Choosing adequate partners is essential for cooperation, but how children calibrate their partner choice to specific social challenges is unknown. In two experiments, 4- to 7-year-olds (N = 189, 49% girls, mostly White, data collection: 03.2021–09.2022) were presented with partners in possession of different positive qualities. Children then recruited partners for hypothetical tasks that differed with respect to the quality necessary for success. Children and the selected partner either worked together toward a common goal or competed against each other. From age 5, children selectively chose individuals in possession of task-relevant qualities as cooperative partners while avoiding them as competitors. Younger children chose partners indiscriminately. Children thus learn to strategically adjust their partner choice depending on context-specific task demands and different social goals.

中文翻译：

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幼儿在合作与竞争环境中的适应性伙伴选择

选择合适的伴侣对于合作至关重要，但儿童如何根据特定的社会挑战调整他们的伴侣选择尚不清楚。在两项实验中，4 至 7 岁的孩子（N  = 189，49% 是女孩，主要是白人，数据收集：03.2021–09.2022）与拥有不同积极品质的伴侣一起出现。然后，孩子们招募合作伙伴来完成假设的任务，这些任务的成功所需的质量有所不同。孩子们和选定的伙伴要么为了共同的目标而共同努力，要么相互竞争。从5岁开始，孩子们就会选择性地选择具有任务相关品质的个体作为合作伙伴，同时避免将他们作为竞争者。年幼的孩子不加区别地选择伴侣。因此，孩子们学会根据特定环境的任务要求和不同的社会目标战略性地调整他们的伴侣选择。