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Children's judgments of disloyal and immoral peer behavior: Subjective group dynamics in minimal intergroup contexts

Abrams, Dominic; Rutland, Adam; Ferrell, Jennifer M.; Pelletier, Joseph

Authors

Dominic Abrams

Adam Rutland

Joseph Pelletier



Abstract

The developmental model of subjective group dynamics hypothesizes that peer exclusion during middle childhood involves inferences about group dynamics. To test the generality of this prediction, children judged, within minimal groups, peers whose behavior was loyal versus disloyal (Study 1: n = 46, mean age = 113 months) or morally acceptable versus unacceptable (Study 2: n = 121, mean age = 90 months). As hypothesized, in Study 1, children used their understanding of loyalty norms as a basis for evaluating peers. In both studies, higher commitment to the in-group increased use of group-based criteria for judging peers. In Study 2, children employed moral- and group-based criteria independently for judging peers. Multiple classification skill was associated with lower intergroup bias and greater use of morality-based judgment. © 2008, Society for Research in Child Development, Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Abrams, D., Rutland, A., Ferrell, J. M., & Pelletier, J. (2008). Children's judgments of disloyal and immoral peer behavior: Subjective group dynamics in minimal intergroup contexts. Child Development, 79(2), 444-461. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01135.x

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Mar 1, 2008
Journal Child Development
Print ISSN 0009-3920
Electronic ISSN 1467-8624
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 79
Issue 2
Pages 444-461
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01135.x
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1016461
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01135.x