Rivalry in Anglo-American and Mexican children of two ages.

Rivalry, behavior intended to lower the outcomes of a peer, was measured by four choice conditions presented to Anglo-American and Mexican children of ages 5-6 and 8-10 indicating that for all groups rivalry was greatest when accompanied by both relative and absolute gains.

Abstract

Rivalry, behavior intended to lower the outcomes of a peer, was measured by four choice conditions presented to Anglo-American and Mexican children of ages 5-6 and 8-10. Older children were significantly more rivalrous than younger children (p4.001); Anglo-American children were significantly more rivalrous than Mexican children (p(.001); and the cultural difference tended to increase with age. The effect of conditions was significant (p4.001) indicating that for all groups rivalry was greatest when accompanied by both relative and absolute gains. The opportunity to avoid a small relative loss increased rivalry more than opportunity to accrue a small absolute gain. The development with age of greater rivalry in boys than girls was present for the Anglo-American but not Mexican