Children’s Reactions to the Perpetrators and Victims of Injustices

3 experiments are reported which investigated the reactions of children in grades 1-6 to the perpetrators and victims of injustices. In the first 2 studies subjects at all age levels recommended both more punishment for an intentional perpetrator than for an accidental perpetrator and more compensation for a victim of intentional harm than for a victim of accidental harm. In the second experiment it was found that subjects recommended both less punishment for a perpetrator and less compensation for his victim if the perpetrator had already received some punishment for his actions than if he had not. The results of the third experiment indicated that subjects expressed a greater desire to have a perpetrator be punished than to have a victim be compensated, especially when the consequences for the victim were severe. The possible explanations and implications of these results are discussed.