The "Batman Effect": Improving Perseverance in Young Children. Issue 5 (16th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: White, Rachel E.; Prager, Emily O.; Schaefer, Catherine; Kross, Ethan; Duckworth, Angela L.; Carlson, Stephanie M.
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 88:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 1563
• Page End: 1571
• Publication Date: 2016-12-16
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12695
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : This study investigated the benefits of self‐distancing (i.e., taking an outsider's view of one's own situation) on young children's perseverance. Four‐ and 6‐year‐old children ( N = 180) were asked to complete a repetitive task for 10 min while having the option to take breaks by playing an extremely attractive video game. Six‐year‐olds persevered longer than 4‐year‐olds. Nonetheless, across both ages, children who impersonated an exemplar other—in this case a character, such as Batman—spent the most time working, followed by children who took a third‐person perspective on the self, or finally, a first‐person perspective. Alternative explanations, implications, and future research directions are discussed.