Associations Between Self-Reported Temperament and Self-Knowledge

Abstract. Temperament and self-knowledge are both considered important regulators of behavior. Although their areas of influence overlap to some point, little is known about their association. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore if and how they are related to each other, specifically if temperamental dimensions predict self-evaluations in four important domains of self-knowledge. The results showed that temperamental dimensions derived from the regulative theory of temperament were predictors of self-evaluations in all four domains of self-knowledge to a certain degree. Temperament accounted for the greatest amount of variance in self-evaluations of the agency domain, which were positively predicted by briskness and activity, and negatively predicted by emotional reactivity. Both interpersonal attractiveness and social acceptance were positively predicted by briskness, activity, and sensory sensitivity, whereas positive predictors of morality were briskness and sensory sensitivity.