Critical Look on the Three Categories of Infant Temperament - Article Example

Critical Look on the Three Categories of Infant Temperament With the increasing rate of autism in the United States reaching epidemic proportions, parents are becoming more aware of it and its impact on their lives and that of their children (Yazbak, 2003). Because autism is a developmental disorder that does not present physical abnormalities, it cannot be diagnosed easily, especially on infants. However, telltale signs of autism can be observed through the infant’s behavior. Because of this, parents, especially new ones, are usually very anxious about the behavior of their babies. They always wonder if their babies are exhibiting normal behavior or if they might be found to have abnormal disorders like autism. When their babies show quiet behavior, autism immediately comes to mind. Thus, the need for a clarification of what is considered normal infant temperament has arisen. Although autism is in no way related to the article that will be discussed in this essay, it is cited here as an example of what parents may be anxious about. Indeed, the considerable rise of infants and children diagnosed with autism is a valid cause for worry. With the objective of reassuring and educating the parents on infant temperament, Kristen Zolten, M.A. and Nicholas Long, PhD (1997) have deemed it necessary to publish an article that discusses the categories of normal infant temperament. The article also included some tips on how to handle babies found in these categories. The authors also made a disclaimer stating that the categories they will present are only guidelines and that “not every baby will fit neatly into one category or another” to prevent the article from causing further worry for parents who cannot precisely place their babies into a certain category (Zolten and Long, 1997). Babies are said to be uniquely different, thus presenting variations are also normal (Zolten and Long, 1997). The three categories of infant temperament will be discussed more in this paper, as well as a critical look at the article’s validity, its reference to child development and the importance paid to the concept of either heredity or environment, and its use of the different types of evidence like scientific findings, expert opinion and case examples. Content The content of the article should be critically weighed in order to assess its validity and other factors that are important when evaluating a piece of writing. Thus, the content of the article will be briefly presented here. Easy Temperament Babies under this category are characterized as generally happy and undemanding babies who are able to adjust to changes and new situations effortlessly (Zolten and Long, 1997). Furthermore, they show only slight reactions to unpleasant feelings such as hunger and discomfort (Zolten and Long, 1997). Because of this, parents with babies having an easy temperament can call themselves luck as it is very easy to take care of them and very rewarding as well (Zolten and Long, 1997). However, Zolten and Long (1997) caution parents that even if babies have an easy temperament, they still need to give them the time and attention they need. Parents should not be too complacent. Slow-to-Warm-Up Temperament This type of temperament requires patience on the part of the parents. Babies who fall under this category should be given extra time and attention as they tend to be shy and have a hard time adapting to new situations (Zolten and Long, 1997). “Slow-to-warm-up babies may even reject or withdraw from anything or anybody new” (Zolten and Long, 1997). This is why parents are advised by Zolten and Long (1997) to be more careful when dealing with their babies’ shyness. They need to put in extra effort and be more cautious when dealing with slow-to-warm-up babies so that they would not withdraw completely into themselves. Difficult Temperament It is obvious in the name of the category that parents that have babies with difficult temperament will have a tougher time dealing with their babies’ disposition. Difficult babies are rone to tantrums when they do not get what they want immediately. They are also harder to pacify (Zolten and Long, 1997). These babies are also physicaly active that they may seem agitated at times (Zolten and Long, 1997). Because of their nature, difficult babies demand and need a lot of attention. Zolten and Long (1997) appease parents of their feelings of guilt that their babies behave in that way because they may have made some mistakes. The authors further guided the parents by advising them not to worry and instead, focus their attention on the babies as they encounter distressing situations. Morever, parents should be calm and patient when dealing with their babies and they should also shield them as much as possible from difficult situations (Zolten and Long, 1997). The authors also stated that babies’ difficult temperament tend to disappear as they grow old and so they should not worry too much. The Importance of Environment As the authors provide parents a better understanding of normal infant temperament and give tips on how to effectively take care of their babies, they give significant importance to environment. For instance, protecting babies with difficult temperament from upsetting situations is a proof that environment plays a substantial role in the correct handling of babies’ personalities. Although the article did not directly state that the environment is an important factor in the development of an infant’s temperament, they suggest, through their tips and suggestions, that a healthy environment, coupled with the appropriate time and attention given by parents, will enhance the relationship of parents and babies. Furthermore, Zolten and Long (1997) stress the importance of controlling to the parents’ best ability the events and situations that babies are exposed to. Thus, parents need to take extra care to provide their babies with an environment conducive to their personal temperament. Socioemotional Development Aside from alluding to the importance of the environment, Zolten and Long (1997) also wrote an article that gave value to an infant’s socioemotional development. The presentation of the normal categories of infant temperament, as well as the corresponding tips on how to deal with them, indicates aspects of socioemotional development—“the child's ability to interact with others, including helping themselves and self-control” (Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, 2008). This is evident in the article temperament itself involves the way babies interact with the people around them, as well as the situations and feelings they encounter (Zolten and Long, 1997). Furthermore, the definition of each category is based on how infants exercise some form of self-control when they are hungry and uncomfortable and the way they show emotions. The authors, through their tips, also educate parents on how to better facilitate their babies’ socioemotional development. For instance, parents should gradually introduce slow-to-warm-up babies to new environments, people, and situations in order for the babies not to withdraw from them (Zolten and Long, 1997). This presents a way for parents to make slow-to-warm-up babies overcome their shyness and properly interact with the people around them. Another example is how the article emphasized the ability of babies to soothe and calm themselves whenever they feel some sort of discomfort. “When babies with easy temperaments are fussy, they are usually able to find ways to soothe or calm themselves down” (Zolten and Long, 1997). This is one way that babies are able to help themselves and is part of their socioemotional development. The Dependency on Expert Opinion The authors did not use in-text citations or footnotes to denote that they used academic texts in the writing of the article. Moreover, there was no list of references presented that would indicate that their assumptions were based on empirical data gathered from reputable sources. Likewise, the article did not contain any information that shows that it was written based on scientific findings and case studies. What the authors relied on is the presentation of their expert opinions. They built on their qualifications to assert the legitimacy of the article. Both are experts in the field of child development and are members of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Upon researching on their backgrounds, the author of this paper found that they have done numerous articles regarding child development and psychology. Furthermore, Nicholas Long is also the Program Director of The Center for Effective Parenting, a government-funded organization that acts as the Arkansas Parent Information & Resource Center (Center for Effective Parenting, n.d.). His position, added to his experience and educational credentials, make him an authority in child development and parenting. Thus, even though the article seems to have no solid scientific and academic foundation, the strength of the article lies in the fact that Zolten and Long are both experts in the field of child development and parenting and has published many articles regarding various topics in their field. The Validity of the Article The validity of the article lies for the most part in the credentials and qualifications of the authors as they relied on their expert opinion to create an article that will alleviate the worries parents have regarding the normalcy of the temperament of their babies. Based on this and the claims and disclaimers the authors have provided both at the start and at the end of the article, the author of this paper thinks that the conclusions the authors made are valid. Moreover, the article did not make any grand assertions regarding a breakthrough method in parenting. Rather, it presented parents a guideline of how to better understand and care for their babies. In fact, the authors emphasized that parents should not be overly bothered if their babies do not fall perfectly into these three categories as “there is a wide range of what is considered to be normal infant behavior” (Zolten and Long, 1997). The article’s validity also rested on its usefulness and practicality in that it gives some advices on how parents can more efficiently care for their babies based on the temperament their offsprings have. In addition, the conclusion of the article presents a logical and obvious deduction that some arents ignore and that is the parents’ understanding and acceptance of the individual characteristics and behavior that make up the unique personality of their children as the best way to develop and nurture a working relationship with their offsprings. Conclusion The critical analysis of the article shows that Zolten and Long were able to present a valid discussion of their understanding of infant temperament and how it should be effectively handled. Parents will certainly gain a new perspective on how to deal with the different temperaments of their babies. Because this is presented in a clear and understandable manner, parents will be able to maximize the tips and guidelines provided by the authors. The authors’ expertise on the subject matter gives their article the validity it needs. Furthermore, the lack of scientific jargons and the absence of an academic style of writing make the article more readable and comprehensible, which is significant in being able to successfully convey their message to their readers—ordinary parents who worry about the normal development of their babies. References Center for Effective Parenting. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved November 6, 2008 from http://www.parenting-ed.org/aboutus.htm Child and Adolescent Services Research Center. (2008). What is child development and what skills do children develop at different ages. Retrieved November 6, 2008 from http://www.howkidsdevelop.com/developSkills.html Yazbak, F. E. (2003). Autism in the United States: A Perspective. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 8(4), Winter. Zolten, K. and Long, N. (1997). Infant Temperament. Retrieved November 6, 2008 from http://www.parenting-ed.org/handout3/General%20Parenting%20Information/infant%20temperament.htm Read More