Abstract
Individual differences among adults have generally been conceptualized in terms of personality theory and traits. In contrast, individual differences among very young children (birth to kindergarten) have generally been conceptualized in terms of temperament theory and traits. The present study compares and contrasts measures of temperament and personality in a sample of preschool children. Temperament traits were assessed with a wellโestablished measure (the Rothbart CBQ), and a new preschool rating instrument was used to assess personality traits from the fiveโfactor framework (M5โPS). Indeed, a key purpose of this study was to further the development of the M5โPS. Data were gathered on 122 preschool children who were rated by their teachers. Significant correlations were found between the temperament trait Surgency and the personality trait Extraversion, between the temperament trait Negative Affect and the personality trait Neuroticism, and between the temperament trait Effortful Control and the personality trait Conscientiousness. The overall pattern of correlational data suggests that individual differences in preschool children can be adequately described using the fiveโfactor theory, and that this framework may effectively subsume traditional theories of temperament. Preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the M5โPS is offered. Copyright ยฉ 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.