Results from 2 experiments indicated that 8-to 10-year-old children can be taught to take over the punishing role of an external agent and that a training technique involving perceived freedom of self-punishment will generate greater compliance with subsequent requests from the external agent. (Author/JMB)

This study explored the relationships among children's performance on a simplified version of Kagan's Matching Familiar Figures (MFF) Test of conceptual tempo, their IQ, their performance on several measures of self-regulatory behavior, and their general activity level. Subjects were 55 preschool boys and girls. (Author/JMB)

Delay/response inhibition in the presence of an attractive stimulus and compliance with maternal directives in a clean-up task were observed among subjects 18, 24, and 30 months of age. Results suggested (1) achievement of self-control is a major developmental accomplishment, and (2) individual differences in self-control emerge and are…

Choices between an immediate reward and a delayed reward of higher value were presented to 66 children three, four, and five years of age who had been randomly assigned to short or long conditions of delay. Regardless of age, children did not choose the delayed reward. (Author/MP)

Two studies investigated the effects of altruistic outcomes on self-control in a modified delay-of-gratification paradigm. Subjects were 120 preschool children in the first study and 34 preschoolers in the second. (Author/CM)

Results showed that while preschool children's self-control was less effective in waiting conditions when rewards were available for attention, presence of rewards facilitated self-control in the working conditions. (JMB)

The emotional system is defined as a dynamical system that has neurological and biochemical structures that force the system to change in a regular and consistent way. This dynamic view allows for an alternative definition of emotion regulation, which describes when emotion regulation is needed, identifies its goal, and illustrates how regulation…

An investigation of whether attention to rewards in the delay contingency might facilitate delay if such reward-oriented attention was made instrumental. Subjects were 80 preschool children. (SDH)

Argues that several features of the child's developing physical, psychological, and behavioral character suggest some interventions are efficacious and some are less efficient or counterproductive. Illustrations are drawn from pertinent literature on such topics as systematic desensitization, cognitive-behavioral self-control therapy,…

Assessed preschoolers' moral motive strength or attribution of moral emotions to story characters. Also assessed temperamental inhibition and self-control. Children were provided with an opportunity to cheat when they felt they were unobserved. Results indicated that moral motive strength and inhibition predicted low cheating. (BC)

Used hypothetical vignettes to examine the development of children's and adolescents' understanding of nurturance and self-determination rights. Found that 8- to 12-year-olds were significantly less likely than 14- to 16-year-olds to identify nurturance and self-determination rights as salient. Reasoning about self-determination rights, but not…

This paper presents a unitary approach to emotion and emotion regulation, building on the excellent points in the lead article by Cole, Martin, and Dennis (this issue), as well as the fine commentaries that follow it. It begins by stressing how, in the real world, the processes underlying emotion and emotion regulation appear to be largely one and…

Examined developmental patterns in children's attempts to regulate their expressive behavior in a mildly conflictful situation where they expected to receive a desirable reward but in fact received an undesirable one. Major findings included significant age by sex interactions. (Author/RH)

The game of "Simon Says" was played individually with preschool and elementary school students. Errors decreased significantly with grade. (ST)

Two studies traced the development of metacognitions about self-control in children from preschool through grade 6. Results indicated that children begin to understand two basic rules for effective delay of gratification by about the end of their fifth year. (Author/MP)