Abstract

This study was performed to examine the role of potential recipient's characteristics (liked, disliked, and unknown) in young children's prosocial responding (intentional, voluntary behavior that benefits another). Seventy-eight preschool children attending one of the three preschools in Arizona State University took part in this study. The subjects were asked to name one child who he/she either (a) likes to play with a lot; (b) does not like to play with at all; or (c) a name of a child who he/she doesn't know was provided. Next, the children were left alone in a room for five minutes to either play with a puzzle game or to complete a boring task (i.e., folding papers) for a prize. During the five minute play period, children were given an opportunity to share their prize with another child (liked, disliked, unknown) by putting their own folded papers into another child's prize box. Results show that children shared their prize most with liked friend and shared least with disliked.