The Presence and Development of the Liking Gap among Chinese Female and Male Adolescents

Abstract

Abstract People tend to believe they like others more than the other likes them, a phenomenon known as the Liking Gap. This research focuses on its presence and development during adolescence. Given that the increase in reputational concerns could underlie the Liking Gap, it is expected to peak in early adolescence and to be more pronounced in girls than boys. A total of 463 Chinese adolescents aged 12-17 participated in a cooperative drawing task and answered questions about how much they liked their partner and how much they thought their partner liked them. Bayesian analyses showed strong evidence for the consistent presence of the Liking Gap in adolescence. It showed no effects of age or gender although descriptives suggest a modest peak in early adolescence. This research is the first to extend previous research to a non-WEIRD population. It suggests that cultural factors may play a role. As no gender differences were found, other personal factors such as self-esteem could better explain the Liking Gap but need to be researched further. This research highlights the need to educate adolescents on the Liking Gap and its possible (negative) consequences.