Sex, Age, and Temptation

Abstract

The relationships between sex, age, and reaction to temptation were examined. Ss were 114 children (53 boys and 61 girls) between the ages of 6 and 8. They were placed alone in a room with a number of toys which they were admonished not to touch. Behavior was classified as Rigidly Controlled, Naturally Curious, and Yielders. It was found that there were no differences between boys and girls in the numbers of yielders and non-yielders. However, girls resisted temptation longer and, when they did yield, spent significantly less time at the forbidden behavior. No significant relationship was found with chronological age.