Children's Decisions About Naughtiness and Punishment: Dominance of Expiatory Punishments

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not children's decisions regarding naughtiness and types of punishment differ according to age and sex. One hundred thirty-five subjects were interviewed after hearing two stories from Piaget's (1932/1965) initial study of moral reasoning in children. Subjects were asked: (a) whether or not both children were naughty and how the subjects knew that; (b) should either or both children be punished; and (c) if so, what type of punishment should be given? Consistent with Piaget's findings, significant age variability was found. Counter to Piaget's findings, age seemed not to account significantly for more expiatory type punishment suggestions than sanctions by reciprocity. The findings imply that the children in the study did not make the connection between the act that was committed and what logical consequences followed.