Temperament Scale

Abstract

The Temperament Scale (Capaldi & Byrne, 1963) is a psychological instrument developed to measure the general personality trait of orality and specific components of temperament. The foundation of the scale rests on Sheldon’s (1942) constitutional definitions, which categorize individuals into three temperamental types: viscerotonic, somatotonic, and cerebrotonic. The scale utilizes 60 self-rating items that are presented to the subject in a randomized arrangement, requiring them to report the frequency of specific behaviors.

Keywords

Temperament Scale, Orality, Personality Assessment, Viscerotonia, Somatotype, Cerebrotonia, Behavioral Rating, Test Development, Reliability, Validity.

Authors

Capaldi, E. J., Byrne, Donn.

Purpose

The primary objective of the Temperament Scale is to provide a standardized measurement of the personality trait of orality. Furthermore, it serves to empirically assess the three primary temperament components—viscerotonia, somatotonia, and cerebrotonia—as defined by Sheldon’s constitutional psychology.

The scale was specifically designed for application within the context of research studies focused on food attitudes, consumption behaviors, and the broader psychological dimensions correlating with these traits.

Construct

The central psychological construct measured is Temperament, understood as stable, constitutionally based individual differences in behavioral style. The scale operationalizes this construct through the assessment of three distinct, yet related, dimensions of temperament:

• Viscerotonia: Associated with comfort, relaxation, and sociability.
• Somatotonia: Characterized by assertiveness, physical activity, and risk-taking.
• Cerebrotonia: Defined by inhibition, sensitivity, and intellectual focus.

The measure also incorporates the psychoanalytic concept of orality, linking early developmental fixations to adult personality characteristics and behavioral frequency.

Validity

The validity of the Temperament Scale was supported by examining the relationship between the measured temperament components and relevant behavioral outcomes, particularly those related to food consumption and attitudes. The results demonstrated criterion validity consistent with theoretical expectations.

Specifically, scores on the food-related subscale showed a significant positive correlation with the temperament component of viscerotonia, aligning with the theoretical association between viscerotonia and comfort/ingestion behaviors. Conversely, the scores showed a significant negative correlation with cerebrotonia, suggesting that inhibited or sensitive individuals report fewer behaviors associated with the scale’s focus.

Reliability

The reliability of the Temperament Scale was evaluated using both internal consistency and test-retest methods, providing evidence of stability and homogeneity, though results varied somewhat by gender.

• Internal Consistency: Measured using the split-half method, the reliability coefficients showed a wide range. For male participants, coefficients spanned from .20 to .76. For female participants, the reliability coefficients were generally higher, ranging from .56 to .86.
• Test-Retest Reliability: Temporal stability was assessed over a six-week period. The results indicated strong stability, with reliability coefficients of .86 for males and .82 for females, suggesting the scale provides consistent measurement over time.

Factor Analysis

Formal documentation regarding the application of rigorous factor analysis techniques (such as Exploratory Factor Analysis or Confirmatory Factor Analysis) to establish the dimensional structure of the 60 items was Not indicated in the source material. The scale’s structure relies directly on the theoretical framework proposed by Sheldon (1942) to define the viscerotonic, somatotonic, and cerebrotonic subscales.

Instrument

Test Type: Rating Scale (Also referred to as a Behavior Rating Scale)

Format: The instrument is a self-report measure consisting of 60 items. Subjects are instructed to indicate the frequency of their behavior using a 5-point scale with the following options: Almost Never, Infrequently, Sometimes, Frequently, and Usually.

Language Available: English (Original language of development).

Population Group: Human; Male; Female.

Age Group: Adulthood (18 years and older).

Population Details: The initial standardization and validation sample utilized Undergraduate students.

Test Methodology: The scale uses a quantitative, self-report inventory method where items are randomly arranged to minimize response set bias.

Keywords

Self-Rating, 5-Point Scale, Sheldon, Constitutional Psychology, Food Attitude, Test-Retest Reliability, Internal Consistency, University of Texas, Behavior Rating Scale.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Correspondence Address: University of Texas (Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Temperament Scale was published in 1963. Information regarding copyright, current permissions, and associated usage fees must be obtained by contacting the original authors (E. J. Capaldi and Donn Byrne) or the institution of affiliation. Specific test items are generally not available in the public domain.

Reference’s

Capaldi, E. J., & Byrne, D. (1963). Temperament Scale. United States.

Items of the Temperament Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Test Items Available: No (Contact the publisher or author for item details)