Effects of a commitment warning on children's decision behavior.

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Abstract
Conducted 3 studies with 104 preschool children in the United States and Australia to determine whether a commitment warning (admonition that a decision will be binding) would influence behavior on immediate and on unrelated decisions. In comparison with Ss in the noncommitment condition, commitment Ss took longer to announce their choice of a gift toy and showed greater willingness to make some sort of decision on an unrelated problem. Contrary to expectation, the commitment warning did not produce an increase in postdecisional bolstering. 5 yr. olds tended to show more mature decisioning than 4 yr. olds. Negro and white United States children were very similar to Australian children in their responses. Findings suggest that even in young children, issuing a commitment warning initiates a psychological set to approach decision problems carefully and decisively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

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