Individual differences in inhibitory control and children's theory of mind

This research examined the relation between individual differences in inhib itory control (IC; a central component of executive functioning) and theory -of-mind (ToM) performance in preschool-age children. Across two sessions, 3- and 4-year-old children (N = 107) were given multitask batteries measuri ng IC and ToM. Inhibitory control was strongly related to ToM, r =.66, p < .001. This relation remained significant controlling for age, gender, verba l ability, motor sequencing, family size, and performance on pretend-action and mental state control tasks. Inhibitory tasks requiring a novel respons e in the face of a conflicting prepotent response (Conflict scale) and thos e requiring the delay of a prepotent response (Delay scale) were significan tly related to ToM. The Conflict stale, however, significantly predicted To M performance over and above the Delay scale and control measures, whereas the Delay scale was not significant in a corresponding analysis. These find ings suggest that IC may be a crucial enabling factor for ToM development, possibly affecting both the emergence and expression of mental state knowle dge. The implications of the findings for a variety of executive accounts o f ToM are discussed.