The Predictive Relationship between Temperament and Friendship in Undergraduate Students

The aim of the study is to explore and predict the relationship between temperament and friendship. For this purpose The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) by Cloninger et. al. (1994) was adapted to Indian context. Dimensions of friendship Scale (DFS) by Chandna and Chadha (1986) was used to assess the variable Friendship. The participants for this research were undergraduate students (50 boys and 50 girls). According to the findings of the study, it was observed that Respondents with Novelty Seeking Temperament did not have a significant relationship with the sub dimensions that are required to form friendship bonds. Harm avoidance Temperament shared a negative significant relationship between „Acceptance‟, „Understanding‟, and „Spontaneity‟ (sub dimensions of friendship). A significant positive correlation was found between Reward Dependence Temperament and „Trust‟. Whereas Persistence Temperament had a significant negative correlation with „Acceptance‟ dimension of friendship only. In addition, the findings revealed that Reward Dependence temperament respondents scored the highest on friendship scale. With ratings ranging from „Extremely desirable‟ to „Strongly Desirable‟. Respondents with Persistent Temperament scored „Mildly Desirable‟ on the friendship scale. Novelty seeking temperament respondents scored the highest on „neutral‟ level in friendship. The sample had a very low percentage of Harm Avoidance temperament who did fall under the range between „Strongly desirable‟ and „Mildly desirable‟ level of friendship.