Will power serve for oneself or others? An exploratory study toward 6-to 9-year-old Chinese children

This study investigated Chinese children's perspectives on the use of power and the prediction of these perspectives on their resource allocation. The sample included a total of 145 children from two primary schools in Mainland China (68 males, 77 females), with 70 in the younger group (Mage = 6.89, SD = 0.37, ranging from 6.08 to 7.67 years) and 75 in the older group (Mage = 9.03, SD = 0.55, ranging from 8.08 to 9.92 years). To explore the power perspective of children, they were presented a character who was 'in charge' and used his/her power to serve themselves or others. The results showed that children aged 6-9 years were more inclined to approve 'bosses' who used power for others' benefit, indicating children's support for benevolent power use, especially among 8-9-year-olds. Additionally, the study revealed that children who approved of benevolent power use tended to allocate more resources to others when possessing power, a behaviour not observed in 6-7-year-olds. This finding, more or less, indicated a correlation between children's perspectives on the use of power and their behaviour in allocating resources. These results demonstrate the importance of promoting a rational understanding of power use among children.Highlights All children held the benevolent perspective of power use, which agreed that those in power should use power to serve others. Children aged 8-9 were more inclined to think a 'boss' should prioritize the interests of others over their own. Children aged 8-9 who supported the benevolent perspective of power use allocate more resources to others.