Reciprocal reputation management: Preschoolers respond to shared credit with shared blame

In a single experiment, we asked whether children would be more likely to accept blame for another's transgression when the individual had previously told a prosocial lie that improved the child's reputation. 3- and 5-year-old children (N=120) were introduced to two puppets, one of whom needed help sorting toys and the other of whom helped. In the reciprocity condition, in response to the other's questioning, the helper puppet gave undue credit to the child for helping sort the toys; in the control condition the helper (accurately) took all the credit himself. Subsequently, the helper puppet transgressed by making a loud noise while the first puppet slept. In response to being roused, the first puppet blamed both the true transgressor and the innocent child. Upon being inappropriately blamed, 5-year-olds (but not 3-year-olds) behaved more prosocially by more often accepting inappropriate blame (implicitly). Five-year-olds (but-not 3-year-olds) also actively lied more often about their blameworthiness in the reciprocity condition. The fact that children reciprocated undue credit with the act of sharing blame suggests that, by age 5, children feel compelled to reciprocate intangible, reputational favors.

Duke Scholars

Author Michael Tomasello Psychology & Neuroscience