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Most parents naturally assume that praising a child has only beneficial effects. Whether it’s acknowledging their skills, celebrating good behavior, or simply complimenting a trait of their character, such accolades are generally seen as fostering self-confidence in young children. While this is often the case, a fascinating study suggests there might be unexpected consequences to certain types of praise.
Indeed, we’re not talking about the risk of inflating a child’s ego too much, but rather an unforeseen effect that had not been previously considered. This insight comes from a 2017 study published in the journal Psychological Science, conducted by researchers at the Hangzhou Institute of Psychological Sciences in China. They conducted experiments with 300 children aged between 3 and 5 years to explore their propensity for dishonesty under certain conditions. Each child was asked to solve puzzles multiple times, with the incentive of a special prize if they succeeded in at least three out of six attempts.
After an initial training test, the researchers divided the children into three groups. They told the first group, “You are really smart!”; they told the second group, “You did a good job!”; and the third group did not receive any praise at all. Then, during the final puzzle-solving session—a critical one for winning the prize—the examiner left the room and asked the children not to peek at the puzzle answers left on the desk. The results were telling: children in all groups cheated, but those praised for intelligence did so significantly more.
About 40% of children who were praised for their effort and those who received no praise at all succumbed to cheating. However, a striking 60% of the children who were praised for being smart cheated. According to the researchers, praising a child’s intelligence might encourage dishonest behaviors. “When children are praised for their intelligence, they may feel pressured to meet others’ expectations, even if it means they have to cheat to do so,” explained Professor Li Zhao, co-author of the study. The study also found no significant differences in cheating between the 3-year-olds and the 5-year-olds, but revealed that boys were more likely to cheat than girls.
Carol Dweck, a professor of social psychology and another co-author of the study, suggests that it is better to praise the effort a child puts in rather than their innate abilities. These findings align with motivational theories that have been developed over the years, which demonstrate how improperly framed praise can emphasize performance over learning. By focusing on intelligence rather than hard work, children may unconsciously seek external validation, even if it means bending the rules.
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