摘要
The prosocial preferences of Chinese young children for individuals with varying wealth statuses were examined in the present study, focusing on their willingness to share, help, and cooperate with others. A total of 194 four- to six-year-old Chinese children (Mage = 64.40 months; 100 girls, 94 boys) participated in the study. Participants were prompted to indicate their prosocial preferences (sharing, helping, cooperating) toward peers portrayed as having high wealth versus low wealth. Results revealed significant age-related changes in children's prosocial preferences. As children aged, their preference for high-wealth individuals decreased while their preference for low-wealth individuals increased. However, the negative age trend was attenuated in the cooperating task, suggesting that considerations of the suitability of potential collaborators may buffer the developmental decline in high-wealth preferences. The type of prosocial behavior also impacted preferences: children preferred high-wealth individuals more in helping and cooperating tasks than in sharing. Further analyses showed that specific wealth cues (clothing, snacks, money, toys) did not systematically affect children's choices. Taken as a whole, this research contributes novel insights into how young children navigate social interactions involving individuals with wealth disparities, enriching our understanding of early childhood social dynamics.