View in EDS

Wealth Promotes Generosity? The Role of Individual Wealth on Children's Allocation Decisions

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Wealth Promotes Generosity? The Role of Individual Wealth on Children's Allocation Decisions
Language: English
Authors: Qingfeng Peng (ORCID 0000-0002-3811-7541), Mei Li, Hong Li
Source: International Journal of Behavioral Development. 2026 50(1):93-103.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Young Children, Age Differences, Child Behavior, Socioeconomic Status, Resource Allocation, Needs Assessment, Advantaged, Disadvantaged, Altruism, Social Class, Sharing Behavior
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1177/01650254251314761
ISSN: 0165-0254
1464-0651
Abstract: This study explores the development of children's equity behaviors in the context of resource inequality. A total of 181 Asian children (50.8% female) aged 6-8 years and from medium socioeconomic backgrounds were randomly assigned to either resource-advantaged (rich) or resource-disadvantaged (poor) conditions. The children acted as allocators and distributed additional resources to recipients in both the first- and third-party allocation scenarios. The results showed that 8-year-olds, but not 6- and 7-year-olds, demonstrated a tendency to prioritize need-based allocation when they were wealthier, allocating a greater share to poor recipients. Even in third-party distribution tasks, children engaged more in need-based allocation behaviors because of their resource advantages. These findings emphasize how the social comparison of resources influences children's distribution behavior and have theoretical implications for understanding the development of charitable human behavior in early childhood within the context of economic inequality.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495273
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1495273
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Wealth Promotes Generosity? The Role of Individual Wealth on Children's Allocation Decisions
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qingfeng+Peng%22">Qingfeng Peng</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3811-7541">0000-0002-3811-7541</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mei+Li%22">Mei Li</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hong+Li%22">Hong Li</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Behavioral+Development%22"><i>International Journal of Behavioral Development</i></searchLink>. 2026 50(1):93-103.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 11
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Children%22">Young Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior%22">Child Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socioeconomic+Status%22">Socioeconomic Status</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resource+Allocation%22">Resource Allocation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Needs+Assessment%22">Needs Assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Advantaged%22">Advantaged</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disadvantaged%22">Disadvantaged</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Altruism%22">Altruism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Class%22">Social Class</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sharing+Behavior%22">Sharing Behavior</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/01650254251314761
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0165-0254<br />1464-0651
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study explores the development of children's equity behaviors in the context of resource inequality. A total of 181 Asian children (50.8% female) aged 6-8 years and from medium socioeconomic backgrounds were randomly assigned to either resource-advantaged (rich) or resource-disadvantaged (poor) conditions. The children acted as allocators and distributed additional resources to recipients in both the first- and third-party allocation scenarios. The results showed that 8-year-olds, but not 6- and 7-year-olds, demonstrated a tendency to prioritize need-based allocation when they were wealthier, allocating a greater share to poor recipients. Even in third-party distribution tasks, children engaged more in need-based allocation behaviors because of their resource advantages. These findings emphasize how the social comparison of resources influences children's distribution behavior and have theoretical implications for understanding the development of charitable human behavior in early childhood within the context of economic inequality.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1495273
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1495273
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/01650254251314761
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 93
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Young Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Age Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Socioeconomic Status
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Resource Allocation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Needs Assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Advantaged
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disadvantaged
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Altruism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Class
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sharing Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Wealth Promotes Generosity? The Role of Individual Wealth on Children's Allocation Decisions
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Qingfeng Peng
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mei Li
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hong Li
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0165-0254
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1464-0651
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 50
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: International Journal of Behavioral Development
              Type: main
ResultId 1