Hierzulande unterrichtet der Klassenlehrer in den Freien Waldorfschulen ,,seine" Klasse vom ersten bis zum achten Schuljahr allmorgendlich in den beiden ersten Unterrichtsstunden, dem sogenannten ...Hauptunterricht1. Diese außergewöhnlich extensive zeitliche
Kontinuität führt in der Regel zu einer intensiven personalen Nähe, sowohl zu den Schülern als auch zu deren Familien. Der Waldorfklassenlehrer versteht sich als Führer der Klassengemeinschaft und als Partner der Eltern, zu denen er auch durch zahlreiche Elternabende
und Hausbesuche in engere Beziehung tritt. Er unterrichtet seine Schüler über alle acht Jahre in ca. acht Schulfächern - Deutsch, Mathematik, Formenzeichnen, Geschichte, Biologie, Geografie, Physik und Chemie. Jedes dieser Fächer wird nicht in einzelnen Unterrichtsstunden
gelehrt, sondern täglich doppelstündig im Hauptunterricht in je zwei- bis drei Wochen langen Unterrichtsepochen. Den Zusammenhang zwischen den Lehrinhalten der Fächer, die in einem Schuljahr vermittelt werden, soll der Klassenlehrer täglich im ,,Erzählteil"
in der letzten Phase des Hauptunterrichts herstellen. Durch die Abfolge der Erzählstoffe werden die Schüler im Laufe der ersten acht Schuljahre - im Sinne einer Rekapitulation der menschheitlichen Kultur- und Bewusstseinsstufen - von der mythischen Welt der Märchen
über Fabeln, Legenden, Sagen und historische Geschehnisse bis zu den Entdeckern der ,,neuen Welt" und den Pionieren der modernen wissenschaftlich-technischen Zivilisation geführt. Der Klassenlehrer soll ,,vorbildlich", d.h. bildhaft-künstlerisch unterrichten;
seine Lehrkunst zeigt die oft frontal und direktiv agierende Lehrperson beispielsweise in der sprachgestalterisch-musikalischen Anfangsphase des Hauptunterrichts, in den kunstvoll gezeichneten Tafelbildern, im täglichen Erzählen und chorischen Arbeiten sowie in der Inszenierung des
Klassenspiels am Ende des achten Schuljahres. Im Unterricht soll alles Lehren im ,,Grundton des Schönen" geschehen. Wegen dieses künstlerischen Anspruchs erfolgt der Unterricht des Klassenlehrers ohne Lehrbücher; was zu merken ist, schreiben die Schüler nach
den Vorgaben ihres Lehrers handschriftlich in ihre Epochenhefte, für deren Gestaltung sie keine digitalen Medien benutzen sollen. Wie auf das Sitzenbleiben verzichten alle Waldorflehrer bis in die Oberstufe bei der Beurteilung der Schülerleistungen auf Zensuren.
Das Waldorfzeugnis soll sich vor allem auf den individuellen Entwicklungsprozess jedes einzelnen Schülers und seine Lernfortschritte in den Unterrichtsfächern beziehen So verfasst der Klassenlehrer in der Regel handschriftlich eine seitenlange Charakteristik für jeden
seiner Schüler, die sich auch auf Grundzüge seiner Persönlichkeit (z.B. das Temperament) bezieht.
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of individual affective temperaments as clinical predictors of bipolarity in the clinical setting.
The affective temperaments of 1723 consecutive ...adult outpatients presenting for various symptoms to a university-based mental health clinical setting were assessed. Patients were administered the Hypomania Checklist-32 and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego - Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A) and were diagnosed by psychiatrists according to the DSM-5 criteria. TEMPS-A scores were studied as both continuous and normalized categorical
-scores from a previously established nationwide study on the general population of Lebanon. Simple and multiple binary logistic regressions were done on patients who have any of the DSM-5 defined bipolar types, as a combined group or separately, versus patients without any bipolar diagnosis.
At the multivariable level and taking into account all temperaments, the irritable temperament is a consistent predictor of bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. Cyclothymic temperament also played a strong role in bipolarity but more decisively so in bipolar II and substance-induced bipolarity. The hyperthymic temperament had no role in bipolar I or bipolar II disorder.
In this paper, we aimed to compare the predictive validity of two models of temperament structure: the one proposed within Strelau's Regulative Theory of Temperament (RTT) and the other developed by ...Strus, Ponikiewska and Cieciuch as a reconceptualization of the RTT fundamental temperament dimensions based on the insights from the temperamental Big Two and the Circumplex of Personality Metatraits. Specifically, we compared the predictive validity of these two temperament models in relation to a set of external variables related to stress (well-being, stress, PTSD, and COVID stress). The study was conducted on a Polish sample (N = 336, age range 17–65). We found that the reconceptualized temperament dimensions allow for better predictions of well-being, stress, and PTSD than the RTT ones.
The paper explores the hierarchical structure of temperament with the inclusion of a wide catalog of temperamental constructs derived from eight different theoretical models. Analyses were conducted ...on a group of 412 participants aged from 16 to 79 (Mage = 28.49, SDage = 11.64), administrating nine well-established measures of temperament, with a representation of 34 different constructs. An eight-level hierarchical structure of temperament was obtained using a top-down procedure. The results are discussed twofold: (1) relating the subsequent levels of the obtained structure to the existing theories and models of temperament, and (2) regarding possible identification of the most general dimensions of temperament, that percolate the abundant catalogs of its specific constructs. The latter—considering both an empirical and theoretical perspectives—resulted in the emergence of the Big Two broad factors, being recognized as two fundamental dimensions of temperament. The first factor (Neuroticism/Emotionality) refers to general (negative) emotionality and susceptibility to react with negative affect, whereas the second (Extraversion/Sensation Seeking) is expressed in broadly understood activity and its diversity, as well as high stimuli value of functioning.
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•Temperament can be meaningfully described by an eight-level structure.•Different levels of hierarchy correspond with various theories of temperament.•The Big Two of temperament was identified.•These are Neuroticism/Emotionality and Extraversion/Sensation Seeking.
Background and aim: Based upon a person-centred approach, there is a growing interest in neurobiological transdiagnostic factors, such as reactive temperament (Behavioral Inhibition (BIS) and ...Behavioral Activation Systems (BAS)) and regulatory processes (Effortful Control (EC)). Three temperament-based personality types (Resilient, Undercontrolled and Overcontrolled type (RUO)) have been replicated in adolescents and younger adults with several clinical problems; with the resilient type (highest scores on EC) consistently showing less psychological symptoms. However, these RUO types have not been studied yet in older adults with mental disorders. Therefore, the current study investigates (1) whether these RUO types can be replicated based on the aforementioned reactive and regulative temperamental factors in older inpatients and (2) whether a higher EC is related to the presence of less psychopathology. Methods: The EC, BIS/BAS, SCL-90-R and ADP-IV questionnaires were administered to 96 older patients (<= 60 years) admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Results: Cluster analysis resulted in a solution of three atypical types: a Resilient type (low BIS, mean BAS, high EC), a Dysregulated type (high BIS, high BAS, low EC) and an “Apathic” type (mean BIS, low BAS, mean EC). Comparison of means revealed that the Resilient type has the highest scores on EC and shows less clinical symptoms and maladaptive personality traits. Discussion: Of the 3 RUO types, only the Resilient type was fully replicated in older psychiatric patients. Strengthening EC might be useful as an additional therapy in order to reduce clinical symptoms, possibly leading to a better treatment outcome.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
This paper critically reviews the unidimensional construct of General Arousal as utilised by models of temperament in differential psychology for example, to underlie 'Extraversion'. Evidence ...suggests that specialization within monoamine neurotransmitter systems contrasts with the attribution of a "general arousal" of the Ascending Reticular Activating System. Experimental findings show specialized roles of noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin systems in hypothetically mediating three complementary forms of arousal that are similar to three functional blocks described in classical models of behaviour within kinesiology, clinical neuropsychology, psychophysiology and temperament research. In spite of functional diversity of monoamine receptors, we suggest that their functionality can be classified using three universal aspects of actions related to expansion, to selection-integration and to maintenance of chosen behavioural alternatives. Monoamine systems also differentially regulate analytic vs. routine aspects of activities at cortical and striatal neural levels. A convergence between main temperament models in terms of traits related to described functional aspects of behavioural arousal also supports the idea of differentiation between these aspects analysed here in a functional perspective.
Objective: Behavioral inhibition (BI) has been associated with increased risk for developing social anxiety disorder (SAD); however, the degree of risk associated with BI has yet to be systematically ...examined and quantified. The goal of the present study was to quantify the association between childhood BI and risk for developing SAD. Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify studies that assessed both BI and SAD. Meta-analyses were performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of the association between BI and SAD in children. Results: Seven studies met inclusion criteria. BI was associated with a greater than sevenfold increase in risk for developing SAD (odds ratio = 7.59, p less than 0.00002). This association remained significant even after considering study differences in temperament assessment, control group, parental risk, age at temperament assessment, and age at anxiety diagnosis. Conclusions: Identifying early developmental risk factors is critical for preventing psychiatric illness. Given that 15% of all children show extreme BI, and that almost half of these inhibited children will eventually develop SAD, we propose that BI is one of the largest single risk factors for developing SAD. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.)
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•SPS captures sensitivity to environment in a heritable, evolutionary-conserved trait, associated with increased information processing in the brain.•SPS moderates sensitivity to ...environments in a for-better-and-for-worse fashion.•Interaction with negative experiences, increases risk for psychopathology.•Interaction with positive experiences (including interventions), increases positive outcomes.•Objective assessment, mechanistic understanding and evidence-based interventions for high scoring individuals on SPS need to be improved.
Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a common, heritable and evolutionarily conserved trait describing inter-individual differences in sensitivity to both negative and positive environments. Despite societal interest in SPS, scientific knowledge is lagging behind. Here, we critically discuss how SPS relates to other theories, how to measure SPS, whether SPS is a continuous vs categorical trait, its relation to other temperament and personality traits, the underlying aetiology and neurobiological mechanisms, and relations to both typical and atypical development, including mental and sensory disorders. Drawing on the diverse expertise of the authors, we set an agenda for future research to stimulate the field. We conclude that SPS increases risk for stress-related problems in response to negative environments, but also provides greater benefit from positive and supportive experiences. The field requires more reliable and objective assessment of SPS, and deeper understanding of its mechanisms to differentiate it from other traits. Future research needs to target prevention of adverse effects associated with SPS, and exploitation of its positive potential to improve well-being and mental health.
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