When we talk about temperament, we think of the fundamental traits of a person that remain consistent over time. In psychology, the term “temperament” refers to strongly inherited personality traits that persist over time. These innate traits represent the biological and instinctive dimension of one's personality. It is the aspect of the personality that manifests itself first. We already published an article on the temperament according to Professor Julius Kuhl's PSI personality theory, which provides deeper insight into this aspect of the personality.

Characteristics of the temperament

According to the Polish psychologist Jan Strelau, the temperament has the following characteristics:

• Biologically determined: It is largely inherited and linked to our central nervous system.
• Visible since childhood: It manifests itself very early in life, before significant cultural or social influences have had time to shape personality traits.
• Stable over time: Temperament traits remain relatively stable throughout life, although they may be expressed differently depending on the situation.
• Not situation-specific: It manifests itself in a variety of contexts and influences how we respond to stimuli.
• Independent of learning: Although the environment can modulate the expression of temperament, its basic traits are considered innate.

These characteristics mainly influence the formal aspects of behavior, such as its intensity, speed, and responsiveness to stimuli. It is interesting to note that these same criteria also apply to ADHD.

The amount of inner energy available

Temperament is one of the seven levels of the personality outlined by Professor Julius Kuhl of the University of Osnabrück in his PSI personality theory. It is a basic system that is primarily determined by genes and defines your level of pure inner energy. This energy can be directed outward in the form of physical actions, as well as inward at the sensory level, where it triggers sensations and thoughts. However, it does not have a specific goal. The temperament manifests itself on two levels, sensory and motor.

The sensory temperament

One aspect of temperament concerns the level of arousal in the area of perception and sensations.

• High sensory temperament: High sensory arousal involves a very low stimulation threshold and intense inner nervousness that is hardly visible from the outside. Every external input, even insignificant ones, can trigger a flood of thoughts. The person's attention is then overwhelmed by the enormous flow of feelings and thoughts. As a result, those affected are often perceived as being disconnected from the world and dreamy.
• Low sensory temperament: People with low sensory arousal find it easier to focus on signals from the outside world. However, their perception is less refined and subtle stimuli easily escape them. Their inner life is therefore less rich.

A high sensory temperament goes hand in hand with intense sensory perception and a flood of ideas. Attention is focused on sensations, feelings, and thoughts. This can be inappropriate in certain situations, preventing the person from paying sufficient attention to what is happening around them. At the same time, this functioning holds great creative potential, because it involves access to a very rich and varied inner world. This mechanism echoes the filter model I presented in a previous article.

The motor temperament

The other aspect of the temperament is related to physical arousal, which manifests itself through movement and action. It influences your level of physical agitation.

• High motor arousal can manifest itself as impulsivity. If motor arousal is very high, the person may find it difficult to sit still without moving. For such a person, the prospect of spending most of their vacation lying on a deck chair is pretty awful. They need a certain amount of activity in order to rest.
• Low motor arousal can be perceived as physical inhibition. People with very low motor arousal tend to be inert and need some time before they can act.

People with high motor arousal find it very easy to get going and take action quickly. On the other hand, a low level allows one to maintain a calm and restrained demeanor.

Temperament and ADHD

As long as your temperament remains within the average range, no one will pay any attention to it. However, the more it deviates from the norm, being either extremely mild or pronounced, the more you and those around you will notice it.

Psychologist Nicole Bruggmann, director of the PSI Institute in Zurich, links temperament to ADHD, whereby the DSM-5 classification distinguishes between three types:

• Predominantly inattentive
• Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive
• Combined

An estimated 60% of adults with ADHD belong to the combined type, 35% to the inattentive type, and 5% to the hyperactive type.

Curiously, these three types correspond to very distinct manifestations of temperament.

• Inattentive type: a very high sensory temperament is easily perceived as “attention deficit.” This is due to the intense inner agitation that prevents the person from directing their attention sufficiently toward the outside world.
• Hyperactive/impulsive type: high motor temperament manifests itself as hyperactivity and impulsiveness. The person has a strong motor energy that needs to be expressed.
• Mixed type: when both types of temperament are very pronounced, you perceive high distractibility combined with pronounced impulsiveness and/or a strong need to move.

ADHD, a temperament outside the norm

Your temperament is the most innate aspect of your personality and is largely determined by your genetic makeup. These are the fundamental traits that shape you from birth to the end of your life. The same can be said for ADHD.

The expression of an extreme temperament corresponds to the traits of people with ADHD, which is characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. As this is innate, the person affected cannot get rid of these traits.

Asking such a person to live completely against their nature is unrealistic and even hurtful to the person concerned, who simply cannot do otherwise. The solution is to find a suitable environment where their strong temperament can benefit everyone. To name a few of their possible strengths:

• on a sensory level: creative and innovative thinking, hyperfocus, open-mindedness, good imagination
• on a motor level: physical energy, enthusiasm, hyperfocus, spontaneity, willingness to take risks

A strong temperament is an advantage

A brain that functions slightly differently is the cause of ADHD, which is not something negative in itself. It is the environment that determines whether it is an advantage or a disadvantage. Under the right conditions, the unique temperament of people with ADHD is an asset that also benefits those around them. Rather than fighting against it, it is necessary to understand that their brains work differently and take their needs seriously. Ultimately, everyone will benefit.

Main sources:

• KUHL, Julius et QUIRIN, Markus Rainer, 2025. Persönlichkeitspsychologie : Motivation, Kognition und Selbststeuerung: ein integratives Lehrbuch. 2., vollständig überarbeitete Auflage. Göttingen : Hogrefe Verlag. ISBN 978-3-8017-3258-5. (book in German)
• Prevalence of the three types of ADHD in adults: www.adxs.org/de/page/50/die-subtypen-von-adhs-adhs-hi-adhs-c-mischtyp-adhs-i-ads-adhs-ri-restricted-inattentive-und-andere (in German)
  
  

This article was first published in French in January 2026 and has now been translated into English by the author himself.

Author of the article: Beát Edelmann, expert in neurodiversity (autism, ADHD and high IQ) and personality exploration. He is the founder of the Abundana Institute for Self-Management in Geneva, which offers coaching, training, and consulting services in French, English, and German.

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