This study had two objectives: To examine poorly
understood patterns of young children's electrodermal
reactivity and to test the hypothesis that this reactivity
reflects individual differences in the behavioral inhibition
system (BIS). We recorded skin conductance responses (SCRs)
from 92 4-year-old children during a laboratory session
that encompassed physiological and psychological stimuli.
Physiological stimuli (breaths), moderately loud to loud
sounds (expected and unexpected) and, to a lesser extent,
stimuli with psychological significance elicited clear
SCRs. Induction of psychological conflict and exposure
to emotional film clips for the most part did not elicit
increases in skin conductance (SC). Children's temperament
dimensions of fearfulness and effortful (or inhibitory)
control—two components of the BIS—were assessed
using robust observational batteries at age 2 and 4 years.
The theoretically expected correlations between overall
SC lability (reflecting SC levels) and both dimensions
of temperament were significant, albeit modest and limited
to the contemporaneous measures at age 4.