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Young children's adaptive partner choice in cooperation and competition contexts
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Pages
Editors
Keywords
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Education
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Education
Developmental and Educational Psychology
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/26711
Abstract
Choosing adequate partners is essential for cooperation, but how children calibrate their partner choice to specific social challenges is unknown. In two experiments, 4- to 7-year-olds (N = 189, 49% girls, mostly White, data collection: 03.2021–09.2022) were presented with partners in possession of different positive qualities. Children then recruited partners for hypothetical tasks that differed with respect to the quality necessary for success. Children and the selected partner either worked together toward a common goal or competed against each other. From age 5, children selectively chose individuals in possession of task-relevant qualities as cooperative partners while avoiding them as competitors. Younger children chose partners indiscriminately. Children thus learn to strategically adjust their partner choice depending on context-specific task demands and different social goals.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2024-05
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1111/cdev.14036