... There are two approaches to the study of individual differences, Nomothetic and Idiographic (Allport, 1937). The Nomothetic approach looks at the way individuals vary on a common set of dimensions and the Idiographic approach examines the specific characteristics unique to the person and what makes an individual distinct from others. We will examine how biological, genetic and environmental differences contribute to behaviour and the various theoretical approaches to temperament. Rutter (1989) suggests that '...temperament must be seen as an abstract notion of a trait or disposition to act or behave...' Temperament seems to have been characterized into two positions, good or bad. This could be because of our preconceptions of acceptable, good or bad behaviour. This also varies from culture to culture as to what behaviours are acceptable. Bates (1989) examined infants and pre-schoolers and found three broad areas of behaviour. (a) Emotional responses- child's mood, reactions to people and response to general states. (b) Attentional orientation- ...

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