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Cognitive tempo and behavioral adjustment in children

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Abstract

The relationship between cognitive tempo and 12 behavior problems in children was investigated. The Matching Familiar Figures test (MFF) was administered to 150 children aged 6 to 11, and the Child Behavior Checklist was completed by their parents. Fast, inaccurate, impulsive responses on the MFF were associated with hyperactivity, but MFF scores were not associated with 11 other behavior problems. Contrary to a previous report by Schwartz, Friedman, Lindsay, and Narrol (1982), cognitive tempo was not related to childhood depression. The findings are discussed in terms of a distinction between cognitive deficiency and cognitive distortion.

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Collection of these data was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (RO 1 MH34623-01) in the form of a grant to study “Interpersonal Cognition and Behavior.”

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Fuhrman, M.J., Kendall, P.C. Cognitive tempo and behavioral adjustment in children. Cogn Ther Res 10, 45–50 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173382

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