Is the majority always right? Young children's normative interpretations of majority and dissenting peer behavior

The present study investigates the social-cognitive underpinnings of young children's bias to follow majority. More specifically, we focus on question whether children not only copy behavior a majority peers, but they also understand this as social norm that everyone needs follow. Additionally, investigated seeing unanimous or and dissenting peer makes difference for normative understanding. Participants included 180 preschool-age (4-to-5 years old) who engaged in conformity paradigm, where either saw additionally single peer, two individual peers behaving differently (Control). Afterward, mostly copied protested against others, when deviated from majority, thus indeed interpreting others need However, had seen well dissenter, protest copying favor dropped. Overall, our findings show preschool interpret normative. see dissenter's behavior, interpretation is weakened.