DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETITIVE GAME BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN ACROSS 2 CULTURES

An identical 2 × 3 design was investigated in the United States and in Belgium. Twenty-eight male dyads taken from the more intelligent part of each of three grade levels (second, fourth, and sixth) played a Maximizing Difference Game over 100 trials. One-half of the dyads were displayed both own and other's cumulative score, the other half were only displayed own cumulative score. The results clearly indicate that: (a) The competitive choice is the dominant response and becomes even more dominant over trial blocks; (b) older children make more competitive responses than younger children in both cultures; (c) double score feedback yields more competitive responses in both cultures; (d) young American children make more competitive choices than young Belgians; at sixth grade, however, they are equally competitive. © 1969.