This study explored the relationships among children's performance on a simplified version of Kagan's Matching Familiar Figures (MFF) Test of conceptual tempo, their IQ, their performance on several measures of self-regulatory behavior, and their general activity level. Subjects were 55 preschool boys and girls. (Author/JMB)

Examined self-control concerns of 104 men and women who evaluated areas of their life in terms of perceived use of various dimensions of self-control. Results indicated that, depending on the specific area of clinical concern, there were significant differences in the kinds of self-control strategies subjects tended to employ. (LLL)

The effects of extent and kind of external control during training on later resistance to temptation were examined in preschool children. Boys transgressed significantly more quickly than girls. (ST)

An investigation of whether attention to rewards in the delay contingency might facilitate delay if such reward-oriented attention was made instrumental. Subjects were 80 preschool children. (SDH)

In Finland, 151 women and 160 men were followed from age 8 to 36. High career orientation was explained by high self-control. Social activity was related to female career orientation. Both stable and unstable careers were more strongly related to personality traits in women than men. (63 references) (SK)

The game of "Simon Says" was played individually with preschool and elementary school students. Errors decreased significantly with grade. (ST)

Both Mexican- and Anglo-American Head Start pupils were significantly higher in their level of aspiration as compared to their level of achievement. However, the Mexican-American group's achievement level was considerably nearer to their level of aspiration and they consistently set more realistic goals in a risk-taking situation. (Author/WY)

Investigates restrained drinking and self control in relation to alcohol consumption and problem drinking in high school students (N=198). Findings were similar for males and females: higher levels of restrained drinking, as measured by cognitive emotional preoccupation (CEP), predicted higher levels of alcohol consumption and problem drinking.…

The research papers in the current Merrill-Palmer Quarterly (Vol. 30, No. 2) invitational issue on temperament are examined from the perspective of previous research and the indications they provide for critical unsolved issues concerning temperament. (Author)

A total of 127 fifth-grade boys and girls were presented a TAT-like projective test to measure fantasy aggression and controls over aggression. Overt peer-oriented aggression was measured by peer and teacher ratings. (JMB)

Surveyed college student (N=34) and general public (N=48) smokers regarding frequency, onset age, and daily situations associated with their habit. Results indicated no differences in either sample for responses according to sex, and correlations between smoking rate and onset age or years of smoking were not significant. (LLL)

Seven- and eight-year-olds, representing a wide range of locus of control scores, practiced one of three self-verbalization treatments of behavioral rule learning: overt speech, covert speech, or a combination of both. Latency scores in the toy temptation test were highest for the combination treatment group. (SJL)

Referred children were rated as significantly less self-controlled on the self control rating scale (SCRS) than were matched nonreferred children. Significant differences were found on the SCRS, Matching Familiar Figures test latencies and behavioral observations. The SCRS appeared to be a reliable and valid index of self-control. (Author)