Effects of Cortical Lesions upon the Onset of Hoarding in Rats

Psychologists agree that play is an essential ingredient in a child's development. The present investigation evaluated the effects of an intensive period of dramatic play upon the cognitive structures of young children (N = 12 boys and girls, ages 3 to 5 years) using repertory grids to extract their systems of personal constructs. The period of dramatic play produced substantial and sustained improvements in the numbers of constructs, which confirms the importance of play in cognitive growth. The findings are also taken to support the value of drama therapy in bringing about cognitive change in the mentally ill.