Cross-cultural differences in temperament were evaluated for Russian (N =
90) and US (N = 90) samples of infants. Significant differences in levels
of temperament characteristics, and the structure of temperament, were anticipated.
Age and gender differences evaluated for the Russian sample were expected to be
consistent with those reported for US infants. The Infant Behavior
Questionnaire-Revised, a recently developed parent-report assessment tool, was
utilised with both samples. Differences between these cultures were evaluated for 14
dimensions of temperament: activity level, smiling/laughter, fear, distress to
limitations, duration of orienting, soothability, vocal reactivity, high and low
intensity pleasure, falling reactivity, affiliation/cuddliness, perceptual
sensitivity, sadness, and approach. Significant differences between Russian and US
infants emerged for six of the IBQ-R scales. Parents of infants in the US reported
higher levels of smiling/laughter, high and low intensity pleasure, perceptual
sensitivity, and vocal reactivity, whereas Russian infants’ scores were
higher for distress to limitations. Correlation matrix comparison procedure and
exploratory factor analysis indicated differences in the structure of temperament
for the two cultural groups. Age differences observed for the Russian infants were
generally consistent with those reported for a US sample; gender differences did not
emerge in this study.
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