Social and emotional components of book reading between caregivers and their toddlers in a high-risk sample

In this collective case study of caregiver behaviors with their toddlers, two-minute videotaped reading interactions were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Twenty-four caregiver—toddler dyads from a high-risk sample of children prenatally exposed to cocaine were selected from a larger sample because they represented the extremes of expressive language scores on the Reynell Expressive Language Quotient at 36 months, one year after the reading interactions. Caregivers in the high-scoring group shared control of the book and discourse, were ‘in tune’ with the child’s needs and abilities, and answered their own questions to the children. This was in contrast to the behaviors of caregivers of the low-scoring children, who appeared unaware of the child’s developmental needs in the interaction, particularly in their ability to respond to the questions posed. Implications of the results for future research on caregiver reading with young children are discussed

Profiles of Temperament and Perfectionism in High Ability College Students

Different physical, mental, and motivational outcomes for perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns indicate that individuals have different experiences of perfectionism. Although research has focused on parenting practices as a factor related to these differences, little research has examined the impact of temperamental differences on perfectionism. In the current study, 434 high ability undergraduate students completed perfectionism, adult temperament, and personality measures. Latent class analysis that examined the patterns among the relationships between self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, and four dimensions of adult temperament (negative affect, effortful control, extraversion, orienting sensitivity) revealed three distinct subgroups. Although the largest subgroup demonstrated patterns consistent with prior research on perfectionism (e.g., perfectionism associated with negative affect), two other subgroups revealed separate patterns that were inconsistent with prior research (e.g., one subgroup had negative relationships between negative affect and both types of perfectionism). Our results demonstrate that temperament may play an important role in explaining the heterogeneity among perfectionists

Psychological heterogeneity among honors college students

Greater knowledge of the psychology of honors college students will help to inform program administrators, counselors, residence life assistants, and faculty about how they may provide support to those with the greatest need. Via an online survey, personality, perfectionism, and suicidal ideation data were collected from honors college students (N = 410, 73% female). Using latent profile analysis, students were classified by their responses to the Big Five Inventory personality measure into five profiles. Risk factors of high perfectionism and suicidal ideation scores were found in two of the profiles, suggesting students with these personality characteristics may need enhanced psychological support. The largest profile (35% of students) had extraversion scores above the norm, but all other profiles had introverted scores below the norm. Neuroticism scores were also higher than the norm in the introverted profiles, which represented a majority of the honors college students