Abstract
Generosity is greatly valued and admired, but can it sometimes be unappealing? The current study investigated 8- to 10-year-old children’s (N = 128) preference for generous individuals, and the effects of social comparison on their preferences. In Experiment 1, children showed a strong preference for a generous to a stingy child; however, this preference was significantly reduced in a situation that afforded children a comparison of their own (lesser) generosity to that of another child. In Experiment 2, children’s liking for a generous individual was not reduced when that individual was an adult, suggesting that similarity in age influences whether a child engages in social comparison. These findings indicate that, by middle childhood, coming up short in comparison with a peer can decrease one’s liking for a generous individual.
Highlights
From the first few months of life, humans are attracted to those who behave kindly toward others (Hamlin et al, 2007, 2010; Hamlin and Wynn, 2011)
For the Comparison condition, because we were interested in children’s liking for a generous individual who showed them up, we focused on those children who gave fewer stickers than the generous character (30 of 32 children)
For the Comparison condition, we focused again on those children in the Comparison condition who gave fewer stickers than the generous character (29 of 32 children); these children showed a strong preference for the generous character (28 of 29 children, binomial probability test, p < 0.001)
Summary
From the first few months of life, humans are attracted to those who behave kindly toward others (Hamlin et al, 2007, 2010; Hamlin and Wynn, 2011). Before their second birthday, young toddlers will even reward individuals for their positive behaviors (Hamlin et al, 2011). Young toddlers will even reward individuals for their positive behaviors (Hamlin et al, 2011) Such an attraction toward prosocial individuals is robust across development. Young children help individuals who engage in positive behaviors more than those who engage in negative ones (Vaish et al, 2010). Beyond the laboratory as well, everyday life abounds with examples of positive behaviors being lauded, from elementary schools that award students certificates when they are “caught being good” to news reports that praise philanthropists for their charitable work
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
