What is the foundation for Personality | From Temperament > Personality

By Arietta Cocozza | Senior Psychologist | Valentia Health

This model shows how temperament and early attachment experiences shape schemas and personality, and how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help at the level of schemas, thoughts, and behaviours.

Temperament (Born with it)

We are all born with a temperament – some people are naturally more easy-going, while others are more sensitive, cautious, or reactive.   Temperament is an innate biological predisposition. If you were wanting to breed a Melbourne Cup winning racehorse would pick the horse that runs sideways at a loud noise?   Humans are animals - we are just very sophisticated ones and we all have an innate temperament thanks to our parents.

It forms our baseline tendencies: some people are naturally more sensitive, others easier going, and others more reactive and nervous.

Attachment Experiences (Caregiver responses to infant’s needs)

How caregivers respond to a child in early caring situations and how they manage the particular child’s temperament shapes attachment.   Consistent, sensitive care fosters secure attachment.   Inconsistent, neglectful, or frightening care leads to insecure attachment.

 What Moderates Temperament and Attachment

Temperament is a child’s natural wiring, while attachment develops through how caregivers respond to the particular child and his/her needs.   Secure attachment builds trust and resilience, but mismatches between a child’s needs and caregiver responses - whether due to style, resources, or consistency - can lead to insecure or disorganised attachment setting the child up for future problems.

Schemas / Core Truths (Beliefs about self, others, world)

Early attachment and trauma experiences contribute to the deep beliefs about the self, others, and the world we form before around age 8. Examples include: 'I’m unlovable,' 'People will hurt me,' or 'The world is unsafe.'

Personality Development (Identity, coping patterns, disorders)

Over time, these schemas influence personality traits and coping styles. In some cases, rigid schemas contribute to personality difficulties or disorders – e.g borderline or narcissistic

How do Psychologists Assist - CBT Intervention (Targets schemas, thoughts, behaviours) as an example

CBT does not change temperament or early attachment, but it helps by:

·         Completing Stress Diathesis modelling to identity vulnerabilities in the genetic/biological domains

·         Assessing childhood history and beliefs about self and the world formed at this time

·         Identifying and challenging unhelpful schemas and thoughts

·         Testing out new ways of thinking and behaving

·         Building new, healthier experiences and relationships with people become possible and that reshape beliefs about self, others, and safety.

In this way, CBT reduces the ongoing impact of early trauma and supports healthier

personality development.

Visual Model Using Childhood Trauma as Example

The diagram below shows how temperament and attachment experiences flow into trauma, schemas, and personality development, and where CBT can intervene.