Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate effect of preschool children's self-control in performing task with physical pain. two tasks with different degrees of physical pain were manipulated by both weights to be holding posture. Seventy-two kindergartens were assigned into four groups. The first two groups were rewarded either for themselves ar for their mothers. Half of each group were asked to hold the basket corresponding to 4% of child's body weight with less uncomfortable posture(less painful task). And the other half were asked to perform more painful task holding the basket corresponding 12% of child's body weight with more uncomfortable posture. The results were as follows: First, children who were given reward for their mother performed more painful task longer than those who were given reward for themselves. Second, children who were given reward for themselves performed less painful task as long as those who were given reward for their mother. These findings showed that even younger children were able to perform the task longer for the benefits of their mother's even in the presence of powerful obstacle(e.g., physical pain). Considering the results, we conclude that the superior effect of concern for mother on self-control be generated from controlling the influence of obstacle.