Citation

Morrongiello BA, Seasons M, Pogrebtsova E, Stewart J, Feliz J. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2017; 42(7): 748-758.

Affiliation

Psychology Department, University of Guelph, McKinnon Extension, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsx050

PMID

28369618

Abstract

OBJECTIVE : This study examined whether exposure to a safety norm could counteract the increase in risk taking children show when in an elevated positive mood state.

OBJECTIVE :   Risk taking (intentions, behaviors) was measured in a neutral and positive (induced experimentally) mood state. Before completing the tasks in a positive mood, 120 children 7-10 years were exposed to either a safety norm or a control audio.  The control audio had no effect: children showed an OBJECTIVE : increase in risk taking and intentions when in a positive mood compared with a neutral mood, replicating past research. In contrast, exposure to the safety norm counteracted this effect: children showed a decrease in risk taking and intentions when in a positive mood compared with a neutral mood.  OBJECTIVE : Manipulating children's exposure to social norms can be an effective strategy for reducing injury-risk behaviors even when they are in an elevated positive mood state.

Language: en

Keywords

children; injury prevention; positive mood; risk taking; social norms