Journal Articles

1. Vaish, A; Carpenter, M; Tomasello, M, Young children selectively avoid helping people with harmful intentions., Child development, vol. 81 no. 6 (November, 2010), pp. 1661-1669 [doi].
   (last updated on 2026/01/17)

   Abstract:
   Two studies investigated whether young children are selectively prosocial toward others, based on the others' moral behaviors. In Study 1 (N = 54), 3-year-olds watched 1 adult (the actor) harming or helping another adult. Children subsequently helped the harmful actor less often than a third (previously neutral) adult, but helped the helpful and neutral adults equally often. In Study 2 (N = 36), 3-year-olds helped an actor who intended but failed to harm another adult less often than a neutral adult, but helped an accidentally harmful and a neutral adult equally often. Children's prosocial behavior was thus mediated by the intentions behind the actor's moral behavior, irrespective of outcome. Children thus selectively avoid helping those who cause--or even intend to cause--others harm.