The Haves versus the Have Nots: Infants’ Evaluations of Advantaged versus Disadvantaged Individuals & Groups

• In Event: 2-033 - Active and Reactive Roles in Allocation Contexts: Infants’ and Children’s Social Preferences, Biases, and Reciprocity

Integrative Statement

In the United States, control over and access to resources are unequally distributed across individuals and groups. Moreover, evolutionarily control and access to resources is an important dimension of social hierarchies (Magee & Galinsky, 2008). As such, even young children show preferences for individuals (Li, Spitzer, & Olson, 2014) and social groups (Horwitz, Shutts, & Olson, 2014) who are advantaged (vs. disadvantaged). Yet, little is known about the ontogeny of these preferences. Across three experiments we investigate the developmental trajectory of infants preferences for advantaged individuals and groups.

Evaluation of Advantaged Individuals
Experiment 1. Twelve- (N=33) and fifteen-month-old infants (N=32) watched live resource distributions in which one individual was always materially advantaged (receiving 5 toys), whereas the other was always materially disadvantaged (receiving 3 toys). Infants then chose with whom to affiliate.
Of the infants who responded (N=44), fifteen-month-old and twelve-month-old infants significantly differed in their choice of affiliation partner, χ2 (1, N=44)=5.74, p=.017. Fifteen-month-olds preferred to affiliate with the advantaged individual (p = .035), whereas 12-month-old infants’ did not show a preference for either individual (p = .38; See Figure 1).

Experiment 2. Thirteen- (N=32) and fifteen-month-old infants (N=32) watched four resource distribution videos in which the same recipient always received more resources (3 or 5) than the other recipient (1). Infants then saw images of the advantaged and disadvantaged individuals while hearing either positively (e.g., “She’s good!”; Praise condition) or negatively valenced phrases (e.g., “She’s bad!”; Admonishment condition). Looking times were recorded.
Participant’s age group and condition significantly interacted, F(1,60)=4.49, p=.038, η2p=.070. Fifteen-month-olds spent a greater proportion of their time attending to the advantaged recipient in the Praise condition (M=.59, SD=.24) compared to those in the Admonishment condition (M=.38, SD=.19), F(1, 60)=7.06, p=.01, η2p=.105. However, 13-month-old infants’ proportion looking to the advantaged recipient did not differ by condition, F(1, 60)=.12, p=.735, d=.031 (See Figure 2).
Therefore, 15-month-old, but not 12- and 13-month-old, infants prefer advantaged to disadvantaged individuals.

Evaluation of Advantaged Groups
Experiment 3. Fifteen-month-old infants (N = 83) watched four resources distribution videos in which a member of one social group (e.g., “Niffs”, with a green polka dot outfit and hat) received more resources than a member of another social group (e.g., “Zuggs”, in an orange striped outfit and hat). Infants then saw images of novel social group members, while hearing either positively or negatively valenced statements. Looking times were recorded.
In contrast to Experiment 2, infants looking to members of advantaged and disadvantaged social groups did not differ by condition, F(1, 81)=.193, p=.662, d=.043.

Discussion. These results demonstrate that preferences for individuals advantaged by resource distributions emerge as early as 15 months of age. However, this preference seems to be specific to the individuals who received more (vs. less), and does not yet seem to generalize to preferences for advantaged social groups, and novel members of advantaged social groups.

Authors

• Arianne E Eason, Washington University in St. Louis
  Presenting Author

• Jessica Sommerville, University of Washington
  Non-Presenting Author