The Relationships between Young Children's Understanding of StrongChild's Intention and Settling Strategies in Interpersonal Conflicts

Abstract

This study examined the development of young children's understanding of strong child's intention and settling strategies in interpersonal conflicts. Subjects were 88 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old children. The reserch was conducted by the interview method. The following significant results were obtained. When 4-year-old boys were provocated by the strong boy unintentionally, they interpreted his intention as malice, and their settling strategies were avoidance. On the other hand, when 5-year-old boys were provocated by the strong boy maliciously, they didn't interpret his intention as malice and their settling strategies were confrontation or avoidance. 3-year-old children and 5-year-old girls Interpreted strong child's intention exactly. The above results suggested that sex difference of the strong child influenced the relationships between young children's understanding of strong child's intention and settling strategies in interpersonal conflicts.