Effects of the Model's Age, Perceived Similarity, and Familiarity on Children's Donating

Abstract Modeling is an effective means of facilitating prosocial behavior in children. Different types of models are not equally effective, however. Third, fourth, and fifth graders (75 boys and 75 girls) participated in this study. We used a 2 × 2 × 5 (Sex of Subject × Age of Model × Familiarity of Model) design. The subjects watched a videotaped model demonstrate a sorting task, collect 20 certificates, and share them. The mean number of certificates shared was significantly higher in the similar-age model group than in the adult model group. The mean number of certificates shared for unfamiliar models who were described as similar and the unfamiliar models with no similarity mentioned were each higher than for the familiar preferred model and the unfamiliar model described as dissimilar groups. Unfamiliar models with no similarity mentioned elicited more sharing, on average, than parent models did. The mean for the group comprising unfamiliar age-mate with no similarity mentioned was higher than the m...

[1]  E. Maccoby,et al.  Identification and observational learning from films. , 1957, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[2]  Ezra Stotland,et al.  Generalization of interpersonal similarity. , 1961 .

[3]  E. Burnstein,et al.  Similarity to a model and self-evaluation. , 1961, Journal of abnormal and social psychology.

[4]  A. Bandura,et al.  Developmental psychology : Bandura , Ross and Ross ( 1961 ) Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models , 2015 .

[5]  E. Stotland,et al.  Identification and changes in prejudice and in authoritarianism. , 1961 .

[6]  E. Stotland,et al.  Identification, authoritarian defensiveness, and self-esteem. , 1962, Journal of abnormal and social psychology.

[7]  A. Bandura,et al.  A COMPARATIVE TEST OF THE STATUS ENVY, SOCIAL POWER, AND SECONDARY REINFORCEMENT THEORIES OF IDENTIFICATORY LEARNING. , 1963, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[8]  D J HICKS,et al.  IMITATION AND RETENTION OF FILM-MEDIATED AGGRESSIVE PEER AND ADULT MODELS. , 1965, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[9]  W. Hartup,et al.  Imitation of a peer as a function of reinforcement from the peer group and rewardingness of the model. , 1967, Child development.

[10]  G. M. White,et al.  Observation and rehearsal as determinants of prosocial behavior. , 1967, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[11]  M. Rosekrans.  Imitation in children as a function of perceived similarity to a social model and vicarious reinforcement. , 1967, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[12]  P. Zimbardo.  The human choice: Individuation, reason, and order versus deindividuation, impulse, and chaos. , 1969 .

[13]  R. Baron.  Attraction toward the model and model's competence as determinants of adult imitative behavior. , 1970, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[14]  J. Bryan,et al.  Preaching and practicing generosity: Children's actions and reactions. , 1970 .

[15]  R. Elliott,et al.  The modeling of sharing: Effects associated with vicarious reinforcement, symbolization, age, and generalization , 1970 .

[16]  J. Grusec,et al.  Model nurturance, demand characteristics of the modeling experiment, and altruism. , 1970 .

[17]  J. Grusec.  Power and the Internalization of Self-Denial. , 1971 .

[18]  E. Staub.  A Child in Distress: The Influence of Nurturance and Modeling on Children's Attempts to Help. , 1971 .

[19]  J. Elashoff,et al.  Multiple Regression in Behavioral Research. , 1975 .

[20]  P. M. Scott,et al.  Learning Concern for Others. , 1973 .

[21]  A. Kazdin.  Covert modeling, model similarity, and reduction of avoidance behavior , 1974 .

[22]  M. Hoffman.  Altruistic behavior and the parent-child relationship. , 1975 .

[23]  H. Schroeder,et al.  Importance of model similarity on extinction of avoidance behavior in children. , 1975, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[24]  C. Weissbrod.  Noncontingent warmth induction, cognitive style, and children's imitative donation and rescue effort behaviors. , 1976 .

[25]  A. Bandura.  Social learning theory , 1977 .

[26]  E. Zigler,et al.  Imitation: A developmental perspective , 1978 .

[27]  Ervin Staub,et al.  Positive social behavior and morality , 1978 .

[28]  L. Glidden,et al.  Imitation in EMR boys: model competency and age. , 1979, American journal of mental deficiency.

[29]  Z. Rubin,et al.  Children's Friendships , 1980 .

[30]  J. P. Rushton,et al.  Altruism, socialization, and society , 1980 .

[31]  E. Barton.  Developing Sharing , 1981 .

[32]  E. Staub,et al.  Property rights, deservingness, reciprocity, friendship: The transactional character of children's sharing behavior. , 1981 .

[33]  Norman Miller,et al.  Personal responsibility and altruism in children , 1982 .

[34]  N. Eisenberg,et al.  Children's justifications for their adult and peer-directed compliant (prosocial and nonprosocial) behaviors. , 1985 .