Jerome Kagan - On Temperament

Jerome Kagan is a Daniel and Amy Starch Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. Professor Kagan's research, on the cognitive and emotional development of a child during the first decade of life, focuses on the origins of temperament. He has tracked the development of inhibited and uninhibited children from infancy to adolescence. Kagan’s research indicates that shyness and other temperamental differences in adults and children have both environmental and genetic influences. A shy adult is more likely to have been high-reactive (fearful) in infancy and childhood than their bold and sociable counterparts, who were most likely low-reactive.
Professor Kagan is the director of the Mind/Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative. He has served on the National Institute of Mental Health and on the National Research Council. His books include Galen’s Prophecy: Temperament in Human Nature and Three Seductive Ideas.

[@swiftlytiltingplanet8481]

I'm thankful for Kagan's work. My entire family has suffered from painful shyness throughout our lives, and we've been harshly judged and stigmatized for it. "Weirdos," "head cases," "wimps" and "snobs" have been the typical labels placed on us over the years. If people only knew how soul-crushing such labels have been to us. For decades we've avoided college, worked in "quiet" careers, manufactured endless excuses to miss crowded social events, and steered clear of any activity that contained elements of risk. Some assumed we must have been abused in some way. Quite the contrary. Our parents were kind and gentle and clearly loved us all. But they were themselves shy and thus not only passed down their genes but their less-than-optimal avoidance behaviors for us to emulate. Now at age 65, I continue to suffer from a hot-reacting amygdala. I just came back from donating blood at the Red Cross and, as the facility filled up with donors, I could feel my adrenalin and heart rate rise, my throat constrict, and my inhibitions overwhelm my desire to make small talk with those around me. Thus I remained quiet, as I have throughout so many group activities with strangers over the years. Fortunately I've learned how to thrive in one-on-one relationships and have cultivated good friends. Just don't expect me to give any speeches or run for public office anytime soon. My siblings and I agree that our shyness has been a painful curse, every bit as debilitating as a chronic physical illness or disability. Yet its important to realize that its effects can be mitigated to some degree, most critically by avoiding avoidance. Avoidance, alas, INCREASES anxiety over time. It does not diminish it. Use care not to use Kagan's work as a crutch, or as an excuse to avoid the uncomfortable. Labeling yourself as a hopeless case tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Finding a mental health counselor who specializes in social anxiety is key. My siblings and I were hands-down the shyest kids in school, yet we've managed to land spouses and cultivate reasonably happy lives. As my children grew up, my wife and I were careful never to label them as "shy," even though they both were at times. We took pains to be good social role models by volunteering and by taking part in our community activities, and we didn't let them off the hook when they were faced with uncomfortable social situations. Both of my children inherited our shyness genes, but I'm happy to say that they suffer its effects far less than I did, and most likely due to my interventions and gentle encouragements.

[@rjoe3309]

I really don't want to reduce your life to just one sentence, but I've got to say that this is a really inspiring tale! It really moved me, particularly the way that you cared for and nurtured your children, it's so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for being a courageous human being. My best regards to you and your family, you are amazing And to anyone reading, have a fantastic day! (I apologize if my rambling results hard to follow, english isn't my first language and I'm quite rusty on top of that)

[@swiftlytiltingplanet8481]

@@rjoe3309 I really apprecite those kind words. Absolutely lovely that you took the time to do that. :)

[@SteabhanMacGR2]

This really explained who I am more that any person ever has

[@aiothedat3102]

How do you know that you are high reactive

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

No o t h e r person can explain . . . YOU must do it ! Every ZEN master will tell you: neither can I eat nor piss FOR YOU ! "Be a light unto yourself !" (Buddha)

[@raymondgutierrez2991]

Temperament - 1:15-1:45

[@anthonyong1396]

At 5:10 he uses an example of a “highly reactive” adolescent who forged a letter. Then followed with “no high reactive would that”. I think he meant to say “low reactive” adolescent.

[@travellingyeti6333]

I agree, he meant a lowly reactive teen would forge a letter (cuz they are more "extroverted"), but that the high reactive one would never do that (cuz they were more fearful)

[@Birdylockso]

I wonder if these temperaments can be linked with serotonin (predictor of confident, peaceful, etc., characters?) or testosterone (predictor of dominance, risk-taking, etc., behaviors)? Obviously, there will be thousands of neuro chemicals, but is it possible to narrow down to a few as predictors? Scientific researches do that all the time to conclude something like 70% likelihood of this and that, if a certain condition is met, etc.

[@barakpick]

He talks about introverts and shy people as belonging to the same category. I think those are different scales. Any thoughts on the matter?

[@NoobMaster-or2jf]

There are phlegmatic people -- introverts. And there are melancholic ones who are pessimistic and introverted, and very likely shy.

[@domecolo786]

Wow thank you!!

[@SteabhanMacGR2]

Same, he explained more about who I am in 1 minute than any other person ever. We are so complex, yet so simple. I saw you comment and it’s exactly how I felt, so I thought I’d comment.

[@user-us1qe3lu1l]

수특 영어지문에 실려서 누군지 궁금해서 온사람들이면 개추 ㅇㅇ

[@evadebruijn]

🙏❣️✌️

[@johnmahoney6663]

This would be way better with just the one frontal camera medium shot. Don't add a camera just because you can. Why do video people feel that they have to jump in and make it all about the production. You guy have made it all distracting.

[@Ali-lm7uw]

John Mahoney Well.. for me this style was good as just one shot would be boring, this adds more dynamism to the video, and it's not like it's very chopy, it's just fine.

[@hibbah3210]

@@Ali-lm7uw same here

[@LemonadeMe88]

I think this only tells about you, brother.. peace! :)

[@BigBaibars]

shut up