Publications [#351573] of Michael Tomasello

Journal Articles

1. Li, J; Tomasello, M, The development of intention-based sociomoral judgment and distribution behavior from a third-party stance., Journal of experimental child psychology, vol. 167 (March, 2018), pp. 78-92 [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/06/15)

   Abstract:
   The current study investigated children's intention-based sociomoral judgments and distribution behavior from a third-party stance. An actor puppet showed either positive or negative intention toward a target puppet, which had previously performed a prosocial or antisocial action toward others (i.e., children witnessed various types of indirect reciprocity). Children (3- and 5-year-olds) were asked to make sociomoral judgments and to distribute resources to the actor puppet. Results showed that 5-year-olds were more likely than 3-year-olds to be influenced by intention when they made their judgment and distributed resources. The target's previous actions affected only 5-year-olds' intent-based social preference. These results suggest that children's judgments about intent-based indirect reciprocity develop from ages 3 to 5 years.