Citation

Smetana JG, Ball CL. Child Dev. 2018; 89(6): 2245-2263.

Affiliation

University of Rochester.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/cdev.12846

PMID

28586086

Abstract

Children (n = 160, 4- to 9-year-olds; Mage  = 6.23 years, SD = 1.46) judged, justified, attributed emotions, and rated intent for hypothetical physical harm, psychological harm, and resource distribution transgressions against close friends, acquaintances, disliked peers, or bullies. Transgressions against bullies were judged more acceptable than against friends and disliked peers and less deserving of punishment than against acquaintances and disliked peers. Transgressions against friends were judged least intended and resulting in more negative emotions for transgressors; actors transgressing against disliked peers, as compared to bullies or acquaintances, were happy victimizers. Across relationships, children viewed moral transgressions as wrong independent of rules and authority, based primarily on welfare and fairness justifications. Peer context colors but does not fundamentally change moral evaluations.

© 2017 The Authors. Child Development © 2017 Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.

Language: en