Cynics start early

[stubeeef]

Link

Cynicism takes hold early in humans, if you believe a new study from Yale.

Kids in fact appear to be better at it than you.

The study involved 20 children each in kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. They were told short stories in which the characters made statements that were in their best self-interest in competitive situations.

Outright lies were generally recognized by all the children. But when the statement could affect the outcome of a close contest, the second graders, compared to the younger children, exhibited more savvy in recognizing cases in which self-interest might also involve inaccurate claims.

Ya, sounds about like my house.

 

[James Philp]

i love the bit "if you believe" hehehe

 

[wdlove]

It just goes to show that children are a lot more aware than was thought. Having the ability to recognize lies is a good thing. Children are very hard on each other.

 

[mcadam]

Yeah, in my experience people - classmates, collegues, etc... - have only become kinder and more considerate the older I've become. primary school is a tough place. Most kids doesn't seem to be born with the ability to care for each other. Or perhaps they just have other priorities. When I worked in a kindergarten for a year it fastly became obvious that even the 3-year-olds had a natural reflex to deny all responsibilty when confronted with a problem. "it was the others" is THE standard sentence...

A

 

[topgunn]

Yeah, in my experience people - classmates, collegues, etc... - have only become kinder and more considerate the older I've become. primary school is a tough place. Most kids doesn't seem to be born with the ability to care for each other. Or perhaps they just have other priorities. When I worked in a kindergarten for a year it fastly became obvious that even the 3-year-olds had a natural reflex to deny all responsibilty when confronted with a problem. "it was the others" is THE standard sentence...

A

Kids don't need to be taught how to be bad.