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More Is Better? Exploring Developmental Changes in the Impact of Descriptive Norms on Evaluations of Sharing

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Title: More Is Better? Exploring Developmental Changes in the Impact of Descriptive Norms on Evaluations of Sharing
Language: English
Authors: Qiao Chai, Yunjin Qi, Mowei Shen, Jie He (ORCID 0000-0002-7789-3084)
Source: International Journal of Behavioral Development. 2026 50(3):404-414.
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: Social Behavior, Norms, Sharing Behavior, Social Cognition, Foreign Countries, Evaluative Thinking, Age Differences, Children, Adolescents, Adults, Moral Development, Motivation, Reputation, Age Groups, Value Judgment
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1177/01650254251348225
ISSN: 0165-0254
1464-0651
Abstract: Properly assessing others' sharing is crucial for social life. However, what constitutes generous sharing often lacks absolute standards, so people have to rely on available social cues to form their own judgments. Here, we explored how descriptive norm information (i.e., what most people commonly do) influenced Chinese individuals' evaluation of others' sharing (N = 540, 263 female) and how this effect changes with development from childhood to adulthood. Participants read a vignette where a protagonist shared a specific amount, while the amount shared by a peer majority varied across conditions. The results showed that 5- to 11-year-old children evaluated the protagonist highest for sharing beyond the norm, next for matching the norm, and lowest for sharing below the norm. However, adolescents and adults were more conservative in their evaluations, being less positive about above-norm sharing and less negative about below-norm sharing. Analysis of the justifications showed that children mostly used descriptive norms to assess the magnitude of sharing. Adolescents and adults more often inferred the complex motivations behind the protagonist's actions and considered its potential social consequences. These findings reveal that, with development, individuals increasingly use descriptive norms to evaluate others' sharing in more complex and diverse ways, and those socialized in Chinese culture may have distinct approaches to assessing sharing behaviors.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 20260101
Accession Number: EJ1509060
Database: ERIC
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  Data: More Is Better? Exploring Developmental Changes in the Impact of Descriptive Norms on Evaluations of Sharing
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qiao+Chai%22">Qiao Chai</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yunjin+Qi%22">Yunjin Qi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mowei+Shen%22">Mowei Shen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jie+He%22">Jie He</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7789-3084">0000-0002-7789-3084</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Behavioral+Development%22"><i>International Journal of Behavioral Development</i></searchLink>. 2026 50(3):404-414.
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  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
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  Data: 11
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/01650254251348225
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  Data: 0165-0254<br />1464-0651
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Properly assessing others' sharing is crucial for social life. However, what constitutes generous sharing often lacks absolute standards, so people have to rely on available social cues to form their own judgments. Here, we explored how descriptive norm information (i.e., what most people commonly do) influenced Chinese individuals' evaluation of others' sharing (N = 540, 263 female) and how this effect changes with development from childhood to adulthood. Participants read a vignette where a protagonist shared a specific amount, while the amount shared by a peer majority varied across conditions. The results showed that 5- to 11-year-old children evaluated the protagonist highest for sharing beyond the norm, next for matching the norm, and lowest for sharing below the norm. However, adolescents and adults were more conservative in their evaluations, being less positive about above-norm sharing and less negative about below-norm sharing. Analysis of the justifications showed that children mostly used descriptive norms to assess the magnitude of sharing. Adolescents and adults more often inferred the complex motivations behind the protagonist's actions and considered its potential social consequences. These findings reveal that, with development, individuals increasingly use descriptive norms to evaluate others' sharing in more complex and diverse ways, and those socialized in Chinese culture may have distinct approaches to assessing sharing behaviors.
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      – TitleFull: More Is Better? Exploring Developmental Changes in the Impact of Descriptive Norms on Evaluations of Sharing
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