Higher reward sensitivity (BAS) is associated with more competitive Go straight choices in children¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r2 · q3 · i3 large
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Controlling for grade, BAS score negatively predicted the Swerve preference parameter θ. → Zhang 2026 q3 i3 BAS scores differed across grade groups, with grades 1-2 higher than grades 4-5 and 7-9. → Zhang 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Zhang 2026¶

Zhang, R., Zhang, L., Hao, X.-M., Dreher, J.-C., & Qu, C. (2026). Learning to adaptively cooperate through social interactions during childhood and adolescence. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-026-00423-9

q3 · i? · causal · r2

Multiple regression on individual θ estimates from Study 2: BAS remained a significant negative predictor after controlling for grade, indicating stronger reward sensitivity was associated with a greater tendency to choose Go straight.

"Moreover, a multiple linear regression (θ ~ Grade + BAS) controlling for grade showed that while grade positively predicted θ (β = 0.11, p = .024), the BAS score remained a significant negative predictor (β = -0.07, p = .016)"

Zhang 2026 (2)¶

Zhang, R., Zhang, L., Hao, X.-M., Dreher, J.-C., & Qu, C. (2026). Learning to adaptively cooperate through social interactions during childhood and adolescence. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-026-00423-9

q3 · i3 · causal · r?

One-way ANOVA on BIS/BAS scores across grade groups: significant BAS main effect (ηp² = 0.15), with grades 1-2 higher than grades 4-5 (d = 1.01, p < .001) and grades 7-9 (d = 0.92, p < .001). BIS showed no grade effect (p = .075).

"a significant main effect of grades for BAS score (F (3, 137) = 8.00, p < .001, 𝜂𝑝2 = 0.15)"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Preschoolers' Chicken game choices are best explained by reward-based learning with a higher learning rate for the competitive opponent — related
• Suppression tendencies show no significant correlations with BIS/BAS subscale scores across experiments — related