Publications [#253367] of Terrie E. Moffitt

Journal Articles

1. Caspi, A; Harrington, H; Milne, B; Amell, JW; Theodore, RF; Moffitt, TE (2003). Children's behavioral styles at age 3 are linked to their adult personality traits at age 26.. Journal of personality, 71(4), 495-513. (Covered in Financial Times, the (London) Times, She Magazine). [12901429], [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/06/16)

   Abstract:
   We observed 1,000 3-year-old children who exhibited five temperament types: Undercontrolled, Inhibited, Confident, Reserved, and Well-adjusted. Twenty-three years later, we reexamined 96% of the children as adults, using multiple methods of comprehensive personality assessment, including both self- and informant-reports. These longitudinal data provide the longest and strongest evidence to date that children's early-emerging behavioral styles can foretell their characteristic behaviors, thoughts, and feelings as adults, pointing to the foundations of the human personality in the early years of life.