The Study On Cognition Of Helping Behavior Of Children Aged5-6

This research was to study the cognition of helping behavior of children from5to6.60children were selected randomly from two pre-schools in Wuhan. Interview and experiments were applied to study the conceptual, intentional and situational cognition of children, and also the relationship between cognition and actual activities. Descriptive statistics were applied to examine the cognition. And ANOVA methods and variance analysis were applied to analyze the influences of differences of genders or family education. Pearson analysis was applied to judge the consistency between cognition and action.The results indicated:1. Children’s’cognition of helping behavior includes helping others from difficulties, such as helping the weak, comforting weepers, assisting others to finish their work, such as running errands, picking things up for their friends, and bringing respect and happiness to others, like giving seats to disabilities on bus. When children were included in some experimental helping situations, they were most familiar with their parents and friends. Children were more tended to helping the old and the young, and they intended to help and interact with people they have known such as family and peers. Most children, especially those who are willing to benefit others, think that helping others is enjoyable.2. Children’s’cognition of helping behavior have different intentions. They can be but not limited to self-improvement, self-center, leadership, mutual-benefit, friendship, following instructions or responsibilities. They may be selfish or altruism. Comparing to previous studies, children demonstrate more various intentions as well as stronger altruism.3. Children take responsibility, relationship and urgency into consideration.83.3%of children would make judgment before provide assistance, and girls have a higher tendency doing so. And they prefer helping people whom get in trouble for no reason.66.7%of children tend to help friends first.90%of children, more boys than girls, take priority on helping people in an urgent situation.4. Developments ate different between cognition and practice for children, and cognition takes first place. Children are more willing to help when this action will not affect or hurt their own benefit.