Sharing Behaviour in Children as a Function of Model
Generosity and Vicarious Reinforcement
P. Gupta & P. Bhargava |
Children ranging in from five to seven years were
randomly assigned to a generous or a stingy model condition. Half of
the Ss in each group heard the M praise herself, the others did not,
and half of each of these groups heard the E praise the M, and the
remaining Ss did not. Eight Ss were assigned to each condition. The
findings of this study indicate that there is a very strong effect
of modeled behaviour upon subsequent sharing in children. Observation
of a generous model accentuated the altruistic behaviour in children.
The hypothesis which predicted that subjects would share more after
observing a model reinforced for sharing was not supported. Vicarious
reinforcement had no significant effects even within the experimental
conditions. Previous training was more effective as compared to the
verbal praise by a stranger given for a short time.
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