Children often trust what they're told
Key points
- Little children are particularly trusting of things adults tell them, a University of Virginia researcher says.
- Jaswal says children are more trusting of information an adult tells them than the same information conveyed without words.
- In an experiment, 3-year-old children were asked to find a sticker under cup.
- The children watching the adult put the arrow on the incorrect cup quickly figured out she shouldn't be believed.
Little children are particularly trusting of things adults tell them, a University of Virginia researcher says.
Vikram K. Jaswal says children are more trusting of information an adult tells them than the same information conveyed without words.
In an experiment, 3-year-old children were asked to find a sticker under cup. With some children, the adult claimed - incorrectly - the sticker was under the wrong cup, while with other children, she simply placed an arrow on the wrong cup without saying a word.
The children watching the adult put the arrow on the incorrect cup quickly figured out she shouldn't be believed. However, some children who heard the adult say the sticker was under a particular cup continued to take her word - even after being misled seven times in a row.
The study, published in Psychological Science, reports out of the 16 children, nine never once found the sticker.
"Children have developed a specific bias to believe what they're told," Jaswal says in a statement. "It's sort of a short cut to keep them from having to evaluate what people say. It's useful because most of the time parents and caregivers tell children things that they believe to be true."
###
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Oct. 19 (UPI)
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
Explore health topics
More in this topic
Children's Health →NewsNational study finds rising rate of marijuana exposure among children 5 years old, younger
Debates about legalizing marijuana have focused on crime rates, economic benefits, and health effects among adults. But a study published today from researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital shows that the risk to…
9 June 2015
NewsIs dietary supplementation appropriate for children with autism spectrum disorder?
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are often picky eaters, which can lead parents to suspect that their children might not be getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. This sometimes leads parents of…
5 June 2015
NewsParents feel racial socialization may help minority children succeed in school
A child's ability to succeed academically is one of the strongest determinants of his or her future quality of life. In particular, it has been directly linked to overall longevity and several other critical health…
