Citation

Ru Han , Shu Li , Shi J. Environ. Behav. 2009; 41(5): 644-657.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0013916508318840

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research on territorial behavior has focused on animal populations, and relatively little has dealt with territoriality in humans, except in the area of human sports. This study was an investigation of the prior-residence effect on children's behavior in social dilemmas. The analysis was carried out by means of research designed for preschool children who played a dictator game and an ultimatum game. This study demonstrates the advantages of being on one's own turf. The authors found that children playing in their own classroom obtained more from games than did those playing in their partners' classroom. In contrast, not being in their own classroom and not having the power to dictate in the ultimatum game were seen as an underlying reason why children propose more offers to their partners. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings for the evolution of prosocial behavior are discussed.