Childhood Personality Predicts Long‐Term Trajectories of Shyness and Aggressiveness in the Context of Demographic Transitions in Emerging Adulthood

Abstract

In a 19-year longitudinal study, childhood personality characteristics (assessed by teachers at ages 4 to 6) were significantly related to both initial levels and changes in parental judgments of shyness and aggressiveness. Long-term stability was demonstrated by the fact that overcontrollers had consistently higher scores in shyness and undercontrollers in aggressiveness. However, undercontrollers' shyness and overcontrollers' aggressiveness changed over time from a low to a high level. Also, both types assumed adult social roles, such as leaving the parental home, establishing a first romantic relationship, and getting a part-time job, at a later time than the resilient participants. A mediation analysis indicated that under-and overcontrollers' increasing aggressiveness between age 17 and 23 was due to their longer latency of getting a part-time job. Together, results demonstrate the importance of considering person-environment transactions in explaining both change and stability in personality between childhood and adulthood.Findings from a number of longitudinal studies have shown that childhood personality predicts important life outcomes in Correspondence concerning this article may be sent to: Jaap Denissen,

The dynamics of personality and identity in adolescence

“…As such, Overcontrollers still displayed the highest levels of depression, and Undercontrollers still had the highest levels of delinquency by middle adolescence. This is in line with studies that identified personality types cross-sectionally (e.g., Akse et al, 2004;Asendorpf, 2003;Denissen et al, 2008;Hart et al, 2003;Robins et al, 1996).…”

“…Resilients usually display little problem behavior, Undercontrollers are described by high levels of externalizing problems (e.g., delinquency), and Overcontrollers by high levels of internalizing problems (e.g., depression). Denissen, Asendorpf, and van Aken (2008) showed that personality types are not only concurrently related to problem behavior, but demonstrated that these types can also longitudinally predict shyness and aggressiveness. In addition, the childhood personality types derived by Denissen et al (2008) even longitudinally predicted the timing of demographic transitions, such as leaving the parental home, establishing a romantic relationship, and finding a job.…”

“…Denissen, Asendorpf, and van Aken (2008) showed that personality types are not only concurrently related to problem behavior, but demonstrated that these types can also longitudinally predict shyness and aggressiveness. In addition, the childhood personality types derived by Denissen et al (2008) even longitudinally predicted the timing of demographic transitions, such as leaving the parental home, establishing a romantic relationship, and finding a job. Thus, personality types are powerful predictors of current and later adjustment, and demographic transitions.…”

Stability and change of basic personal values in early adulthood: An 8-year longitudinal study

“…More generally, the agenda for future research should include an examination of the dynamic relations between major life events and value development. In the domain of traits, there is evidence that life events may predict personality change and that personality may predict the occurrence of life events (e.g., Denissen, Asendorpf, & van Aken, 2008;Specht, Egloff & Schmukle, 2011). Reciprocal influences are also likely for values.…”

Relationship of Adult Representations of Childhood Parenting and Personality Tendencies to Adult Stressors and Political Ideology

“…As Hampson illustrates, a child who reacts to stress with hostility may become entrapped in a cycle of reciprocal hostility, resulting in chronic stress. Along that same line, a 19-year longitudinal study (Dennissen et al 2008) found that less resilient personality types in children predict later difficulties in young adult roles, including difficulties with leaving the parental home, establishing a first romantic relationship, and getting a part-time job. The less resilient personality types included both under-controlling (a lack of ego-control or restraint of impulses, which linked to aggression) and over-controlling (excessive ego-control, which linked to shyness).…”