The Influence of Group Size on Children's Competitive Behavior

Abstract

The present research was designed to test the hypothesis that children would compete more in tetrads than in dyads. Twenty-two pairs of male and 14 pairs of female target children (N = 72) played a competitive game in both tetrads and dyads. Consistent with the hypothesis, male target children competed more in tetrads than in dyads. This hypothesis was not supported for females, however. Analyses of the dynamics of tetrads and dyads further demonstrated that based on a global measure of smiling, the emotional atmosphere was less positive in tetrads than in dyads. The causes and consequences of interaction in different sized social groups are discussed.

Preschoolers understand the normativity of cooperatively structured competition

“…To investigate whether children expect an opponent to follow a rational game-playing strategy, we adapted a simple competitive game designed by Benenson, Nicholson, Waite, Roy, and Simpson (2001; see also Priewasser et al, 2013;Weinberger & Stein, 2008). In our study, 3-and 5-year-olds played against a puppet, and each player could collect disks on his or her stand (henceforth called ''tower").…”

Enemies in the Gendered Societies of Middle Childhood: Prevalence, Stability, Associations With Social Status, and Aggression

“…Boys and girls rarely participate in mixed-sex groups unless group composition is dictated by the teacher or another authority figure (Maccoby, 1998;Martin and Fabes, 2001;Thorne, 1993). Social network analyses show that the internal structures of boys' and girls' groups differ from one another, with boys' groups being larger, more cohesive, and more stratified on the basis of power and status (Benenson and others, 2001). Boy and girl peer groups can also diverge on the behavioral and social characteristics that children support and emulate.…”

A preliminary model of participation for small groups

“…Shifts in group size correspond with shifts in behavior; dyads are different than triads or larger groups (Latane andDarely 1970, Freedman 1974). Benenson et al (2001) confirmed these findings, though they found some gender effects. These differences in behavior between dyads and larger groups seem to correspond to the sense of mutual dependence and anonymity shared by the group (Bales and Borgatta 1955;Slater 1958).…”

“…Dyad members eschew confrontational language and tend to be more responsive to avoid their partner's withdrawal (Slater 1958). In larger groups, the presence of third parties affords greater anonymity and diffuses group tension, allowing for greater competition both between and among groups (Benenson et al 2001;Collins 2008). In addition, group diffusion can distance group members from the consequences of collective acts (Grossman 1995) as well as from needy bystanders (Latane and Darely 1970).…”