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The development of adaptive choice in a self-control paradigm
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Self-control is crucial for decision-making.
- Understanding the development of self-control in children is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how children's preference for immediate versus delayed rewards changes with age.
- To explore the developmental trajectory of self-control in children.
Main Methods:
- Concurrent-chain reinforcement schedules were used with 16 girls aged 4, 6, 9, and 12.
- Terminal links offered either a large reward after a long delay or a small reward after a short delay.
Main Results:
- Younger children (4-year-olds) and adolescents (12-year-olds) showed increased preference for smaller, immediate rewards as delay increased.
- Older children (6- and 9-year-olds) consistently preferred larger, delayed rewards, indicating developing self-control.
Conclusions:
- Children's self-control develops in two stages: reward size preference followed by reward rate optimization.
- These findings offer insights into the cognitive processes underlying delayed gratification and decision-making in developing individuals.
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