Investigates the reflectivity hypothesis by assessing (1) individual differences in preschool children's decentration ability and cognitive style of reflection-impulsivity and (2) the effects of instructing preschool children to adopt a reflective search strategy in their use of intention and consequence information in moral judgments. (Author/RH)

A three-year longitudinal study was conducted with 895 Head Start children to examine the development of self-regulatory abilities during the preschool years. The purpose was to discover, given the behaviors measured, whether there is convergent and discriminant validity for the existence of one or more dimensions of self requlatory behaviors…

Research is reviewed on cognitive interventions which affect children's self-control. Five types of effective manipulations are discussed: self-verbalization; external verbalization; affect manipulation; cognitive transformation; and manipulation of attention. Self-control behaviors include modification of impulsive behaviors; delay of…