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The Little Engine That Can: Infants' Persistence Matters
Kelsey Lucca1, Jessica A Sommerville1
1University of Washington, Department of Psychology and Center for Child and Family Well-being, Brooklyn Trail Building, 3903 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|August 21, 2018
Insights
Understanding the developmental origins of persistence is crucial for child development. This research explores why scientists are increasingly interested in persistence during infancy and early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Persistence is a key factor in achieving goals across various life domains.
- Despite its importance, the developmental origins of persistence remain understudied.
- Early childhood and infancy represent critical periods for the emergence of persistent behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the growing scientific interest in the developmental origins of persistence.
- To identify key factors driving research into persistence in early life stages.
- To underscore the significance of understanding persistence from infancy through early childhood.
Main Methods:
- This study is a review and conceptual analysis.
- It synthesizes existing literature on persistence and developmental psychology.
- It identifies trends and key research questions in the field.
Main Results:
- There is a notable increase in research focusing on persistence in infants and young children.
- Several theoretical and empirical factors contribute to this surge of interest.
- Early childhood is recognized as a foundational period for developing persistence.
Conclusions:
- Investigating the developmental origins of persistence in early life is a burgeoning area of research.
- Understanding early persistence is vital for predicting long-term outcomes.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and trajectories of persistence development.
Abstract:
Persistence is central to outcomes across a range of domains: the harder you try, the further you get. Yet relatively little is known about the developmental origins of persistence. Here, we highlight key reasons for a surge of interest in persistence in infancy and early childhood.
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