Maintenance of Fairness in Sharing: Sociality Mental Modes Weaken Children's Differential Sharing Behaviours between In-Groups and Out-Groups
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| Title: | Maintenance of Fairness in Sharing: Sociality Mental Modes Weaken Children's Differential Sharing Behaviours between In-Groups and Out-Groups |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Wei Fan (ORCID |
| Source: | Early Child Development and Care. 2025 195(5-6):563-581. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Sharing Behavior, Social Development, Social Influences, Cues, Group Membership, Rewards, Age Differences, Altruism, Foreign Countries, Preschool Children |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03004430.2025.2487854 |
| ISSN: | 0300-4430 1476-8275 |
| Abstract: | Sharing is crucial for a child's social development. However, even in early childhood, children demonstrate an in-group preference and out-group derogation in sharing behaviour. The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of sociality mental modes, particularly the market and communal modes, on children's sharing behaviour. In Experiment 1, a classification task using money and eye cues was employed to activate distinct sociality mental modes in children, successfully confirming their activation. Experiment 2 introduced group identity to explore the effect of sociality mental modes on children's different sharing behaviour towards in-group and out-group members. The results indicated that in the communal mode, children exhibited a higher rate of equal sharing with out-group members. In the market mode, egoistic sharing decreased, while equal sharing in the in-group increased. This study suggests that sociality mental modes can partially mitigate children's group-biased sharing behaviour and promote equitable sharing. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1503536 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Sharing is crucial for a child's social development. However, even in early childhood, children demonstrate an in-group preference and out-group derogation in sharing behaviour. The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of sociality mental modes, particularly the market and communal modes, on children's sharing behaviour. In Experiment 1, a classification task using money and eye cues was employed to activate distinct sociality mental modes in children, successfully confirming their activation. Experiment 2 introduced group identity to explore the effect of sociality mental modes on children's different sharing behaviour towards in-group and out-group members. The results indicated that in the communal mode, children exhibited a higher rate of equal sharing with out-group members. In the market mode, egoistic sharing decreased, while equal sharing in the in-group increased. This study suggests that sociality mental modes can partially mitigate children's group-biased sharing behaviour and promote equitable sharing. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0300-4430 1476-8275 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03004430.2025.2487854 |
