Social and non-social fear in preschoolers and prospective associations with lying about cheating. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zwirs, Barbara W. C.; Székely, Eszter; Herba, Catherine M.; Verhulst, Frank C.; Jaddoe, Vincent W. V.; Hofman, Albert; van IJzendoorn, Marinus H.; Tiemeier, Henning
• Other Names: Kiuru Noona guest-editor.; Nurmi Jari-Erik guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of behavioral development. Volume 39:Number 5(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 477
• Page End: 484
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: children's antisocial lying -- children's cheating -- non-social fear -- social fear; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; Behaviorism (Psychology) -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1177/0165025414553136
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-0254

Abstract

Little is known about the development of children's lying. The present study examined whether observed social and non-social fear in preschoolers predicts children's consistent cheating ( N = 460; M = 4.3 years of age) and consistent lying about cheating. When left alone, 155 (34%) children cheated in both games conducted. Of these consistently cheating children, 54 (35%) children lied about their cheating after both games, whereas the remaining 101 children confessed to cheating after at least one game. Children's temperamental fear did not predict consistent cheating. However, non-social (but not social) fear did predict consistent lying. Children with lower levels of non-social fear were more likely to lie. These findings suggest that non-social fear plays a role in the development of children's antisocial lying.