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Development of tactical deception from 4 to 8 years of age
Author(s) -
Smith Rachelle M.,
LaFreniere Peter J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 2044-835X
pISSN - 0261-510X
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-835x.2011.02071.x
Subject(s) - psychology , misinformation , deception , task (project management) , developmental psychology , adversary , age groups , cognitive development , cognition , social psychology , demography , mathematics , management , neuroscience , sociology , political science , law , statistics , economics
One hundred eighteen children, divided into three age groups (4‐, 6‐, and 8‐year‐olds) participated in a competitive game designed to explore advances in children's deceptive abilities. Success in the game required children to inhibit useful information or provide misinformation in their communication with an adult opponent. Age trends were evident for all dependent variables, including success at the task, strategic behaviours, and interview data. Four‐year‐olds were non‐strategic and rarely successful, 6‐year‐olds were increasingly strategic and successful, and 8‐year‐olds were significantly more subtle in their strategies, more successful at the task, and more likely to verbalize an understanding of their opponent's expectations than younger age groups.