Temperament Styles of Children from the People's Republic of China and the United States

Abstract

Preferences for four bipolar temperament qualities (i.e. extroversion-introversion, practical-imaginative, thinking-feeling and organized-flexible styles) of 400 Chinese children, ages 9, 11, 13 and 15, first are described and then compared to temperament qualities of 3,539 US children of the same ages. Chinese children more frequently prefer extroversion to introversion styles, practical to imaginative styles, thinking to feeling styles and organized to flexible styles. In contrast to Chinese boys, Chinese girls are more likely to prefer practical and feeling styles. All four bipolar temperament styles display some age changes, with practical-imaginative and organized-flexible styles displaying the most changes. Although Chinese and US children did not differ on extroversion-introversion styles, they differ on three temperament styles. Compared to US children, Chinese children are more likely to prefer practical, thinking and organized styles; these differences were found within boys and girls from the two countries. Temperament preferences displayed by Chinese and US children may reflect qualities important to values prominent in either a collectivist or individualist society.