A STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-CONTROL AND FEARS IN CHILDREN

Both fear and self control responses were examined in a sample of 1.138 children who were between 10 and 12 years of age. The Fear Survey (Pelechano, 1981) and the Child Self Control Survey (Capafons & Silva, 1986) were used. Results reveal that the three dimensions of self control (personal feedback, tolerance to aversive situations, and self evaluative processes) reduce the fear intensity, while reward delay appears to be of minor significance. This influence was observed in all fear factors, especially fear of physical violence, natural phenomen, and closed places. No effect was observed with reference to fear of death. Finally, while reward delay and personal feedback had similar effects on fear intensity in both sexes, gender effects were observed with regards to self evaluative processes and tolerance to aversive situations.