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Altruistic self-regulation in young children
Rinatte L Gruen1, Shiba M Esfand2, Melissa M Kibbe3
1Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA.
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
|October 19, 2019
Summary
Children demonstrated self-regulation by delaying gratification for personal gain or to help others. Their willingness to wait was similar whether the benefit was for themselves or another child.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Self-regulation is crucial for goal achievement.
- Delaying gratification is a key component of self-regulation.
- Understanding prosocial motivations in children's self-regulation is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if children would delay gratification to benefit another person.
- To compare children's self-regulation for self-benefit versus prosocial benefit.
- To examine the role of prosociality in effortful self-control.
Main Methods:
- A modified marshmallow task was employed.
- Children were assigned to Self, Prosocial, or Nonsocial Control conditions.
- Wait durations for immediate rewards were measured.
Main Results:
- Children waited significantly longer in the Self and Prosocial conditions compared to the Nonsocial Control.
- No significant difference in wait duration was found between the Self and Prosocial conditions.
- Children exhibited comparable self-regulation for personal and altruistic goals.
Conclusions:
- Children are willing to exert self-control to benefit others.
- Prosocial motivations can be as effective as self-interest in promoting delayed gratification.
- Findings suggest empathy and altruism play a role in children's self-regulatory behaviors.
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