Temperament and the development of higher cognitive abilities in 3- to 5-year-olds

Abstract

The current study investigated how temperament interacts with the development of higher cognitive abilities, such as language, theory of mind (ToM), and executive function (EF) in 3- to 5-year-olds. ToM refers to one’s reasoning about one’s own and others’ mental states. EF refers to the processes required for conscious control of thought and action. Although preschoolers develop these abilities rapidly, individual differences exist. The present study examined whether individuals’ temperament would be correlated with the development of such abilities. [1st Award]