Equitable distribution behavior involves the fair allocation of resources, but complexities arise when considering social relationships, social comparison, and gain-loss interests are considered. As distributors, young children do not pursue equity or personal gain-loss alone; rather, they approach distribution with a comprehensive consideration of these elements. This paper examines how children's distributive behavior is affected by these factors in complex allocation situations involving social comparison and gain-loss interests, and how the social relationship to the distributive object affects the role of these factors. Building on the existing literature, we hypothesized that the social relationship between young children and those to whom they are distributed is a crucial factor, leading to different outcomes with different distribution patterns. Children's social comparison involved not only judging whether they were better than others, but also weighing their gains and losses across various distributional scenarios. Moreover, there was an interaction between social comparison and gain-loss interests, the manifestation of which depended on the cost of fairness and the influence of the social relationship with the distribution object.
In this study, 3 experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 was a single-factor within-subjects design. We selected 50 children aged 5 to 6. The classic dictator game task was used to explore the characteristics and allocation patterns of children's distribution behaviors under different social relations including close friends and strangers. Children were also asked why they allocated in each condition. Experiment 2 adopted a 2 (the social relationship: close, distant) × 2 (the social comparison: upward social comparison, downward social comparison) × 3 (gain-loss interests: no gain-loss, gain, loss) within three factor mixed-subject design. We selected 80 children and used the coerced choice game tasks to delve into the mechanism of social comparison and gain-loss interests on children's equitable distribution behavior, while also exploring the role of social relationships in this context. The children's choice of an equitable distribution plan was calculated as 1 point, and the children's distributive behavior score was used as the dependent variable. Experiment 3 was analogous to Experiment 2, but increased the gap of gain-loss between the distribution plan. The data were assessed using paired-samples t-test, chi-square test, and analysis of variance.
The findings revealed, first, that social relationships played a crucial role, and the influence of social comparison and gain-loss interests on children's distribution choices varied depending on the nature of the social relationships. Children were more likely to choose "I am more than you" when interacting with strangers, while they were more likely to avoid such a choice when with close friends. Second, when the cost of fairness was minimal, there was a significant interplay among gain-loss interests, social comparison and social relationships. In the case of close friends, children showed less concern for status and gain-loss to some extent, in contrast to their behavior toward strangers. When the cost of fairness was high, the interaction among these 3 factors was not significant. In such situations, children tended to prioritize their individual gain-loss interests, and the impact of social relationships diminished. Third, compared to the social comparison aspect of "I am more than you", children may place a higher value on the gain-loss interests aimed at "maximizing their own interests".
In conclusion, 5-to-6- year-old children demonstrated a inclination towards fairness, but were also affected by social comparison and their gain-loss interests. The mechanism of these two factors was contingent on the social relationship. Social relationships (distribution object) played a crucial role in children's equitable distribution behavior. This finding not only revealed the prerequisites and the mechanism behind the impact of in-group favoritism on children's equitable distribution behavior, but also added to the literature on how social comparison and gain-loss interests influence children's equitable distribution behaviors. It offers a new perspective for the research on the development of children's fairness behavior.
Key words
equitable distribution /
social relationship /
social comparison /
gain-loss interests /
in-group favoritism
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