Child Development

FIGURE 1

each of the Big Five dimensions being comprised of
features from more than one of the earlier dimen-
sions.

Figure 1 shows hypothesized relations between
five of the individual difference dimensions of infancy
and childhood and the different dimensions of the
Big Five. The general relations outlined in Figure 1
are based on empirical evidence; more detailed re-
search is required, however, before more specific con-
clusions can be drawn about the role of these early
individual difference dimensions in the development
of the Big Five. In Figure 1, the lines connecting spe-
cific dimensions of infancy and childhood to specific
dimensions of the Big Five represent correlations be-
tween the earlier and later dimensions. The solid
lines represent positive correlations, while the dashed
lines represent negative correlations.

Apparent from Figure 1 should be the lack of
one-to-one correspondence between early and later
individual difference dimensions. Evidence suggests
that this dimensional reorganization is more biologi-
cally determined than environmentally determined;
meaning, as described earlier, that specific environ-
mental conditions are not required for this reorgani-
zation to occur. Exactly how and when this

dimensional reorganization takes place, however, is

not understood. Future research will examine more

closely the age-related changes that take place in the

organization of individual difference dimensions.

Conclusion

Individual differences in personality are universal

in that they are found in all human populations. The

roots of individual differences are no doubt bedded

in evolutionary history, selected because of their im-

proved adaptiveness to conditions in the environ-

ment. The specific personality qualities of an

individual, which lead to individual differences be-

tween people, are not based so much in evolution,

however, but are the product of many developmental

factors.

The developmental study of individual differ-

ences in personality provides a rich source of data for

the researcher and practitioner alike to use in under-

standing and predicting behavior. Without the study

of individual differences, there could be no detailed

analysis or explanation of why people often behave or

develop very differently under seemingly equivalent

environmental conditions. Understanding these dif-

ferences and the development of these differences is

304 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT