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Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
Situational changes in self-awareness influence 3- and 4-year-olds' self-regulation
J Ross1, J R Anderson, R N Campbell
1School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK. juross@dundee.ac.uk
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
|September 18, 2010
Summary
Self-awareness, influenced by mirrors, helps preschoolers follow rules and act altruistically. This suggests self-focus plays a key role in early self-regulation and social behavior development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Heightened self-awareness in adults promotes adherence to social norms.
- Environmental cues, like mirrors, can modulate self-awareness levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if situational changes in self-awareness impact preschoolers' self-regulation.
- To examine the effect of self-focus on adherence to social standards in young children.
Main Methods:
- Preschoolers' adherence to a prescribed standard (Experiment 1) and altruistic behavior (Experiment 2) were observed under varying self-focus conditions.
- Self-focus was heightened using a mirror, kept neutral with a nonreflective surface, or lowered with a disguise.
Main Results:
- Children peeked less at a forbidden object and exhibited more altruism when a mirror was present, indicating heightened self-focus.
- Results align with adult findings, showing self-awareness promotes adherence to social standards.
Conclusions:
- Self-awareness, induced by situational cues like mirrors, enhances self-regulation in preschoolers (3- and 4-year-olds).
- Self-focus appears to have a socially adaptive regulatory function from an early age.
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