What is Temperament? Temperament is the foundation stone of who we are, and determines how we respond to the world. It’s the biologically based, intrinsic characteristics we are born with – it’s how we are ‘wired’. Right from the start, it affects the preferences we have, the way in which we interact with the world, and the way the world interacts with us. Types of Temperament There is no such thing as a good or a bad temperament: it takes all types of temperaments to make the world go round. Goodness of Fit The ‘goodness of fit’ between a child’s temperament style and their environment is crucial. Role of Culture Different cultures value different sorts of temperamental characteristics.