Children's Understanding of Social Power

Social power is defined by the asymmetric control of resources and the capacity to influence others while resisting being influenced. In adults, power shapes behavior in many ways: powerful individuals tend to resist normative influence, focus more on their goals, and experience greater confidence. In children, belonging to a low-power social group has also been shown to negatively affect executive functions and performance.

To our knowledge, however, the effect of power induction has not yet been experimentally tested in children. This project aims to fill that gap by examining (1) whether children between 3 and 6 years old understand and respond to power induction, and (2) whether a resource distribution task can serve as an effective power induction method in early childhood — the preschool years being marked by growing experience with sharing situations (dividing up snacks, protecting a treasured possession, taking turns with a toy).