Asking Children to "Be Helpers" Can Backfire After Setbacks. Issue 1 (19th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Foster‐Hanson, Emily; Cimpian, Andrei; Leshin, Rachel A.; Rhodes, Marjorie
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 91:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 236
• Page End: 248
• Publication Date: 2018-09-19
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13147
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : Describing behaviors as reflecting categories (e.g., asking children to "be helpers") has been found to increase pro‐social behavior. The present studies ( N = 139, ages 4–5) tested whether such effects backfire if children experience setbacks while performing category‐relevant actions. In Study 1, children were asked either to "be helpers" or "to help, " and then pretended to complete a series of successful scenarios (e.g., pouring milk) and unsuccessful scenarios (e.g., spilling milk while trying to pour). After the unsuccessful trials, children asked to "be helpers" had more negative attitudes. In Study 2, asking children to "be helpers" impeded children's helping behavior after they experienced difficulties while trying to help. Implications for how category labels shape beliefs and behavior are discussed.