THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF‐CONTROL AND LANGUAGE: EVIDENCE OF A SHARED ETIOLOGICAL PATHWAY*

Converging lines of research suggest that self-control and language may be inextricably linked. No empirical research has ever examined this proposition, however. We address this gap in the literature by analyzing a sample of twin pairs from a nationally representative data set of children. The results revealed three broad findings. First, diminished language skills were predictive of low self-control both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Second, the covariation between language and self-control was linked to both genetic and environmental factors. Third, after controlling for genetic influences on self-control, language skills were predictive of variation in individual levels of self-control. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.