THE EFFECT OF INDIRECT GOAL PRIMING ON CHILDREN'S DISHONEST BEHAVIOURS

Abstract

Although goal priming has been effective in influencing decision-making behaviours, no previous studies have applied it to children’s dishonesty. Guided by the dual-process theory, this pre-registered study examined the effect of indirect goal priming on children’s dishonest behaviours and evaluated moderating roles of cognitive abilities on this relationship. Utilising a novel reflection task, ninety 5- and 6-year-old children were randomly allocated to three conditions and received a priming stimulus related to telling the truth (Positive), winning the game (Negative), or liking to read (Neutral). Results illustrated that children in the Negative condition displayed significantly more lying behaviours as compared to the Positive and Neutral conditions. Regarding cognitive abilities, executive function and thinking dispositions did not significantly moderate the effect of indirect goal priming on lying across conditions. However, when analysing the Negative condition alone, intuitive thinking styles and better inhibitory control significantly predicted lying frequency. Our study suggests that the socialisation practice of indirect goal priming can increase children’s lying, while offering the dual-process theory as a possible underlying mechanism for children’s moral decision-making processes.