Kate's Temperament Newsletter about High Maintenance Children

A Newsletter About Caring for the High Maintenance Child by Kate Andersen, M.Ed. Adult Temperament, High Sensitivity. Volume 22, Number 7, March, 2020 https://b-di.com/newsletter.html

Dear Kate:

I read your recent issue about the highly sensitive child. I think I am a highly sensitive person. My mother said I was fussy and others have called me a sensitive nitpicker. I have noted that I seem to experience anger in a particular way and, although I hate meanness and vindictiveness, I have been dismayed by my own capacity for vindictiveness and have seen its destructive effects.

Is there any research on the way HSPs experience anger?

Still Sensitive




Kate's Answer

Dear Sensitive:

I asked Editorial Consultant Dr. Sean McDevitt this question. He said the following:

"You are asking a valuable question, whether child and adult temperament are related. As it turns out, they are! Thomas and Chess in their New York Longitudinal Study followed their sample from infancy into adulthood and found that the same temperament characteristics they described in infancy were still present in adulthood. Further, they showed that there was some statistical correlation between childhood temperament and adult temperament with the same individuals. These findings have been confirmed in other longitudinal studies since then.

So it is quite possible, though change happens also, that the same or similar temperament traits found in childhood can persist into the adult portion of the life span.

Temperament is often long-lasting. Therefore, yes, emotional sensitivity can affect behavior and expression of feelings such as fear and anger."

Sincerely,

Sean C. McDevitt, Ph.D.

Sincerely,

Kate

Sincerely,

Kate