Effects of Motive and Purpose on Preschoolers' Judgments about Aggressive Behavior

The present study examined effects of motive and purpose on preschoolers' judgments about aggressive behavior. 61 preschoolers made judgments about 4 types of aggressive behavior that combined motive (selfish, altruistic) and purpose (defense, retribution). Children under the age of four (n=16; average age, 44 months; range, 33-47 months) judged all types of aggressive behavior to be wrong. However, four-year-old children (n=18; average age, 55 months; range, 50-59 months) and older children (n=22; average age, 68 months; range, 60-75 months) allowed all types of aggressive behavior. Especially, older children allowed altruistic aggressive behavior more than selfish aggressive behavior. Moreover, retribution was allowed more than defense. The results indicate that judgments of older children are based on moral concepts (harm, welfare, and justice), whereas judgments of younger children tend to be oriented toward authority