Which term refers to an individual's enduring characteristics from birth?

The correct term that refers to an individual's enduring characteristics from birth is temperament. Temperament encompasses the innate traits and behavioral tendencies present at birth or early in life, which influence how individuals respond to the world around them. These characteristics are believed to be biologically based and can shape a person's emotional and behavioral responses throughout their life.

For instance, a child may be naturally more outgoing or shy, demonstrating differences in activity levels, mood regulation, and threshold for sensory stimulation right from infancy. This foundational aspect of temperament plays a crucial role in the development of personality later on, though personality itself is shaped by a broader range of experiences and environmental factors over time.

Goodness of fit refers to how well an individual's temperament aligns with the demands and expectations of their environment, particularly in terms of parenting and caregiving. Personality represents the overall pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that emerge from the interaction of temperament with life experiences, while attachment pertains to the emotional bond formed between an infant and their primary caregiver, which is influenced by interactions rather than inherent characteristics.