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How Universal Are Free Will Beliefs? Cultural Differences in Chinese and U.S. 4‐ and 6‐Year‐Olds
Author(s) -
Wente Adrienne O.,
Bridgers Sophie,
Zhao Xin,
Seiver Elizabeth,
Zhu Liqi,
Gopnik Alison
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12528
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , child development
This study explores the development of free will beliefs across cultures. Sixty‐seven Chinese 4‐ and 6‐year‐olds were asked questions to gauge whether they believed that people could freely choose to inhibit or act against their desires. Responses were compared to those given by the U.S. children in Kushnir, Gopnik, Chernyak, Seiver, and Wellman ([Kushnir, T., 2015]). Results indicate that children from both cultures increased the amount of choice they ascribed with age. For inhibition questions, Chinese children ascribed less choice than the U.S. children. Qualitative explanations revealed that the U.S. children were also more likely to endorse notions of autonomous choice. These findings suggest both cultural differences and similarities in free will beliefs.