| The present research examined the roles of relational schemas, and behavioral information in children's perception of peers. Specifically, the effects of behavioral information congruent or incongruent with a relational schema (best friend or an enemy), and recognition of a hypothetical peer's behaviors were examined. Across two phases, a total of 147 children from first-, second-, fifth-, and sixth-grades were given two impression questionnaires, and a recognition task. During Phase 1, children were presented with an audiotape about a relational expectancy depicting a hypothetical peer as either a best friend or an enemy. Based solely on the relational information, children rated the peer on several dimensions. During Phase 2, children were presented with an audiotape depicting the peer's behaviors (e.g., mainly positive, mainly negative) which were either congruent or incongruent with the initial relational expectancy presented in Phase 1. Once again, children rated the peer, and in addition, completed a measure assessing recognition of the target's behaviors. Results indicated that children process information in a category-based fashion when presented with behavioral information congruent or incongruent with a relational schema. Implications for future research on relational schemas in children's person perception are considered. |
