Research On The Predictive Role, Developmental Characteristic And Cross-cultural Difference Of Preschoolers' Self-imposed Delay Of Gratification

Self-imposed delay of gratification, being the kind of choice orientation to forego immediate gratification for the sake of more valuable delayed outcomes, and the ability of self-control shown during the waiting process. Based on the comprehensively theoretical and objective studies, the purpose of present research is to investigate the predictive role, developmental characteristic and cross-cultural differences of preschoolers' self-imposed delay of gratification.Study 1: The 4-year-olds' self-imposed delay of gratification predictive role for school adjustment of 9 ages. Using a longitudinal design in order to investigate the 4-year-olds' self-imposed delay of gratification predictive role for school adjustment of 9 ages, 4-year-olds' self-imposed delay of gratification was measured by situational observation experiment in 1999, and 9-year-olds' school adjustment was measured by combining structure interview, peer nomination, and preschoolers' self-report methods 5 years later.Study 2: The developmental characteristics of 3 to 5 years old children's self-imposed delay of gratification. Based on Mischel's waiting laboratory paradigm of self-imposed delay of gratification, and by analyzing the spontaneous behaviors during self-imposed delay of gratification, the present study intends to investigate the developmental characteristic of 3 to 5 years old Chinese children's self-imposed delay of gratification.Study 3: The cross-cultural comparison between Chinese and Australian 3.5 to 4.5 years old children's self-imposed delay of gratification developmental characteristic. In order to find out the social cultural factor's influence on preschoolers' self-imposed delay of gratification development, the present study intends to investigate the cross-cultural differences and similarities between 3.5 to 4.5 year's old Chinese and Australian children's developmental characteristic of self-imposed delay of gratification in the eastern and western contexts by cross-cultural comparison.Based on the above studies' results analysis and discussions, the present research generally discussed the predictive role, developmental characteristic and cross-cultural differences of preschoolers' self-imposed delay of gratification. The main conclusions were drawn as follow:...