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Children Are More Tolerant of Partiality in Asking for Help than in Providing Help

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Title: Children Are More Tolerant of Partiality in Asking for Help than in Providing Help
Language: English
Authors: Richard E. Ahl (ORCID 0000-0003-3060-2478), Melisa Maya Kumar, Katherine McAuliffe
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2026 62(5):948-959.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Children, Child Behavior, Help Seeking, Helping Relationship, Age Differences, Peer Relationship, Preferences, Decision Making, Childrens Attitudes, Justice
DOI: 10.1037/dev0002049
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: As children grow older, they become increasingly critical of group-based partiality in "providing" help. However, the developmental trajectory of how children evaluate partiality in "asking" for help is largely unknown. Our study investigates evaluations and expectations of group-based partiality in providing versus asking for help in 5- to 10-year-old children (n = 164; 54.3% girls, 45.7% boys) from the New England region of the United States. In the study, participants learn about two groups of children at a playground and make predictions about their interactions. Because ingroup favoritism in asking for help does not immediately lead to negative outcomes for the outgroup, we predicted different responses regarding biased requests for help compared to biased helping. We find that children generally deem ingroup favoritism more acceptable in asking for help than in providing help. We also see age-related changes: Younger children evaluate ingroup favoritism in asking for help positively, while older children view it neutrally. In contrast, both age groups view ingroup favoritism in providing help negatively. Additionally, children from both age groups expect group-based partiality when responding to requests for help and when asking for it, showing some divergence between what children deem acceptable and what they deem likely to occur. Ingroup bias in asking for help is both accepted and expected and may contribute to the persistence of partiality in cooperation.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/6u4e9
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503338
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Children Are More Tolerant of Partiality in Asking for Help than in Providing Help
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Richard+E%2E+Ahl%22">Richard E. Ahl</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3060-2478">0000-0003-3060-2478</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melisa+Maya+Kumar%22">Melisa Maya Kumar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katherine+McAuliffe%22">Katherine McAuliffe</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Psychology%22"><i>Developmental Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 62(5):948-959.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior%22">Child Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Help+Seeking%22">Help Seeking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Helping+Relationship%22">Helping Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Relationship%22">Peer Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preferences%22">Preferences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+Making%22">Decision Making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Childrens+Attitudes%22">Childrens Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Justice%22">Justice</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dev0002049
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  Data: As children grow older, they become increasingly critical of group-based partiality in "providing" help. However, the developmental trajectory of how children evaluate partiality in "asking" for help is largely unknown. Our study investigates evaluations and expectations of group-based partiality in providing versus asking for help in 5- to 10-year-old children (n = 164; 54.3% girls, 45.7% boys) from the New England region of the United States. In the study, participants learn about two groups of children at a playground and make predictions about their interactions. Because ingroup favoritism in asking for help does not immediately lead to negative outcomes for the outgroup, we predicted different responses regarding biased requests for help compared to biased helping. We find that children generally deem ingroup favoritism more acceptable in asking for help than in providing help. We also see age-related changes: Younger children evaluate ingroup favoritism in asking for help positively, while older children view it neutrally. In contrast, both age groups view ingroup favoritism in providing help negatively. Additionally, children from both age groups expect group-based partiality when responding to requests for help and when asking for it, showing some divergence between what children deem acceptable and what they deem likely to occur. Ingroup bias in asking for help is both accepted and expected and may contribute to the persistence of partiality in cooperation.
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        StartPage: 948
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      – SubjectFull: Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Help Seeking
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      – SubjectFull: Helping Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Age Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Peer Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Decision Making
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      – SubjectFull: Childrens Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Justice
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      – TitleFull: Children Are More Tolerant of Partiality in Asking for Help than in Providing Help
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