First Ever Study On How Children “Confront” Their Peers

The study found that children in more rural areas used verbal protest more than children in urban areas.


First study ever to see how children _compare_ their peers
via Unsplash / Charlein Gracia

The first such study was carried out to examine how children confront their peers and what cultural differences can be observed. The way children interact with their peers and those around them is something that has been studied for decades. It’s part of child development, and the more we know about how children develop, the more we can guide and shape them on their journey to becoming responsible, kind, and balanced adults. Since parenting doesn’t come with a textbook, education can be extremely important for parents around the world.

According to Medical Xpress, a new study has shown that children will face their peers, but how they do it will depend on the environment they grow up in, whether rural or urban. This study, the first of its kind, was carried out by the Plymouth University, and it can be read in full here.

RELATED: Study Examines Differences Between ‘Socially Isolated’ and ‘Peer Rejected’ Children

We already know that the society we all live in plays a role in how we greet and interact with people. Adults in small towns are more likely to greet strangers and chatter than those who live in large towns.

This study showed that children will challenge their peers if they break a rule, but the way they challenge them will be different depending on whether they live in a rural or an urban area. To complete the study, the researchers looked at the behavior of 376 children from 8 different societies in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. They were given blocks to play with and different instructions, one child played and the other observed. When the observing child saw that the playing child was not using the instructions given to him, he was more likely to intervene and the other child was more likely to change the way he played.

The study found that children in more rural areas used verbal protest more than children in urban areas. They found that children in rural areas protested just as much as children in urban areas. This surprised the researchers who thought that children in small towns, where everyone knows each other, would be less likely to step in and say something. The researchers said their work was not done and they would like to explore what motivates children to intervene in future studies.

Sources: Medical Xpress, Plymouth


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