Abstract

FREITAS, Lia Beatriz de Lucca; MILESKI, Aline Zimmermann  and  TUDGE, Jonathan Richard Henry. The moral judgment of children about ingratitude. Aletheia [online]. 2011, n.34, pp.6-18. ISSN 1413-0394.

We present results from a study that examined the moral judgment of children about ingratitude. A total of 77 children (49% female) participated, distributed into three groups (5-6, 8-9 and 11-12 years). We used two vignettes in which the protagonists consisted of a benefactor and an ungrateful child. After each vignette each participant was interviewed. The majority of participants disapproved of the ungrateful child's action. We found three types of justification for their disapproval and two significant differences among the three age groups: (a) focusing on the consequences diminished with an increase in age and (b) reciprocity predominated among children of 8 years and older. Relations of friendship appeared at each age. The results, discussed in light of the literature, suggest further research.

Keywords : Development; Moral judgment; Ingratitude.