Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
06:24
Examining Changes in HRV and Emotion Following Artmaking with Three Different Art Materials
Published on: January 11, 2020
Ideas versus labor: what do children value in artistic creation?
Vivian Li1, Alex Shaw, Kristina R Olson
1Department of Psychology, Yale University, USA. vivian.li@yale.edu
Cognition
|January 17, 2013
Summary
By age six, children begin to value original ideas over the labor involved in creating them. This developmental shift in valuing intellectual contributions emerges by the age of six years.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Development
- Psychology of Ownership
Background:
- Intellectual property and scientific authorship often prioritize idea generation over experimental execution.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the developmental trajectory of valuing ideas versus labor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate at what age children begin to value ideas more than labor.
- To explore the developmental emergence of valuing abstract contributions.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted with 4- and 6-year-old children.
- Participants evaluated and chose between stimuli representing ideas and labor.
- A third-party ownership attribution task was employed in the final study.
Main Results:
- Four- and 6-year-olds preferred stimuli associated with their ideas over those representing their labor (Study 1).
- Six-year-olds, but not 4-year-olds, chose a picture they believed contained their idea over one reflecting personal preferences (Study 2).
- Six-year-olds, unlike 4-year-olds, favored individuals who contributed only ideas over those who contributed only labor in ownership decisions (Study 3).
Conclusions:
- Children's valuation of ideas over labor emerges by age 6.
- This developmental milestone indicates an early understanding of intellectual contribution and ownership.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Creative Thinking
Creative thinking encompasses innovative and unconventional methods for addressing challenges, often leading to groundbreaking solutions. Instead of focusing solely on enhancing existing systems, such as increasing smartphone battery capacity, creative thinking might inspire advancements like energy-efficient batteries or processors that minimize power consumption. This multidimensional approach underscores the importance of exploring novel pathways to innovation.
Divergent thinking is the...
Divergent thinking is the...
01:14Piaget's Stage 2 of Cognitive Development
The preoperational stage, the second of Jean Piaget's four stages of cognitive development, spans approximately ages 2 to 7 and is characterized by the emergence of symbolic thinking. During this stage, children use language, images, and symbols to represent objects and concepts, enabling them to engage in imaginative and pretend play. This symbolic thinking supports children's ability to perform make-believe actions, such as imagining a broom as a horse or their hand as a phone, blending...
01:14Steps in the Modeling Process
Albert Bandura's theory of observational learning identifies four critical processes: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and reinforcement or motivation.
Attention is the first necessary component for observational learning. It involves focusing on what the model is doing and saying. For example, if you decide to take a drawing class to enhance your skills, you need to pay close attention to the instructor's words and hand movements. The characteristics of the model significantly...
Attention is the first necessary component for observational learning. It involves focusing on what the model is doing and saying. For example, if you decide to take a drawing class to enhance your skills, you need to pay close attention to the instructor's words and hand movements. The characteristics of the model significantly...
01:19Self-Concept
Self-concept is the cognitive and emotional understanding individuals hold about their identity. It evolves through various developmental stages, beginning in infancy and maturing as children grow. This concept influences how individuals perceive their abilities, interact with others, and manage challenges throughout life.
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
01:21Cognitive Learning
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
01:25Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development from Childhood into Adulthood
Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development emphasizes the role of thinking in a child's learning process, suggesting that children are naturally curious about their environment. His approach to development is discontinuous, proposing that cognitive abilities progress through distinct stages, each with unique characteristics. Central to Piaget's theory is schemata—mental structures that allow individuals to understand and interpret the world.
Schemata: Building Blocks of Knowledge
Schemata...
Schemata: Building Blocks of Knowledge
Schemata...