Which psychologist conducted notable research on temperament in toddlers?

• A. Jerome Kagan
• B. Jean Piaget
• C. Lawrence Kohlberg
• D. Erik Erikson

Answer: (A)

Temperament in toddlers refers to stable patterns of emotional reactivity and self-regulation that appear early in life. Jerome Kagan is well known for pioneering research on this topic, especially regarding behavioral inhibition. He studied how some toddlers react with heightened distress and withdrawal when faced with unfamiliar people or situations, and he linked these patterns to physiological arousal, suggesting a biological basis for temperament. This work helped show that early temperament can influence later behavior and development. By contrast, Jean Piaget focused on cognitive development and how thinking changes with age, Lawrence Kohlberg on stages of moral reasoning, and Erik Erikson on psychosocial development across the lifespan, areas that do not center on temperament in toddlers.