Children's Resource Acquisition Behaviors in the Situation of Potential Conflict: A Cross-cultural Study of Chinese and Canadian 7 Years Old Children

Abstract

Resources are usually limited, how can children acquire resources successfully and avoid conflict with their peer in peer interaction is an interesting and important topic in developmental psychology. It's a pity that there is little research on children's resource acquisition in either China or other countries. Cross-cultural research is even less. In the present study, we attempted to investigate resource acquisition behaviors of 7-year-old children, and compare the differences between Chinese and Canadian children on these behaviors. One hundred and sixty Chinese children and one hundred and thirty three Canadian children took part in this study. At 7 years old, 4 children who were not familiar with each other were invited to the laboratory, and the child's resource acquisition behaviors were observed as they played with a single novel toy. Statistical analyses revealed the following results:(1) Chinese children exhibited more adult seeking and spontaneous giving behaviors than Canadian children. The percentages of unsuccessful resource acquisition behaviors and resource acquisition for self of Canadian children were significantly higher than Chinese children.(2) Boys exhibited more assertive behaviors and turn taking rule behaviors than girls, and girls exhibited more spontaneous giving, leadership/organization and resource acquisition for others than boys.(3) Turn taking rule was an important non-strategy resource acquisition method.(4) Chinese children exhibited more leadership/ organization than Canadian children in group level.(5) Assertive behavior and turn taking rule were all effective resource acquisition method but not for polite verbal request.(7) Adult seeking was an effective method for Chinese boys, but not for girls and Canadian children.