A CROSSCULTURAL STUDY ON THE STRUCTURE OF POSSESSION BETWEEN CHINESE AND JAPANESE CHILDREN
中日幼儿“所有”关系的跨文化研究

This research used natural observation method, observed two groups of Chinese and Japanese children aged 3.4 to 4.4 years. Children's interactions over the one of objects were recorded. The data was analyzed to find out whether these interactions were organized under rank order like Dominance Hierarchy or not. The findings were;1) both rigidity and linearity of the Dominance Matrixes were low in Chinese and Japanese groups. 2) both in the Chinese and Japanese groups, there were no significant correlations between their rank on the Matrix and the values of their strength and leadership which were rated by teachers. 3) dominant = subordinate relationships among children in both groups were not linear but complicated. Overall findings demonstrated that as to the possession these two groups of children which have Chinese and Japanese cultural background were not organized by Deminance Hierarchy.