In addition to external
social factors, children are also influenced by internal social factors (i.e., pleasing themselves by
doing the ‘‘right’’ thing). Furthermore, the influence of external and internal factors may change with
age. Over time, children internalize moral standards held by their parents and society and become
increasingly influenced by internal social factors (Bandura, 1986). In this study, we examined the
influence of external appeals that emphasized pleasing another person on children’s honesty as well
as the influence of internal appeals that emphasized telling the truth to please oneself in children aged
4 to 8 years.