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Self-awareness and transgression in children: two field studies
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|October 1, 1979
Summary
Self-awareness, particularly when individuated, reduces children's transgressive behavior like taking extra candy. This effect was more pronounced in older children and interacted with social standards.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Transgressive behavior, such as rule-breaking, is a common area of study in psychology.
- Self-awareness is a cognitive state that can influence an individual's actions and adherence to social norms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-awareness and transgressive behavior in children.
- To examine how individuation and social standards interact with self-awareness to influence behavior.
Main Methods:
- Two field studies were conducted with children (N=363 and N=349) in a trick-or-treating scenario.
- Self-awareness was manipulated using a mirror, and individuation was achieved by asking for names and addresses.
- Behavioral observations recorded candy-taking, and social standards were manipulated through experimenter statements and peer behavior.
Main Results:
- Induced self-awareness decreased transgression rates in individuated children, but not anonymous children.
- Self-awareness impacted older children's behavior more than younger children's.
- Naturally occurring social standards interacted with experimenter-stated standards, influencing candy-taking behavior.
Conclusions:
- Self-awareness, especially when combined with individuation, serves as a significant deterrent to transgressive behavior in children.
- The influence of self-awareness on behavior is moderated by age and the presence of social norms.