RANK ORDER, SOCIAL ATTENTION STRUCTURE AND THE DIRECTION OF VISUAL ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOLERS

DIANE MOORE DYAR, Purdue University

Abstract

This ethological study compared rank order and "looking at" behaviors in four groups of preschool children ages two, three, four and five (N = 64). Ten five minute observations of each child, with running commentary, comprised the first measure, done by the writer. Ten one minute records of each child's visual foci comprised the second measure, done by two assistants. These records noted foci of 20+ seconds, 40+ seconds, in addition to other foci and the time spent in visual monitoring or rapid scanning. Rank order was determined by noting on a matrix the individual who prevailed in 9 prosocial and 13 agonistic interactions. Social attention structure was determined by noting on a matrix the frequency with which one individual was looked at by others. Results showed that same sex interactions significantly predominated. In opposite sex interactions, males were significantly more dominant than females. Males spent significantly more time looking at objects and significantly less time looking at people than did females. "Scanning" decreased significantly and attention to peers increased significantly with age. For all children, "scanning" occupied 10%, attention to people, 31% and attention to objects, 59% of total visual attention. Same sex hierarchies appeared to develop at age three. All group hierarchies appeared at age four. Males formed more strongly defined hierarchies than females did. All findings were compared with similar primatological research and comparative continuity was confirmed.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Psychobiology

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