Elementary school children's cheating behavior and its cognitive correlates.
Elementary school children's cheating behavior and its cognitive correlates were investigated using a guessing game. Children (n=95) between 8 and 12 years of age were asked to guess which side of the screen a coin would appear on and received rewards based on their self-reported accuracy. Children's cheating behavior was measured by examining whether children failed to adhere to the game rules by falsely reporting their accuracy. Children's theory-of-mind understanding and executive functioning skills were also assessed. The majority of children cheated during the guessing game, and cheating behavior decreased with age. Children with better working memory and inhibitory control were less likely to cheat. However, among the cheaters, those with greater cognitive flexibility use more tactics while cheating. Results revealed the unique role that executive functioning plays in children's cheating behavior: Like a double-edged sword, executive functioning can inhibit children's cheating behavior, on the one hand, while it can promote the sophistication of children's cheating tactics, on the other.
Hangzhou College of Preschool Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China.
Xiao Pan
XP
Ding
Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2X2, Canada.
Danielle S
DS
Omrin
Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada.
Angela D
AD
Evans
Hangzhou College of Preschool Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China. Electronic address: fugy@zjnu.cn.
Genyue
G
Fu
School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
Guopeng
G
Chen
Hangzhou College of Preschool Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China; Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2X2, Canada. Electronic address: kang.lee@utoronto.ca.
Kang
K
Lee
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D008192:Deception; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005717:Games, Experimental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002666:Psychology, Child; D057190:Stroop Test; D056345:Theory of Mind
Cheating; Children; Deception; Elementary school; Executive functioning; Lying