Galen's Prophecy: Temperament in Human Nature
Harvard cognitive psychologist Kagan adds a new twist to the nature-nurture controversy in this challenging academic study. Second-century Greek physician Galen posited innate, distinct human temperaments--melancholy, sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic--thought to result from imbalances in bodily humors. Carl Jung carried forward Galen's ideas by asserting that people are born as introverts or extroverts. Though the concept of inherited personality has fallen out of favor, research studies done during the last 15 years by Kagan and others reveal that an infant's fearful or relaxed reaction to novel stimuli is a predictor of whether that child will develop into a sensitive, introverted or a bold, outgoing adult. Kagan believes we each inherit unique neurochemistries that predispose us to becoming inhibited or uninhibited types. He offers tantalizing speculations on how innate temperaments might affect vocational and marital choices, criminality, ethical stances, psychopathology and parenting.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.