EFFECTS OF REASONINGS ON ALTRUISTIC BEHAVIOR IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstract

This study examined the effects of the type of reasoning on the consequences for sharing on preschoolers' motivations to altruistic behavior. Thirty preschool children watched a videotape of a victim who appealed the damages of disastar. Subsequently, children received either an other-oriented rationale stating that sharing might bring any victim positive consequences, a self-oriented rationale explaining that sharing might bring themselves positive consequences, or a procedure of sharing without any explanation. Children were then given the opportunity to share a token in the presence and in the absence of an adult. The rate of sharing in the condition of a self-oriented reasoning decreaed significantly in an adult presence and in his absence. Other-oriented reasoning elicited a greater rate and a more stable pattern of sharing than the other two conditions. The present finding suggested that other-oriented reasoning motivated an altruistic behavior while self-oriented reasoning motivated an egoistic behavior in preschool children.