were not as discriminating of the 2 behavioral groups as they had been 2 years earlier.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Arousal / physiology
  • Attention / physiology
  • Child
  • Child Development*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Form Perception* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Memory* / physiology
  • Mental Recall* / physiology
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual* / physiology

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone