Inhibitory control and problem solving in early childhood: Exploring the burdens and benefits of high self-control
Authors
Agyapong, MA
Frick, MA
Portugal, AM
Konke, LA
Cloke, H
Bedford, R
Smith, TJ
Karmiloff-Smith, A
Jones, EJH
Charman, T
Brocki, KC
Publication Date
2022-05Journal Title
Infant and Child Development
ISSN
1522-7227
Publisher
Wiley
Language
en
Type
Article
This Version
AO
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Hendry, A., Agyapong, M., D'Souza, H., Frick, M., Portugal, A., Konke, L., Cloke, H., et al. (2022). Inhibitory control and problem solving in early childhood: Exploring the burdens and benefits of high self-control. Infant and Child Development https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2297
Description
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000269
Funder: Newnham College, University of Cambridge; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000663
Funder: University College, University of Oxford
Abstract
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.
Keywords
EXPLORATORY REPORT, divergent thinking, generativity, inhibitory control, problem‐solving, self‐regulation, toddlers
Sponsorship
King's College London (204823/Z/16/Z)
Leverhulme Trust (PLP‐2013‐028)
Medical Research Council (MR/K021389/1)
Vetenskapsrådet (421‐2012‐1222)
Wellcome Trust (098330/Z/12/Z)
Identifiers
icd2297
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2297
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/332517
Rights
Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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