인지조절(목표 지향적 행동)과 정서조절의 복합적인 심리과정이라 할 수 있는 자기조절은 두뇌발달의 관점에서 보면 전전두엽 피질의 실행기능에 해당한다. 본 연구에서는 자기조절 발달과 관련된 최근 문헌들 분석하였고 그에 따라 유아 자기조절은 다음의 다섯 가지 의미를 함축하고 있다는 결론을 내렸다. 1) 행동계획: 자기의도의 인지 및 상황선택, 의도 및 상황을 고려한 행동계획, 계획과정에서의 전략사용, 2) 행동모니터링: 능력 및 상황을 고려한 계획수정, 계획에 기초한 행동평가, 평가결과에 따른 행동조정, 3) 정서인식: 자기감정의 인지와 표현, 타인감정의 인지, 4) 정서억제: 순응, 충동억제와 만족지연, 유혹저항, 부정적 감정억제, 5) 정서조정: 감정 바꾸기, 감정 숨기기, 감정 억누르기.

Self-regulatory functions, which refer to psychological processes involved with cognitive self-regulation and emotion regulation, correspond to the executive functions of the prefrontal cortex in a neuroscience perspective. This study reviews recent literatures related to development of self-regulation. Identified self-regulatory capacities of young children include the following functions: 1) behavior planning which entails recognizing his/her own intentions and selecting situations in accordance with them, making a plan in consideration of intentions and situations, and using specific strategies in constructing a plan; 2) behavior monitoring which involves modifying his/her plans in consideration of his/her ability and the situation given, appraising actions on the basis of his/her plans, and modulating behaviors in accordance with appraisals; 3) recognition of emotions which includes recognizing and expressing one`s own emotions, and recognizing the emotions of others; 4) emotional inhibition which encompasses compliance, impulse control, delay of gratification, resistance to temptation and inhibition of his/her negative emotions; 5) modulation of emotions through changing, concealing, and suppressing.