Mind perception of God in Japanese children.

There is a theoretical debate regarding whether children represent God with reference to a human. Most previous studies have assessed this issue focusing on knowledge/omniscience in western children. This study used a theoretical framework characterising mental capacities in terms of motivational/emotional (experience) and cognitive (agency) mental capacities and tested whether Japanese children discriminated between God, a human, a baby and an invisible agent according to these capacities. Three- to 6-year-old children were asked about the experience and agency of the agents. The results revealed that children discriminated God from a human in terms of mental capacities including experience and agency in 3-year-old children. On the other hand, 4- to 6-year-old children, but not 3-year-old children, discriminated a human from a baby and an invisible person. The results suggest that the Japanese children's representations of God differed from their representation of a human during preschool years.

[The effects of security camera, past littering, environment, and signboards on littering prevention].

Two experiments were conducted to assess litter control at a riverside location. Experiment 1 examined the effects of a security camera (presence/absence), past littering (presence/absence), and environmental features (tussock/plain ground/flowerbed). Two scenes containing combinations of these factors were presented. Participants chose the scene in which they felt it was to easier to litter. Participants also reported their emotional response to the presence/absence of a security camera and environmental features in scenes with litter. The results revealed that the presence of a security camera, no past littering, flowerbeds, and plain ground inhibited littering. Littering in the presence of a security camera facilitated discomfort, anger, and shame, and littering in flowerbeds caused discomfort, anger, shame, and sadness. Using a similar method, Experiment 2 addressed the particular effects of a security camera combined with other factors: past littering, environmental features, and signboards (no sign/sign with eyes/security camera images). The results demonstrated the effectiveness of a security camera, no past littering, flowerbeds, plain ground, signboards presenting eyes, and images from a security camera in preventing littering.