Cooperation in Children: Social and Material Rewards

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of reward on cooperation in preschool children. Pairs of children were asked to move a stylus laterally in either direction into a circle by manipulating attached strings. In Exp. 1 (n = 32) successful entry into a circle was followed by a complex reward for one group. This rewarded group was told “Good” (social reward), given little foil stars (material reward), and an explanation for receiving the rewards. Compared with children who received no rewards, the rewarded group displayed higher scores in cooperation. In Exp. 2 (n = 30) three additional groups were given the same task and received one of the following conditions: social reward with explanation, material reward alone, or social reward alone. No significant difference in cooperation was found among these groups.