Research with adults has demonstrated an association between display of ove
rt competition and group size. Despite the importance of this association f
or understanding gender-differentiated developmental models of competition,
virtually no research has examined this association in children. The curre
nt research was designed to examine whether children hold cognitive models
that link competitive behavior with group size. Competitive and cooperative
games were described to 71 boys and 87 girls from Grades 4 and 6, and the
children were asked to indicate how much they thought they would enjoy play
ing each game in a dyad and in a tetrad Consistent with the hypothesis. chi
ldren appraised tetrads more positively than dyads for the competitive but
not the cooperative games. The implications for differential experience in
varying size groups are discussed as one factor that may influence displays
of overtly competitive behavior.