When Adults Change Their Minds: The Power of Advice from Children vs. Adults

Adults often describe children as uniquely sincere, morally pure, and less influenced by self-interest, characteristics that suggest children may be uniquely influential to adults. At the same time, children are often viewed as less knowledgeable or experienced, which generates the competing prediction that children's perspectives are valued less than those of adults. The present study examined whether the source of advice—children vs. adults—shaped motivational and attitudinal responsiveness. Adult participants identified a personal vice, rated their motivation and perceived importance of change, and were then exposed to a counter-argument attributed to either a child or an adult before post-test re-ratings. Although participants rated adults as more credible, more sincere, and less hedonic than children, they were equally responsive to advice attributed to either a child or an adult. These biases of children did not necessarily translate into greater or lesser persuasive influence, at least in this context. Rather than discounting children's perspectives or privileging adult expertise, individuals appeared equally open to advice from both sources, suggesting that in low-stakes behavior change contexts, age-based perceptions of sincerity, knowledge, or values may not play a central role in how people update their behavior.