The Influence of Others’ Kindness Traits and Children’s Initial Beliefs on Selective Learning in Early Childhood

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2026.02.008

Abstract

Abstract: Selective trust and belief revision are key to children’s selective learning. This study used a single-source paradigm to examine how 3- to 5-year-olds use an informant’s kindness and their own prior beliefs in learning. Results showed that: 1) Children were more likely to trust testimony from kind informants and revise their beliefs accordingly. 2) Children with weaker initial beliefs were more receptive to others’ testimony and more willing to change their beliefs. 3) When initial beliefs were weak, 3-year-olds accepted testimony regardless of the informant’s kindness, while 4- and 5-year-olds rejected unkind informants’ input and resisted belief revision. When initial beliefs were strong, 3-year-olds showed no consistent trust in testimony but were more likely to revise beliefs when the informant was kind; in contrast, 4- and 5-year-olds generally distrusted all testimony and maintained their original beliefs. These findings indicate that 3- to 5-year-olds can use kindness as a cue for selective learning, strategically integrate the strength of their existing beliefs, and demonstrate age-related differences in this process.

Key words: children, selective trust, belief revision, kindness traits

摘要： 选择性信任与信念修正是幼儿选择性学习的重要过程。研究采用单一信息源范式，探究3～5岁幼儿在自身信念的基础上如何根据他人的友善特质进行选择性学习。结果发现：(1)幼儿更信任友善信息提供者所提供的证言并进行信念修正；(2)幼儿在初始信念弱时比初始信念强时更倾向于信任他人证言并修正信念；(3)初始信念弱时，无论信息提供者友善与否，3岁幼儿均倾向于信任其证言并修正初始信念，而4岁和5岁幼儿则倾向于拒绝不友善者的证言且拒绝信念修正；初始信念强时，3岁幼儿的信任处于随机水平，相对不友善者更多根据友善者的证言修正初始信念，4～5岁幼儿则无论信息提供者友善与否均不相信其证言且不修正初始信念。结果表明，3～5岁幼儿能利用友善特质作为选择性学习的线索，并能综合已有信念强弱有选择地进行学习，且呈现出不同的年龄发展特点。

关键词: 幼儿, 选择性信任, 信念修正, 友善特质

CLC Number:

B844

ZHANG Jing, LIU Gege, LI Tingmin, ZHOU Shuangzhu, TANG Rixin, WANG Ziying. The Influence of Others’ Kindness Traits and Children’s Initial Beliefs on Selective Learning in Early Childhood[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(2): 204-211.

张璟, 刘格格, 李婷敏, 周双珠, 唐日新, 王子滢. 他人友善特质与自身初始信念对幼儿选择性学习的影响[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2026, 24(2): 204-211.

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