Kids more accepting of peers who try to change undesirable trait

Kansas State University researchers evaluated responses from 137 third- through eighth-grade students to see how they anticipate interacting with peers who have various characteristics seen as undesirable, such as being a poor student or being extremely aggressive.

The kids responded to statements about six hypothetical male peers for the study: each was either a poor student, poor athlete, extremely overweight, extremely aggressive, extremely shy or had symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

In the study, published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Genetic Psychology, researchers found that the more the students attributed fault to a peer for his undesirable characteristic, the more they would tease and make fun of him, and the less they would like to help him if he needed assistance.

Students more often indicated that obese and aggressive peers were at fault for having their undesirable attribute and that they lacked the desire and motivation to change it.

"The more they attribute fault to peers for being a poor student, a poor athlete or whatever, the more they dislike them and the more they anticipate responding to them in a negative manner," said psychology professor Mark Barnett.

However, the team found there was a silver lining for kids who have an undesirable characteristic.

“They really liked kids who are successful in overcoming their problem, but they also really liked kids who tried and put effort into changing,” Barnett said.

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