Children's use of transitional objects during daily separations from significant caregivers.

Attachment behaviors of 105 toddlers were observed as the children separated from significant caregiver(s) at child care. Analysis indicated that children attached to a transitional object and using the object when separating engaged in ritualistic touching behaviors directed at a variety of targets. Results lend some support to the notion of transitional objects facilitating separation and reducing anxiety in mildly stressful situations.

Relationship of scores on two personality measures: creativity and self-image.

This study investigated the relationship between self-image and creativity in late adolescence. The multidimensional Offer Self-image Questionnaire was used to assess self-image while the How Do You Think Inventory was used to measure creativity. The results were similar to investigations indicating superior socioemotional functioning among gifted adolescents. More creatively scoring subjects (n = 65) exhibited better psychosocial functioning on six of the eleven self-image dimensions measured than the less creatively scoring subjects (n = 69). Concomitant with their more heightened self-assurance was subjects' expressed greater confidence in social competence. The findings are contrary to the profile that depicts creative individuals as socially and emotionally deficient.

Developmental study of the effect of dimensionality and presentation mode on original thinking of children.

A sample of 188 children in three age groups, preschool, first and third grades, were administered the Patterns Task of Multidimensional Stimulus Fluency Measure in four test conditions. The conditions systematically varied dimension (three or two) and presentation mode (handling or nonhandling). The fluency measure assessed ideational fluency, popular and original responses, as a measure of creative potential in young children. Analysis showed that dimensionality does not play a major role in the generation of original responses for any grade. However, handling 3-dimensional or 2-dimensional stimuli did appear to facilitate original thinking in preschool children. The use of 2-dimensional photographs which depict dimensionality appeared to compensate for the need to have 3-dimensional stimuli.

Divergent thinking and hemispheric dominance for language function among preschool children.

An investigation of the relationship of hemispheric dominance (dichotic listening) and divergent thinking (Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking) with 27 preschool children (11 males and 16 females; mean age of 4-8) indicated a positive relationship between right hemispheric dominance and scores on the Product Improvement task. Low intertask correlations suggested that the Unusual Uses and Product Improvement tasks were not measuring the same construct. These findings were discussed with regard to nature of the task (stimulus specificity) and the age of the subjects in this study. The findings show that divergent thinking is associated with right hemispheric dominance in children as young as 4 years.