Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
08:24

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

711

Differential psychophysiological responses associated with decision-making in children from different socioeconomic

Hernán Delgado1,2, Sebastián Lipina3,4, M Carmen Pastor5

  • 1Facultad de Psicología, Centro de Investigación Básica en Psicología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Child Development
|March 4, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Socioeconomic status (SES) impacts children's decision-making. Middle/high-SES children showed more future-oriented choices, with distinct cardiac activity patterns observed between low and middle/high-SES groups.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Socioeconomic status (SES) is a critical determinant of cognitive development and decision-making.
  • Understanding the neural and physiological underpinnings of decision-making across different SES groups is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on children's decision-making processes.
  • To examine the role of cardiac activity and awareness of task contingencies in SES-related decision-making.
  • To explore potential evolutionary-developmental factors influencing these relationships.

Main Methods:

  • One hundred twelve children (aged ~5.8 years) performed the Children's Gambling Task.
  • Heart rate activity was continuously recorded during task performance.
  • Awareness of gain/loss contingencies was assessed post-task.

Main Results:

  • Distinct decision-making strategies were observed between low-SES and middle/high-SES children.
  • Future-oriented decision-making was significantly associated with the middle/high-SES group.
  • Contrasting cardiac patterns emerged during feedback processing and in relation to anticipatory activity and awareness.

Conclusions:

  • Socioeconomic status significantly shapes children's decision-making strategies and associated physiological responses.
  • Future-oriented decision-making may be differentially influenced by SES, potentially linked to distinct cardiac activity patterns.
  • Findings suggest an evolutionary-developmental framework for understanding SES disparities in decision-making.

More Related Videos

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children07:01

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children

Published on: March 1, 2019

7.9K
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood08:09

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

11.5K

Related Concept Videos

Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
37
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
29
Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the...
6.4K
Adler's Individual Psychology01:28

Adler's Individual Psychology

Alfred Adler, a prominent figure in psychology, founded the school of individual psychology. In contrast to Freud's emphasis on sexual or aggressive motives, Adler suggested that individuals are primarily motivated by their purposes and goals. He believed that people strive for perfection rather than pleasure. Adler argued that individuals could creatively act upon their genetic inheritance and environmental experiences to shape their own lives, emphasizing conscious motivation over...
686
Decision Making01:20

Decision Making

Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
109
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
288