Self-control: toward systematic training programs.
Selected literature is reviewed regarding the question, How may children's self-control skills be developed or improved through training? It is premature to give up on psychosocial methods of training self-control. Self-control is fostered by being in a long-term positive relationship with a dependable person who communicates the value of this goal; working at self-control challenges carefully chosen to be at the correct level of difficulty for present skill; getting many positive models of the successful exercise of self-control; logging in many hours of practice where valued rewards are contingent upon greater and greater exercise of effort; learning that valued rewards can be obtained by effort, and thereby learning to enjoy effort; using fantasy rehearsal; learning compliance skills; learning verbal concepts (including a term for self-control itself) that affect the world view in ways conducive to this skill; learning the art of self-instruction; learning to remove oneself from tempting stimuli, physically and mentally; and learning self-monitoring.
Strayhorn
Joseph M
JM
MCP/Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA. joestrayhorn@juno.com
D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D010553:Personality Development; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D012201:Reward