Poster #96 - Why do Beings Matter? A Study on Children's Perceptions of Existential Worth

• In Event: Poster Session 06

Abstract

Mattering can be conceptualized in several different ways. A being can matter because of their innate qualities that make them irreplaceable in this universe. They can also matter because of the unique relationships with other beings that they possess, making them indispensable to other people. Finally, a being can matter because of their functional utility that they contribute to the society they exist in, setting them apart from everyone else. This study tests to see why children and adults think that different humans matter. It additionally looks at how this preference carries over to non-human entities like animals and objects. 50 children and 60 adults were presented with different vignettes that each highlighted either the intrinsic, relational, or functional importance of a human, animal or object. After each vignette, they were asked a series of questions about the main character that helped demonstrate how much they found the main character to matter and why they thought that the main character matters. The study found a slight preference for functional mattering and a difference in the salience of intrinsic mattering in adults. Finally, it found that adults were much more likely to make impartial judgments in tragic tradeoff scenarios regardless of how much they thought that the protagonist mattered, when compared to children. This study has potential implications for meaning in life studies, mental health facilitation, and broader policy implementation.

Authors

• Nithyasri Ramaswamy, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
  Presenting Author

• Joshua Rottman, Franklin & Marshall College