Acculturation of Prosocial and Competitive Behaviors among Second- and Third-Generation Mexican-American Children

Abstract

To determine the direction of acculturation of prosocial and competitive behaviors among Mexican-American children, a behavioral choice card was administered to second- and third-generation Mexican-American children in a "traditional" Mexican-American community. Increasing generation level was associated with decreasing frequency of altruism/group-enhancement and equality choices and increasing frequency of rivalry/superiority choices, supporting an acculturation to the majority rather than acculturation to the barrio model.