Psychological Development and Education ›› 2012, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (5): 463-470.

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The Stability and Gender Difference of Children’s Self-control from 2 to 11Years Old

ZHANG Ping1, LIANG Zong-bao2, CHEN Hui-chang3, ZHANG Guang-zhen2   

  1. 1. Department of Psychology, School of Social Development and Public Policy, FuDan University, Shanghai 200433, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science, Minstry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China;
    3. Institute of Development Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
  • Online:2012-09-15 Published:2012-09-15

Abstract: Stability and gender difference of children's self-control of 114 children from 2 to 11 years old was investigated in lab by observing children's behavior.The results are as follows: (1) Children's self-control from 2-year-old to 4-year-old show low stability,and children's self-control from 4-year-old to 11-year-old show low stability; (2) Girls' self-control is significantly higher than boys' in all age stages.(3) There is significantly difference between boys and girls in their self-control's developmental trajectories from 2 to 11 years old.For girls,their self-control at 4 years old is significantly higher than that of 2 years old,and there is no difference in self-control among 4,7 and 11 years old.For boys,their self-control at 4 years old is significantly higher than that of 2 years old,their self-control at 4 years old is significantly higher than that of 7 years old,and there is no difference in self-control between 7 and 11years old.

Key words: children, self-control, stability, gender difference

CLC Number: 

  • B844.1
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