[Age-related and individual psychological differences in student behavior under conditions of the reward choice]

Strategies of behavior of choice between the probability (100-0%) and value of the reward (scored as 1-5 or 6-10 on a 10-point scale) depending on the traits of impulsivity/reflectivity, anxiety, and emotional state were studied in schoolchildren at the age of 7-8 (form 1-2), 9-10 (form 3-4), and 11-14 (form 5-7). Differences in behavioral strategies were highest among the children who "worked" under conditions of 50-10% probability of getting a valuable reward. Children who more frequently chose lower scores but occurring with the highest (100%) probability were referred to as "careful", and those who chose higher scores with lower probability were referred to as "inclined towards risky behavior" ("risky"). On this principle, schoolchildren of each age group were assigned to "risky", "moderately risky", moderately careful", and "careful" groups. Individual-psychological differences between the groups were more pronounced at the age of 11-14 years than at the age of 7-8 years. Under conditions of 25% probability of getting a valuable reward, differences in behavioral strategy were essential between the "risky" and "careful" group; under conditions of 10% of probability, the differences between the "moderately risky" and the remaining groups were most pronounced. Choice of a reward received with lower probability under conditions of uncertainty (50-10%) was performed with longer latency than the choice of the reward received with 100% probability. There were more "careful" children in the 3th-4th forms, a "moderate inclination to risky behavior" prevailed in the 5th-7th forms. From the 1st to 7th form, impulsivity prevailed in children "moderately inclined to risk", whereas there were more reflective children in "careful" and "moderately careful" groups. Choice behavior had an impact on the emotional state of children. Heart rate increased after the choice performance. In "careful" children scores of personal and class anxiety were higher than in the "moderately risky" group.