Citation

Eisenberg N. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 2017; 58(4): 384-386.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jcpp.12707

PMID

28346759

Abstract

In Nigg's excellent article, he deals with a variety of complex conceptual issues related to the constructs of self-regulation and executive functioning (EF). Overall, I agree that the terminology proposed by Nigg should be adopted; moreover, the conceptual distinctions he provides should help the field to move forward with regard to the understanding of varied constructs related to self-regulation. In the spirit of further clarification, I questioned Nigg's suggestions that (a) working memory should be considered as part of the construct of top-down regulation and (b) planning is a higher level component of EF but not part of effortful control. In addition, I discussed my perspective on the role of automaticity in defining top-down versus bottom-up self-regulatory processes and the role of flexibility in top-down self-regulatory processes and their relation to personality resiliency.

© 2017 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Language: en

Keywords

Self-control; emotion regulation; executive function; temperament; working memory