Children's Perceptions of Variously Reprimanded Transgressors

Abstract

This study assesses age-related changes in children's perceptions of transgressors subjected to varied reprimands. Twelve children at each of three school grade levels (first, third, sixth) watched one of four sequences in which a boy violated a given rule and was then exposed to one of three types of reprimand (retributive, restitutive, explanatory) or no reprimand. The children judged the transgressor by locating him on a scale from extremely good to extremely bad, and by predicting other morally related behaviors. Analyses of variance showed that statistically significant variations in children's judgments of the transgressors are attributable to reprimand type and to grade level of Ss. Results are interpreted as indicative of children developing the view that reprimand brings about behavior change, and does not simply convey the negative evaluation of the reprimander.