Malin Eriksson: Playing games: Exploring children's other-oriented, self-oriented and strategic social behaviors

Abstract

From an early age, children display other-oriented (prosocial and cooperative behaviors), self-oriented (competitive and antisocial behaviors) and strategic social behaviors. In order to increase knowledge about strategic social behavior, the nature of competition and whether playing traditional board games can moderate other- and self-oriented behaviors, three studies were conducted within the framework of this thesis. All three studies used games to assess behavior. 

In Study I, 4-, 6- and 8-year-olds allocated candies to a “rich” and a “poor” adult that alternated their ability and intention to reciprocate. Spontaneous helping was also measured in a subsequent task. The aim of this study was to measure children’s strategic social behavior and its association with prosocial behavior. The results showed that 4-year-olds shared more candies with the rich adult. Children who did not spontaneously help an adult in need shared more candies with the rich adult.

In Study II, 3- to 6-year-olds built caterpillars together and could either help or hinder each other in this process. Hindering each other was operationalized as competitive behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate whether family background, socio-cognitive and moral factors were associated with children’s competiveness. The results showed that children who were more generous and prosocially oriented competed less. In contrast, children with better moral rule cognition competed more. Boys, who were rated by teachers as more competitive, had fathers that rated themselves as competitive.

In Study III, 4- to 6-year-olds played either cooperative or competitive board games and interacted in subsequent activities, in which children’s prosocial, cooperative, competitive and antisocial behaviors were measured. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cooperative board games would increase other-oriented behaviors and decrease self-oriented behaviors, and vice versa for competitive board games. The results showed that children displayed high levels of cooperative and prosocial behaviors regardless of which type of board game they played. Cooperative board games did not decrease self-oriented behaviors. We also found that children who played competitive board games competed more in subsequent activities. However, children enjoyed playing cooperative board games more than competitive board games.