What would Batman do? Self‐distancing improves executive function in young children

Abstract

This experimental research assessed the influence of graded levels of self-distancing - psychological distancing from one's egocentric perspective - on executive function (EF) in young children. Three- (n = 48) and 5-year-old (n = 48) children were randomly assigned to one of four manipulations of distance from the self (from proximal to distal: self-immersed, control, third person, and exemplar) on a comprehensive measure of EF. Performance increased as a function of self-distancing across age groups. Follow-up analyses indicated that 5-year-olds were driving this effect. They showed significant improvements in EF with increased distance from the self, outperforming controls both when taking a third person perspective on the self and when taking the perspective of an exemplar other (e.g., Batman) through role play. Three-year-olds, however, did not show increased EF performance as a function of greater distance from the self. Preliminary results suggest that developments in theory of mind might contribute to these age-related differences in efficacy. These findings speak to the importance of psychological distancing in the expression of conscious control over thought and action from a young age and suggest a promising new avenue for early EF intervention.

Dramatic pretend play games uniquely improve emotional control in young children

“…In other research, executive function has recently been found to be positively and uniquely affected by fantastical pretend play (Thibodeau et al, 2016). Other work in this age group has shown that when 5-year-old children pretend to be a character (e.g., Batman), or to view themselves in a third person manner, they increase their executive function (White & Carlson, 2015) and…”

“…In other research, executive function has recently been found to be positively and uniquely affected by fantastical pretend play (Thibodeau et al., ). Other work in this age group has shown that when 5‐year‐old children pretend to be a character (e.g., Batman), or to view themselves in a third person manner, they increase their executive function (White & Carlson, ) and perseverance (White et al., ). Therefore, these results could have emerged because children in the DPPG group gained an ability to task switch, to distance themselves from emotionally charged situations, to see themselves as separated, and to control their reactions based on their distance from someone else's distress, rather than affecting emotional control directly.…”

The effect of psychological distance on young children's future predictions

“…One promising approach to increase accurate reasoning about the future is to manipulate psychological distance to observe whether children reason differently about a thirsty self's future compared with a thirsty other's future. Research examining the ability to mentally detach from one's own beliefs, desires, and circumstances to reason from a perspective different from one's own, known as psychological distancing, reports positive effects on children's and adults' future decision making in a number of future‐oriented domains (e.g., Kross & Grossmann, ; Lee & Atance, ; Prencipe & Zelazo, ; Pronin, Olivola, & Kennedy, ; White & Carlson, ; Ziegler & Tunney, ).…”

Opportunities For Development Of Executive Functions In Play Activities: A Theoretical Overview

“…A recent study which was conducted by R. White and S. Carlson (White & Carlson, 2016) confirmed the effectiveness of this approach as it examined the impact of performing EF assignments depending on the role that the child takes on itself (White, Carlson, 2016). The tasks were presented in three options: first, a traditional one, second, a situation where the child represented another child performing the task ("Where does John think this card belongs to?")…”