1. Inhibitory Control and Problem Solving in Early Childhood: Exploring the Burdens and Benefits of High Self-Control
- Author
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Hendry, Alexandra, Agyapong, Mary A., D'Souza, Hana, Frick, Matilda A., Portugal, Ana Maria, Konke, Linn Andersson, Cloke, Hamish, Bedford, Rachael, Smith, Tim J., Karmiloff-Smith, Annette, Jones, Emily J. H., Charman, Tony, and Brocki, Karin C.
- Abstract
Low inhibitory control (IC) is sometimes associated with enhanced problem-solving amongst adults, yet for young children high IC is primarily framed as inherently better than low IC. Here, we explore associations between IC and performance on a novel problem-solving task, amongst 102 English 2- and 3-year-olds (Study 1) and 84 Swedish children, seen at 18-months and 4-years (Study 2). Generativity during problem-solving was negatively associated with IC, as measured by prohibition-compliance (Study 1, both ages, Study 2 longitudinally from 18-months). High parent-reported IC was associated with poorer overall problem-solving success, and greater perseveration (Study 1, 3-year-olds only). Benefits of high parent-reported IC on persistence could be accounted for by developmental level. No concurrent association was observed between problem-solving performance and IC as measured with a Delay-of-Gratification task (Study 2, concurrent associations at 4-years). We suggest that, for young children, high IC may confer burden on insight- and analytic-aspects of problem-solving.
- Published
- 2022
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