Four Children and One Toy: Chinese and Canadian Children Faced With Potential Conflict Over a Limited Resource

Abstract

Quartets of Chinese (n=125) and Canadian (n=133) 7-year-old children were observed as they played with a single attractive toy. Chinese children exhibited more assertive and general rule bids, engaged in more spontaneous giving, and reacted more positively to assertions of others whereas Canadian children more frequently referred to norms of sharing. Evidence of cultural scripts for dealing with potential conflict, that is, sharing for Canadian children and hierarchical organization for Chinese children, emerged. Passive and reticent behaviors in Chinese children and assertion and object control by Canadian children were associated with group acceptance, results suggesting the meaning of these patterns of social behavior may differ in these two countries.

Popularity and Social Preference in Chinese Adolescents: Associations with Social and Behavioral Adjustment

“…It is likely that the optimal balance between coercive and prosocial behavior is subject to cultural rules (Bond, ). The findings of French et al () suggest that high status Chinese children differ from their North American counterparts by relying on prosocial rather than direct assertive behavior when presented with a limited resource.…”

“…A direct test of the social acceptance of assertive behavior was provided by French, Chen, Chung, Li, Chen, and Li (). In this study, quartets of seven‐year‐old Chinese and Canadian children were presented with a novel and attractive toy, and their interactions were observed.…”

The status–power arena: a comprehensive agent-based model of social status dynamics and gender in groups of children

“…These Anglo-American children's behaviours constitute power moves, while those of KoreanAmerican children are status conferrals. Other differences in social and emotional parameters are reliably found in cross-cultural samples (Cole et al 2002;French et al 2011;Martínez-Lozano 2011;Turiel and Wainryb 2000).…”

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“…In addition, it also suggests that the individual-oriented aspect of assertiveness, given its nonhostile nature, should not clearly influence the group harmony. Actually, it may be helpful and effective to promote the group function [20,29,30].…”

“…In addition, even in a collectivist society, an assertive disposition is useful and effective. For example, members in a group who have assertive abilities (e.g., leadership) may contribute to conflict solution within groups [29][30][31]. Therefore, for urban Chinese children, assertiveness may be a socially effective behavior that contributes to the group and simultaneously achieves personal goals.…”