Factors Affecting Generalized Suppression of Overt Behavior during Resistance to Temptation: The “Priest Effect”

Abstract

A “forbidden toy” paradigm was employed to study the effects of three variables on children's overt behavior during effective resistance to temptation. A 2 (mild versus severe admonishment not to play with the forbidden toy) × 2 (“priest” versus “student” or high versus low status of the threatening agent) × 2 (threatening agent present or absent during temptation period) design was used in randomly assigning 96 boys to one of eight groups. During a 5-min. temptation period all children effectively inhibited playing with the forbidden toy, although significantly more children touched the toy when the threatening agent was absent (9 of 48) instead of present (2 of 48). Children suppressed free play most with all nonforbidden toys when they had been severely threatened. Duration of play with the second most preferred toy was similarly affected by threat severity but only when the “priest” was the threatening agent. Apparently the type of instructions and the characteristics of the source of instructions are important influences on overt behavior during effective resistance to temptation.