Self-controlled children have greater opportunities

US researchers have used a long-term study to investigate the impact of basic character traits on success and failure in life. Discipline and self-restraint therefore count for personal success more than cognitive intelligence.

25/01/2011

A long-term study by US researchers shows that self-controlled children have a greater chance of success in life, completely independent of the intelligence quotient. As part of the study, US scientists have tracked the character and life of about 1,000 people since birth until the age of 32 years. The research team led by US psychologists Terrie Moffit and Avshalom Capsi from Duke University concluded that health, well-being and social living conditions in people are significantly more favorable if they are well-seasoned at the age of three Self-control. However, self-control can also be trained in the course of life, increasing the chances of a successful life, the US scientists report.

As part of their long-term study, the US scientists had observed the life cycle and characteristics of 1,000 New Zealanders since the age of three, up to the age of 32 years. They continuously collected information about the character and the life cycle of the study participants, based on assessments of parents, teachers and in later life phases also on institutional sources and the statements of the participants themselves. In particular, qualities and behaviors that reflect the degree of personal self-control, such as perseverance, frustration tolerance, patience, diligence, and purposefulness, were of interest to researchers. In addition, the intelligence quotient and the social background of the study participants played a special role in the evaluation. The result of their study, the researchers published in the current issue of the journal „Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PNAS“

The US researchers report that people with discipline and self-control over their entire life in terms of health, wealth and social living conditions are much better and more positive than those with a lack of self-control. Anyone who was able to fall back on an age-appropriate self-restraint at the age of three could benefit significantly later in life. People who did not have much self-control when they were children also had more problems later in life. They are more often affected by drug addiction, poverty and the tendency to crime, the US researchers report. Overall, according to the scientists, the effects of a rather hostile lifestyle could be increasingly observed among the less self-controlled participants.

Training can promote self-sufficiency
But the study also brings with it a positive message. Because uncontrolled persons were able to compensate for their expected deficits in the development of life through the personal training of self-control. The degree of self-control and thus the subsequent opportunities can obviously be influenced. Thus, some study participants had managed to improve their self-control significantly with age and were more successful in adulthood, as the original estimate of the scientists would suggest. For example, education and training programs, as well as concepts to empower self-controlled behavior, could help stem the development of socially negative behaviors, the US researchers concluded. Based on their study, measures to increase self-restraint would have to be completely re-evaluated in the future. They not only help those affected to deal better with concrete situations, but also increase their chances of success throughout their lives. With methods such as autogenic training, tai chi, yoga or meditation, which specifically contribute to increasing self-control, could thus be made a significant contribution to the successful life. The discipline of shaping life is more important than intelligence, anchored in most of the teachings, and so the results of the US researchers are hardly surprising. (Fp)

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