Self-Control and Impulsiveness in Children: Effects of Visual food Cues

Abstract

Self-control can be defined as the choice of a larger, more delayed reinforcer over a smaller, less delayed reinforcer, and impulsiveness as the opposite. Preschool children have exhibited varying degrees of self-control and impulsiveness in laboratory experiments when food is the reinforcer. Previous research suggests that exposure to visual food cues may affect preschool children’s self-control for food. The present experiment used 22 3-year-old children to explore the effects of exposure to visual food cues on choice behavior in a self-control paradigm. The results suggest that exposure to visual food cues influences preschool children’s self-control for food reinforcers.