Children use informant characteristics, such as competence or benevolence, in trust judgment. Previous studies have examined the characteristics that children prioritize in trust judgment, but findings have been conflicting. Since people possess and tap into each characteristic in their daily lives as the situation demands, children may adjust the characteristics that they choose to rely on depending on the specific situation rather than always prioritizing either of the characteristics. Thus, the present study investigated children's trust judgment in different situations requiring either competence or benevolence. Additionally, children's preference for competence or benevolence was examined to explore its effect on trust judgment. Results showed that children were more likely to select a competent rather than a benevolent person in situations requiring competence and vice versa in situations requiring benevolence. Children preferred the benevolent person rather than the competent person; such preference did not appear to affect their selection of informants across various situations. In summary, children might focus on the different characteristics of the informant in accordance with the situation. Their preference for benevolence might relate to a preference for prosociality. This, in turn, could relate to enhanced sensitivity to benevolence in early childhood.

中文翻译：

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分情境关注不同信息者特征：儿童信任判断中的仁慈和能力维度

儿童在信任判断中使用信息特征，例如能力或仁慈。以前的研究已经检查了儿童在信任判断中优先考虑的特征，但结果一直相互矛盾。由于人们在日常生活中根据情况需要拥有并利用每个特征，因此孩子可能会根据具体情况调整他们选择依赖的特征，而不是总是优先考虑其中一个特征。因此，本研究调查了儿童在需要能力或仁慈的不同情况下的信任判断。此外，还检查了儿童对能力或仁慈的偏好，以探索其对信任判断的影响。结果表明，在需要能力的情况下，儿童更有可能选择有能力的人而不是仁慈的人，而在需要仁慈的情况下，反之亦然。孩子们更喜欢仁慈的人，而不是能干的人；这种偏好似乎并未影响他们在各种情况下选择线人。综上所述，孩子可能会根据情况关注线人的不同特征。他们对仁慈的偏好可能与对亲社会的偏好有关。反过来，这可能与儿童早期对仁慈的敏感性增强有关。这种偏好似乎并未影响他们在各种情况下选择线人。综上所述，孩子可能会根据情况关注线人的不同特征。他们对仁慈的偏好可能与对亲社会的偏好有关。反过来，这可能与儿童早期对仁慈的敏感性增强有关。这种偏好似乎并未影响他们在各种情况下选择线人。综上所述，孩子可能会根据情况关注线人的不同特征。他们对仁慈的偏好可能与对亲社会的偏好有关。反过来，这可能与儿童早期对仁慈的敏感性增强有关。