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Risk-taking/gambling-like behavior in preschool children
1Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, 89154, Las Vegas, NV.
Journal of Gambling Studies
|November 19, 2013
Summary
Peer modeling significantly increases risk-taking behaviors in young children. Observing a peer win a prize encouraged more risky choices in a game, suggesting social learning influences early gambling-like tendencies.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Risk-taking and gambling-like behaviors in children lack comprehensive understanding.
- Social learning is a potential etiological factor for risk-taking in preschoolers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically examine social learning as a factor in preschooler risk-taking.
- To investigate the influence of peer modeling on children's risk-taking behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Preschool children were divided into experimental and control groups.
- The experimental group observed a peer model winning a prize; the control group observed a peer winning nothing.
- Children then played a risk-taking game in a high-risk situation.
Main Results:
- Children exposed to a winning peer model initiated more risks.
- The experimental group demonstrated significantly higher risk-taking than the control group.
- Social modeling was shown to enhance risk-taking/gambling-like behavior.
Conclusions:
- Peer modeling is an effective mechanism for increasing risk-taking behavior in young children.
- Findings suggest parallels between modeled behavior and adult compulsive gambling.
- Further research is recommended to explore these developmental pathways.
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