Question

Children playing a game with an experimenter where they win prizes for guessing the identity of cards before they are turned over sometimes cheat by sneaking a look at the top card when the experimenter leaves the room for a moment. Which of the following best describes what happens if they are asked whether they peeked?

a) They always admit to peeking.

b) They deny peeking to avoid consequences.

c) They confess only if caught in the act.

d) They truthfully report their actions.

Answer 1

The responses of children to whether they peeked at cards depend on individual choices and a variety of factors, making it difficult to predict a single outcome. These choices are influenced by game theory dynamics such as the Prisoner's Dilemma and can be shaped by developmental understanding of fairness and self-interest.

Step-by-step explanation:

When children are asked whether they peeked at the cards in the described scenario, their responses can vary widely and cannot be defined by a fixed pattern such as always admitting, always denying, confessing only if caught, or always being truthful.

The scenario parallels the Prisoner's Dilemma from game theory, where individuals must decide between cooperation and self-interest. The dominant strategy, often to confess or admit, arises when an individual perceives that self-interest maximizes their personal benefit regardless of the other's choices. This dynamic is also influenced by experimenter bias and the age-related understanding of concepts like luck and fairness.