Egocentrism and conformity in childhood.
Fifty-two grade one children were tested on measures of communicative egocentrism and conformity. Contrary to Hartup's suggestion that egocentric children are not as likely to conform as less egocentric children, the results indicated the reverse. A three stage hierarchy of decentration skills was postulated to explain the conformity data. During the first stage, children center solely on their own judgments during social influence situations. Second, upon entering school, increased peer interaction may force the child to center on the opinions of others. Finally, the child begins to decenter when he simultaneously considers his own and others' judgments.
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012737:Sex Factors; D012925:Social Conformity; D012931:Social Environment; D014705:Verbal Behavior