Approach and avoidance temperaments and achievement goals among children

Previous research assumes personality based approach–avoidance temperaments to be predictors of domain-specific achievement goals in a hierarchical model within a trichotomous achievement goal framework (Elliot & Thrash, 2002). The present study investigates the relations between temperaments and achievement goals in a sample of 661 elementary school students to test the validity of this model in an alternative sample by means of a more contemporary 2 × 2 achievement goal framework. A structural equation model supports previous findings that approach temperament serves as predictor of mastery–approach goals, performance approach goals and avoidance temperament of mastery–avoidance goals, performance–avoidance goals. In addition, there is some evidence of avoidance temperament as predictor of approach goal and approach temperament as predictor of avoidance goal. These results provide further support to the validity of the model proposed by Elliot and Thrash (2002), and suggests additional relations that add to the knowledge of the relationship between temperament and achievement goals.