ON
← Back to feed
Telling a young child they are ‘smart’ seems like a good idea. New research shows how it could encourage them to cheat
Australia🏛️ PoliticsCenteryesterday

Telling a young child they are ‘smart’ seems like a good idea. New research shows how it could encourage them to cheat

The article discusses new research suggesting that praising children as 'smart' may unintentionally encourage cheating behavior. While parents and teachers often use such praise to boost confidence, the study found that children who were told they were smart were significantly more likely to cheat during a temptation task compared to those who were told they worked hard, got lucky, or faced an easy task. The research, conducted in China and published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, involved 210 children aged 5–6 who were given a simple test and then presented with an opportunity to cheat when alone. The findings highlight how attribution styles, such as emphasizing innate ability rather than effort, can influence children’s responses to challenges and temptations.

Advertisement

Go to the primary sources (6)

The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.

1 reports

The Conversation (AU) logoThe Conversation (AU)IndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 75yesterday
Telling a young child they are ‘smart’ seems like a good idea. New research shows how it could encourage them to cheat

The article discusses new research suggesting that praising children as 'smart' may unintentionally encourage cheating behavior. While parents and teachers often use such praise to boost confidence, the study found that children who were told they were smart were significantly more likely to cheat during a temptation task compared to those who were told they worked hard, got lucky, or faced an easy task. The research, conducted in China and published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, involved 210 children aged 5–6 who were given a simple test and then presented with an opportunity to cheat when alone. The findings highlight how attribution styles, such as emphasizing innate ability rather than effort, can influence children’s responses to challenges and temptations.

Bias read (Center): The article presents research findings without overt ideological slant. It reports on psychological studies examining the effects of praise on children's behavior, focusing on empirical data rather than advocacy for any particular educational philosophy. The framing remains neutral, discussing both

Why factuality (85): The article discusses research findings from a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, which examines how attributions affect children's behavior. It accurately summarizes the study's methodology and conclusions, aligning with cross-source consensus on the topic. However, it does n

Why objectivity (75): The tone is informative but leans slightly towards emphasizing the potential negative consequences of praising intelligence, which may reflect a subtle bias toward caution in parenting practices. The language is generally neutral but carries a slight moral undertone regarding the importance of effor

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories