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Allocation of resources to collaborators and free-riders in 3-year-olds

Alicia P Melis1, Kristin Altrichter, Michael Tomasello

  • 1Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. melis@eva.mpg.de

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
|October 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Three-year-old children share resources more equally with collaborators than with free riders. This indicates sensitivity to others' contributions and motivations in resource distribution.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Social Cognition
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Children's sharing behavior is influenced by resource acquisition context.
  • Previous research indicates equitable sharing in collaborative acquisition among 3-year-olds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine 3-year-olds' resource distribution based on a partner's collaborative effort.
  • To assess sensitivity to a partner's contribution and non-collaboration.

Main Methods:

  • A controlled experiment involving 3-year-old children.
  • Observation of sharing behavior with a collaborating partner versus a free-riding partner.
  • Analysis of resource distribution patterns.

Main Results:

  • Children shared resources significantly more equally with a collaborating partner.
  • A less equitable distribution was observed with a partner who refused to collaborate.
  • Evidence of sensitivity to partner's contribution and expressed intentions.

Conclusions:

  • Young children adjust their sharing based on a partner's collaborative input.
  • Sensitivity to fairness and partner motivation emerges early in development.
  • Children's resource allocation reflects an understanding of joint effort.

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