Counterfactual Choices and Moral Judgments in Children
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| Title: | Counterfactual Choices and Moral Judgments in Children |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Gautam, Shalini (ORCID |
| Source: | Child Development. Sep-Oct 2023 94(5):e296-e307. |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Decision Making, Moral Values, Developmental Stages, Child Development, Cognitive Processes, Story Telling, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | Australia |
| DOI: | 10.1111/cdev.13943 |
| ISSN: | 0009-3920 1467-8624 |
| Abstract: | When making moral judgments of past actions, adults often think counterfactually about what could have been done differently. Considerable evidence suggests that counterfactual thinking emerges around age 6, but it remains unknown how this development influences children's moral judgments. Across two studies, Australian children aged 4-9 (N = 236, 142 Females) were told stories about two characters who had a choice that led to a good or bad outcome, and two characters who had no choice over a good or bad outcome. Results showed that 4- and 5-year-olds' moral judgments were influenced only by the actual outcome. From age 6, children's moral judgments were also influenced by the counterfactual choices that had been available to the characters. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Notes: | https://osf.io/aw5ks/?view_only=45577dcf234142eb95bd37e29815c505 |
| Entry Date: | 2023 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1394005 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | When making moral judgments of past actions, adults often think counterfactually about what could have been done differently. Considerable evidence suggests that counterfactual thinking emerges around age 6, but it remains unknown how this development influences children's moral judgments. Across two studies, Australian children aged 4-9 (N = 236, 142 Females) were told stories about two characters who had a choice that led to a good or bad outcome, and two characters who had no choice over a good or bad outcome. Results showed that 4- and 5-year-olds' moral judgments were influenced only by the actual outcome. From age 6, children's moral judgments were also influenced by the counterfactual choices that had been available to the characters. |
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| ISSN: | 0009-3920 1467-8624 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/cdev.13943 |
