| This thesis investigated the relation between behavioural inhibition and false belief, inhibitory control, working memory, and language. It was hypothesized that behavioural inhibition would be positively related to false belief understanding. This relation was expected to hold when working memory, inhibitory control, and syntax of complementation abilities were controlled. Behavioural inhibition was expected to be positively related to inhibitory control. No relation was expected between behavioural inhibition and either of syntax of complementation or working memory. Preschool children ( N = 45) were tested on 11 tasks. No relation between behavioural inhibition and false belief understanding, syntax of complementation, or working memory was found. Children low in behavioural inhibition were found to have significantly greater inhibitory control than children in the mid range of behavioural inhibition. Predictors of false belief (working memory, inhibitory control and language) were examined in relation to the current literature. |
